MPhil/PhD Health Policy and Health Economics
Introduction.
The MPhil/PhD Health Policy and Health Economics at LSE covers the choice, design, analysis, and evaluation of health and social care policies, institutions and practice in low-, middle- and high-income settings. This is an interdisciplinary programme, drawing on disciplines relevant to the research topic, and the health-specific and social care-specific application of an array of social sciences.
The programme trains students to undertake research that employs the tools of policy and economic analysis and qualitative and quantitative empirical techniques in order to understand, critically appraise, and evaluate the complexities of health and social care policy and practice in a global context.
You'll be exposed to a range of different theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches, and will be expected to learn technical and conceptual skills, so that you'll become autonomous in carrying out research in line with your progression, and will demonstrate deep and synoptic understanding of your field of study.
You're expected to take training and transferable skills courses, including the core course in Advanced Health Policy and Health Economics. You can choose other taught courses tailored to your existing academic foundations and research interests, and streamed around health policy or health economics subject areas.
You'll become a member of a vibrant and exciting research community, with access to the Department of Health Policy's affiliated research centres and supervision by expert faculty. The long-established and highly regarded research centres affiliated with the Department are: LSE Health , Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at LSE (CPEC) , the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School of Social Care Research (SSCR), the African Health Observatory , the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies , and the Global Health Initiative (GHI) , with a total of over 70 academic staff based across these centres.
Entry requirements
The minimum entry requirement for this programme is a merit (60 per cent and above, or equivalent) in a relevant master's degree.
Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.
English language requirements
The English language requirement for this programme is Research . Read more about our English language requirements .
Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this does not guarantee you an offer of a place.
However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out from other students.
Programme content
The programme is based around a set of taught courses which provide you with the skill set necessary to undertake your research in your chosen thesis area. In the first year, you'll register initially for the MPhil programme, and undertake specific training in research methods as required. In subsequent years, you'll continue your research under the guidance of your supervisors, participate in seminars and present your work.
Throughout the programme, you also have the option of taking relevant courses provided by the PhD Academy, and offered by other academic departments, after discussion with your supervisor/s. The preference is for students to select from the courses offered by the Department of Health Policy or the Department of Methodology. However, courses from other departments may be taken, subject to the approval of the supervisor/s and that of the hosting departments.
The PhD programme will be centred around the core course Advanced Health Policy and Health Economics. Alongside a set of traditional and bespoke lectures, the course includes a series of seminars given by faculty in the Department of Health Policy and external speakers, thereby guaranteeing exposure to different materials, research areas, and theoretical and analytical techniques. The course will provide you with insights into the breadth of work in the areas of health and social care policy and health economics, and will act as a supportive critical forum for discussion of each PhD student's work-in-progress. The course features a journal club where key articles are critically appraised. In the second and third years of enrolment, full-time students will be required to participate in work-in-progress seminars where students present work relating to their theses and contribute fully to discussions on their colleagues' work, and will be encouraged to attend external conferences.
Advanced Health Policy and Health Economics
Optional courses to the value of one unit, programme regulations at lse.
For the latest list of courses, please go to the relevant School Calendar page .
A few important points you’ll need to know:
We may need to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees due to unforeseen circumstances. We’ll always notify you as early as possible and recommend alternatives where we can.
The School is not liable for changes to published information or for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside our control (including a lack of demand, industrial action, fire, flooding or other damage to premises).
Places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements so we cannot therefore guarantee you a place.
Changes to programmes and courses may be made after you’ve accepted your offer of a place – normally due to global developments in the discipline or student feedback. We may also make changes to course content, teaching formats or assessment methods but these are always made to improve the learning experience.
For full details about the availability or content of courses and programmes, please take a look at the School’s Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department.
Some major changes to programmes/courses are posted on our updated graduate course and programme information page .
Why study with us
Discover more about our students and department.
Meet the department
The department seeks to advance and challenge our collective understanding of health systems and the social, economic and political contexts in which they operate. Through our research, teaching and scholarship, we aim to influence and inform how health policy is designed, implemented and evaluated globally.
We apply rigorous social science research to emerging health and social care challenges, advising national and international agencies as well as government bodies. This world-leading research is conducted through two affiliated research centres: LSE Health and the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) .
Our academics have made significant contributions to developing policies on global health, health equality, older adults, care and welfare.
The department’s research feeds into our multidisciplinary teaching, with an emphasis on health and social care policy, health economics and management. We offer a range of postgraduate master’s programmes and our MPhil/PhD programme. Students learn about healthcare systems around the world and develop skills that can be applied in many different contexts.
Our goal is to prepare the healthcare leaders of tomorrow for challenging and rewarding careers.
Department of Health Policy
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1st in london for the 13th year running, 6th in the world.
Carbon Neutral In 2021, LSE became the first Carbon Neutral verified university in the UK
Your application, when to apply.
We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of our staff at LSE. For this reason, we recommend that you take a look at our staff research interests before applying. If you share research interests, you're welcome to apply.
Please note that admission to the doctoral programme will not be made by prospective supervisors, but by the Department's PhD Programme Directors: Professor Andrew Street, Dr Mylene Lagarde, Dr Justin Parkhurst and Dr Huseyin Naci. Admission is subject to there being appropriate supervisory expertise and support available in the Department.
