Change for better Quality and Efficiency by connecting Health Care Perspectives.
If you’re already studying Health Economics and would like to find out more about specific details of your master programme, you’ll find what you’re looking for on the Pages relating the Programme structure of the Master Health Economics.
Key Facts
Degree:
Master of Science
Duration:
4 Semesters
Credits:
120 ECTS
Language:
English, German
Content:
Application of knowledge, theories and methods in Business Administration, Medicine, Health Economics, Sociology and Economics to show the interdisci- plinary opportunities of quality and efficiency improvements in health care.
International:
1 optional Semester Abroad
This programme provides you with:
skills for a career as a health economics specialist in microeconomic management, administration, associations and health care governance institutions.
in-depth knowledge to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of the field based on the stakeholder groups that are relevant to health care (e.g. managers, policymakers, physicians).
methods for the application of health economic tools to support, shape or implement decision-making processes.
The Master’s Degree in Health Economics gives me the opportunity to deepen my knowledge in the fields of medicine, business administration and economics. I am particularly interested in learning how healthcare markets can be designed efficiently without losing focus on the best possible patient care.
This programme is right for you if you:
have successfully completed a bachelor’s or equivalent degree in health economics
are motivated to learn new and interdisciplinary topics in a target-oriented way.
have mathematical understanding and good verbal and written expression in German and English.
work as a team player, because working in groups is often practiced in seminars and an important key factor for connecting health care perspectives.
This programme is right for you if you are interested in the following topics:
identification of the most important national and international players in health care systems
development and analysis of economic decision-making in companies
advancement of management skills
analysing diseases that are significant in terms of health economics and assessing how appropriate health care management can help tackle them
the benefit of evidence-based medicine as a key factor in therapy decisions
assessment of health policy measures, ethical implications of structures and courses of action evaluation of methodological designs in the context of clinical trials
Programme Overview
Connection of Health Care Perspectives
By incorporating the medical, management and system perspective into the programme structure, you as a student will be prepared for a successful career in healthcare with an all-embracing understanding. The course contents are taught by researchers and experts from the field and thus create a well-founded portfolio of theories, methods and interdisciplinary applications.
Specialised Career Tracks
With the innovative development of a Health Care Manager and a Health Care Analyst Track, you have the opportunity to set a focus from the second semester onwards. The tracks recommend courses from the study programme and help you to select courses according to the desired career profile.
Health economics is a pioneering field, bringing together the perspectives of different stakeholders from the realms of management, medicine and policy making.
Unique Cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine
This Master of Science in Health Economics at the University of Cologne is the only study programme that can provide such close teaching and research cooperation between a Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences and a Faculty of Medicine in Germany. As a student of health economics, you have the opportunity to participate in courses from the medical studies in order to deepen your knowledge from a medical perspective.
International
English taught programme
In addition to courses in German, the study programme also provides courses in English. Selected courses discuss international topics from research and health economic practice. In this way, students can get an international overview of different health care systems.
Optional Semester abroad
Our cooperation agreements with an extensive number of excellent partner universities worldwide provide you with attractive options for your term abroad. The study programme structure offers many interdisciplinary options for a semester abroad.
Broad international network
With its balanced theoretical and practical approach, the internationally focused master’s programme prepares you for a career in international work environments and enables you to work for internationalised companies. In addition to this, the WiSo Faculty has a strong alumni network of former students working in all business segments across the globe.
International Option
Double Master’s Programme in Health Economics and Management
The Double Master’s Programme in Health Economics and Management gives you the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of two top-ranking universities in two different countries:
Enjoy the advantages offered by the interdisciplinary approach and the participation of three faculties, the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cologne and the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at Maastricht University.
Study at each university for one year and graduate with two master’s degrees: a Master of Science in Health Economics from the University of Cologne and a Master of Science in Healthcare Policy, Innovation and Management from Maastricht University.
In terms of job prospects, Cologne is a very attractive location for students of health economics. Many hospitals, well-known pharmaceutical companies, insurance and consulting firms are located in Cologne and the surrounding region. We help you forge ties with our partners even before you have completed the programme.
Upon graduation from the interdisciplinary Master in Health Economics programme, you will be prepared to work in public and private healthcare institutions. Your work will include tasks in the field of management, administration or in associations as well as health policy management institutions. Further professional prospects for graduates of this interdisciplinary programme include activities in academic teaching and health, as well as health policy research.
Through my studies at the University of Cologne with a focus on corporate finance and management in the healthcare sector, I have enjoyed a sound education from which I still benefit today. Even during my thesis on the subject of “Management structures of hospital management” I was able to establish initial contacts with my current colleagues. My solid theoretical knowledge, which I acquired during my studies, was the basis on which I was able to continuously build.
