health economics phd programs canada

School of Graduate Studies

Health policy, management and evaluation, program overview.

The Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) is training Canada’s future health leaders and researchers through its outstanding  degree programs:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation concen​trations:

• Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research
• Health Professions Education Research
• Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement and Patient Safety​
• System Leadership and Innovation

​Multidisciplinary  collaborative specializations with other University of Toronto graduate departments allow further specialization.

See a complete description of all IHPME programs . Please note the application deadlines.​

Quick Facts

Master of science, program description.

The HPME graduate program offers the following concentrations leading to the MSc degree:

Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research;

Health Systems Leadership and Innovation;

Health Systems Research; and

Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

The MSc program can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.

Concentration: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research

Minimum admission requirements.

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

Applicants require an overall B+ average or higher in the last two years of an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university. For applicants to this concentration, a degree in a health profession (for example, MD, BScN, BScOT, BScPT, DDM, MScN) from a recognized university with a B+ average in the final two years is required.

Program Requirements

Two options are available:

Thesis option comprising 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) and a thesis.

Coursework-only option comprising 5.0 FCEs, including completion of at least one research practicum.

Students may elect to take up to 0.5 FCE on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) basis. See the CR/NCR-eligible courses in the course list section.

Completion of 3.0 FCEs as follows:

​​​1.5 FCEs required: HAD5301H, HAD5307H, and one of HAD5303H, HAD5304H, HAD5306H, or HAD5309H

1.5 FCEs in electives.

A thesis written under the supervision of a thesis committee (supervisor and at least one, and preferably two, additional graduate faculty members) and its defence before an examination committee.

Coursework-Only MSc

Completion of 5.0 FCEs as follows:

​​2.0 FCEs required: HAD5301H, HAD5307H, HAD6360H, and one of HAD5303H, HAD5304H, or HAD5309H

3.0 FCEs in electives.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S); 6 sessions part-time

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Master of Science​

Concentration: health systems leadership and innovation.

Applicants require an overall B+ average or higher in the last two years of an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university.

• Applicants must have health-care experience and demonstrate aptitude for innovation and health systems.
• Preference will be given to medical trainees in a Canadian Faculty of Medicine or to early-career physicians. Undergraduate medical trainees who are accepted must register part-time; post-graduate medical education trainees who are accepted may register full-time or part-time.

The concentration in Health Systems Leadership and Innovation consists of coursework only. Students begin this concentration in the Summer session.

See amendment made on April 10, 2024.

• ​​​​2.5 required FCEs (HAD2001H, HAD2006H, HAD2007H, HAD2012H, and HAD2013H)
• 1.0 required FCE in experiential learning: HAD2040Y 0
• 1.5 elective FCEs; please consult with the department about electives

​Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: S/F/W); 7 sessions part-time

0 Course that may continue over a program. The course is graded when completed.

Concentration: Health Systems Research

Applicants require an overall B+ average or higher in the last two years of an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university. For applicants to Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research, a degree in a health profession (for example, MD, BScN, BScOT, BScPT, DDM, MScN) from a recognized university with a B+ average in the final two years is required.

Coursework-only option comprising 5.0 FCEs.

Completion of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

1.0 FCE in research methodology courses

1.0 FCE in health systems research courses:

HAD5011H Canada's Health Care System and Health Policy

0.5 FCE from other health systems research courses

1.0 FCE in electives.

A thesis written under the supervision of a thesis committee and its defence before an examination committee.

Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

1.0 FCE in health systems research courses, normally from HAD5011H, HAD5022H, HAD5727H, HAD5756H, or HAD5773H

1.0 FCE in research methodology courses, normally from HSR1001H, HAD5765H, HAD5772H, HAD5740H, HAD5742H, HAD5744H, HAD5746H, HAD5779H, or HAD5781H

3.0 FCEs in electives, normally from HAD5726H, HAD5728H, HAD5730H, HAD5737H, HAD5738H, HAD5743H, HAD5744H, HAD5760H, HAD5763H, HAD5771H, HAD5778H, or HAD6750H.

Students in the thesis option of the Health Systems Research concentration have the option to complete an emphasis by completing 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in a given area. The emphasis requirements will also count toward their 3.0 FCE concentration requirements.

Students in the Vector pathway within the Health Systems Research concentration must complete the emphasis in Health Systems Artificial Intelligence and complete their remaining 1.0 FCE concentration requirements by taking HAD5011H and HAD5772H.

Emphasis: Health Economics

Students must complete 2.0 FCEs as follows:

HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

HAD5744H Applied Health Econometrics I.

HAD5746H Applied Health Econometrics II.

HAD5760H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis.

Emphasis: Health Informatics Research

HAD5726H Evaluation and Research Design in Health Informatics.

Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, Master of Health Informatics program, or other relevant graduate courses as approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

Emphasis: Health Policy

CHL5300H Public Health Policy .

HAD5778H Comparative Health Systems and Policy.

1.0 FCE from the following list:

CHL5308H Tools and Approaches for Public Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation

HAD5022H Politics, Policy, Public Health, and Health Technology

HAD5765H Case Studies in Health Policy

Other health policy research course as appropriate, for example:

CHL5523H Indigenous Health and Social Policy

CHL5702H History of International Health ​ or

CHL5704H International Human Rights Law and Global Health: The Right to Health in Theory and Practice .

Emphasis: Health Systems Artificial Intelligence

CHL3020H Ethics and AI in Health

CHL5230H Applied Machine Learning for Health Data (research methods course)

MHI2002H Emergent Topics in Heath Informatics

0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration or the Master of Health Informatics program. Recommended: HAD5726H Evaluation and Research Design in Health Informatics .

Emphasis: Health Technology Assessment

HAD5301H Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research or equivalent.

HAD5307H Introduction to Applied Biostatistics.

0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

0.5 FCE from the following list:

HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research

HAD5771H Resource Allocation Ethics

HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research or HAD5308H Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis .

​​​​ Emphasis: Organization and Management Studies

HAD5773H Introduction to Theories of Organizational Behaviour and Applications to the Health Care Sector.

1.5 FCEs from the following list:

HAD5727H Knowledge Transfer and Exchange

HAD5737H Tools for Implementation Science

HAD5740H Intermediate Level Qualitative Methods

HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research

HAD5744H Applied Health Econometrics I

HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research .

Emphasis: Outcomes and Evaluation Studies

HAD5720H Evaluation I

HAD5743H Evaluation II

HAD5763H Advanced Methods in Health Services Research

CHL5202H Biostatistics II

HAD5316H Biostatistics II: Advanced Techniques in Applied Regression Methods

HAD5772H Intermediate Statistics for Health Systems Researchers

• 0.5 elective FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

Concentration: Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

2.5 FCEs required: HAD3010H, HAD3020H, HAD3041Y 0 , HAD3050H

0.5 FCE in electives.

A thesis written under the supervision of a thesis committee (comprising the supervisor and at least one additional graduate faculty member, preferably two) and its defence before an examination committee.

​​3.0 required FCEs (HAD3010H, HAD3020H, HAD3030H, HAD3050H, HAD3060H, HAD3070H)

1.0 required FCE in a research project practicum (HAD3040Y)

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S)

3 years full-time

​Doctor of Philosophy​

The HPME graduate program offers three concentrations leading to the PhD degree: 1) Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research; 2) Health Professions Education Research; and 3) Health Systems Research.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of two routes: 1) following completion of an MA or MSc degree; 2) transfer from the University of Toronto MSc transfer program.

The PhD program can be taken on a full-time or flexible-time basis. Some applicants may be admitted to a flexible-time PhD option with the approval of the Graduate Chair. The flexible-time PhD option benefits mature students with career and/or familial obligations.

