Find out more about this course at our postgraduate open events in November.
Global Health (Health Systems) - MSc
Are you passionate about the way health systems work? Do you want to understand not just what makes people sick, but how the systems designed to keep them healthy succeed or fail? The MSc in Global Health (Health Systems) is a specialisation within IGHD’s Global and Public Health Framework. It combines our comprehensive global health foundation with a specific focus on health systems.
Health systems are the foundation for delivering essential health services in an effective, efficient and equitable way for all. However, health systems are also complex, political, and constantly under pressure. In this MSc Global Health pathway, you’ll develop the skills to understand how health systems work, why they succeed or struggle, and what can be done to strengthen them. You’ll dig into the big questions: Who funds and who governs health systems? How can they be made more accountable, inclusive, and resilient? What happens when systems face conflict, climate shocks, or forced displacement, and what needs to be done in the wake of these crises?
In addition to the shared modules that all IGHD postgraduate students take in the September term, you’ll take two pathway-specific modules that bring these health systems issues to life: Health Systems and Policy and Health Systems in Fragile Settings.
The health systems pathway is ideal if you want to be part of designing, managing, or supporting stronger, fairer health systems—whether through government, NGOs, humanitarian organisations, or multilateral agencies, including WHO, UNICEF, and other multilateral agencies. By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to lead, support, or influence health system reforms that make a real impact in people’s lives.
The course can be studied full time or part time with entry dates in September and January.
Why QMU?
The Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) at QMU offers a range of postgraduate courses designed for those who wish to work in health policy and practice, addressing health inequities from local communities to global settings.
- Unique academic institution: The Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) at QMU offers a range of postgraduate courses designed for those who wish to work in health policy and practice, addressing health inequities from local communities to global settings. Our researchers are at the forefront of health policy and systems research, and we are known for informing and influencing policy and practice in low- and middle-income countries and fragile settings.
- Transform careers and communities: Our courses put a strong focus on the social aspects of health and on health systems strengthening from a community-based perspective. They will equip you to work on improving health outcomes for communities facing significant challenges internationally, nationally, and locally. You will develop a strong understanding of current global health and development issues and challenges, and you will gain the tools you need to forge positive change.
- Access to expertise and industry connections: You will learn from leading experts in global health and build lasting professional relationships. At IGHD we work directly with ministries of health, international and national organisations and local communities to develop real solutions to health and development problems. Our partners include:
- Health Systems Global
- Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Network
- Scottish International Development Alliance
- Development Studies Association
- Scottish Government
- Scottish Refugee Council
- At QMU we hosted the NIHR Research Unit on Health in Situations of Fragility (RUHF) and we are part of the UK FCDO-funded project ReBUILD for Resilience
- A commitment to equity: Our work at IGHD addresses the health and wellbeing of those in greatest need, wherever they may be, from vulnerable populations in Scotland to those marginalised groups in low- and middle-income countries.
- Expertise that matters: Our teaching and research expertise spans health financing, support to fragile and conflict-affected settings, climate change, and priority health issues including mental health, chronic disease, sexual and reproductive health and rights, refugee integration, and child protection. Our teaching team brings real-world case studies and insights from their field experience across diverse contexts including Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
On the MSc in Global Health (Health Systems) course you will study a systems-based approach to the social, political, and economic factors influencing health system performance, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries and fragile settings. You will work on integrating theory and practice, developing critical thinking skills and widening your perspective on current and historical health system challenges and reforms.
You will be able to evaluate the importance of health system strengthening and health governance, developing critical thinking skills and widening your perspective on current and historical health system issues including financing, service delivery, workforce development, and health information systems.
Structure and exit awards
You can opt to study for the full MSc (180 credits), a PgDip (120 credits) or a PgCert (60 credits). Please note all students will initially enrol onto the MSc course.
You can also register as an associate student to complete a single module for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). On completion of a single module, you may wish to complete further modules and progress your studies to a named award. A variety of modules can be studied for CPD. Contact IGHD for more information.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Our teaching is guided by case-based learning, complemented with lectures, seminars, tutorials, simulation exercises, and projects. Assessment is continuous and incorporates essays, action plans, projects, and presentations. For your dissertation project, you can choose to do a desk-based study involving a literature review or conduct primary data collection in collaboration with national or international organisations working in global health and development.
Teaching hours and attendance
Your exact attendance requirements at QMU will depend on the module you are studying and whether you are studying full time or part time. In addition, for each module students spend approximately 10-12 hours of each week on preparing class work independently and with colleagues, including readings and exercises available on dedicated web-based learning platforms.
Class sizes
We expect approximately 10 students to enrol for this course each year.
Teaching staff
You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.
