Health care management and policy

Health care has grown to be one of the most important service sectors in contemporary society. The numerous institutions and care facilities in general, and specifically in health care, demand a high-quality care as well as an efficient and effective policy. More than ever, there is the need for a scientific support of health care as a whole and in its entirety and for expertise in those who have responsibilities in the sector.

Bridging programme

The bridging programme (1 year) wishes to make the transition from a professional bachelor to a master of science in health care management and policy possible.The goal is to offer a theoretical-scientific framework for students coming from a professional bachelor programme. In those bachelor programmes the focus is mostly on health care from the perspective of the individual care receiver. In the bridging programme this perspective is broadened by means of a beginning reflection on the coherence and structure of health care and the management and policy in health care.

Master 

In the master of science programme of health care management and policy, the Centre for Health Services and Nursing Research wishes to offer students, who ambition a leading career in health care,a high-quality and specialized programme in health care management and policy.

The course hopes to familiarize the student with the complexity of the health care system and to teach him/her how to function within it. The student will first of all acquire the necessary knowledge on the concepts and methods of health care management and policy and secondly learn to update and apply this knowledge in concrete situations. A close interaction between health care practice and management and policy are the focus.

The programme offers the students a broad perspective by not only studying the Belgian health care system, but also paying a great amount of attention on the international management and policy developments. The course contents are based on scientific research on health care management and policy, from inside and outside the Centre, in collaboration with other research groups in Belgium and abroad.

The master is offered as a full time programme (1 academic year) but can also be taken up as a part time programme (spread over 2 academic years). The part time programme (which is in the first place offered to students who work) is organized in the evenings.

All students have to choose between two majors:

• health care policy
• hospital management