Concentration: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Phd program (full-time).

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

Applicants to this concentration must have a degree in a health profession (for example, MD, BScN, BScOT, BScPT, DDM, MScN, or equivalent).

Satisfactory references pertaining to the applicant's academic and research abilities.

Outstanding students with a non-thesis master's degree may be admitted to the full-time PhD upon the recommendation of the appropriate IHPME committee, if the applicant has the appropriate background preparation and research experience or publications which can be considered equivalent to a master's thesis.

Completion of a comprehensive course .

Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) from the PhD courses listed below, which must include:

2.0 FCEs in compulsory courses and

2.0 recommended FCEs from the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research courses listed below.

Writing of a PhD thesis under the supervision of an approved thesis committee (supervisor plus at least two additional graduate faculty members).

Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee.

4 years full-time

6 years full-time

PhD Program (Transfer)

Transfer requirements.

To be considered for admission to the PhD transfer option, applicants must be admitted to the MSc program in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research concentration.

Within 24 months of registration in the MSc program, applicants must notify the CEHCR Program Director of their interest in applying to transfer to the PhD program.

Transfer to the PhD program is contingent upon successful completion of sufficient master’s coursework (normally, 2.5 FCEs), and the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis proposal.

5 years full-time

7 years full-time

PhD Program (Flexible-Time)

With approval of the Graduate Chair, some applicants may be admitted to a flexible-time PhD option. This option will benefit students with career obligations. The degree requirements for the flexible-time PhD option are identical to those listed above for the full-time PhD option.

Outstanding students with a non-thesis master's degree may be admitted to the flexible-time PhD upon the recommendation of the appropriate IHPME committee, if the applicant has the appropriate background preparation and research experience or publications which can be considered equivalent to a master's thesis.

Students must register full-time for the first four years of their program (Fall, Spring, Summer sessions); thereafter, they may register part-time.

6 years flexible-time

8 years flexible-time

Concentration: Health Professions Education Research

A master's degree (MA or MSc) requiring a thesis with a B+ average or higher.

4.5 FCEs in compulsory courses from the Health Professions Education Research courses listed below.

Doctor of Philosophy

Outstanding students with a non-thesis master's degree may be admitted to the PhD upon the recommendation of the appropriate IHPME committee, if the applicant has the appropriate background preparation and research experience or publications which can be considered equivalent to a master's thesis.

Students must select one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

A comprehensive course (0.5 FCE) specified as part of the requirements for each emphasis below.

2.0 FCEs as follows: HAD5011H, HAD5772H (or equivalent if specified in the selected emphasis), HAD6760H, and HAD6770H.

Students enrolled in the Health Systems Research concentration of the PhD program must study under one of six emphases , described below, and complete six courses ( 3.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs] ) related to their declared emphasis.

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

HAD6750H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis II.

HAD5747H Cognitive, Social, and Information Science Theory in Health Informatics Research .

HAD6764H Health Informatics Research Comprehensive Course.

CHL5300H Public Health Policy (students may elect to take this course on a Credit/No Credit basis).

HAD6763H Health Policy Comprehensive Course.

CHL5308H Tools and Approaches for Public Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation.

HAD5022H Politics, Policy, Public Health, and Health Technology.

HAD5765H Case Studies in Health Policy.

Other course as appropriate, for example:

CHL5523H Indigenous Health and Social Policy .

CHL5702H History of International Health .

HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems, and Policy.

HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

Other courses from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration in the area of policy-relevant methods.

0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, or other HPME concentrations as approved by the HPME graduate coordinator.

HAD5301H Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research.

HAD6765H Health Technology Assessment Comprehensive Course (Credit/No Credit).

Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

One course (0.5 FCE) from the following list:

HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research .

HAD5771H Resource Allocation Ethics .

Emphasis: Organization and Management Studies

HAD5750H Seminar in Organizational Behaviour .

HAD6762H Organization and Management Studies Comprehensive Course.

One course (0.5 FCE) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

HAD5743H Evaluation II .

HAD6761H Outcomes and Evaluation Studies Comprehensive Course .

Two courses (1.0 FCE) from the following list:

HAD2003H Learning Health Systems Part 1: Identifying Opportunities for System Change and Designing Sound Innovations .

HAD5720H Evaluation I .

HAD5728H Performance Measurement in Health Care: Theory and Application .

HAD5740H Intermediate Level Qualitative Methods .

HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research .

HAD5763H Advanced Methods in Health Services Research .

HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems and Policy .

One course (0.5 FCE), generally an advanced methods course, from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

PhD students in the Health Systems Research concentration who are pursuing the emphasis in Outcomes and Evaluation Studies may fulfil the concentration requirements by replacing HAD5772H Intermediate Statistics for Health Systems Researchers with CHL5202H Biostatistics II or HAD5316H Biostatistics II: Advanced Techniques in Applied Regression Methods .

To be considered for admission to the PhD transfer option, applicants must be admitted to the MSc program in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

At the time of application to the MSc program, applicants must indicate in their Letter of Intent their interest in applying to transfer to the PhD program.

Transfer to the PhD program is contingent upon:

Successful completion of a minimum 2.5 FCEs of master’s coursework.

Achieving a minimum grade of B+ in all courses and an overall average of A– in their program.

Obtaining a letter of support from the applicant's supervisor.

The preparation and defence of a PhD-quality thesis proposal.

Once students have successfully transferred to the PhD program, they must study under one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

Students enrolled in the Health Systems Research Concentration of the PhD program must study under one of six emphases , described below, and complete six courses ( 3.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs] ) related to their declared emphasis.

HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research or HAD5308H Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research .

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Graduate Programs

Masters programs.

