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Postgraduate Course

Healthcare Management MBA

Prepare to respond to the biggest challenges in the healthcare industry. Build the knowledge and skills needed to facilitate management strategies.

Business owner looking through student work

Dealing with the complex environment of modern healthcare requires skilled leaders and managers. Healthcare leaders now need skills in human and financial resources management, leadership, strategic planning and organisational design as well as an ability to manage complex change. Our specialist MBA gives you the opportunity to develop these skills. You will enhance your capacity to analyse and understand the complex nature of healthcare and how it is delivered.

York campus

  • Duration – 1 year full time, 2 years full time with year in industry
  • Start date – January 2025, September 2025
  • School – York Business School

Minimum entry requirements

2:2 undergraduate degree from a UK ENIC listed institution

Experience Evidence of relevant experience if your degree is in an unrelated subject

Tuition fees

    UK 2025-26 £10,000 full time

    International 2025-26 £11,800 full time

Course overview

Our Healthcare Management MBA brings together contemporary academic theory and research with a practical understanding of activities within organisations. On this course you will develop key personal and professional skills in healthcare management. These will put you in a strong position to advance your career. You will explore issues that have a significant impact on organisations by working with others and building on the experience of those around you.

You will focus on the key skills, processes and practices of business, management and healthcare management. You will work with your fellow learners on solutions to real problems. This work will enhance your ability to maximise individual and organisational potential.

The major management project you undertake will involve solving a significant organisational issue. This could be a piece of work that is actionable in your current workplace or of importance to organisations generally.

Choosing to study this course with the placement year will give you the opportunity to gain relevant experience in the sector. There are 2 types of placement available, so you can choose the one that best aligns with your ambitions.

Course structure

How you will study

This course can only be studied full time. You can choose to study the course for 1 year without a placement, or for 2 years which includes a placement year.

You will study:

  • 6 compulsory modules
  • A compulsory Capstone Project or a Business Consultancy Project if you are on the placement route

You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.

Modules

Credits: 20

Compulsory module

On this module, you will review the relationship between business and society. You will learn how the concept of sustainability promotes a holistic process of change and how businesses can act more responsibly towards the community, society and the global environment. You will discover how to apply the concepts taught to business management activities to enhance competitive advantage.

Credits: 20

Compulsory module

On this module, you will critically evaluate theories concerning the processes of innovation and change within organisations. In the private sector, innovation is a key factor in competitive success. In the public and not-for-profit sectors, innovation can reconfigure services and processes to meet client needs more effectively. In organisations of all kinds, managers and professionals need to be able to lead and manage change.

Credits: 20

Compulsory module

Explore key international business theories, concepts and consider the strategic role played by transnational firms (TNCs) as the primary movers and shapers of the global economic system. You will gain an appreciation of the following:

  • Principal institutional and organisational macrostructures of the global economy
  • The role of the state
  • International organisations
  • Regional trading blocs in shaping international business.

You will also consider the impact of the diverse national business systems on firm strategy.

Credits: 20

Compulsory module

On this module you will develop an understanding of the theory and practice relating to the key aspects of financial and management accounting. You will explore the principles of financial accounting and the interpretation of accounts. This will involve an introduction to management accounting including the principles of cost accounting and short/long term decision making.

Credits: 20

Compulsory module

On this module you will build your cognitive skills and computational thinking. You will also consider the relevance of these skills to business concepts, critical evaluation and professional considerations. You will develop a deep understanding of the impact and meaning of data. It is also an opportunity to examine data analytics technique in term of problem solving, predicting and decision making in business context.

Credits: 20

Compulsory module

On this module, you will explore the complexities of the healthcare sector. You will understand how innovation and attaining excellence during turbulent times influences contemporary hospital and health strategy. Using a market segmentation model, you will develop an understanding of the need for effective operational management and quality service.

Credits: 60

Compulsory module

The Capstone Project is a mixed module that you can complete by either submitting a dissertation or a business consultancy project. The aim of this module is to encourage you to select a route where you can demonstrate the understanding and knowledge gained from the course and how this can be applied in a practical or theoretical way in a particular setting or context.

