University of Edinburgh - Postgraduate Master of Science (MSc) in Global eHealth

The high level aims of the programme are to:

• Develop an in-depth and current understanding of how information and communication technology (ICT) can help improve the efficiency, quality, safety, equity and good governance of health systems.
• Apply interdisciplinary thinking to the study of health informatics - including its core technologies and architectures, key application domains, organisational and cultural mediators, design considerations, future directions and markets, and ethical governance.
• Appreciate of the role and applicability of eHealth in different settings, and how to take local factors and cultural requirements into account in designing, implementing or creating policies for eHealth.
• Build theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills, to understand eHealth challenges and evaluate the processes and effects of innovations

The modular programme has 13 unique taught courses in eHealth, and a supervised research option.  Taught courses take place over 5-weeks and may be taken on a one-off basis for Postgraduate Professional Development or combined for a Postgraduate Certificate (6 courses), Postgraduate Diploma (12 courses) or MSc (12 courses + research project). All credit is portable and can be accumulated on an intermittent study basis.

• Introduction to Health Informatics and eHealth - Key concepts, technology domains, policy issues and current affairs in Health Informatics and eHealth. History and evolution of the fields at theoretical and applied levels.
• Health Informatics: core technologies and systems - The technical underpinnings of eHealth - architectures, systems, standard for managing and exchanging patient and administrative data within and across healthcare institutions.
• Medical Informatics - An introduction to Health Data Science, Analytics and Big Data.
• Global eHealth -  ICT for health in different global settings. eHealth for health systems strengthening in LMIC.
• mHealth in High and Low Resource Settings - Emerging and applied mobile innovations, including cutting edge tech such as wearables and how low tech, frugal innovations.
• Telemedicine and Telehealth -  Role of information and communications technologies for remote patient care, professional collaboration at a distance, and supporting patient-self management. 
• The Business of eHealth - The commercial ecosystem surrounding eHealth, the emergence and differentiation of the eHealth marketplace,.
• Managing Change - Organisational, human and cultural factors influencing the adoption of eHealth projects and programmes; designing change management projects
• Public Health Informatics - Application of eHealth to public health practice, research, and learning. Digital epidemiology, eHealth equity, health behaviour change, population-based informatics; mobile and social technologies for health surveillance
• Ethics and Governance of eHealth - Ethical, legal and regulatory issues for eHealth. Responsible innovation.
• User-Centred Design in eHealth - How to capture user perspectives and involve users in the design process. Adapting for eHealth for different cultures and settings.
• Patient eHealth - Digital health for patients and citizens. Changing healthcare responsibilities and risks associated with digital innovations.
• Research and Evaluation in eHealth - eHealth research methods, their appropriateness for different research problems and how to use them.
• Global eHealth Dissertation - Supervised research project addressing an issue of importance for eHealth practice.

Click here for more information on each of the courses.

This is a flexible part-time distance learning programme delivered online (including mobile) using a combination of live tutorials, multimedia interactive learning materials, peer to-peer discussion and independent study.  

Students who do not want to do the full 3-year postgraduate Master’s (MSc), can also exit with a Diploma or a Certificate.

Students on the programme will engage with a diverse range of tutors from academia, business and across the health industry. Click here to read more about each of them.