Health Economics and Policy

PhD

  • Entry year 2027 or 2026
  • Duration Part time 4 - 7 years
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Overview

Study a part-time, online PhD in health economics and policy

The Health Economics and Policy PhD at Lancaster University is a flexible, part-time doctoral programme designed for professionals who want to make an original contribution to health economics research without stepping away from their current role or existing commitments.

Delivered primarily online, the programme combines expert academic supervision, structured research training and optional face-to-face academies, making it suitable for students based across the UK and internationally.

Whether you work in healthcare settings, pharmaceutical companies, international organisations, local or central government, consultancies, education or research, this doctorate allows you to investigate real-world health economics and policy challenges while developing advanced research expertise.

The programme explores diverse areas of health economics, including economic evaluation, priority setting in health care and economic evaluation.

Why choose Lancaster University for a PhD in health economics and policy?

At Lancaster University, we have built a strong international reputation for health economics research, with our Health Economics at Lancaster (HEAL) team bringing together expertise in health economics, health policy and economic evaluation, complemented by the Economics department at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS).

Reasons to choose Lancaster for your Health Economics and Policy PhD

  • Flexible online study that fits around professional or personal commitments
  • Supervision from internationally recognised health economics researchers with 15 years' experience of delivering quality online education
  • A structured programme combining taught research methods with independent doctoral research
  • Join a global network of like-minded students, including policy-makers and global health professionals
  • Benefit from Lancaster University's connections with healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies and international organisations
  • Draw on the combined expertise of the HEAL team and the Economics department at Lancaster University Management School

The course begins with a five-day induction academy at our Lancaster campus. This event is a great opportunity to build your network of fellow students and meet your supervisors face-to-face. While we strongly encourage you to attend in person to gain the full benefit of this event, joining online is possible if you are unable to travel.

About our health economics and policy research

Health economics goes beyond assessing the value of new treatments, services, or policies; it also explores the wider implications for patients and communities.

Our research produces evidence to support health policymaking to improve population health and wellbeing.?

We deliver insights and innovative approaches to help?policy-makers?make informed decisions about the allocation of finite resources.

This includes examining the trade-offs when resources are directed to one area over another and analysing how the costs and benefits of healthcare are shared across?different groups?within society.?

We are a team shaped by a culture of continuous learning, knowledge exchange, and ambitious intellectual development to fuel positive change through our research.?

Who will you be taught by on our Health Economics and Policy PhD?

The Health Economics and Policy PhD is delivered by Lancaster University's Division of Health Research, drawing on the expertise of the Health Economics at Lancaster (HEAL) team, complemented by the Economics department at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS).

Our academic staff bring expertise from a wide range of disciplines and maintain close partnerships with healthcare organisations, the NHS, pharmaceutical companies and government bodies. These collaborations ensure that teaching and supervision remain closely aligned with current practice and emerging challenges in health economics and policy.

Throughout your doctorate, you'll receive individual supervision while becoming part of a wider research community committed to improving health outcomes through rigorous, evidence-based economic analysis.

What will you learn?

Our Health Economics and Policy PhD combines formal research training with independent doctoral research over four to seven years of part-time study.

Our relationships with those who commission and provide health services -for example, the NHS, pharmaceutical companies and government departments - combine with our academics' current research interests to inform the content of our modules.

Years 1 and 2

During the first two years, you'll complete online taught modules that will develop the theoretical knowledge and methodological skills you need for doctoral research.

Topics include:

  • Health economics theory and practice
  • Research philosophy
  • Research design
  • Systematic reviews
  • Data analysis
  • Research ethics
  • Advanced research planning

Years 3 and beyond

From the third year onwards, your focus will shift to an original research project that addresses an important issue within your professional or academic area of interest.

Your research can usually be carried out within your own workplace or local setting while receiving regular online supervision through Microsoft Teams and meeting supervisors during annual academies.

By graduation, you'll have developed expertise in:

  • Independent research design
  • Critical evaluation of health economics evidence
  • Advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods
  • Academic writing and publication
  • Producing original research that contributes new knowledge to the field of health economics and policy

How will you learn?

The Health Economics and Policy PhD at Lancaster University is delivered primarily online, allowing you to study alongside your professional and personal commitments.

In the first two years, you'll complete online research training through interactive modules covering health economics theory, research methods and research skills such as presenting and critical appraisal. Alongside this, you'll receive regular one-to-one supervision from experienced academics via Microsoft Teams.

These two years are common across the range of PhDs that we offer, which also include mental health, palliative care, public health and organisational health and wellbeing. You will therefore also build a connection with students studying on these courses, too.

The programme includes an annual autumn academy at Lancaster University, offering workshops, networking opportunities and face-to-face meetings with supervisors. A five-day induction academy, available both in person and online, helps you prepare for doctoral study.

As you progress, the focus shifts to independent research, enabling you to develop an original doctoral project with ongoing support from your supervisory team.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in economics, or other relevant discipline with a significant quantitative content such as statistics, pharmacy, medicine and management.

Applicants with non-standard qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, where there is evidence of relevant professional experience and/or other learning that demonstrates the potential to succeed on the programme.

Additional requirements

  • As part of your application you will also need to provide a 500 word research proposal. Guidance can be found on our writing a research proposal webpage.
  • The department plans to interview all eligible applicants.
  • The application deadline for this programme is the 31st July. Applicants should ensure that all required supporting documents are submitted by this date.

English language requirements

We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test.

We also consider other English language qualifications.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Pre-master's programmes

Delivered in partnership with Lancaster International Study Centre, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit Lancaster University International Study Centre for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Core

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Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2027/28 entry fees have not yet been set.

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Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our  Charter and student policies.