Masters of Arts in Economics – Health Economics Concentration The masters program in economics provides a thorough grounding in modern economic analysis. The program blends theory and quantitative methods. Canadian students are expected to have an honours BA in economics, including the advanced microeconomics and macroeconomics courses (that is, one course in each beyond the full-year intermediate courses) and some econometrics. The university requires students to have maintained a B+ average in the final two years of their undergraduate programs, but it practice, students with less than an A- average are seldom admitted. Students from foreign universities are expected to have equivalent backgrounds. Although equivalency is difficult to determine, here are some guidelines for a few countries: India: First class standing in the bachelors degree and upper second class standing in the masters degree. Bangladesh and Pakistan: First class standing in both the bachelors and masters degrees. China: A four-year degree with an average of at least 85%. The subject area should be economics, not business. Strong skills in both mathematics and statistics/econometrics are expected. Students concentrating in health economics are required to take two graduate courses in health economics For more detailed information regarding general program requirements and features, please see: http://www.mcmaster.ca/economics/grad/admission_requirements.cfm This program is appropriate for individuals who are seriously contemplating continuing on for doctoral studies in economics.        Master of Arts in Economic Policy – Health Economics Concentration The program is designed to develop economists with a solid knowledge of economics, skill in using economic ideas and methods, and a strong policy orientation.  The objective is to provide students with graduate-level economics training that has clear policy application. The program differs from a typical masters in economics program in that it provides more experience applying analytical tools to policy problems, greater emphasis on the institutional features and policies of relevant sectors of the Canadian economy, an understanding of the strengths and weakness of alternative policy evaluation methods, more interaction with policy-makers, and more emphasis on writing and presenting policy analyses.   The program will differ from public policy programs by emphasizing relevant graduate-level economics training.    Applicants will normally be required to have an honours bachelors degree in economics or its equivalent. However, the program will also be open to students who do not have an economics major but who have sufficient training in economics and statistics (for example, students with a minor in economics). Students concentrating in health economics are required to take two graduate courses in health economics and undertake the required policy project in the area of health economics.   For more detailed information regarding general program requirements and features, please see: http://www.mcmaster.ca/economics/grad/ma_econ_pol.cfm This program is appropriate for those who seek a terminal masters degree that prepares them for work in the public service, industry or other relevant research and policy organizations. Master of Science in Health Research Methodology – Health Technology Assessment or  Health Services Research Fields    The M.Sc. Program in Health Research Methodology is designed to provide the opportunity for advanced education and research in research methodology used to understand and improve the effectiveness of health care and its delivery, the health of the population and health professions education. The program is divided into two admissions streams: Health Professionals (Stream I), and Background in Health, Social, or Biological Sciences (Stream II). Stream II students often come from backgrounds in health, social or biological sciences. The training received by these students is intended to provide the skills necessary for them to function as researchers in the health care system. Applicants must have completed a four-year honours university degree with a B+ average (75-79% equivalent to a McMaster 8.5 grade point average) in the final year. Meeting the minimum requirement does not guarantee admission. Prior training in mathematics, statistics or the biological sciences is not a prerequisite. Students with background in health studies, kinesiology, health economics and other social sciences are encouraged to apply. Applicants with previous experience in health-related research settings tend to have an advantage over other applicants. Students specializing in the field of health technology assessment are required to take . . .  Students specializing in the field of health services research are required to take . .   For more details regarding the program please see:  http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/grad/hrm/msc/admiss.htm This program is appropriate for those who seek interdisciplinary training in health research with an opportunity to concentrate in health technology assessment or health services research. Masters in Business Administration – Health Services Management Stream The Health Services Management (HSM) Specialization at McMaster is the only MBA program of its type in Canada.  It combines expertise found in McMaster University's renowned Faculty of Health Sciences and the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business with hands-on training gained through work experience in health care organizations. The competent professional health services manager is a critical element in the framework of effective and efficient delivery of health services. Such individuals need solid management grounding in the fundamentals of planning, operations, and evaluation as well as a broad orientation to the realities and inherent growth potentials of our health system.    This program produces graduates who have the specific capabilities which the health industry is seeking and who have developed their networking skills to take advantage of the new opportunities being generated in this challenging and rapidly changing field. The underlying assumption of this stream is that it will produce a unique graduate with accelerated capabilities in the health services field. This solid MBA training includes selected graduate courses from the health sciences and is coupled with a range of work term experiences in the health sector designed with specific educational objectives. Students in the HSM specialization are required to take at least one course each in health economics and health policy analysis, and depending on their interests and background, can expand this aspect of their training. For more information regarding the HSM stream within the MBA program, see: www.degroote.mcmaster.ca/prospect/mba/academ/streams/hsm.aspx

PhD Programs

PhD in Economics – Health Economics Field The PhD in economics with a specialization in health economics provides advanced training in economics designed to produce economists capable of original, innovative contributions to the field health economics.  A student in the doctoral program must successfully complete three sets of requirements: coursework, comprehensive exams, and thesis. These stages should be completed in 4-5 years. A doctoral candidate must complete the micro- and macro-economic theory sequence, econometrics requirements, and eight one-term electives. The electives must be chosen so that the student satisfies the coursework requirements for the health economics field:   A doctoral candidate must also pass comprehensive exams in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory and two fields. In addition to health economics, the available fields are:  Econometrics, Economic planning and development, Growth and Monetary Economics, International economics, Labour economics, Population economics, Public economics The theory comprehensives are normally written after the first year of coursework; the field exams are normally written at the end of the second year of coursework.   The comprehensive exams must all be completed within two years of a student’s admission to the program. Students are given wide latitude in their choice of thesis topic, but each topic must be approved by a supervisory committee consisting of three faculty members. Students who have reached the thesis stage of their program must attend the graduate students’ workshop and give several presentations on their research. Once a thesis has been submitted, the student must defend his work at an oral examination. For additional information, see:  http://www.mcmaster.ca/economics/grad/phd_ma_econ.cfm PhD in Health Research Methodology – Health Technology Assessment Field The main objective of the HRM doctoral level program is to provide students with a broad perspective and advanced skills for in-depth exploration in focused areas of research methodology, and to prepare students with a capacity for independent scholarly work in health care research or population health. Specific objectives include: to undertake scholarly enquiry of the theoretical bases for the design of studies, measurement of health care and health status, and analysis and interpretation of the data derived from such studies to make original contributions to knowledge in the development of new methods or techniques of design, measurement or analysis which can be used in the evaluation of health and health care at the level of the individual, group, program, community, and population to advance existing methods or techniques applied to health care research or health care problems in a unique way to prepare students to contribute to the solution of problems in the Canadian health care system Those specializing in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) focus their training on the evaluation of the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and broader impact of drugs, medical technologies, and health systems, both on patient health and the health care system. The goal of the HTA field specialization is to train individuals who, upon graduation, will have acquired sufficient skills to be actively involved in independent and collaborative research in the field of HTA. Graduates will be expected to: • acquire a strong foundation in the basic principles of HTA • develop skills in advanced decision analysis • apply research methods derived from health economics • understand and use basic and advanced biostatistics • utilize health services research and health policy analysis concepts and methods. HTA students will be expected to collaborate with one of the many research groups conducting HTA at McMaster University. PhD in Health Policy – Health Economics Field The PhD in Health Policy is a new interdisciplinary, inter-departmental, inter-faculty Ph.D. at McMaster University that offers health economics as one of its areas of specialization.  Health policy is an interdisciplinary field that investigates how health policy is made, what it is, what it might become, and its impacts.  Graduates of this program will have advanced understanding and analytic skills for understanding and making leading contributions to health policy, both as academic scholars and as professionals engaged by governments and other health sector organizations. The curriculum includes both interdisciplinary breadth and field-specific depth. All students must enroll for the first 3 terms in a doctoral seminar dedicated to the advanced study of health policy problems, ideas, and analytic approaches.  In parallel, all students will receive core training their chosen area of specialization.   All students develop competence in quantitative methods, including multivariate statistics and research design, as well as basic qualitative methods. These breadth competencies create a basis for interdisciplinary collaboration, critical appraisal and use of diverse research information, and new skill acquisition as necessary throughout the career.  Students may further specialize in either quantitative or qualitative methods, establishing the foundation for leading an independent empirical research program. Admission requirements include graduate training in a relevant field; a Master’s degree is strongly preferred.An A- or higher grade average in past graduate coursework is required, as is at least one graduate-level statistics half-course.

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Health Economics Unit

Health economics is a form of economics-based research that analyzes efficiency, effectiveness, value, and behaviour in the production and consumption of health and health care.

Health Economic Services

The IHE provides a wide range of economic analyses to inform effective allocation of health resources, including:

• Economic analyses: cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, cost-benefit, and/or cost-minimization
• Economic evaluation and extrapolation within clinical trials
• Budget impact, cost and budget forecasting
• Health funding model development and evaluation

Sector Specific Supports

Please click the links below for more information on sector specific health economics related supports we provide.

• Public Sector Funding and Economics Capacity Development
• University Led Health Economics Research Partnerships
• Services for Industry Partners
• Physicians, Patient Groups, and Other Health System Stakeholders

The Institute of Health Economics is the proud secretariat of the Network of Alberta Health Economists – Bringing together the leading minds in health economists research and policy. For more information, visit www.NOAHE.ca .

