Programme structure

The master's degree programme in Health Economics, Policy and Management is a full time programme. The programme is organised into mandatory?and elective courses.

New programme structure starting autumn 2026

From autumn 2026 you will have a choice of selecting between four different specialisations. The first semester is aimed at acquiring fundamentals of economics, management, policy, medicine and research methods relevant to the healthcare sector and you will follow the same courses regardless of which specialisation you choose. All fundamental courses need to be passed in order to start the second semester courses. The second and third semesters are devoted to the development of advanced and specialised skills on current issues in the healthcare sector.

Management of healthcare institutions

4th. semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMAN5190 – Health System Coordination: Policy Analysis and ImplementationHMET4210 – Research DesignElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHFIN4210 – Finance and InvestmentHMAN4210 – Leadership, Management and Organization DevelopmentElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMET4102 – Linear Regression AnalysisFHE4010 – Introduction to Research MethodsHMAN4101 – Introduction to Health Care System and Health Management
Credits10 ECTS10 ECTS10 ECTS

You must choose 10 credits in elective courses in the second semester and 15 credits?in the third semester from this list:

Economic evaluation in healthcare

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research DesignHEVAL5200 – Topics in economic evaluationHEVAL5130 – Modeling in economic evaluation IIElective course
2nd semesterHEVAL4210 – Economic Evaluation and Decision-Analytic Modelling in HealthcareHMET4220 – Applied Micro EconometricsElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMET4102 – Linear Regression AnalysisFHE4010 – Introduction to Research MethodsHMAN4101 – Introduction to Health Care System and Health Management
Credits10 ECTS10 ECTS10 ECTS

You must choose 10 credits in elective courses in the second semester and 10 credits in the third semester from this list:

Health economics and policy

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research DesignHEVAL5200 – Topics in economic evaluationElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHECON4270 – Health Economics – Incentives and ContractsHMET4220 – Applied Micro EconometricsHFIN4210 – Finance and Investment
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMET4102 – Linear Regression AnalysisFHE4010 – Introduction to Research MethodsHMAN4101 – Introduction to Health Care System and Health Management
Credits10 ECTS10 ECTS10 ECTS

You must choose elective courses in the third semester with total 20 credits from this list:

General programme

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research DesignElective coursesElective coursesElective courses
2nd semesterElective coursesElective coursesElective courses
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMET4102 – Linear Regression AnalysisFHE4010 – Introduction to Research MethodsHMAN4101 – Introduction to Health Care System and Health Management
Credits10 ECTS10 ECTS10 ECTS

You must choose 30 elective credits in the second and 25 elective credits in the third semester:

  • At least 40 credits from the program Health Economics, Policy, and Management
  • Courses from the other programs at?the Institute of Health and Society (HELSAM)

Programme structure until class 2025

If you started the programme in 2025 or earlier, you will find the programme structure that applies to you below.

Changes in study portfolio at Institute of Health and Society

The Institute of Health and Society is revising its study portfolio. This means that there will be changes in courses and study programmes offered.?

Overview of the phasing out of courses.

Management of healthcare institutions

Programme structure from 2022 - 2025

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research DesignHMAN5160 – Integrated Care ModelsHMAN5180 – Policy analysis and evaluationElective courseElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHFIN4210 – Finance and InvestmentHMAN4210 – Leadership, Management and Organization DevelopmentHMET5120 – Qualitative methodsElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)HMET4101 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

Elective courses:

You must choose 5 credits in elective courses in the 2nd semester and 15 credits?in the 3rd semester from this list:

HECON4210 – Demand for Health and Health Insurance

HECON4220 – Paying Providers of Health Care

HECON4250 – Cost and Efficiency Analyses of Health Care Providers (discontinued)

