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Master of Science in Health Services Administration – Distance Learning
Duration:
3 Semesters
Qualification Awarded:
Master of Science in Health Services Administration (MHSA)
Language:
English
Mode of Study:
Distance Learning
Earn a Master of Science in Health Services Administration (MHSA) Online
The University of Nicosia (UNIC) MHSA recognizes that leaders need to leverage the most up-to-date technology to stay relevant and innovate in the dynamic field of Health Services.
Accelerate your leadership skills, cultivate entrepreneurship and prepare for crises management with this Master’s degree for working professionals.
A primary goal of the MHSA is to equip professionals and managers in hospitals, clinics, pharmaceuticals, insurance firms, biotechnology firms, and other health-related settings, with the crucial skills to manage and lead profitable healthcare organizations while, at the same time, delivering high quality services with patient safety at the forefront.
Students acquire managerial and leadership skills in key areas such as operations management, crises management, legal and ethical decision making, finance, epidemiology, biostatistics, human resource management, health economics, clinical systems management, managerial accounting, quality management, patient safety and more. All offered courses have been designed specifically for the health services sector with a focus on current technology driving innovation in this industry.
Why a Master of Science in Health Services Administration Online at UNIC.
Understand how new digital technologies, (A.I., Blockchain, Internet of Things, etc.) are innovating health services
EU degree, globally recognized and accredited
UNIC is 1 of only 14 universities in the world awarded a 5-Star rating in online/distance learning
Industry leaders from UNIC Institute for the Future, #1 in Blockchain Globally, explore how this new technology is disrupting health services
Real-world application through a business plan, field project or an electives pathway during your final semester
Direct access to faculty: thrive and find support with a personal tutor matched with students from day one
Lead an organization to explore the redistribution of resources during a crisis through financial and health economics management coursework
Option of full-time or part-time study, depending on your schedule and commitments
Affordable MHSA with scholarships available to enable global access
UNIC ranked number 32 university in the world in the core area of Quality Education (Times Higher Education, 2021)
Graduates have a 99,8% career placement rate, within our international medical programmes
Who is this Programme for
The MHSA is a perfect fit for…
Individuals seeking a competitive advantage in the workplace to expand their career by gaining the most required skillset today
Recent graduates from various disciplines (Business, Humanities, Sciences) who want to pursue further expertise related to Health Services
Individuals seeking to change careers and leverage their past work experience into the expansive field of Health Services
Entrepreneurial problem solvers who are looking to create a business plan or research to tackle existing organisational issues
Natural-born leaders seeking to advance their careers through understanding and optimizing new technology uses in the workplace
Change Agents enthused to complete research and field projects to address real-world challenges
Why Study Health Services Administration?
Healthcare occupations: a projected growth rate of 14 percent from 2018-2028, significantly higher growth rate than average for all occupations, adding about 1.9 million new jobs. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Jobs of Tomorrow Report includes extensive needs now and in the future working in services related to the Care Economy and Data and A.I. World Economic Forum
With an aging population and greater environmental health risks the jobs related to healthcare are projected to grow more than any of the other occupational groups. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Prior to the pandemic, global healthcare spending was expected to rise 5 percent Compound Annual Growth Rate from 2019-23 which will create opportunities for the sector (Deloitte); COVID-19 will accelerate these projections
Major gaps in ICT companies (Total Market, Large Companies) with skills like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Data Science. IDC. Cyprus ICT 2019-2012 Forecast and Analysis
A unique feature of the MHSA programme is its emphasis on the innovative technologies which are re-shaping health services.
“In an increasingly digitised environment, it is important to understand and appreciate the potential of information systems and digital technologies on healthcare provision.”
“Today health is one of the most importantly developing sectors. During my course students will learn about the contribution of health systems to health improvement across the world. ”
“The speed of change in healthcare is unprecedented. New technologies, genetic therapies, and scientific discoveries are transforming the way we care for patients. ”
Programme Overview
The Master of Science in Health Services Administration (MHSA) is a new programme offered by the University of Nicosia Medical School. This modern programme aims to rigorously prepare students for leadership positions in the rapidly growing field of health services. It serves to advance professionals’ careers within the health service industry locally and internationally.