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PhD in Economics

McMaster’s community of scholars includes faculty, postdoctoral fellows, research assistants, and graduate students. Through this program, students will become independent, professional economists using state-of-the-art methods to analyze economic phenomena. Areas of specialization include Econometrics, Growth and Monetary, Health, International, Labour, Population, and Public Economics.

We admit 5-8 PhD students each year, which results in small classes and intensive interaction between students and faculty. PhD students may choose a co-op option (formally called Work Integrated Learning) associated with this program after passing the comprehensive exams.   

About the Program

Graduates of the PhD program in economics become professional and independent economists able to analyze economic phenomena using state-of-the-art techniques. Graduates primarily pursue one of two career tracks. One is to become an economics professor. We regularly place our graduates in academic positions, both in departments of economics and in interdisciplinary settings with a strong economics focus, such as schools of public policy. A second option is a career in the public or private sector. We place our graduates in high-quality research positions within government ministries and agencies, such as the Department of Finance and the Bank of Canada, in international organizations, and, less frequently, in the private sector.   

Faculty members of the department are affiliated with or lead a number of research facilities and centers at McMaster. These centers and facilities support economics research by graduate students.  Secure Empirical Analysis Lab (SEAL) houses a wide range of confidential micro-data that can be used to conduct research in the areas of education, charities, and public services, with data holding expanding on a continuous basis. Statistics Canada Research Data Centre (RDC) (Mike Veall, Director), houses the master files of a large variety of Statistics Canada survey data plus an increasing array of public-sector administrative microdata (e.g., census data, vital statistics, employment data, justice system data) that support economic research. Canada’s first computer-mediated experimental economics laboratory, the  McMaster Decision Science Laboratory (McDSL) (Bradley Ruffle, Director) provides the capability for conducting controlled economic experiments across a wide range of economic fields. The Faculty of Social Science is committed to developing state-of-the-art facilities for empirical research, including expanded microdata analysis and economic experiments in the L.R. Wilson Hall.  

Requirements and Timelines

The first phase is passing the comprehensive macroeconomic and microeconomic theory exams. To accomplish this, students must complete the following coursework:    

• two microeconomics theory courses (ECON 721** and ECON 722)   
• two macroeconomic theory courses (ECON 723** and ECON 724)   
• two econometrics courses (ECON 761* and ECON 762)   
• ECON 765 (as it is a required course)   
• elective courses must be passed prior to writing comprehensive examinations in any area (see phase 2)     

Students entering the PhD program from our MA in Economics program will already have completed the required courses and two electives; these students would require approximately six more electives. The Economics waiver exam may allow PhD students who enter the PhD program from another university to receive credit for ECON 761. Electives must be chosen so that the student satisfies the coursework requirements of his or her chosen fields for comprehensive exams (see the list below). Most electives are taken from courses offered by the economics department, but a student may also take up to two courses from other departments, with the approval of the graduate chair (economics) and the course instructor. Students in recent years, for example, have taken finance courses offered by the DeGroote School of Business , health-related courses offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences , and statistics courses offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics .   

After the successful completion of the first year of coursework, comprehensive exams in micro and macro theory are typically given in May or June.  

Phase 2    

The second phase involves passing comprehensive exams in two areas of specialization and writing a research paper. The field examination committee may require that candidates complete specific courses before taking these exams. Below are the typical areas of specialization and the typical courses required for each. A graduate chair may, however, permit additional specializations in areas where the department has a research strength provided they are based on courses offered by the department.   

The fields currently available are:  

• Econometrics  
• Experimental Economics  
• Growth and Monetary Economics   
• Health Economics   
• International Economics   
• Labour Economics   
• Macroeconomics  
• Microeconomics  
• Population Economics   
• Public Economics   

Field exams are normally written after the second year of coursework has been successfully completed. Candidates have two chances to pass each comprehensive exam. Within 18 months of starting the program, students must pass the micro and macro theory comprehensive exams. The exams must be completed within 24 months of beginning the program. Within 27 months of entering the doctoral program, the student must complete a research paper. The research paper will be presented in the Fall term during the PhD workshop discussed below. The research paper must be accepted by the supervisory committee.     

Phase 3    

The thesis is the third phase. At this point, students may choose to enroll in additional courses if they are relevant to their proposed research. With the approval of the Graduate Chair, up to four half courses may be taken outside of the department. In addition to writing a thesis and taking courses, students must achieve the Active Researcher Milestone which involves participating in the department’s research activities (for example, by attending seminars, PhD workshops and meeting with visiting speakers) and regularly presenting their research. The Active Researcher Milestone must be achieved annually until graduation.     

At this stage, students are required to complete the following seminar courses. Students who have passed all their comprehensive examinations should register for ECON 798 in the Fall term that immediately follows and present the research paper. Doctoral students typically take a total of 12-14 graduate courses at this university.     

ECON 798: Workshops in Economics I   

ECON 799: Workshops in Economics II     

Co-op Option: Students in the PhD program who have successfully completed the comprehensive examinations may apply for the co-op option associated with this degree program. The number of students who will be accepted will be small and will depend on available placements. To complete the PhD co-op option, the student must work a total of eight months in either one or two placements and successfully complete both ECON 796 Economics Co-op Work Term I and ECON 797 Economics Co-op Work Term II.   

*A student who has a particularly strong background in econometrics can elect to write the econometrics waiver exam. Students who pass the waiver exam are allowed to replace ECON 761 (term 1 of econometrics) with an elective course. These students take ECON 762 in term 2 and complete the econometrics project. Credit for ECON 761 will appear on their transcripts.  

**All students registering in ECON 721 (Micro Theory 1) or ECON 723 (Macro Theory 1) are encouraged to take the mathematics preparation course ECON 765, an intensive ten-day refresher course in mathematics (MATH CAMP). Math camp is given in August, prior to the start of regular graduate courses for the fall term. After the completion of this course, students are tested regarding their mathematics preparation. The course has two parts. Part I covers topics related to ECON 721-Micro Theory I and part II covers topics related to ECON 723-Macro Theory I and matrix algebra. Each part has its own final exam. Students registered in ECON 721(ECON 723) must write the exam related to part I (part II). A student’s score on the part I (part II) exam counts as 10% of the student’s final grade in ECON 721-Micro Theory I (ECON 723-Macro Theory I).   

***Incoming students are strongly encouraged to enroll in ECON 4T03 so they are well prepared for first term micro.  

Admissions and Applications

The application portal opens on November 15 th and closes on January 14th . 

Learn more about the graduate studies application process and how to apply .

As a minimum, a standard Canadian entrant into our PhD program will have a Master’s degree in economics from a recognized university and will have maintained B+ average in their master’s study. We emphasize that these are minimum standards; those admitted typically have stronger academic records.  

Students from foreign universities are expected to have equivalent backgrounds. Although equivalency is difficult to determine, here are some guidelines for a few countries from which we commonly receive inquiries:  

• India: First-class standing for the Bachelor’s degree and upper-second-class standing for the Master’s degree.  
• Bangladesh and Pakistan: First-class standing in both the bachelors and master’s degrees.  
• China: A four-year degree with an average of at least 85%. The subject area must be ECONOMICS, not business. Strong skills in mathematics and statistics/econometrics are expected.  

A student whose native language is not English, and who has not completed an English-language degree in a predominantly English-speaking country, must submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score for the Dept of Economics is 580 (237 on the computerized exam; 92 iBT); the minimum acceptable IELTS score is 7.5 . Please note, the minimum requirement for the Dept of Economics is higher than the School of Graduate Studies minimum of 6.5.  

If you have any questions email them to [email protected] . Please be patient all emails will be answered.  