HEVAL4200 – Fundamentals of Economic Evaluation in Health Care

HEVAL5120 – Modeling in economic evaluation I

HEVAL5130 – Modeling in economic evaluation II

HEVAL5200 – Topics in economic evaluation

HMAN4230 – Internship

HMET4220 – Applied Micro Econometrics

HMET5140 – Non-Parametric Methods and regression alternatives

Programme structure from 2019 - 2021

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design*HMAN5160 – Integrated Care ModelsHMAN5180 – Policy analysis and evaluationElective courseElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHFIN4210 – Finance and InvestmentHMAN4210 – Leadership, Management and Organization DevelopmentMethods courseElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

HMET4210 – Research Design?**?HMET4210 – Research Design?*begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

Methods course:

You?must choose one of these methods courses:

Elective courses:

You must choose 5 credits in elective courses in the 2nd semester and 15 credits?in the 3rd semester from this list:

Programme structure from 2017 - 2018

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design?*Complementary courseComplementary courseElective courseElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHFIN4210 – Finance and InvestmentHMAN4210 – Leadership, Management and Organization DevelopmentMethods courseElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

* begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

Class of 2018 have two obligatory?courses with 10 credits each in the 2nd semester:
Class of 2017 have four obligatory courses with 5 credits each in the 2nd semester:

Methods course:

You?must choose one of these methods courses:

Complementary courses:

You must choose between 10 credits in complementary courses in the 3rd semester:

Complementary courses may be used as elective courses if not already chosen.

Elective courses:

You must choose 5 credits in elective courses in the 2nd semester and 15 credits?in the 3rd semester (depending on credits taken as complementary courses):

Programme structure from 2013 - 2016

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design?*Complementary course or elective courseComplementary course or elective courseElective courseElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHMAN4210 - Leadership and ManagementHMAN4220 – Health organization development and design (discontinued)HFIN4220 – Investments (discontinued)HFIN4230 – Cost accounting (discontinued)Methods courseComplementary course or elective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)**
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

* begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

** if you have already taken HMED1101 – Helsefaglig grunnkunnskap og nomenklatur, you may?replace the course?with:

Specialisation

In order to specialise you must take?40 credits?within the selected specialisation. You?must also write your thesis within the?field that you choose?(30 credits). The obligatory courses in the specialisation Health Management are:

You must also choose 10 credits from this complementary course list:

and one of these methods courses:

Elective courses

The remainder of credits must be chosen from the courses available from?the Institute of Health and Society's portfolio. To choose courses, use the list of courses available at master's level.

You may apply to get other relevant courses approved as elective courses. The application should include a course description or supplementary information. Applications are submitted to: postmottak@medisin.uio.no. If the?Institute of Health and Society?approve of the course, you may apply for the course through Studentweb. If the course?is not available in Studentweb, you must contact the?department which offers the course.

Economic Evaluation in Healthcare

Programme structure from 2022 - 2025

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design?HEVAL5130 – Modeling in economic evaluation IIHEVAL5200 – Topics in economic evaluationElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHEVAL4200 – Fundamentals of Economic Evaluation in Health CareHEVAL5120 – Modeling in economic evaluation IHMET4220 – Applied Micro EconometricsElective courseElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)HMET4101 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

You must choose 10 credits in elective courses in the 2nd semester and 10 credits in the 3rd semester from this list:

?

Programme structure from 2019 - 2021

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design?*HEVAL5130 – Modeling in economic evaluation IIHEVAL5140 – Methods for effectiveness evaluations in health care (discontinued)Elective course
2nd semesterHEVAL4200 – Fundamentals of Economic Evaluation in Health CareHEVAL5120 – Modeling in economic evaluation IHMET5130 – Linear Regression Analyses (discontinued)Elective courseElective courseElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

* begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

The pre-course HECON4000 – Basic Mathematics for Health Economists?is highly recommended for students choosing this specialisation.

Elective courses:

You must choose 15 credits in elective courses in the 2nd semester and 5 credits in the 3rd semester from this list:

Programme structure from 2017 - 2018

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design?*HEVAL5130 – Modeling in economic evaluation IIHEVAL5140 – Methods for effectiveness evaluations in health care (discontinued)Complementary?course
2nd semesterHEVAL4200 – Fundamentals of Economic Evaluation in Health CareHEVAL5120 – Modeling in economic evaluation IHMET5130 – Linear Regression Analyses (discontinued)Complementary courseElective courseElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

* begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

The pre-course HECON4000 – Basic Mathematics for Health Economists?is highly recommended for students choosing this specialisation.