A primary goal of the MHSA is to equip professionals and managers in hospitals, clinics, pharmaceuticals, insurance firms, biotechnology firms, and other health-related settings, with the crucial skills to manage and lead profitable healthcare organizations while, at the same time, delivering high quality services with patient safety at the forefront.
Leadership in Healthcare
Students acquire managerial and leadership skills in key areas such as operations management, legal and ethical decision making, finance, epidemiology, biostatistics, human resource management, health economics, clinical systems management, managerial accounting, quality management, patient safety and more.
All offered courses have been designed specifically for the health services sector. Through utilization of theory, in a research project, field project, or elective pathway, this coursework allows students to analyse complex workplace management.
Entrepreneurship in Healthcare
This dynamic programme emphasizes entrepreneurship in the health care industry. It challenges students to pursue advanced initiatives and address existing problems in their current work environments through the development of business plans and the implementation of field projects.
For instance, students could pursue the implementation of new systems and processes in order to reduce patient waiting times in their hospital/clinic. Another example in this course pathway would be to prepare a business plan for establishing an integrated practice unit in a hospital.
Managing a Crisis such as a Pandemic
Students of the MHSA will acquire crisis management skills enabling them to respond effectively to adverse situations. For instance, in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, essential elements of the program include: knowledge on how pandemics spread within a population, evaluation of measures which could limit such spread, an understanding of how hospital settings and facilities should be structured to increase effectiveness and ensure the safety of both patients and healthcare personnel, as well as an understanding of how new technologies (e.g. telemedicine and big data analytics) could be of assistance. Moreover, students will explore the redistribution of resources in setting up crisis management plans.
Student Outcomes
Our multidisciplinary curriculum focuses on current and emerging issues in the global healthcare industry and prepares graduates to tackle real world challenges in leadership positions at the local, national and international level. Upon graduation, they will be able to pursue or further their career in a multitude of settings, such as hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, insurance firms, health departments, biotechnology firms, start-ups and more. Specifically, graduates can manage and lead healthcare organisations and units through critical evaluation of the industry, efficient operational management, prudent financial planning and effective human resource management. Within our international medical programmes, our graduates have a 99% career placement rate. The strong emphasis on innovation and technological advancements enables graduates to provide vision and initiate strategic change in healthcare organisations.
Innovative and Modern Curriculum
This dynamic programme is tailored to the needs of fulltime working professionals and new graduates. The MHSA is delivered over 3 semesters (18 months full-time, or up to 4 years part-time) and features 3 core courses in each of Semesters 1 and 2. Semester 3 provides students with the opportunity to choose one of the three elective paths, depending on their own professional development goals.
Students determine their time schedule, study pace and workload by choosing the number of courses per semester. In addition, the distance learning mode, comprising online interactive lectures, tutorials, activities and assignments, allows study outside normal working hours, as well as autonomy and control.
Internationally Renowned Faculty
To realise our vision of serving as a centre of excellence in health services administration education, we have brought together experts from around the world. Our faculty have extensive experience of teaching, working and conducting research in this exciting field and each course is taught by a leader in their field.
Online Education at UNIC
The First University in the EU to be awarded 5 QS Stars in Distance Education
Our University has been a pioneer in online/distance learning education in Europe, supporting both its own degree programmes, as well as those of its joint degree partners.
UNIC is the first university in the European Union to be awarded a 5-Star QS rating for Online/Distance Learning by the QS Intelligence Unit and the first university globally to receive triple accreditation for its online learning quality. This makes UNIC one of the 14 universities in the world to date that have been awarded a 5-Star rating.
An integral part of our approach to the learning design of these courses is our commitment to help our students develop higher-order skills of critical analysis, reflection, and problem-solving. We also support our learners in building knowledge collaboratively and engaging in social learning.
As a testament to the quality of our online programmes, our University has been awarded the highest accolades for e-learning and distance learning education excellence.
UNIC continues to strive for excellence globally. The 2021 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings, ranked the University of Nicosia (UNIC) as the number 32 university in the world in the core area of Quality Education, and among the top 301-400 universities globally in terms of its overall social and economic impact.