**If your transcript states the medium of instruction was English or you submit a letter with your application from the University stating your medium of instruction was English then that will waive your ELP requirement and a test result will not be required**  

Please note if you submit a score lower than 7.5, your application will not be reviewed. It is imperative that you meet the testing requirements noted above.   

Required Document Checklist:  

• Application Form and Fee  
• Two letters of reference  
• Academic transcripts  
• Statement of interest  
• Writing Sample (Paper or Essay – there is no minimum words and it must be single author)  
• CV/ Resume  

As reference links are sent after your application is submitted, it is highly recommended that you apply at least one week before the January 15th deadline, as this will allow for references and other documents be received in time.  

Financial Information, Scholarship and Awards

Information on Graduate Program fees can be found on the Office of the Registrar website.

Financial Aid  

Students to whom we offer admission are automatically considered for financial assistance – no special forms need be filled out. Funding is awarded on academic excellence and the availability of funds. Funding is open to all domestic and international students.  

All students admitted to the PhD program are offered two forms of financial assistance. The first is a Teaching Assistant (TA) position, which normally requires the student to perform 130 hours of marking or tutoring in each of the fall and winter terms. The second is scholarship support. In addition, many upper-year PhD students receive support in the form of a Research Assistantship (RA) in lieu of a TA, in which they work on a research project with a faculty member. The minimum annual financial assistance provided to a PhD student is $17,500 during each of first four years of doctoral study. If a student’s study extends beyond four years, financial assistance as a TA or RA may be available, but it is not guaranteed. Finally, in addition to the financial assistance provided in a letter of offer, students are eligible for TA and RA positions during the spring and summer terms, which provides support above that available during the Fall and Winter terms.  

Trudeau Scholarship: Students in the 1st or 2nd year of the doctoral program or those applying to the doctoral program are eligible. For more information regarding eligibility and the application process, please click here .  

Additional information on external scholarship support can be found at the following sites:  

• Student Financial Aid and Scholarships  
• SSHRC Doctoral Scholarships and Fellowships  
• School of Graduate Studies Scholarship Information  
• Commonwealth Scholarships  

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PhD Job Candidates

McMaster’s Department of Economics has a long history of preparing PhD graduates for the competitive job market.

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Email: [email protected]

Upcoming Events

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July 12, 2023 12:30 pm.

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August 02, 2023.

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October 27, 2023 6:00 pm.

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6 Universities in Canada offering Health Economics degrees and courses

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Brock University

University of lethbridge.

THE World Ranking: 1201

University of Northern British Columbia

THE World Ranking: 801

University of Saskatchewan

THE World Ranking: 351

University of Ottawa

THE World Ranking: 177

University of Calgary

THE World Ranking: 201

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Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD)

Canadian immigration updates.

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

The Ph.D. program in economics at UBC owes its strength to the quality of its research faculty, extensive opportunity for student-faculty interaction, and a diverse offering of specializations for thesis work. Our faculty members specialize in a wide range of topics, including development economics, economic history, applied and theoretical econometrics, economics of inequality and gender, environmental economics, industrial organization, international finance, international trade, labour economics, macroeconomics, applied and theoretical micro, political economy, and public economics.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

The Vancouver School of Economics at UBC is one of the world's best: in a recent ranking based on research publications, the department ranked in the top 20 worldwide, and number one in Canada.

Each year, we typically admit about 15 new students to our program. As a result, our program is small enough to provide extensive research supervision, yet large enough to offer expertise in a wide range of fields.

UBC offers the best program in economics in the country and has a reputation worldwide for its research and top programs.

Sebastian Gomez Cardona

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 93

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is required by some applicants. Please check the program website.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Research facilities.

The school houses the Centre for Labour Studies and manages the British Columbia Inter-University Research Data Centre. As a result, unique training opportunities, research funding, and access to data and computing resources are available to our Ph.D. students.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

Virtually all of the School's research faculty hold grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and other funding agencies, implying that opportunities for research assistantships and dissertation support are ample.

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

• 33 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 33 students was $13,467.
• 17 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 17 students was $13,717.
• 19 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 19 students was $3,513.
• 49 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 49 students was $22,471.
• 3 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 3 students was $30,000.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

76 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 75 alumni (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016):

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

The market for Ph.D. economists is strong and the School actively supports the placement of our Ph.D. job market candidates. Our students have obtained positions at leading research and teaching universities around the world. A number of graduates also obtained excellent positions at government agencies, central banks, non-governmental organizations, and in the private sector.

At the Vancouver School of Economics, we are dedicated to ensuring the success of our students on the job market.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion rates & times.

• Research Supervisors

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Anderson, Siwan (Micro-level institutions, role of gender, studies of rural governments)
• Baylis, Patrick (Economics; Climate Changes and Impacts; Economic Planning of Energy; climate change economics; energy economics; environmental economics)
• Beaudry, Paul (National and International macroeconomic issues, Business cycles, inflation, financial markets, the macro-economic effects of technological change and globalization, and the determinants of aggregate employment and wages)
• Bostanci, Gorkem (Macroeconomics (including monetary and fiscal theory); Industry economics and industrial organization; Firm Dynamics; Input Allocation and Productivity; Labor Demand; intellectual property)
• Copeland, Brian (International trade, environmental economics, interaction between globalization, the environment, and the sustainability of renewable resources)
• Couture, Victor (Economics; Urban economics and transportation; Efficiency of urban transportation systems; Potential for e-commerce to reduce spatial inequality; Preferences for social interactions; Consequences of gentrification)
• Devereux, Michael (Economics, Macro and Monetary Economics Economic Policy, Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Deficits, Exchange Rates, Capital Flows, Financial Crises, International, monetary)
• Drelichman, Mauricio (Economic history, Spain, Argentina)
• Farinha Luz, Vitor (Microeconomic Theory,)
• Ferraz, Claudio (governance and accountability in developing countries; how politics affect public service delivery; the effects of electoral rules on political selection; the role of the state in high crime and violence environments)
• Fortin, Nicole (Wage inequality and its links to labour market institutions and public policies, including higher education policies economic progress of women, gender equality policies, and gender issues in education)
• Francois, Patrick (African Autocracies, Economics of Developing Countries, Indian Village Governance, Macro, development, problems in development economies, political economy and non profits)
• Gallipoli, Giovanni (Macroeconomics (including monetary and fiscal theory); Economic Policies; Economic Phenomena on a National or International Level; Economic Phenomena on an Individual or Organizational Level; applied microeconomics; computational economics; labor economics; macroeconomics; Consumption theory and measurement)
• Green, David (Antibiotic Resistance,  Infectious Disease, Epidemiology, Determinants of the wage and employment structure bridging between macro labour and micro labour identification issues)
• Hnatkovska, Viktoriya (International finance, macroeconomics, development economics in India )
• Hoffmann, Florian (Labor Economics, Macro Economics, Income Inequality, Education, Mobility )
• Hwang, Il Myoung (empirical industrial organization and market design; evaluating different school choice mechanisms)
• Jaccard, Torsten (Economics; international trade)
• Juhasz, Reka (Economics; international trade; Economic History; Development and Growth; industrial policy and industrialization)
• Kasahara, Hiroyuki (Econometrics and international trade )
• Lahiri, Amartya (Exchange rates and monetary policy, growth and development, international economics, macroeconomics, and development economics)
• Lemieux, Thomas (labour market issues, Applied, labour, earnings inequality in Canada and other countries I am also interested in econometric methods used to analyze the earnings distribution and regression discontinuity designs)
• Li, Hao (Microeconomic theory, theory of contracts and organizations, and games and decisions )
• Li, Wei (Contract theory, applied game theory, and information economics I am deeply interested in the interaction of information and incentives in various economics and political environments )
• Lowe, Matthew (preference formation; social integration; political selection)

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

• Essays in labour economics
• Algorithmic learning in games
• Essays in development economics and economic history
• Essays on fiscal and monetary policy during economic crises
• Essays on gender and behavioural economics
• Rally the vote : electoral competition with direct campaign communication
• Essays on theory and computation in economics
• Essays in urban and labor economics
• Essays on urban violence and health
• Essays in empirical Economics
• Essays on macroeconomics
• Essays in development economics
• Essays on the political economy of state capacity, conflict, and democratization
• Essays on immigrants and their impact on the local labour market
• Essays on inflation and macroeconomic dynamics in India

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Arts in Economics (MA)

Related Disciplines

• Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD)

Further Information

Specialization.

