The Health Policy Process, Politics and Power

This course aims to provide participants with an understanding of the social, political, economic and historical factors influencing health policy in the 21st century, both in the UK and internationally.

It focuses particularly on the policy process, its main actors, and on the central roles of politics and power. The course will equip you with the concepts, frameworks and tools you need to make sense of the policy process, to critically analyse health policies and to influence the health policy process by presenting your analyses effectively and persuasively.

Who is it for?

The course is suitable for professionals from a wide range of backgrounds (public, private and third sector) who wish to expand their understanding of health policy and policymaking to support their current or future employment.

Timetable

*Term 1 2026-7 (provisional dates)*

Face to Face Lectures 

Oct: Fridays 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 October 2026
Nov: Fridays 6, 13, 20 and 27 November 2026
Dec: Fridays 4 and 11 December 2026

Online seminars 

The 1-hour Online seminars on Thursdays are only intended for distance learning students.

Oct: Thursdays 8, 15, 22 and 29 October 2026
Nov: Thursdays 5, 12, 19 and 26 November 2026
Dec: Thursdays 3, 10 and 17 December 2026

Benefits

The key takeaways from this course are the concepts, frameworks and tools you need to make sense of the policy process, the ability to critically analyse health policies and the ability to influence the health policy process by presenting your analyses effectively and persuasively

This short course module is designed to be flexible in allowing you to study and reach your goals at your own pace. Our health CPD courses are credit-bearing modules that contribute to a University degree or award.

Transfer course credits towards postgraduate taught degree

As a health care professional, once you've completed this course you could offset 15 credits as part of a postgraduate programme, continuing your study with further modules to make up a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) 60 credits, Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) 120 credits or Master of Science (MSc) 180 credits qualification (all credits must be awarded within five years of study commencing).

By the end of the course you will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding:

• Demonstrate a critical awareness of the main issues and challenges within contemporary health policy.
• Critically assess the social, political and economic factors influencing health policy formulation and implementation.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the health policy process, and the main actors involved.
• Demonstrate familiarity with the main sources of information on health policy-related issues.

Skills:

• Conduct electronic and library searches in order to identify relevant literature and evidence from a range of sources.
• Critically apply appropriate theories, concepts and evidence to the analysis of issues, debates and initiatives within contemporary health policy.
• Apply a systematic and critical understanding of health policy formulation and implementation to explain contemporary policy issues and developments.
• Present the results of your research and analysis clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Develop and enhance transferable skills in policy analysis.
• Engage critically and independently in debates related to the issues covered in the course.
• Work effectively and collaboratively within multi-professional groups.

Values and attitudes:

• Show an appreciation of the role of politics and power in shaping health policy and healthcare, and of the ideological and ethical dimension of debates within this area.
• Show respect and tolerance for other participants.
• Correctly reference the work of others and adhere to University regulations regarding good academic practice.

You will produce a health policy briefing paper of 2,500 words (80%). Briefing papers are documents that quickly and effectively inform decision-makers about an issue, distilling often complex information into a brief, clear, well-structured document, including conclusions and recommendations.

There will also be an assessed group presentation (20%).

Teaching and learning will take place via a mix of lectures, group activities and discussions which allow you to examine the issues in more detail, providing both teacher and peer-led input, promoting discussion and developing communication and group working skills.

Teaching sessions will take place over 10 days (typically 10am to 1pm) and are supplemented by self-directed study which allows you both to gain a deeper understanding of the subject generally, and to pursue topics which are of particular interest to you in greater detail.

Teaching and learning are facilitated by Moodle, the university’s online Virtual Learning Environment.

The course is worth 15 credits and can be taken as either a standalone course or as part of a range of PG Diploma and MSc programmes.

This course is provided by the School of Health & Medical Sciences.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

• A good honours degree, second-class or equivalent
• Experience of working in the health sector may be considered as equivalent to a good honours degree for suitable applicants.
• In addition, we consider applications from capable individuals who may not have prior experience of working within the health sector but have clear plans for a future career path in health policy.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 6.5
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.

There is no single textbook for this course, however relevant texts include:

• Buse, K. et al. (2023). Making Health Policy. 3rd Edition. Open University Press.
• Cairney, P. (2020). Understanding Public Policy: Theories and Issues. 2nd Edition. Palgrave Macmillan

The tutor will suggest further reading during the course.