This program offers students an opportunity to develop postgraduate skills in economics while specialising in the application of economics to problems in health and health care. The program is offered by the School of Economics with participation from the Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health.  It  is designed for economists with an interest in studying the health sector. It is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and conceptual knowledge to understand the complexities of health care systems and to analyse and evaluate health care interventions and health policies. The degree prepares students from Australia and abroad for career positions in both the private and public sectors, in international organisations like the WHO, the OECD, the World Bank and European Union, national and international associations, consultancy firms, insurance companies, sickness funds, medical technology agencies, hospitals, advisory boards, regional health authorities and other government institutions. In addition, with an appropriate choice of elective courses and subject to the relevant entry conditions, it provides students with a basis to proceed to a PhD in economics at ANU.

There are four core courses in health economics. The foundation course is a pre-requisite to the other three courses and provides an introduction to the major areas of study in health economics. The other three courses cover health care financing, economic evaluation, and health econometrics.  Depending upon entry qualifications, one or two further core courses in microeconomics and econometrics may be required, with the remaining courses being electives chosen from an approved list of courses. Advanced courses may be selected as electives by students interested in further study at the doctoral level.

Admission Requirements

1.     For direct entry to the one-year Master of Health Economics program, applicants must have the equivalent of an honours degree in economics at grade 2A from an Australian university.

2.     Applicants who do not have the equivalent of an honours degree in economics at grade 2A from an Australian university may be admitted to the Graduate Diploma in Applied Economics. Completion of the Graduate Diploma with an average of 70% is required to progress to the Masters program.

3.     English Language - applicants who are citizens of Australia, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Singapore or South Africa can demonstrate English language capability by evidence of completion of their bachelor degree where the medium of instruction was English at a recognised, local university in their home country.

Applicants from all other countries and Australian permanent residents will usually be required to supply evidence of English language capability which meets the ANU requirements.  The ANU English language requirements are:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - overall score of  6.5 with no band below 6.0
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - computer-based score of 230 with TWE of 4.5 OR paper-based test score of 570 with TWE of 4.5 OR internet-based Test (iBT) of 90 with a minimum of 20 in all four sections.

4.     Admission is not automatic and is at the discretion of the Dean.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.