Economics covers many fields including: macroeconomics, labour economics, international trade and finance, environmental economics, industrial organization, information and incentives, economic theory, health economics, development economics, and economic history.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Mahdi Ebrahimi Kahou

UBC Economics has the best graduate program in the country, and one of the best in the world. The graduate students at UBC have an astonishing track record of obtaining academic jobs in prestigious universities and research institutes.

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Find out how Vancouver enhances your graduate student experience—from the beautiful mountains and city landscapes, to the arts and culture scene, we have it all. Study-life balance at its best!

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PhD program

PhD in applied economics

Our PhD program offers students a strong foundation in economic theory and econometrics, as well as the opportunity to conduct original research alongside world-renowned scholars.

We provide training in the areas of public policy, labour economics, macro-economics, monetary economics, econometrics, natural resources, environmental and health economics. We believe in an ‘open-door’ atmosphere which engages and stimulates graduate students in their chosen paths of research.

Through our rigorous academic programs and applied research experience, students develop their communication and analytical skills and are prepared for a career in academia or the private sector upon graduation.

PhD students receive $104,000 over 12 on-campus terms, and have the opportunity to work as research and teaching assistants. For students wishing to advance their teaching skills, we also have a limited number of course instructor positions available.

Data access

Students can access the Southwestern Ontario Research Data Centre (SWORDC), one the few data centres that provides access to Statistics Canada data sets in master file form. SWORDC is conveniently housed in the PAS building adjacent to Economics in Hagey Hall.

***International PhD applicants:   Due to funding restrictions, we are not accepting any international applications for 2024-2025.***

Doctoral degrees were conferred upon Zehua Pan (pictured here with Dr. Curry) and Allison Mascella this June 2022. (Photo credit: Maureen Stafford)

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Health Services and Policy Research Doctoral Training Programs in Canada

Table 1 is an inventory of university-based health services and policy research (and related) doctoral training programs in Canada. A HSPR doctoral training program is defined as a program that is authorized to award a degree, concentration or specialization in HSPR or a related field, such as health economics, health technology assessment, health services organization and management, health services outcomes and evaluation, etc.). *Related assets are doctoral training programs in related fields, like public policy, epidemiology, and biostatistics that do not indicate a specialization or concentration in HSPR. Table 1 was compiled based on a 2014 analysis of Canada’s assets and resources in HSPR (full report is available upon request), a 2016 search of university websites in all provinces and territories across the country, and validation with key informant experts. It is possible that some programs were missed and that the list is comprehensive but not exhaustive.

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Requirements

Applicants to the Ph.D program do not require a Masters degree in Economics .  

Candidates admitted to the "Ph.D 2" year must satisfy five requirements: 1) coursework; 2) the Ph.D Written Comprehensive examination; 3) the Field requirements; 4.) the third-year paper requirement; and 5) the dissertation and oral defense.

The norm is that students enter in PhD 2. There are then 6 mandatory terms of full-time residency, which usually comprise the fall and winter terms of the first three years, ie:

• Fall year 1: full time; Winter year 1: full time; Summer year 1: continuing
• Fall year 2: full time; Winter year 2: full time; Summer year 2: continuing
• Fall year 3: full time; Winter year 3: full time; Summer year 3: continuing

After these mandatory years of full time status, it is possible to complete the program.  

So after your third year is complete, registration looks like this:

• Fall year 4: additional session*;  Winter year 4: additional session;  Summer year 4: additional session
• Fall year 5: additional session 

*additional session fees are payable every term (ie including summer), whereas you only pay fees for the fall and winter terms during the first three residency terms.  

This continues until the Summer year 6 (PhD 7) term, which is the last permitted term of registration before being in time limitation.  Additional explanation can be found  on the student accounts website  and in the program requirements section of the ecalendar.

New incoming Ph.D. students must take ECON 709 Microeconomic Theory 3, ECON 711 Microeconomic Theory 2, ECON 712 Macroeconomic Theory 1, ECON 713 Macroeconomic Theory 2, ECON 662 Econometrics 1, ECON 663 Econometrics 2 and ECON 701 PhD Comprehensive Examination.

Students entering the Ph.D 2 year will be required to take up to 12 graduate level courses over two years of study. The immediate aims of coursework at the Ph.D level are to prepare students to be able to pass their comprehensive exams, to help them find a thesis topic and to give them the necessary skills to undertake research on their thesis.

Ph.D Comprehensive Examinations

All Ph.D 2 students take their written Macroeconomic and Microeconomic Theory Comprehensive examinations at the end of the year in May. If they fail either of the two (or both), they would re-do them within a minimum of four (4) months and a maximum of six (6) months. In such circumstances the grade of HH (to be continued) will be used. In the event of a second failure, a grade of F will be reported to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the student will be withdrawn from the University. The comprehensive exams are denoted by ECON 701:  Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination. Students register only once for the comprehensives.  The PhD Comprehensive Exam guidelines can be found here:  https://www.mcgill.ca/economics/graduates/phd-comprehensive-exams

Field Requirements

At the start of their second year (PhD 3), Ph.D. students need to select two major fields, and one minor field. The two major fields will be selected from the set of fields offered by the economics department.  The field offerings will typically (subject to staffing) include Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Financial econometrics, Labour Economics, and Development Economics.  Additional fields might be offered. The courses underlying the minor field are the student’s choice but are subject to approval by the Graduate Program Director.  To complete a major field, a student will need to pass two courses in that field. In addition, a student must enrol and pass the Ph.D. Field Synthesis course for that  field. To complete the minor field, a student will need to pass two courses in that field, and at least one of them must be taught at McGill Economics. The PhD Field Synthesis Guidelines can be found here:  https://www.mcgill.ca/economics/graduates/phd-comprehensive-exams

Failure policy

A student will be required to withdraw from the University if he/she has two course failures or two comprehensive failures. A course failure is a failure to achieve the graduate passing grade of B- in (i) any course; (ii) any supplemental exam associated with a course; (iii) a re-taking of a course. Each instance is deemed to be a new failure, even if the second instance is in a supplemental associated with the same course as the initial failure. A comprehensive exam failure is a failure to achieve the passing grade in (i) the macro/micro comprehensive exam or (ii) either of the two field comprehensive exams. Each instance is deemed to be a new failure, even if a second instance is in the same exam as the initial failure. Notice that as long as the Macro/Micro comprehensive exams are taken during the same comprehensive exam period, ( i.e., either in May or during the retake) they are considered a single exam and therefore failing one or both of them will be considered as a single failure. See this webpage for course failure and comps failure webpage

Third-year paper and oral defense

Ph.D students who have completed their comprehensive exams are required to participate in ECON 770 PhD Research Seminar 1 and ECON 771 PhD Research Seminar 2 . The objective of this course is to ease the transition from consuming to producing research. The final goal is to write, submit to the department, and present a paper. Ideally, this paper should serve as a starting point for the dissertation. The dates for submission and presentation will be determined on a year-by-year basis by the faculty member in charge.

