The M.Sc. Health Economics is a full-time, four-semester, English-language master’s programme at the University of Duisburg-Essen. This research-oriented programme addresses some of the most significant challenges facing modern societies across the globe: the causes of population ageing and its consequences for different sectors of the economy; socioeconomic inequality in health and the interplay between health, education, and labour market outcomes; the funding of health care and how the reimbursement of health care providers affects their incentives to provide care on equitable grounds. 

The programme provides students with solid training in applied microeconometric methods, enabling them to assess empirical work and gain first-hand experience in conducting empirical research. It is embedded in a dynamic academic environment firmly integrated into the international health economics research community. Notably, the Faculty is home to CINCH, a national research centre for health economics, which has developed into a prominent European hub for health economics research over the past 15 years.

Students in this programme have access to numerous academic activities, such as a weekly research seminar on health economics, the Essen Health Conference—a leading international conference for applied research in health economics—and the annual CINCH-dggö academy for graduate students from around the world.

Courses are taught by an international faculty who have made significant contributions to their respective research areas. Additionally, international guest professors provide specialized courses, and students can gain hands-on research experience by working as paid assistants on various projects.

This programme offers an excellent pathway for students interested in pursuing doctoral studies in applied microeconomics. It also prepares them for positions in international organizations such as the WHO, EU institutions, government agencies, or the private sector. In all these potential career paths, graduates benefit immensely from their analytical skills, knowledge of economic theory, applied empirical work, and data science methods.