Overview

The details
Location: Online Mode of study: Part-time Qualification: BSc (Hons) Indicative duration: 4 years
Start date:
Awarding body: University of Essex Delivered by: Kaplan Open Learning For queries: Call +44 (0) 1206 489 358

Ready to take the first step towards a career in healthcare management?  

Explore a range of career-focused modules within health and business, with our 100% online BSc (Hons) Healthcare Management.  

Throughout the course, you’ll consider the management principles that underpin healthcare services and be able to demonstrate your understanding of the challenges faced by healthcare professionals.,  You’ll also develop the practical skills required to oversee projects, improve patient care and contribute to positive change in healthcare organisations. That way, you can expand your knowledge and step up to management. 

Delve into a range of exciting topic areas including: 

  • management theories and contemporary issues in healthcare
  • global disease patterns and the importance of control
  • budgeting, cost management and capital investment analysis
  • social and political influences on healthcare
  • fundamentals of public health
  • continuous development in a healthcare setting

During your healthcare management dissertation, you’ll have the opportunity to design, develop and compile a research project on a health-related topic of interest to you. 

Why we’re great

  • Gain in-depth knowledge of leadership and managerial approaches to team and organisational development across healthcare contexts.
  • Study 100% online and part-time, with no need for a career break.
  • Develop a wide range of transferable skills, including critical thinking, research, self-motivation and communication.
  • We achieved a Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023).
  • Graduate on campus at the University of Essex, a top 30 UK university (Complete University Guide 2025).

Course structure

The BSc (Hons) Healthcare Management is made up of the following modules and, upon completion, is equal to a total of 360 credits.

Have you considered the management principles that underpin healthcare services? On completion of this comprehensive module, you'll be able to discuss barriers to effective management and demonstrate your understanding of management theories and contemporary issues.  

Distinguish between the role of leader and manager, and understand how to establish effective teams to increase motivation in the workplace. This valuable module will also develop your understanding of effective communication channels leaders employ, as well as the overall communication process. 

This insightful module introduces you to the burden of disease. Learn how to interpret data and explain global disease patterns, while discovering the importance of control on a global scale. The module is also complemented by the Health, Society and Public Policy module which allows you to take your global health knowledge further.  

What role does finance play within an organisation? Find out in this valuable module. You'll cover topics such as budgeting, cost management and capital investment analysis, while developing your ability to analyse and evaluate performance. That way, you can make decisions based on financial information. 

In this exciting module you’ll explore social and political influences on healthcare, and the key drivers for developing policies. Discover inequalities in access to healthcare across multiple countries and discover more about the international context surrounding health and governance.   

Explore the complexities of human resource management in this insightful module. You’ll gain a critical understanding of HR theories and practices in a global context, as well as a deeper awareness of ideologies within a wider social, political and economic setting. You’ll also consider the strategic influences of stakeholders on business performance. 

This valuable module provides you with the opportunity to evaluate the personal, academic and professional skills you’ve developed so far in your undergraduate studies Set a range of developmental goals to help shape your longer-term ambitions and discover the benefits of continuous professional development.  

Gain a solid introduction to the main fundamentals of public health, and explore the sector-side challenges and problems. You'll also learn basic epidemiological principles and explore the ethical issues within the realm of public health – while engaging in designing innovative health campaign materials.   

This fascinating module provides insight into organisational culture and contemporary models of leadership. You’ll examine effective leadership attributes and approaches to managing change across people, processes and culture – so that by the end, you’ll be able to successfully evaluate the leader’s role in change management.  

Have you considered the link between economics and healthcare? This in-depth module introduces you to the costs within the healthcare market, as well as common terms and definitions used within the field. You’ll then move on to look at market models, cost allocation and helpful economic tools – so that by the end, you have a strong understanding of economic approaches within healthcare. 

Gain a grounding in financial management in a global healthcare context. In this module, you will explore theoretical and practical issues associated with effective financial management taking into consideration the complexity of the healthcare environment in a global setting. You will be introduced to the concepts of business performance, budgeting, financial reporting, income generation, investment and models of funding - all explored within a global workplace focus and reflecting on your workplace practices.