Thesis Submission

About a month before the thesis is ready for initial submission, the supervisor should consult with his/her student and identify one or more potential examiners who are qualified to examine the thesis. Check the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) website for details regarding thesis formatting. In particular, consult the thesis preparation checklist, which can be found on the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) website .  Note however that departmental guidance on substantive content supersedes requirements set through GPS (including those set out in the checklist). In particular, note that manuscript based theses in economics do not require the separate 20 page literature reviews nor the 10 page "Comprehensive scholarly discussion of all the findings." For those elements of the checklist, please just enter "non applicable."

Joint PhD Courses in Economics -- Open to PhD students only

PhD students who have completed their first year of studies may take select courses at other Montreal universities. More information about this can be found on the Joint PhD Course offerings website .

Supervision website

The Supervision: Graduate and Postdoctoral Support website offers research and evidence-based advice to graduate students and their supervisors on how to work together effectively and avoid common problems in supervision.

Related Content

Graduate advisors.

PhD Graduate Director: Professor Fabian Lange

PhD Graduate Advisor: Professor Fabian Lange

MA Graduate Director: Professor Daniel Barczyk

Research Progress Tracking

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) is instituting a policy of research progress tracking for students in thesis programs. Students and their supervisors are required to complete annual progress reports. For more information, refer to the graduate and postdoctoral website

Students who do not complete the required forms, by department deadlines, are deemed by the Economics Department to not be in good standing. They can expect financial aid to be suspended, and may be subject to other sanctions imposed by the Economics Department or by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS).

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Health Economics

Prerequisite

HAD5723H – Health Services Accounting

Description

This course is designed to teach the learner the basic model of microeconomics that underlies much of the thinking and perspective of health economics. The concepts of utility maximization in a perfectly competitive world with no asymmetry of information will be presented, along with the market imperfections and distortions exhibited by the market for health care to guide the learner in interpreting the work of health economists. Specifically, the price wedge between consumers and suppliers that exists with health insurance, along with the asymmetry of information, will be discussed in detail and repeatedly. After introducing the theory and noting how the market for health care differs from other markets, the course will move onto review 6 themes: the impact of public health insurance in Canada, incentives facing physicians, technology and cost effectiveness analysis specifically related to drugs, behavioral economics at play in health, and conflicts of interest. Prior knowledge of economics will be helpful but is not required.

Learner Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

To understand the basic model of microeconomic theory and utility maximization, the assumptions that underlie that model and what happens when they are violated.

To understand how Canadian health care and the people who deliver it have been affected by public insurance and payments over the last 60 years.

To understand how incentives work to change behavior of both consumers and suppliers, and the nuances of the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivators.

To understand what cost- effectiveness analysis is, and what it is not. To understand the uses and limitations in evaluating health care technologies.

To be able to identify the parties who are affected by a policy or practice intervention, and the incentives that motivate those parties.

To understand how behavior is motivated by risk and framing , as well as some of the cognitive psychological concepts that influence behavior.

To understand the impact of conflicts of interest and how self-discipline and personal ethics usually fails to curb that influence in health care.

At the end of this course, the learner should be able to apply and defend economic concepts that are incorporated in decision making for health care administrators at the policy, public health and clinical levels.

Learner Competencies

(Competencies refer to the National Centre for Healthcare Leadership Competency Model ) .

• Accountability
• Achievement Orientation
• Analytical Thinking
• Collaboration
• Information Seeking
• Innovative Thinking
• Performance Measurement
• Self-confidence

Allan Detsky

CEHCR / MHSc

Kieran Lewis Quinn

Accepting Students

CEHCR / MHSc / HSLI / HSR / QIPS

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Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) Certificate Program

The Tufts University  Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS)  Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Graduate Program is delighted to offer an accredited Certificate Program in  Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR ) . The certificate program is co-directed by  David Kent, MD, CM, MSc , Director of the CTS Graduate Program, and  Peter Neumann, ScD , Director of the Center for Evaluation of Value and Risk (CEVR).

Individuals seeking an introduction to HEOR, including professionals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, clinicians and other health care professionals, graduate degree holders, and graduate degree students, are encouraged to apply.

The Program is designed to accommodate the schedules of learners who are already immersed in professional careers or other training programs. The total cost is $8,465, and it includes the following three courses:

• Introduction to Health Economics and Outcomes Research (2 credits)- Chambers
• Health Technology Assessment (HTA) (2 credits)- Cohen and Ollendorf
• Real World Evidence (1 Credit)- Kent and Paulus

What is HEOR?

The field of health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) has become increasingly important. Providing affordable health care while maintaining the best possible health outcomes is a challenge to all governments and health care payers. This is especially true in the United States, which spends almost twice as much per capita compared to other high income countries, yet has substantially poorer health outcomes. Major drivers of the spending gap include higher administrative costs and the higher prices of devices and pharmaceuticals in the US.

As health care becomes more complex, health care decisions can be improved by combining information from economic analyses (health economics) and vital clinical data on patients (outcomes research) to evaluate health care  value . HEOR informs health care decision-making by allowing stakeholders, especially payers, health care providers, and patients, to understand the clinical, economic, and quality of life endpoints of various treatments and health care practices.

Why choose Tufts?

The Tufts University HEOR Certificate is the only program of its kind available in the Greater Boston area. In addition, Tufts is the home of the internationally renowned  Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR) , led by Director Peter Neumann, ScD and Deputy Director Joshua Cohen, PhD, and including Faculty Member Daniel A. Ollendorf, PhD. CEVR:

• Brings experience in economics and decision analysis to a host of clinical and public health policy issues.
• Leads projects that encompass formal cost-effectiveness analysis and related techniques, as well as policy research and analysis pertaining to resource allocation.
• Is the home of three unique databases that measure and communicate the clinical and economic value of health care strategies: the Cost Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) Registry, the Global Health Cost Effectiveness Analysis (GH CEA) Registry, and the Specialty Drug Evidence and Coverage (SPEC) Database.
• In addition to core faculty (listed below), guest faculty will include HEOR thought leaders, including Sean Tunis, MD and William Crown, PhD.

Tufts is also the home of the  Center for the Study of Drug Development (Tufts CSDD) , an independent, academic, non-profit research center that provides data-driven analysis and strategic insight to help drug developers, regulators, and policy makers improve the efficiency and productivity of pharmaceutical R&D.

The Tufts HEOR faculty (see below) include experts in clinical investigation, clinical epidemiology, health services research, outcomes research, meta-analysis, biostatistics, drug development, and many related fields drawn from the Tufts University and the Tufts Medical Center communities, including the  Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies (ICRHPS)  and CEVR. This highly productive and committed faculty make the HEOR Program an excellent environment for deep and broad training in clinical research. The program will also feature guest lectures from internationally recognized leaders in HEOR, including chief executives, policy makers, and leaders of federal regulatory agencies.

Who is eligible? Applicants for the HEOR Certificate Program should hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Professionals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry (including departments such as HEOR, market access, commercial, and development), clinicians and other health care professionals, graduate degree holders, and graduate degree students are encouraged to apply.

• Flexible online format is perfect for local or global participation.
• Students will experience live webinars, active discussion boards, and asynchronous lectures.
• Program faculty are experts in clinical investigation, clinical epidemiology, health services research, outcomes research, meta-analysis, biostatistics, drug development, and related fields.
• No thesis required.