Complementary courses:

You must choose between 5 credits in complementary courses in the 2nd semester and 5 credits in the 3rd semester:

Complementary courses may be used as elective courses if not already chosen.

Elective courses:

You must choose 10 credits?in elective courses in the 2nd semester:

Programme structure? from 2013 - 2016

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design?*HEVAL5110 – Valuing Health (discontinued)HEVAL5130 – Modeling in economic evaluation IIHEVAL5140 – Methods for effectiveness evaluations in health care (discontinued)?or complementary courseComplementary course or elective courseComplementary course or elective course
2nd semesterHEVAL4200 – Fundamentals of Economic Evaluation in Health CareHEVAL5120 – Modeling in economic evaluation IHMET5130 – Linear Regression Analyses (discontinued)Complementary course or elective courseComplementary course or elective courseElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)**
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

* begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

** if you have already taken HMED1101 – Helsefaglig grunnkunnskap og nomenklatur, you may?replace the course?with:

The pre-course HECON4000 – Basic Mathematics for Health Economists?is highly recommended for students choosing this specialisation.

Specialisation

In order to specialise you must take?40 credits?within the selected specialisation. You?must also write your thesis within the?field that you choose?(30 credits). The obligatory courses in the specialisation Economic Evaluation are:

You must also choose 10 credits from this complementary course list:

* HEVAL5140 – Methods for effectiveness evaluations in health care (discontinued) was obligatory for class of 2016. They must only choose 5 credits from the complementary course list above.

Elective courses

The remainder of credits must be chosen from the courses available for?the master students at the Institute of Health and Society. To choose courses, use the list of courses available at master's level.

You may apply to get other relevant courses approved as elective courses. The application should include a course description or supplementary information. Applications are submitted to: postmottak@medisin.uio.no. If the?Institute of Health and Society?approve of the course, you may apply for the course through Studentweb. If the course?is not available in Studentweb, you must contact the?department which offers the course.

Health Economics and Policy

Programme structure from 2022 - 2025

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterElective courseElective courseHMET4210 – Research DesignHEVAL5200 – Topics in economic evaluationElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHFIN4210 – Finance and InvestmentHECON4210 – Demand for Health and Health InsuranceHECON4220 – Paying Providers of Health CareHMET4220 – Applied Micro Econometrics
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)HMET4101 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

The pre-course HECON4000 – Basic Mathematics for Health Economists?is highly recommended for students choosing this specialisation.

Elective courses:

You must choose elective courses in the 3rd semester with total 20 credits from this list:

Programme structure from 2019 - 2021

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHEVAL5140 – Methods for effectiveness evaluations in health care (discontinued)HMET4210 – Research Design?*Elective courseElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHFIN4210 – Finance and InvestmentHECON4210 – Demand for Health and Health InsuranceHECON4220 – Paying Providers of Health CareHMET5130 – Linear Regression Analyses (discontinued)Elective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

* begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

The pre-course HECON4000 – Basic Mathematics for Health Economists?is highly recommended for students choosing this specialisation.

Elective courses:

You must choose 5 credits in elective courses in the 2nd semester and 15 credits?in the 3rd semester from this list:

Programme structure from?2017 - 2018

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design?*HEVAL5140 – Methods for effectiveness evaluations in health care (discontinued)Complementary courseElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHECON4210 – Demand for Health and Health InsuranceHECON4220 – Paying Providers of Health CareHECON4230 – Optimal Regulation (discontinued)HECON4250 – Cost and Efficiency Analyses of Health Care Providers (discontinued)HMET5130 – Linear Regression Analyses (discontinued)Elective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

* begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

It is highly recommended to have the preliminary course HECON4000 – Basic Mathematics for Health Economists if you choose this specialisation.