Programme Structure
The programme is divided into three semesters. Core courses are taught in semesters one and two and must be successfully completed before selecting any course from semester three. In semester three, students can opt to complete a research or, field project route, or to complete three electives from a choice of six courses.
All MHSA courses and related synchronous activities are scheduled to be held during the following days/times during the 2021-22 academic year so as to ensure optimal flexibility: Mon-Fri 2pm-9pm and/or Sat 10am-1pm (EET/EEST – Cyprus time).
Based on the above and students’ concomitant professional and/or other responsibilities, students may opt to enroll as either full-time or part-time students in the MHSA programme.
Semester Breakdown
| Semester 1* | |
|---|---|
| Course code/Title | Description |
| HSA-511 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics |
| HSA-512 | Managing Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour in Health Care Organisations |
| HSA-513 | Managing Financial Resources, Health Economics and Insurance |
| Semester 2* | |
|---|---|
| Course code/Title | Description |
| HSA-521 | Clinical Systems Management |
| HSA-522 | Hospital Operations, Patient Safety and Quality |
| HSA-523 | Managing Health Information Systems |
| Semester 3 | |
|---|---|
| Option 1: Research Pathway | |
| HSA-590 | Research Methods and Methodology |
| HSA-596 | Research Project |
| Option 2: Elective Pathway | |
| HSA-590 | Research Methods and Methodology |
| Plus two elective courses chosen from the following: | |
| HSA-531 | Ethical and Legal Dimensions of Public Health and Health |
| HSA-532 | Comparative Health Care Systems in the World |
| HSA-533 | Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Health |
| HSA-534 | Strategic Management in Health Care Organisations |
| HSA-535 | Managing Marketing in Health Services |
| Option 3: Applied Field Project Pathway |
| HSA-585 | Field Project |
| Plus one elective course chosen from the following: | |
| HSA-533 | Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Health |
| HSA-590 | Research Methods and Methodology |
| HSA-585 | Field Project |
*All required courses 30 ECTS
Admission Requirements
1. A Bachelor’s degree from an institution recognised in the country where it operates. A degree in a health or business-related field is an advantage.
2. Two reference letters: Either academic or professional.
3. English Language Requirements:
6.5 overall in the IELTS (with 6.0 in all other elements),
Or: 213 overall in the computer-based TOEFL (550 paper based, 79 internet based),
Or: grade 5 in the GCSE (or B with the old grading system),
Or: a score of 5 in English in the International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL),
Or: a score of 8 in English in the European Baccalaureate.
Students holding a degree from the UK, USA, Canada (from English speaking provinces), Australia and New Zealand & Ireland are exempt from this requirement.
4. A personal statement describing your educational and, if applicable, professional background and explaining how this degree would support your career ambitions.
Tuition
The Master in Health Services Administration programme aims to equip professionals with leadership skills in the rapidly growing health services field. All students applying for entry in Fall 2022, will be awarded a 20% scholarship reducing tuition to €9,648 from €12,060. Further scholarships can be awarded with the submission of a scholarship application.
Instalment plans are also available to further support you during your studies. Our Admissions Advisers can provide more details: [email protected]
Scholarships available
Hospital Leader Scholars
Type: Need-based
Students with financial need are eligible to apply for this need-based scholarship award. In order to be considered for this scholarship, in addition to the scholarship application, students need to provide evidence of financial need.
Health Services Innovator
Type: Merit-based
Students with strong undergraduate academic records can qualify for this scholarship and must submit an essay with final transcript for consideration. Minimum level for consideration is an undergraduate GPA above 3.7 (US Scale), ‘First’ (UK Scale) or local equivalent.
Scholarship Terms
- Only students who have been accepted to the MHSA are eligible to submit a scholarship application.
- Scholarships are awarded with consideration for a student’s country of residency according to the World Bank Index country income classification.
- Scholarships are applied on a pro-rata basis to each course in the MHSA.
- The University of Nicosia reserves the right, at its sole discretion to award or not award any scholarship to any student and/or to change the number of scholarships awarded, their eligibility requirements or any other aspect of the financial aid program.
- Final tuition is subject to course load as there may be minimal variation in costs, pending the timeline of completion.