This interdisciplinary programme aims to foster global leaders in healthcare.
The underlying aims and objectives are to enable you to successfully:
The need for better healthcare leadership is undeniable and illustrated by the global unpreparedness for the Covid-19 pandemic. With many lessons to learn, it will fall to healthcare leaders to create better, more resilient health systems.
There are seven immersive in-person modules taught in Oxford. These modules will be supported by online distance learning activities and reading. The eighth module will be delivered online over the duration of the programme. As part of our continuous review process, dates for Modules 1-8 are subject to change.
Modules for those starting the programme in September 2025.
Examining the role of personality in shaping leaders and the professional challenges facing leaders in healthcare. This module explores the role of self-awareness and personal purpose for leadership, the significance of unconscious bias in decision making and the nature of communication and influence for leaders in complex organisational systems.
You will learn to:
Leading in organisations is the central task of management and critical to performance. The need for strong and responsible leadership has become increasingly important due to the complex economic and geopolitical climate. It is as challenging a subject as it is critical, thanks to the complexities of human nature and the challenges that arise when people work together.
You will learn to:
Giving you exposure to the essential theories, concepts and analytical frameworks needed for understanding systems synthesis, dynamics, change and resilience in the context of global health challenges and opportunities.
You will learn to:
An introduction to what leaders need to know about the principles and practice of evidence-based healthcare.
You will learn to:
Critically examine the role of healthcare innovation in addressing the challenges of health systems. This module goes beyond the healthcare sector to explore the strategies that leaders can leverage to sustain innovation, and the tools that make it possible to create deliver and capture value.
You will learn to:
An in-depth analysis of global healthcare policies and systems, exploring the interplay between public, private, civil society and other sectors, in the context of access, quality, equity, financing and resilience.
Learn to:
Designed to provide an overview of the challenges in global health. This module critically examines common factors contributing to several key global health challenges, and outlines approaches to addressing them with emphasis on the leadership opportunities presented. Topics may vary from year to year but will range from climate change, emerging infectious diseases including pandemics, global health security, nutrition, mental health and maternal health.
Learn to:
These are delivered online throughout the duration of the programme in live synchronous sessions - exact dates to be confirmed.
This online module will cover the key empirical issues of health research, delivered as five blocks of teaching, each focussing on different research designs, methods and analyses relevant to global health improvement and evaluation.
Learn to:
The programme uses a range of teaching methods including lectures, practical sessions, small group workshops, one-to-one coaching, virtual learning and real-world case studies.
Assessment will either be conducted via submission, presentation or timed examination throughout the duration of the programme. The programme concludes with a written dissertation.
In the classroom, emphasis is placed on debate. You are encouraged to read outside of the reading lists and bring this, and your professional experience, to the discussions.
Outside of modules, you should allow for at least 10 hours of self-directed study per week including reading, online learning, and writing assessed assignments.
The eighth module 'Evidence-based healthcare' is divided into five week long blocks taught online, these take place in between your other modules. There are 15-25 hours of work in each of those weeks, including team work and live synchronous sessions. This should be taken into consideration when planning your workload.
We seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out on this page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for us to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.
Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.
For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract.