• Postgraduate

Health Informatics MSc

Overview

Overview

The initiative to digitise health and genomics information has created a strong demand for medical informatics professionals.

This course will provide you with the broad grounding you need for a range of careers as a health informatics or bioinformatics practitioner in the public and private sectors, within the UK or overseas. 

We have designed this degree for graduates with analytical and inquisitive minds who want to work in professional roles that encompass computing and biology, medicine or healthcare.

Your studies will help you to develop the Information Communications Technology (ICT) skills and knowledge required to support and improve health and healthcare delivery.

Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters options

If you have an undergraduate degree but do not meet the entry criteria for this course, you may qualify for our Extended Masters or Enhanced Extended Masters courses.

These courses feature four specially designed modules which will improve your academic and English skills. Once completed you can progress directly onto the regular Masters course. See below for more information.

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Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Health Informatics with us?

Why study Health Informatics with us?

What our students say…

I love the debates in class, making new friends and meeting new people. I also love the real-world experience offered by the course.

Jamal Dabsheh
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Industry focused teaching
Tile: Mac and PC Labs
There are seven labs and studios in the School
Lifelong careers support from the UWL Careers Service.
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

This course has been structured with the modern healthcare sector in mind.  
Through your studies, you will develop a professional outlook on the effective use of data, information, knowledge and technology in healthcare.

You will learn about the information systems used to manage healthcare, knowledge and data management and leadership and management competence. Your dissertation that will allow you to focus on an area of particular interest and apply your what you have learnt on the course.

Our experienced tutors will provide you with the high-quality teaching and the personal support you need to make the most of your university education. 

As a student on this health informatics course, you will also benefit from the partnerships that UWL’s School of Computing and Engineering has developed with companies such as Amazon. You will gain vital transferable skills that can be effectively used in healthcare and other industries. These include:

  • integration with big data
  • cloud computing
  • cyber security

Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters

Our Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters courses are intended for students who already have an undergraduate degree but don't meet the entry requirements to study for a Masters degree.

Over a full-time semester, you will study four modules specially designed to improve your academic and English language skills:

  • Advanced Study Skills
  • Critical Thinking, Analysis and Evaluation
  • Statistics
  • English (Business English on the Enhanced course)

Once completed, you will progress directly onto the core Masters course.

What's the difference between an Extended Masters and an Enhanced Extended Masters? The Enhanced Extended Masters is similar to the Extended Masters but with a greater focus on improving your English skills. It also includes a Business English module which will allow you to gain a full understanding of this critical subject area.

For more information on our Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters, please visit our Extended Masters courses page.

You will study all compulsory modules and choose two of the optional modules. 

One of the options needs to be either Knowledge Management OR Leadership in Public Health. 

Learning and Professional Development, Employability Skills and Employment and Programming Support modules are optional support modules if you need extra support in those areas.

If you are an international student the Learning and Professional Development module is compulsory. 

Supporting modules

  • Learning and Professional Development (for International students only)
  • Programming Support

Compulsory modules

  • Information Systems in Healthcare

  • HCI for Information Systems

    On this module you will focus on user-centred design (UCD) principles and frameworks. You will cover various techniques involving users, and upon completion you will appreciate the way UCD and prototyping techniques are used within the general practice of software engineering.

  • Data Management in Healthcare

    Data is revolutionising healthcare. The benefits of data when correctly used extend to patients, providers and board members, and the technology can make centralised patient management a reality. The aim of this module is to give you the knowledge and hands-on experience of developments in the broad range of data-driven healthcare.

  • Research Methods

  • Project Dissertation

Optional modules

  • Consultancy and Tech Innovation

    This module explores the skills needed to understand, and work in, the complex multi-sourced environment that supports business change. Focusing on the strategic management of leading-edge technology, you will examine the organisational structure of IT, including systems integrators and consultancy, and gain an overview of the IT consulting world, its principles and practice.

  • Principles of Project Management

    During this module you will be introduced to the concepts, principles and techniques needed for effective project management. The module covers the roles, responsibilities and skills required to work in ever-changing project environments and how these relate to effective project management.

  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics

    This module enables you to appreciate how epidemiology contributes to the identification of public health issues at a population level locally, nationally and globally. It complements the Research Methods for Public Health module by giving you the opportunity to gain an understanding of how to locate and use health data sources, and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different epidemiological study designs.

    You will develop skills for critically appraising published research and interpreting basic epidemiologic and demographic, descriptive and inferential data and statistical approaches to analysing health outcomes.

  • Public Health and Health Systems

    This module introduces the historical and conceptual foundations of public health systems and policy. 