How can technology aid health? In this insightful module you’ll explore how patients, clinicians and managers alike can benefit from high-quality information systems that deliver the very best outcomes. Upon completion, you’ll be able to identify the use informatics in healthcare and the possible benefits and challenges. 

Explore the theories and concepts utilised for effective project management and the use of contemporary project management software. In this valuable module, you’ll gain insight from case studies and delve into project management knowledge areas and process groups while using specialist project management software. 

This second module in the personal and professional development section looks at your continuous development within a healthcare context. Through regular role play and group work, you’ll gain an understanding of continuous professional development from a manager’s perspective – helping you support your colleagues to grow within their own roles. 

Explore the workings of global health systems in this fascinating module. You’ll analyse the key functions and features, before comparing and contrasting various systems around the world. Upon completion, you’ll have the ability to critically appraise a health system, while recognising the key features in each one. 

Hone your strategic management skills with this exciting module. You’ll benefit from an engaging introduction to the key theories, approaches and concepts which form business strategy. Not only that, you’ll learn to critically evaluate the limitations of emerging schools of thoughts and how to they best work in practice. 

Healthcare management can be a complex area and this module aims to highlight common issues of interest to managers. You’ll cover management theories, organisational structure and culture within strategic management – so that by the end, you’ll be able to implement successful strategies that allow both you and your employees to meet stakeholder needs. 

Does the working environment affect performance? Throughout this engaging module, you’ll discover how organisations, individuals and groups of people learn, perform, function and thrive. You’ll then have the opportunity to apply this knowledge to your own workplace performance and that of others. 

Where’s the future of healthcare innovation headed? Find out in this in-depth module. You’ll explore the challenges posed by changes in healthcare and the relevant tools used for planning, implementing and monitoring innovative solutions. On completion, you’ll have the required knowledge to identify a problem, implement a solution and provide an explanation on how it will improve healthcare outcomes. 

Research plays a huge role in healthcare and this module will help you answer key questions – such as what is healthcare research, how to measure processes and outcomes, and whose perspective to take. You’ll also be introduced to common research tools, basic statistical analysis and qualitative coding, so you can begin building core research skills that will benefit you throughout your career. 

Your degree will culminate in this core dissertation module, which brings together all your knowledge and applies your understanding to a key topic of interest. You’ll compose a dissertation of 6,000 words, in which you’ll independently investigate a healthcare-related issue, critically evaluate data and use relevant academic references to support a clear argument. By doing so, you’ll have demonstrated the research and analytical skills gained throughout your studies. 

Learning and assessments

Teaching methods 

Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.  

Our courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you’ll have access to your study materials 24/7, including:  

  • multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments 
  • discussion forums for you to chat about the course content with fellow students 
  • live seminars and Q&A sessions with your tutors 
  • a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals  
  • support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team 

 

Assessments 

You’ll be assessed through a series of assignments. This can be by engaging in discussion forums throughout your modules, completing reflective journal entries, delivering live presentations or by submitting longer written pieces. 

We’re committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback in the following ways: 

  • our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent 
  • you’ll always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start of the programme 
  • you’ll be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log into the learning platform 
  • there’s a 7-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work 
  • you’ll have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise 

 

Online learning experience 

Your learning experience will be fully supported by high-quality learning materials and resources, delivered via our state-of-the-art virtual learning environment (VLE).  

On average, your learning experience will include the following: 

  • directed learning (40%) – this includes participating in tutor-led discussions and seminars, completing interactive exercises on the VLE, and watching videos and lecturecasts. You’ll also be able to book appointments with your module tutor during their office hours, which can be found on the VLE 
  • self-directed learning (30%) – including undertaking wider reading and research in your area of study to develop your understanding of the subject area 
  • assessment (30%) – time spent preparing and completing assignments and activities that contribute towards your overall assessment

Typically, you’ll need to dedicate a minimum 15-20 hours of study per module, per week. 

 

Study duration 

Our BSc (Hons) Healthcare Management has an indicative study duration of 4 years, which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, study options chosen and module availability.  