We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your form, such as your:
- academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications with certified transcripts)
- statement of academic purpose
- outline research proposal
- research proposal of maximum 2,500 words
- writing sample of between 2,500 and 7,000 words.
The writing sample must be typed in English. If not in English originally, you should translate the piece yourself. If an article, preference is for single-authored; if an essay, preference is for one from your most recent programme of study. The piece of written work is ideally related to your proposed topic of research or more broadly, to the discipline or area for which you are applying.
The above listed guidance is set by the Department of Health Policy and is specific to your application to the MPhil/PhD programme in Health Policy and Health Economics.
You may wish to review the School's central guidance on supporting documents here . The main steps of your application are outlined by the School. You can familiarise yourself with a range of likely interview questions ahead of writing your application as well. You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You don't need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE, but we recommend that you do. See our English language requirements for further information. LSE's International Students Visa Advice Team will be able to competently advise on any visa queries you may have.
Please note that LSE allows part-time PhD study only under limited circumstances . If you wish to study part-time, you should mention this (and the reasons for it) in your statement of academic purpose, and discuss it at interview if you're shortlisted.
If you have any questions about the programme, please contact us at [email protected] .
The application deadline for this programme is 25 April 2025 .
However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline.
See the fees and funding section below for more details.
Fees and funding
The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.
You're charged a fee for your programme. Your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.
Home student fee (2025/26)
The fee is likely to rise over the full duration of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with fee levels recommended by the Research Councils.
Learn more about fee status classification .
Overseas student fee (2025/26)
The fee is likely to rise over the full duration of the programme in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, four per cent each year).
At LSE, your tuition fees, and eligibility for any financial support, will depend on whether you’re classified as a home or overseas student (known as your fee status). We assess your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department for Education.
Further information about fee status classification .
Scholarships, bursaries and loans
Scholarships, studentships and other funding.
We recognise that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town/city or country and we provide generous scholarships to help both home and overseas students.
For this programme, students can apply for LSE PhD Studentships , and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding . To be considered, you’ll need to submit your application (and any supporting documents) before the funding deadline.
Funding deadlines
First round of LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 15 January 2025 . Second round of LSE PhD Studentships: 25 April 20254 .
In addition to our needs-based awards, we offer scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for certain subjects .
Office of Health Economics (OHE) Studentship
This programme is also currently eligible for a studentship funded by the Office of Health Economics (OHE). For further details, please see here .
Funding deadline for OHE studentship: TBC
Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) Studentship
The Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) affiliated to the Department of Health Policy is currently recruiting for two full-time MPhil/PhD studentships, with a start date of October 2024.
The Centre hosts the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Adult Social Care (ASCRU) and is a partner in the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Economics of Social and Health Care (ESHCRU). New 5-year programmes of work will start in both Units from January 2024.
For further details, please see here .
Funding deadline for CPEC studentship: TBC
External funding
Additional funding opportunities may be available through other organisations or governments. We strongly recommend you investigate these options as well. For example:
- Wellcome Trust
- Health Foundation
- Commonwealth Fund
Further information
Learn more about fees and funding , including external funding opportunities.
Learning and assessment
How you learn, how you're assessed, supervision.
You'll have a Supervisory Team, consisting of a primary and one or two secondary Supervisors. It's a requirement that at least one of the Supervisory Team is a member of the department’s teaching faculty.
The primary supervisor will be based in the Department of Health Policy, encompassing the affiliated research centres and units: LSE Health, the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU at LSE), the National Institute for Health Research School for Social Care Research (NIHR SSCR) and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
The role of primary supervisor is to help define the area of research, advise on sources, choice of materials and methods, and advise on attendance at courses and seminars. Later on, the primary supervisor will discuss the preparation and writing of the student's thesis. This supervisor will also attend to administrative matters, including the annual progress reviews, appointment of examiners, and arrangements for examinations.
The secondary supervisor is likely to be based in the Department of Health Policy, or may be based in another department at LSE. The secondary supervisor's role involves keeping in touch with the student's work, providing additional specialist inputs from time to time, contributing second opinion in the face of difficult choices, and stepping in for the primary supervisor in case of absence or illness.
Progression and assessment
You're required to undertake Major Review (also known as the Upgrade) in the Spring Term of your first year. Following Major Review, a decision is taken whether to upgrade you from MPhil to the PhD programme. In order to earn the upgrade, you need to meet a number of criteria, including achieving a certain grade in taught courses and submitting a 5,000-word thesis document detailing your thesis proposal.
For students who successfully upgrade to PhD enrolment, there will be another review in the second and third year of full-time study. Students will need to meet specific criteria to progress to each following year.
Graduate destinations
Career support.
Recent doctoral graduates who were supervised by staff in the Department of Health Policy went on to be employed in international organisations such as the WHO, IMF, World Bank, European Union, OECD, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and the United Nations. Some joined national and regional Ministries of Health, and the English NHS - and others went on to work with consultancy firms, pharmaceutical companies, and think tanks such as The King's Fund and the Health Foundation.
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
Median salary of our graduate research students 15 months after graduating:
Top 5 sectors our students work in:.
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See LSE Careers for further details.
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