International Health Systems course

Over recent decades a number of developments - such as ageing populations, new technologies and rising costs - have pushed health and healthcare to the top of the political agenda around the world.

Taking an international and comparative approach, this course explores the question of which approaches to designing national health systems are most likely to resolve such challenges.

It enables participants to understand and critically evaluate health systems in terms of their main features, goals, funding, efficiency, fairness and other dimensions. It also provides the tools needed to undertake analysis of health systems in low-, middle- and high-income countries.

Who is it for?

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

Timetable

Term 3

On Campus lectures:

May:  5, 12, 19 and 26 May 2027
June: 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 June 2027
July: 7 July 2027

Online  workshops:

The 1-hour Online workshops on Tuesdays are only intended for distance learning students.

May:  11, 18 and 25 May 2027
June: 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 June 2027
July: 6 and 13 July 2027

Benefits

The key takeaway from this course is the ability to understand and critically evaluate health systems in terms of their main features, goals, funding, efficiency, fairness and other dimensions.

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:

• Develop a critical awareness of the main goals, components and functions of health systems, and of the main actors and stakeholders involved
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of different types of health system, and of the challenges involved in comparing them
• Show a critical appreciation of the advantages and disadvantages of different models of health care financing, including market-based approaches, in terms of their impact on key aims of health systems
• Show a critical understanding of international approaches to resource allocation, priority-setting and rationing
• Demonstrate a critical knowledge of the main approaches to measuring and evaluating the performance of health systems.

Skills:

• Critically analyse national health systems with respect to their organisational and funding principles, and assess their effectiveness
• Conduct electronic and library searches to identify relevant literature and evidence from a range of sources, and critically appraise and synthesise it
• Critically apply appropriate theories, concepts and evidence to the analysis of the issues covered in the course
• Present the results of your research and analysis clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
• 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 appreciation of the complexity of the political, economic and social factors that have influenced the development of health systems, of the ideological and contested nature of debates in these areas, and of the perspectives of those involved in and affected by them
• Show respect and tolerance for other participants
• Correctly reference the work of others and adhere to university regulations regarding good academic practice.

Teaching and learning will take place via a combination 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 weekly from 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.

Assessment

• Assessment 1 (20%): a 30-minute online examination to assess your knowledge and understanding of key concepts and topics covered in the module.
• Assessment 2 (80%): a report of 2,500 words that critically analyses the performance of a specific national health system, chosen by you, and makes recommendations for reform.

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:

• Blank, R.H. et al. (2018) Comparative Health Policy. 5th Edition. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Commonwealth Fund (2024) Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing U.S. Health System.
• OECD. Health at a Glance. Paris: OECD.
• Roberts, M. et al. (2008) Getting Health Reform Right: A Guide to Improving Performance and Equity. Oxford University Press.

The tutor will suggest further reading during the course.