It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply.  

Our academic year is organised into modules, typically with a one or two-week break between modules and a structured three-week break for the Christmas period. Students will receive a course timetable during the application process.  

All our courses have regular start dates throughout the year.  

On successful completion of your degree, you’ll be invited to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Essex’s Colchester campus. 

 

Academic staff 

A quality teaching experience is at the heart of everything we do.  

The dedicated tutors who teach our course modules are subject matter experts, experienced academics and leading industry thought leaders. They play a vital role in ensuring the latest theories and areas of study are covered in our courses, and are proud to provide a high level of academic support. 

You can find more information on our key academic staff and their experience here. 

 

Quality and assurance  

We’re proud to provide a first-class education to students anywhere in the world and adhere to the strictest quality standards.  

The University of Essex Online is a recognised member of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and registered with the Office for Students (OfS).  

All our degrees are delivered by Kaplan Open Learning, a world-leading education provider with over 15 years’ experience. 

Your future

On completion of our BSc (Hons) Healthcare Management, you’ll be ready to enter roles in various healthcare and associated management environments. This could be in public, private or community healthcare services – or in hospital, project or programme management. Alternatively, the skills you gain are highly sought after by employers in the business and health sectors.

Gaining an undergraduate qualification with the University of Essex Online also puts you in good stead for your career prospects. Results from our 2021 student survey showed:

  • 92% of students said their course helped develop their research skills
  • 89% of students say their studies fit with their future plans
  • Almost 60% said their studies had a positive effect on their career
  • 25% of students saw their salaries increase by up to 10%

Entry requirements

We know that many people from non-traditional backgrounds would succeed on our courses! That’s why we offer two different entry routes, taking into account your prior work experience and relevant qualifications. You will also need to meet our English language requirements.

Additionally, you will need to pass your first assignment set within the first three weeks of the course in order to continue with your studies.

 

Academic entry route

In order to satisfy the academic entry route requirements for our BSc (Hons) Healthcare Management, you must have the following qualifications as a minimum:

  • three A-levels or equivalent

 

Work experience entry route

In order to satisfy the work experience entry route requirements for our BSc (Hons) Healthcare Management, you must meet the following criteria:

  • GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above, or equivalent
  • three years’ relevant work experience

 

English language requirements

As our courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency with English is required. If English is not your first language, your English ability should be equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0. Don’t worry if you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification – we offer a free online English test to assess your proficiency.

You don’t need to prove your English ability if you are a national of, or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.

Fees and funding

Full tuition fee: 

£18,500 UK / £19,425 International (2023-24) Δ
£18,500 UK / £20,396 International (2024-25) Δ

  • Designated for undergraduate student loans in England. 
  • Simple monthly payment plan available, enabling you to spread the cost over the duration of your studies. 
  • Full payment discount of 5% if you pay upfront. 
  • Regional scholarship available for international students based overseas in eligible countries. 
  • 10% corporate discount available when three or more of your employees study with us.   

Please note, a maximum of two discounts or scholarships can be applied. The corporate discount can only be used in combination with our upfront payment discount, but not in conjunction with any other discount or scholarship. Find out more information about our discounts and scholarships here. 

Our course fees are fully inclusive – all teaching materials and required reading are included, and there are no hidden charges for assessments or resits.  

Δ All tuition fees shown are net of any applicable sales tax payable by you in your country of residence. Where we are required to add sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the tuition fees shown and confirmed during the payment process. 

Subject specialists, industry authorities and experienced academics: the tutors who teach modules on our BSc (Hons) Healthcare Management are experts in the field of health.

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What our students say

testimonials

Claire Patricia Wilkinson -BSc (Hons) Healthcare Management

Experience is invaluable, but I knew to further my career I had to invest in my learning.

I started my career at Leeds Teaching Hospital, and have gradually progressed into more senior roles over the past 10 years. During the pandemic I finally realised my career goal was to become a healthcare leader. Experience is invaluable, but I knew that to further my career I needed to invest in my learning and the BSc (Hons) Healthcare Management seemed perfect. <span...

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