Credits: 60

Compulsory module

If you choose to study the MBA with Professional Placement, you will complete an additional module:

You will work independently to produce a consultancy project during your placement year. Throughout this module an academic supervisor will support your independent study. On this project you will reflect on your experiences on placement and apply what you have learnt. You will:

  • Engage with the practice of management consulting
  • Negotiate a scope of work
  • Collect and analyse data
  • Prepare and present a consulting report

The MBA with Professional Experience

If you choose the MBA with Professional Experience, you will be expected to engage in experiential activity lasting the equivalent of an academic year.

There are currently 2 options available:

Work placement

The placement is designed to address the demands of the business management profession and give you a competitive edge when it comes to your career. The work placement will provide opportunities to apply knowledge and skills learnt in the taught modules, enhance communication and interpersonal skills and improve employment potential. The placement component is for an academic year in duration, which starts after you have successfully completed the taught modules. During your placement, you will also work towards and complete your Business Consultancy Project.

It is ultimately your responsibility to secure your placement. The University will offer guidance and support, and may recommend you to our partners that have expressed strong support and interest in the course.

Venture Creation Lab

The Venture Creation Lab uses the University’s expertise to help you build entrepreneurial skills and knowledge,through the development of a new commercial opportunity.

The Venture Creation Lab is an opportunity to implement the knowledge you will have gained through the taught modules in a practical environment, enhance communication and interpersonal skills, and improve your employment potential. You will will be based in the Lab for a maximum of one academic year, which will commence after successful completion of the taught modules. If you choose this option you will also base your Business Consultancy Project on the commercial opportunity developed in the Lab.

International students on a Tier 4 visa will have a valid CAS for the course duration of two years, subject to your meeting the UKVI’s standard requirements.

During the Professional Experience period, you will complete the Business Consultancy Project, which represents 60 credits of your qualification. The Professional Experience is only available if you are studying full time.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and learning

All of our modules are taught using a range of teaching and learning techniques, including:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

The emphasis is always on collaborative learning. We encourage you to share expertise and insights, allowing you all to learn from each other as well as your lecturers.

You will receive opportunities for study support, including academic writing and research skills, to enhance employability and career development in the field of business management.

Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.

Assessment

Your assessments are designed to mirror real organisational activities. The types of assessment will be varied and may include:

  • Presentations
  • Critical essays
  • Portfolios
  • Reflective journals
  • Case study work

You will receive detailed feedback on assessments to help you develop and continuously improve your performance.

Placements

This course comes with the option of a full year in industry placement.

Entry requirements

Qualifications

Minimum entry requirements

    2:2 undergraduate degree from a UK ENIC listed institution

    Experience Evidence of relevant experience if your degree is in an unrelated subject

If your degree is in an unrelated subject, but you can provide evidence of relevant professional experience, your application may still be considered.

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

Fees and funding

UK 2024 - 2025 entry

The tuition fee for this postgraduate course in the 2024 - 2025 academic year is:

  • £10,000 for the 1 year course without a placement year
  • £11,500 for the 2 year course with a placement year

These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

International 2024 - 2025 entry

The tuition fee for this postgraduate course in the 2024 - 2025 academic year is:

  • £11,800 for the 1 year course without a placement year
  • £15,400 for the 2 year course with a placement year

These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

    UK 2025-26 £10,000 full time

    International 2025-26 £11,800 full time

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

Career outcomes

Where could Health Management MBA take you?

A master's in business administration (MBA) is internationally recognised. It is an award that is highly regarded by employers. By completing this course you not only have a qualification that makes you stand out, but all the skills, knowledge and behaviour employers look for.

This degree can prepare you for a career as a:

  • Senior manager in health or social care
  • Business manager
  • Managing director of your own company

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £6,500 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree (Department for Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2022).

Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

  • Employer events
  • LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
  • Workshops on application writing and interview skills
  • Work experience and volunteering opportunities
  • Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.

Apply for this course

For postgraduate degrees you must apply directly to York St John University using the links below. This will take you to the application form you need to fill out for this specific course. 

To complete the online application form you will need to create login details. 

Fees and key information

Apply now

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