Complementary courses:

You must choose 5 credits in complementary courses in the 3rd semester:

Complementary courses may be used as elective courses if not already chosen.

Elective courses:

You must choose 5 credits?in elective courses in the 2nd semester and 10 credits?in the 3rd semester:

Programme structure from 2013 - 2016

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design?*Complementary course or elective courseComplementary course or elective courseElective courseElective courseElective course
2nd semesterHECON4210 – Demand for Health and Health InsuranceHECON4220 – Paying Providers of Health CareHECON4230 – Optimal Regulation (discontinued)HMET5130 – Linear Regression Analyses (discontinued)HECON4250 – Cost and Efficiency Analyses of Health Care Providers (discontinued), complementary course or elective courseComplementary course or elective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)**
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

* begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

** if you have already taken HMED1101 – Helsefaglig grunnkunnskap og nomenklatur, you may?replace the course?with:

The pre-course HECON4000 – Basic Mathematics for Health Economists?is highly recommended for students choosing this specialisation.

Specialisation

In order to specialise you must take?40 credits?within the selected specialisation. You?must also write your thesis within the?field that you choose?(30 credits). The obligatory courses in the specialisation Health Economics are:

You must also choose?10 credits from this complementary course list:

* HECON4250 – Cost and Efficiency Analyses of Health Care Providers (discontinued) was obligatory from class of 2014. Class of 2013 must choose 15 credits from the complementary course list above.

Elective courses

The remainder of credits must be chosen from the courses available from?the Institute of Health and Society's portfolio. To choose courses, use the list of courses available at master's level.

You may apply to get other relevant courses approved as elective courses. The application should include a course description or supplementary information. Applications are submitted to: postmottak@medisin.uio.no. If the?Institute of Health and Society?approve of the course, you may apply for the course through Studentweb. If the course?is not available in Studentweb, you must contact the?department which offers the course.

General programme

Programme structure from 2022 - 2025

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research DesignElective courseElective courseElective courseElective courseElective course
2nd semesterElective courseElective courseElective courseElective courseElective courseElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)HMET4101 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

Elective courses:

30 credits 2nd semester and 25 credits 3rd semester.

You register for courses from the?Department?of Health Management?and Health Economics' portfolio?in Studentweb.

Programme structure from 2019 - 2021

4th semesterHMM4501 – Master Thesis
3rd semesterHMET4210 – Research Design?*Elective courseElective courseElective courseElective courseElective course
2nd semesterMethods courseElective courseElective courseElective courseElective courseElective course
1st semesterHECON4100 – Fundamentals of Health EconomicsHMAN4100 – Fundamentals of managementHMET4100 – Fundamentals of statistics (discontinued)HGOV4100 – Fundamentals of Health Care Systems (discontinued)HLAW4100 – Fundamentals of Health Law (discontinued)HMED4100 – Fundamentals of medicine (discontinued)
Credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits5 credits

* begins teaching at the?end of 2nd semester, exam and credits is?assigned?to 3rd semester.

Methods course:

You must choose one of these methods courses in the 2nd semester:

Elective courses:

25 credits 2nd semester and 25 credits 3rd semester.

You register for courses from the?Department?of Health Management?and Health Economics' portfolio?in Studentweb.

?

Honours certificate

Are you academically ambitious? It is possible to supplement your master's degree with an honours certificate worth 20 ECTS. You complete the certificate concurrently with the master's programme.

Application for recognition of education/credit transfer

If you have courses from other institutions, you can apply for these to be included in your degree.

Applications for recognition have to be submitted through the online form.

Application deadlines are September 1st and February 1st

Diploma and degree

This programme leads to the following degree: Master of Philosophy in Health Economics, Policy and Management

The diploma is issued when you have completed the courses that meet the requirements for a degree. Read more about diplomas.

Rules and Regulations for Master studies

As a student at UiO, you have rights and obligations, and it is important that you familiarize yourself with these. Read more about rules and regulations?at the Faculty of Medicine.

Published June 6, 2012 10:00 AM - Last modified Feb. 11, 2026 12:52 PM