Courses & Faculty

The HEOR Certificate Program will provide students with a basic introduction to HEOR consisting of three courses. These credits are not transferable to a degree program. The first semester will feature Introduction to HEOR. Real World Evidence and Health Technology Assessment are offered in the second semester.

Introduction to Health Economics and Outcomes Research (2 credits)

James D. Chambers, PhD , Course Director

Read the syllabus here!

This course introduces the fundamentals of Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR). We begin with an overview of the issues addressed by HEOR – including the measurement of health benefits in terms that can be compared across disease domains, and the inclusion of cost impacts across time and over multiple societal sectors that extend beyond health care itself. The course focuses on recommendations issued by the Second Panel on Cost Effectiveness in Health and Medicine for the US, and highlights key differences with guidance issued by authorities in other countries. Finally, through a series of case studies, the course introduces students to important sources of data for the HEOR field.

Real World Evidence (1 credit)

David M. Kent, MD, CM, MSc , Course Director

William Crown, PhD , Course Director

This is an introduction to topics in the use of real world evidence (RWE) to inform health care decision making. While randomized controlled trials remain the gold standard for establishing treatment efficacy, RWE offers many advantages including the availability of timely data at reasonable cost, large sample sizes that enable analysis of subgroups and rare outcomes, and increased generalizability to real-world clinical practice and more representative patients.

Enthusiasm for RWE is tempered by concerns including those related to misclassification or data quality, the lack of randomization and other biases, and spurious data- driven findings. This course will introduce the foundational study designs and analytic approaches that are integral to the valid and efficient analysis of RWE, including those relevant to “big data.”

RWE frameworks and approaches to be discussed will include limiting bias in observational big data, harnessing RWE for predictive analytics, identification of heterogeneity of treatment effects, pragmatic trial designs and the role of RWE for various stakeholders, including regulators. The potential role of RWE for the regulatory approval of novel therapies will also be discussed. Topics will be illustrated through the use of contemporary case studies representing both the promise and limitations of using RWE to inform health care decision-making.

Health Technology Assessment (HTA): Philosophy, Approach, and Challenges Research (2 credits)

Joshua T. Cohen, PhD , Course Director

Daniel A. Ollendorf, PhD , Course Director

Read the syllabus here! This course describes the practice of health technology assessment, as conducted by major agencies and other organizations in the US and elsewhere, and introduces the technical tools used to project health benefits and costs. For the US, the course reviews guidelines promulgated by the Second Panel on Cost Effectiveness Analysis in Health, and value assessment frameworks developed in the US with a focus on the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). The review of HTA in other countries focuses on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and also reviews approaches used by agencies in other countries. Finally, the course introduces the use of computer simulation to estimate value when empirical data alone will not suffice.

Guest Lecturers

Courses will feature frequent expert guests lecturers, including:

• Marc Berger, MD , Consultant
• Jon Campbell, PhD, MS , Senior Vice President for Health Economics, Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER)
• Sean Tunis, MD, MSc , Senior Fellow, Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Tufts Medical Center; Mentor-in-Residence, Johns Hopkins Tech Ventures
• Shirley Wang, PhD , Associate Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Online Learning Environment

Zoom will be used in conjunction with the Tufts University learning management system Canvas, which allows students to access all course material at any time from any location with an internet connection. Videos, reading assignments, discussion questions, and assessments will be posted to a designated course site on Canvas for students and faculty to collaborate in an online learning environment, and webinars will be streamed online via Zoom. The Certificate program is designed to also include a face-to-face symposium at the end of the second semester, with the presentation of culminating projects and opportunities for networking with fellow students and program faculty. The format of this event will be determined in the future depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

HEOR Program Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

Start your online application . Applications to begin the Program in the Fall semester are due by August 15.

Applicants will be required to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Applications will require transcripts, one letter of recommendation, a CV, a personal statement, and demonstrated English language proficiency (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 80).

Have questions? Contact  Elizabeth Leary, PhD , Senior Program Manager.

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Master of Health Science (MHS) in Health Economics and Outcomes Research

Offered By: Department of Health Policy and Management

Onsite, Full-Time (9 months) | Online, Full-Time (9 months) | Online, Part-Time (2 years)

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About the MHS in Health Economics and Outcomes Research Program

The MHS-HEOR program is focused in economic evaluation and outcomes research methods for healthcare. Students in this rigorous program develop a range of skills including data analysis and economic modeling to assess and promote value in healthcare. In addition to coursework, students complete an independent capstone project with guidance from faculty using taught methods.

Students enrolled in this program have the opportunity to take courses from several departments and from faculty with expertise in a variety of discipline-many of which are true leaders in the respective fields. Through their coursework, experience at seminars, and capstone projects, provides a multidisciplinary experience.

Features of the Master of Health Science (MHS) in Health Economics and Outcomes Research

Nationally recognized.

The MHS program is based in the Department of Health Policy and Management which is ranked #1 in the country according to the 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report.  

Flexible Program Modality

To accommodate the personal and professional needs of our students, the MHS is offered as an on-site, full-time program (9 months); an online, full-time program (9 months); or an online, part-time program (2 years).

Capstone Project

Under the guidance of a BSPH faculty member, students complete an economic analysis of a topic with health policy implications as a capstone project. 

Elective Opportunities

Students have the option to choose from a wide variety of electives to meet their educational objectives and interests. 

MHS in Health Economics and Outcomes Research Program Highlights

Health economics and outcomes research is an applied field of study drawing upon two disciplines: economic evaluation and outcomes research. Methods in this field are used to promote the efficient and equitable allocation of healthcare resources in public health.

The discipline of economic evaluation is grounded on seminal theories of health economics that relate the value of healthcare to individuals and society. Statistical and decision sciences further enable researchers to build upon these theories and model the value of healthcare technologies to individuals and society. Some examples of this research include the evaluation of the value of new pharmaceuticals to existing therapies, the value of vaccines to society, or the value of a public health campaign to provide safety.

The discipline of outcomes research is grounded on seminal theories of health services that relate the role of healthcare to improving the lives of individuals and society. These theories enable researchers to identify important clinical, patient, provider outcomes; design measurement techniques to capture different outcomes; and incorporate outcomes measurement into health systems. Specific examples of this research include assessing the impact of new pharmaceuticals on patient outcomes, how to measure a new approach to healthcare delivery, or how to validate a new patient reported outcomes instrument for a pediatric population.

What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree In Health Economics And Outcomes Research?

Graduates of this program are well positioned to pursue careers in academia, government, and industry. This program also prepares students for further doctoral training in economics and health policy.

Sample Careers

• Health Economist
• Healthcare Analyst
• Senior Consultant
• Data Analyst
• Research Associate
• Research Fellow

Curriculum for the MHS in Health Economics and Outcomes Research

Browse an overview of the requirements for this master's program in the JHU  Academic Catalogue  and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School  Course Directory .

Admissions Requirements

For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page.

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores are  not required and not reviewed  for this program. If you have taken a standardized test such as the GRE, GMAT, or MCAT and want to submit your scores, please note that they will not be used as a metric during the application review.  Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all required application components.

Jeromie Ballreich, PhD '17, MHS '12, Program Director

is a health economist who focuses on leading research in areas of pharmaceutical policy and economic evaluations.

The Department of Health Policy and Management does not offer any scholarships or tuition support for students of this program. If you are interested in learning what financial aid opportunities are available on a schoolwide level, please look to the Office of Financial Aid .

David Earle, Assistant Director [email protected]

HPM Admissions Hotline [email protected]

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