Global Health System Leadership MSc
About This Programme
The MSc Global Health System Leadership at the University of Birmingham Dubai prepares leaders, health professionals and policymakers to build resilient, sustainable and equitable health systems, driving innovation in health policy and practice worldwide. Focused on universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals, it combines global health systems, leadership and emergency preparedness, with attention to vulnerable regions and to challenges such as climate change, global health security and AI. It runs for 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time. In the first semester, taught by academics from the School of Social Policy, students analyse health systems and policies across settings, develop leadership and management skills and design health system strengthening interventions using implementation science. The second semester covers strategic planning, global health economics and emergency preparedness, response and resilience, with students producing a health strategy resource mobilisation plan and a health emergency plan, and the summer brings a 60-credit research project on health system policy and leadership.
Course Highlights
- Skills and industry connections from leading academics and healthcare industry experts.
- A diverse, global cohort that shares perspectives and collaborates internationally.
- A programme built around current challenges such as climate change, global health security and AI.
- Strategies for resilient health systems and workforces, health security, universal health coverage and the SDGs.
- Birmingham is ranked 68th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and is one of the UK universities most targeted by leading graduate employers (High Fliers Research 2026), as stated on the course page.
What You'll Study
Students take 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit research project. Classes combine weekday evenings and weekends to suit working professionals as well as full-time students: the draft full-time timetable runs on weekday evenings from 18:00 to 21:00 and on Saturdays and Sundays from 09:00 to 17:00, with each module block-taught over two weeks; part-time students attend the same sessions for the modules they take each semester.
Course modules
2026/27 session. 180 credits, all compulsory. Semester 1: global health systems and policy, leadership and management, and implementation science for health system strengthening. Semester 2: strategic planning, global health economics, and emergency preparedness, response and resilience, including a health strategy resource mobilisation plan and a health emergency plan that advance universal health coverage and the SDGs. Summer: the 60-credit research dissertation.
- Global Health System and Policy20 credits
- Leadership and Management in Global Health20 credits
- Implementation Science20 credits
- Strategic Planning20 credits
- Global Health Economics20 credits
- Emergency Preparedness, Response & Resilience20 credits
- Research Dissertation60 credits
Entry Requirements
Applicants must meet both the University's general entry requirements and the course's own criteria. Each application is reviewed by the course's Admissions Tutor, who decides whether to make an offer.
Careers
The MSc prepares graduates for leadership, management and policy roles in global health systems: overseeing healthcare projects, managing health services in diverse settings or working with international health organisations, as responsible leaders who solve problems and support multidisciplinary teams on complex healthcare challenges. The Careers Network Dubai offers information, advice and guidance.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation register as the Masters of Global Health System Leadership.
Programme Details
Award
Master of Science (MSc)
Start Date
September 2026 (applications closed; September 2027 details to follow)
Typical Offer
2:1 Honours degree or higher in a medical or health field, with current professional registration
Duration
1 year full-time (12 months); 2 years part-time (24 months)
Qualification
Masters
Subject Area
Health Sciences
Campus
Dubai
Study Pattern
Full time, Part time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 139,173/yr
AED 139,173 a year full-time or AED 69,587 a year part-time, for September 2026 entry. The fee covers tuition, examinations and graduation and is charged for each year of study, so part-time students pay it in both years; it can be paid in full or in instalments, and it does not include visa or living costs. Applications for September 2026 entry to this programme are closed, and details for September 2027 entry will be published later. Applications are made online through the University of Birmingham Dubai Admissions portal, with no application fee; postgraduate applicants upload transcripts for study completed so far, their degree certificate if available, and a CV. Decisions are usually made within 10 working days of all documents arriving. A non-returnable AED 5,000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is paid on accepting an offer. Scholarships of up to 30% are assessed from the application itself, with no separate form, and full-time students can apply for a student visa sponsored by the University.