PgCert
For the award of PgCert you will complete the following modules:
- Health Systems in Fragile Settings (20 credits)*: In this online module, you will learn to analyse health systems under stress and develop a critical understanding of approaches to health system strengthening in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS), with a case-based approach. You will explore the challenges to health systems during and post crises and discuss concepts and approaches to health system strengthening in humanitarian response and in the recovery process after acute shocks, or in chronic crises
- Health Systems and Policy (20 credits)*: In this module you will deepen your understanding of health systems as complex, adaptive social institutions, focusing on the application of health policy and systems research (HPSR) frameworks and methods. You will critically engage with how systems function, how they are governed, financed, and reformed, and how they interface with the communities they serve. Through an HPSR lens, you will explore the political economy of health systems, the role of actors and institutions, and the dynamics of implementation.
- And 20 credits of additional taught modules from the following list:
- Key Concepts in Health and Development (20 credits)
- Key Methods in Health and Development (20 credits)
- Key Practice in Health and Development (20 credits)
- Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health (20 credits)
- Gender and Sexual Health Rights in Action (20 credits)
- Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (20 credits)
- Project Design and Management (20 credits)
- Introduction to Biostatistics and Epidemiology (20 credits)
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (20 credits)
- Applied Approaches to Climate and Health (20 credits)
NB Students leaving with 60 credits of study, but without having completed the two modules marked '*'will be awarded a PgCert Global Health without specialisation.
PgDip
For the award of PgDip (120 credits) you will complete the following modules:
- Key Concepts in Health and Development (20 credits): In this module, you will be introduced to key concepts in health and development, providing a strong conceptual foundation to the field. You will define and critically engage with fundamental principles, theories, and approaches, enabling you to assess health and development from both global and local perspectives. The module explores essential metrics and measures, equipping you to analyse health outcomes and disparities.
- Key Methods in Health and Development (20 credits): In this module, you will develop a strong foundation in research methodologies essential for global health and development. You will explore how knowledge and evidence are produced, validated, and applied, gaining insight into the strengths and limitations of various research approaches. By comparing diverse epistemological and methodological frameworks, you will critically assess their theoretical foundations, ethical considerations, and practical applications
- Key Practice in Health and Development (20 credits): You will explore the practical and analytical approaches needed to assess and improve population health, health systems, and social and economic development in diverse contexts. You will learn how to apply system-level thinking to address health challenges from local to global levels, and integrate principles of inclusivity, equity, and sustainability into systems, policies, and programmes. Through critical engagement with evidence, you will assess systems, strategies, and interventions designed to tackle key health and development issues across different settings.
- Health Systems in Fragile Settings (20 credits): In this online module, you will learn to analyse health systems under stress and develop a critical understanding of approaches to health system strengthening in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS), with a case-based approach. You will explore the challenges to health systems during and post crises and discuss concepts and approaches to health system strengthening in humanitarian response and in the recovery process after acute shocks, or in chronic crises
- Health Systems and Policy (20 credits): In this module you will deepen your understanding of health systems as complex, adaptive social institutions, focusing on the application of health policy and systems research (HPSR) frameworks and methods. You will critically engage with how systems function, how they are governed, financed, and reformed, and how they interface with the communities they serve. Through an HPSR lens, you will explore the political economy of health systems, the role of actors and institutions, and the dynamics of implementation.
- And 20 credits of additional taught modules from the following list:
- Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health (20 credits)
Gender and Sexual Health Rights in Action (20 credits)
Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (20 credits)
Project Design and Management (20 credits)
Introduction to Biostatistics and Epidemiology (20 credits)
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (20 credits)
Applied Approaches to Climate and Health (20 credits)
MSc
For the award of an MSc you will also complete a Dissertation (60 credits) involving desk study or fieldwork on an approved topic relevant to health systems.
This course could be a major turning point in your career. You will be ideally equipped for employment as a global, international health practitioner, senior health manager or policy maker working in, or advising, a low- or middle-income context or one in economic transition.
Entry requirements
A UK honours degree or equivalent from a relevant subject area (arts, humanities, health or social sciences). Students without an honours degree may be considered if they have other relevant qualifications and/or appropriate work experience.
International students: You will be required to provide evidence of English language competence at no less than IELTS 6.5 with no individual component score less than 6.0.
Disability/health conditions
If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or learning disability, it should not stand in the way of your studying at QMU. However, if you are not sure whether your disability might be a barrier in your studies or in relation to the professional standards, please contact the disability service who will be able to have a conversation with you about reasonable adjustments and supports available to you.
Applying for this course
For more information on applying, or to apply for this course, please follow the links in the 'Start your application' box at the top right of this page.
Application deadline
Home students: End of August for a September 2026 start and end of December for a January 2027 start.
International students: End of June 2026 for a September 2026 start and end of November for a January 2027 start.
Contact Admissions or contact IGHD for more information.
International applicants may apply for a competitive Commonwealth Scholarship.
- The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2026/27 Entry - Terms and Conditions (Postgraduate).
- The information on this page is correct at the time of posting (September 2025) but is subject to change. In the event that modules change, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.
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A Student Story (see bottom of page for more)
“The MSc Global Health is a much needed degree for any professional who wants to build a career in the health development sector, both in and beyond their own country. I was drawn to the key aspect of this course, which focuses on health systems management globally, particularly in fragile and post-conflict areas."
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