    • You will review different health systems and public health models to 
    • understand their functions, grounding theories, and concepts about:
    • service delivery
    • health workforce
    • health information systems
    • access to essential medicines
    • financing
    • leadership
    • collective actions of society to enhance population health. 

    The module uses local, national, and global perspectives to consider the political dimensions of public health and the strategic use of resources such as housing, economic globalisation and income distribution, and community empowerment on influencing lifestyle choices and improving population health. 

  • Leadership and Management for Public Health

    Knowledge and skills in leadership and management are a core requirements for improving population health. This module focuses on helping you to understand the theory and practice of effective leadership and management of public health services, programmes and projects. It examines and unpicks concepts and issues in leadership and management practices and strategies used within public health systems to improve service delivery, and implement change that achieves sustainable service quality in the context of addressing population health needs. 

    The module uses real-life scenarios and recorded narrations by practitioners to analyse classic leadership themes and interpret the characteristics of effective leaders; helping students as future leaders and managers to identify and adopt different leadership approaches for handling the challenges facing public health professionals in influencing societies and populations for health improvement. 

    The module will challenge you to think of innovative ideas to adopt when leading within complex and dynamic public health settings. 

  • Digital Transformation and Innovation

    This module aims to provide you with an understanding of digital transformation in a range of organisational contexts.

    It will provide you with an understanding of digital disruption and how tools and frameworks can be applied in the planning and implementation of a digital transformation strategy for an organisation.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You should have an honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or equivalent in computing or healthcare science.  

We will also consider equivalent professional qualifications or a relevant HND provided you can demonstrate relevant work experience. In this case you will have to complete an interview with your application and some optional modules may not be available without a first degree in computing. All applications are considered individually.
 
Find out more about our processes for recognising previous experience

We look for students who show enthusiasm and a passion for the subject through previous study or professional experience.

If you have any questions about the relevance of your qualifications or experience please contact the course leader shown in the teaching staff.

6.5 IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement of 6.5 overall score for IELTS, with a minimum of 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept.

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents.

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements. Find out more about our English Language courses.

We look for students who show enthusiasm and a passion for the subject through previous study or professional experience.

If you have any questions about the relevance of your qualifications or experience please contact the course leader shown in the teaching staff.

Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

If you are studying a Masters course you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan, this may help contribute towards your course fees and living costs.

Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as disabled students or those with dependants.

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries, including awards for specific subjects.

Awards for computing and engineering students are also on offer.

{{ formatCurrencyValue(currentVariantData.field_p_cv_int_main_fee.name) }} per year

The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships. 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

 

Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Ikram Ur Rehman

Dr Ikram Ur Rehman

Dr Ikram's teaching proficiency is focused on taught and research modules for undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including modules such as Programming, Software Development, Databases and Analytics, Data Management in Healthcare and Visualisation, Artificial Intelligence, Data Communication and Networking. Furthermore, he has also actively supervised successful BSc and MSc students in their project dissertations. In addition, he supervises PhD students in their doctoral studies at the University of West London. Moreover, as a course leader, he leads and contributes to developing appropriate teaching materials to ensure content and delivery methods meet learning objectives. He is passionate about supporting students in their learning and advising them on skills, methods and techniques to assist in transferring knowledge. Considering his academic achievements and contributions to the teaching profession, students have nominated him thrice as the lecturer of the year (2021-2023). He was awarded the "Star Award Lecturer of the Year 2022" from the School of Computing and Engineering.

Dr Ikram's teaching proficiency is focused on taught and research modules for undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including modules such as Programming, Software Development, Databases and Analytics, Data Management in Healthcare and Visualisation, Artificial Intelligence, Data Communication and Networking. Furthermore, he has also actively supervised successful BSc and MSc students in their project dissertations. In addition, he supervises PhD students in their doctoral studies at the University of West London. Moreover, as a course leader, he leads and contributes to developing appropriate teaching materials to ensure content and delivery methods meet learning objectives. He is passionate about supporting students in their learning and advising them on skills, methods and techniques to assist in transferring knowledge. Considering his academic achievements and contributions to the teaching profession, students have nominated him thrice as the lecturer of the year (2021-2023). He was awarded the "Star Award Lecturer of the Year 2022" from the School of Computing and Engineering.

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

a Man giving a presentation with a smartboard. DNA helix's are on the screen

This course will prepare you for a wide range of careers within the public and private health sectors. You could work in: 

  • clinical informatics
  • personalised Medicine
  • clinical bioinformatics
  • education and training
  • health records and patient administrators
  • information and communication technology
  • information management
  • libraries and knowledge management
  • project and programme management

On successful completion of this course you may also choose to pursue further study at MPhil and PhD level. See our Research and enterprise page to find out more.

How to apply

How to apply

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2022 and 2023 - Based on an average of all 27 questions. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.