Exemplary areas for job opportunities
Health Care Manager Track
Controller for hospitals
Assistance to the board of directors at the hospital
Consultant
Project Manager of health care providers
Quality Manager
While studying Health Economics in Cologne, I really enjoyed the close connection with research. It inspired me to pursue my PhD studies and to start working in an international academic environment.
Exemplary areas for job opportunities
Health Care Analyst Track
Controller for hospitals
Assistance to the board of directors at the hospital
Consultant
Project Manager of health care providers
Quality Manager
Information on the application
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements must be fulfilled until the application deadline:
Bachelor's degree
Application in the case of unfinished Bachelor studies: In cases where present Bachelor studies have not been fully completed, application is permitted if the candidate has earned at least 80% of the required credits and will have achieved the remaining results by 30 September at the latest. The specific admission criteria governing the designated course of study (including the overall grade) must already have been fulfilled on the basis of the exam results available at the time of application.
Overall grade of at least 2.7 (German grade) in the Bachelor’s degree
Fulfilment of the following subject-related requirements
At least 60 ECTS credits in Health Economics and/or the field of Business Administration and Economics
At least 15 ECTS credits in Medicine
At least 18 ECTS credits in the field of Methods in Health Economics
If the number of applicants meeting the admission criteria exceeds the number of places available for this course of study, a selection procedure is initiated for the purpose of ranking these applicants. The procedure is based on the grade earned in the Bachelor’s degree or a course of study deemed equivalent. The admission results of the last selection procedures can be found here.
The following documents must be uploaded to the Master's online application portal by the WiSo Faculty the Master's application portal of the WiSo Faculty - certified documents are recommended but not obligatory. For enrolment, all documents must be presented in original or authenticated form.
Bachelor degree certificate | If you have not finished your bachelor studies but have passed at least 80% of the examinations (at least 144 credits in a bachelor degree carrying 180 ECTS credits), you can apply by submitting a confirmation of all credits earned so far, along with a provisional average grade computed and certified by your examination office. Please note that the remaining credits must be earned by 30 September.
Transcript of records | list of all taken modules and courses including grades and credits
Transcript of semester abroad | only if examinations passed abroad should be considered for the admission criteria as well | the courses have to be recognised by the home university as part of the bachelor programme and recorded in the transcript of records.
University entrance certificate | A-levels/ High school diploma
Official description of the content of all taken bachelor courses | e.g. course catalogue or PDF-file with link to course description at the website of the University (see FAQ 1.12)
Proof of German language proficiency | This is not necessary for applicants who obtained their bachelor's degree or university entrance certificate (e.g. Abitur) in German language
If you are interested in the Double Master's Degree in Health Economics and Management, please check the additional application documents and the different application deadline (see FAQ 4.2).
2) Applicants, who did not obtain their bachelor's degree in Germany must additionally apply online via uni-assist until 15 June. For your online application, please select "Winter Semester" and search for "Universität zu Köln".
Please note, you have to document your education in detail. You start with the certificate from the last school you graduated from (which entitles you to begin university studies in your home country) and continue up to the current state of progress in your university studies. Furthermore, you have to hand in all documents in original language and additionally in translation either in German or in English language.
Uni-assist recommends sending in the application at least eight weeks before the deadline expires. This ensures that uni-assist can inform applicants in time if they need to submit further documents. Only after the handling fee has been paid, the application will be evaluated.
The following documents are required by uni-assist - certified documents are recommended but not obligatory.
(translated) bachelor degree certification or attestation of 80% studies and Transcript of Records | Please submit all certificates in their entirety: include the diploma certificate as well as the overview of subjects and grades. You must not omit any parts of the certificate or single pages. In order to calculate your grade, uni-assist needs the grading system used by your university for your degree. More information can be read here.
(translated) university entrance qualification | e.g. A-level, High School diploma
proof of English language proficiency
proof of German language proficiency
all documents listed above in the original language | Only if the original document is not available in English or German language. Information about translation and authentication of documents can be read here.
only for applicants with Chinese (except Hongkong) or Vietnamese bachelor’s certificates | original APS certificate| certified copies cannot be accepted!
please check whether you need to hand in further additional depending on the country of origin: country-specific documents
not mandatory, however, useful for the uni-assist evaluation:(translated) diploma supplement
Application and admission procedure
Information on the application process and deadlines can be found on the application website.
From the middle of March onwards you can submit your application via WiSo Faculty's Master's Application Portal. Applicants with a (bachelor’s) degree acquired abroad must additionally apply via uni-assist online until 15 June (date of receipt). If you apply for our Double Master’s Programme(s) the deadline is 30 April (date of receipt). Detailed information about the admission procedure, admission deadlines and required documents are provided at the application website.
We are looking forward receiving your application!
Detailed information and contact
We are happy to support you in your ambitions:
For students the WiSo Student Service Point offers not only advice on studying but also support on all aspects of career choice, career planning and the application process:
WiSo Student Service Point Phone: +49 (0) 221/470-8818
