Why Study / Key Benefits

Massey University’s Master of Health Service Management (MHSM) is a postgraduate qualification designed for people working, or planning to work, in health or disability-sector management and leadership. The programme develops advanced knowledge of contemporary health issues and their management, with particular emphasis on health systems, policy, economics, information management and informatics.

Key benefits include:

• Advanced knowledge of health service management and contemporary health-sector issues.
• Study of health systems, policy, economics, information management and informatics.
• Development of skills for management and clinical leadership roles.
• A professional-practice applied research project, allowing students to investigate an area relevant to their professional interests.
• Development of oral and written communication skills.
• Research-led teaching informed by staff experience across medicine, nursing, health informatics, management and policy.
• An international perspective applicable to health-sector environments globally.
• Potential relevance to continuing professional competence requirements for some medical and nursing professional groups under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The MHSM is a parts-based qualification.

Part One consists of 120 credits:

• 60 credits from compulsory courses
• 60 credits from subject courses.

Part Two consists of 60 credits through either Professional Practice or a Research Report.

Part One – compulsory courses

Students choose 60 credits from:

• 152742 Health Systems Management – 30 credits
• 157701 Health Information Management – 30 credits.

Health Systems Management examines health-care systems in New Zealand and selected other countries from a management perspective.

Health Information Management examines the management of information and information systems used in planning and delivering high-quality healthcare.

Part One – subject courses

Students choose 60 credits from:

• 152707 Leading and Changing Organisations – 30 credits
• 152743 Health Law and Policy – 30 credits
• 152746 Contemporary Issues in Health Service Management – 30 credits
• 168711 Health Research Design and Method – 30 credits
• 178718 Health Economics – 30 credits.

Key topics include:

• Leadership and organisational change
• Health law
• Health policy
• Contemporary health-service delivery issues
• Quantitative and qualitative health research methods
• Research ethics and methodology
• Healthcare economics
• Demand and supply of healthcare
• Organisation of healthcare
• Hospital behaviour
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Public versus private healthcare provision
• Contemporary health policy issues.

Students intending to complete the Research Report in Part Two must include Health Research Design and Method, or an approved equivalent, in their study plan.

Part Two – 60 credits

Students choose one of the following pathways:

• 152894 Professional Practice – 60 credits
• 152896 Research Report – 60 credits.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The MHSM is awarded without a formal specialisation.

However, students can shape their study around areas such as:

• Health systems management
• Health information management
• Health informatics
• Health policy
• Health law
• Health economics
• Organisational leadership
• Contemporary health-service management
• Health research.

For students seeking RACMA fellowship application eligibility, Massey specifies a particular Part One combination:

• 152742 Health Systems Management
• 157701 Health Information Management
• 178718 Health Economics
• 152743 Health Law and Policy.

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 9 master's qualification.
• 180 credits.
• 15–18 months full-time.
• Part-time study available.
• Distance and online delivery.
• Open to international students studying online outside New Zealand or on campus in New Zealand.
• Wellington and Manawat campuses provide selected intensive block-mode courses.
• Professional Practice or Research Report option in Part Two.
• Strong focus on health systems, management, policy, economics and information management.
• Applicable to management and clinical leadership contexts.
• Approved master's degree for RACMA fellowship applications, subject to the required course combination and RACMA requirements.
• Approved master's degree for AIDH fellowship applications, with eligibility dependent on the proportion of health informatics/digital health studied.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies the qualification as relevant to management and clinical leadership roles throughout the health sector.

Potential areas include:

• General health-sector management
• Human resources
• Operations management
• Logistics
• Digital health
• Health information technology
• Clinical leadership
• Health-service administration
• Health policy and management
• Primary healthcare organisations
• Secondary healthcare organisations
• Non-government health organisations.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current official information indicates:

• The qualification is active and listed as a 180-credit Level 9 master's degree.
• Standard full-time completion is 15–18 months.
• It is available through distance and online study.
• International students can study online from outside New Zealand or on campus in New Zealand.
• Several courses are available through intensive block-mode study at Wellington and Manawat?.
• The qualification has no formal specialisation.
• A B- average across Part One is required to progress to Part Two.
• Advanced entry may allow completion in 60–120 credits where prior qualifications and credit recognition permit.
• Students intending to use the Research Report pathway must include Health Research Design and Method or an approved equivalent.
• Students pursuing the RACMA course requirements must complete the specified four-course combination.
• The MHSM is an approved master's qualification for fellowship applications by RACMA and AIDH, subject to the respective organisations' requirements.

International Student Visa Requirements

The visa requirement depends on how the international student studies the MHSM.

For students studying online from outside New Zealand, a New Zealand student visa is generally not required because the student is not entering New Zealand to undertake the programme.

For students who choose to study in New Zealand, the relevant route is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand requires applicants to generally have:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient tuition funds or an acceptable scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Required health and character evidence.
• Genuine intentions to study.
• Appropriate medical and travel insurance.
• Evidence of arrangements or funds to leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.