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Health Economics and Decision Modelling
School of Health and Related Research,
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health

Course description
On this course you’ll study a growing area with a worldwide demand for qualified specialists.
The importance and use of health technology assessment and health economic modelling is rapidly increasing. This course helps you to become highly employable by developing the analytical skills required to evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of health technologies such as new drugs, public health initiatives, screening programmes and diagnostic tools.
Sheffield has nine professors of health economics and decision sciences, including the world-renowned Prof John Brazier and in Professors Alan Brennan, Jim Chilcott and Matt Stevenson who are some of the most experienced health economic modelling experts in the country. You'll develop the transferable skills and knowledge to work anywhere in the world as a professional decision-analytic modeller or health economist.
Modules
Continuing Professional Development
All modules on this course can be studied as standalone CPD modules. It is possible to complete standalone modules and then apply to transfer to an MSc/PGDip/PGCert qualification. Any time spent on the CPD route counts toward the time-limit a student has to complete their chosen qualification.
Core modules:
- Introduction to Health Economics
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This module is concerned with understanding the key elements in the theory of health economics. Students are introduced to some of the key principles and tools of microeconomics which are then used to examine the peculiarities of the market for health care. In particular, the module focuses on how the market for health care 'fails' and what the implications are for consumption, production and distribution. Students are encouraged to critically appraise the alternative approaches to overcoming some of these market failures.
15 credits - Economic Evaluation
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This module introduces the basic principles of economic evaluation as applied to healthcare interventions. The course introduces the concept of economic evaluation, the different types that are available and the various stages and techniques that need to be applied to generate results. Current practice guidelines will be described so that students can understand the current policy context of the methods. Also, as alternative techniques are described, their strengths and weaknesses will be highlighted, with the students being encouraged to critically appraise their appropriateness to different contexts.
15 credits - Cost-effectiveness Modelling for Health Technology Assessment
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This module provides an introduction to mathematical modelling and its role in informing clinical policy and resource allocation decisions in international healthcare systems. The core of the module is cost-effectiveness modelling, interpretation and appraisal. Specific methods include problem definition and structuring, decision trees, and Markov/state transition modelling. The methods outlined in this module will be transferable to decision problems in other settings outside of healthcare. Lectures will be augmented by practical modelling sessions.
15 credits - Medical Statistics and Evidence Synthesis
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This module introduces students to key concepts and methods used in medical statistics. The module is organised in two parts: 1) the design, analysis and reporting of randomised control trials, and 2) the synthesis of evidence from multiple clinical trials using meta-analysis methods and quantifying uncertainty using experts' beliefs. Classical (i.e. frequentist) and Bayesian meta-analysis methods will be presented with an emphasis on how evidence can be used to represent uncertainty about input parameters in decision analytical models.
15 credits - Study Design and Systematic Review Methods
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This module provides an introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods, combining theoretical instruction with practical exercises both in class and as part of MOLE activities. This unit provides a foundation in research methods which complements the other modules on this course. There is an emphasis on research methods used in the evaluation, assessment and analysis of technologies in healthcare.
15 credits - Valuing the Benefits of Health Care
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This unit explores in detail specialist topics related to the valuation of healthcare benefits. The course content is based around three topics; the assessment of outcomes in economic evaluation, the quality adjusted life year (QALY) model and its weaknesses, and the use of alternative methods like willingness to pay. All topics will start with the basic critical appraisal of these methods developed in HAR6260 Economic Evaluation and explore in greater depths the weaknesses of conventional methods and the alternative formulations that are available.
15 credits - Further Statistical Methods for Health Economic Analysis
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The module builds on key concepts introduced in HAR6170 Medical Statistics and Evidence Synthesis and HAR6260 Economic Evaluation in order to develop further the statistical skills needed in health economics. Students are introduced to a range of advanced statistical topics to address issues that arise in cost effectiveness analyses, including the analysis of cost data, time-to-event data, and treatment effect estimation using data from observational studies. The module is taught using a mixture of lectures, group discussions and hands-on computer practicals.
15 credits - Advanced Simulation Methods
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This module provides an in-depth review of simulation rationale, techniques and methodologies with a particular focus on discrete event simulation and their practical application to inform healthcare decision making. From the fundamentals of a basic model the course will progress to modelling complex systems, validation, interpreting output and variance reduction techniques. The methods outlined in this module will be transferable to decision problems in settings other than healthcare. Lectures will be augmented by practical modelling sessions.Students need to have a basic level of knowledge of health economic modelling for this module.
15 credits - Dissertation
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Full-time and part-time students will complete a research-based project with an external organisation (e.g. academic unit, industry or the NHS), or in an internal setting (internal placement, self- or funder-developed projects) within ScHARR for 3 months (July to September inclusive). The project will culminate in a written dissertation that will generally involve adapting or developing a new cost-effectiveness model or addressing a health economic problem that makes use of the competences from the programmes quantitative modules. The dissertation module provides students with an opportunity to practice and develop the skills acquired on the programme and to prepare them for future employment.
60 credits
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. We are no longer offering unrestricted module choice. If your course included unrestricted modules, your department will provide a list of modules from their own and other subject areas that you can choose from.
Book open day
ScHARR campus courses - online open day
Thursday 6 April 2023, 12-1pm UK time
Find out more about studying at Sheffield at our online event. You'll have the chance to ask course tutors your questions during question and answer sessions.
Duration
- 1 year full-time
- 2/3 years part-time
Teaching
You’ll be taught through lectures, seminars, tutorials and independent study.
Assessment
Assessment is by coursework, examinations and a dissertation.
Your career
You will find career opportunities exist around the world (including the UK, Europe, USA, Australia, Africa, and Canada) in:
- health-economics related consultancies that conduct health technology assessment projects for governments, reimbursement agencies or other clients outside of academia
- health economics and decision science groups within academia – as a modeller or health-economic analyst working on projects for a range of clients – HEDS itself often employs graduates from the course
- academia studying for a PhD in modelling, health economics or related disciplines such as informing trial design
- the pharmaceutical industry in a health economics or reimbursement team
- government or other health policy organisations such as NICE
- health insurance companies
- healthcare purchase or provider organisations
Outside of the field of health economics and health technology assessment, graduates will be well equipped with quantitative and modelling skills sought for jobs within government agencies such as the Government Operational Research Service (GORS) and quantitative or modelling roles within the commercial sector.
Student profiles
This course helped me get up to speed on health economics modelling terminology and techniques fast enabling me to progress considerably more quickly than would have been the case without.
Dawn Lee
MSc Health Economics and Decision Modelling graduate
Entry requirements
You need at least a 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a numerate subject, such as economics, operational research, mathematics, statistics, pharmacy or industrial engineering, management science, physics, or pharmacy or systems control.
Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
Apply
You can apply for postgraduate study using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
scharr-pgt-enquiries@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5454
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.