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Postgraduate degree

Health and Social Care Policy MSc

Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our postgraduate courses will be published from mid-October 2025.

Key information

Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time
Part time
Duration:
Full-time: one year; part-time: two years.
Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent):
UK 180 / ECTS 90
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2025
Apply

The Masters in Health and Social Care Policy at King’s College London is for anyone interested in health and social care policy in a local, national, or global context. This is a unique degree programme, in that it involves a partnership between the School for Government and the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, so blends cutting edge insights into the policymaking process with practical, real world experience of clinical settings. The masters draws on case studies from around the world to provide rigorous education in how to think about healthcare, social care, and public health in a joined up, integrated way. The programme is taught in parallel with a closed programme we teach for Officials in the UK Department for Health and Social Care, so studying on this course, you will be encouraged to bring your own experiences to bear, as well as learn from those of your cohort.

Key benefits

  • Offer students with a comprehensive theoretical, conceptual and practical education in the policymaking process relating to social care and health policy.
  • To support students to develop an understanding of global approaches to health and social care, alongside public and population health.
  • To develop an understanding of the intersection between national and local government in the delivery of health and social care policy, as well as the role of the healthcare and social care providers, in the UK and overseas, drawing in global examples.
  • To provide students with technical policymaking skills including policy analytics, understanding what works, and behavioural science as applied to health and social care.
  • To provide students with an understanding of the principles and moral element of health and social care policy.
  • To promote students’ initiative, originality, creativity and independence in identifying, researching, judging and solving problems at an advanced level.
  • To provide students with the critical resources to evaluate technological and political changes relevant to health and social care policy, and to contribute to current research, advanced scholarship, and policy debates on these issues. This includes the intersection between health and social care and wider policy debates including climate change and artificial intelligence.
  • To equip students with applied skills through assessment designed to reflect real world scenarios.

Base campus

The Quad - Strand campus
Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

UK applicants

Standard requirements

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree

If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

English language requirements

English language band:
B

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection process

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.

Please note that as part of the evaluation process, candidates may be invited to a remote video interview. Interviews will be conducted by the Policy Institute academic staff.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Supporting Document Yes

Please provide a writing sample of around 500 words, answering the following questions. Please note this an essential requirement and supporting statements which do not answer the questions below will not be assessed as part of your application.

Why you are applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit in with your future plans? (max 250 words)

How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? (max 250 words)

Please write these questions as separate answers, with a clear title for your answer to each question. Documents where your answers are not clearly titled and separated will not be accepted

Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References Yes One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you.
Other Optional Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application

Teaching methods - what to expect

Students will have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

We will teach you through a combination of lectures and seminars, typically 20 hours per module. 

Module

Lectures, seminars, tutorials and feed back

Self-study

Per 15-credit taught module

~20

~130 hours

 

Per 30-credit taught module

~40 hours

~260 hours

Dissertation module

Usually 5 contact hours of one-to-one or group consultation with supervisors

595 hours of self-study and project work

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Location

This programme is primarily taught at King’s College London Strand Campus, with occasional lectures and seminars taking place at other King’s campuses. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select.

Assessment

  • Written assignment
  • Essays
  • Dissertation

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework. Forms of assessment typically include essays and other written assignments. All students undertake a research-based dissertation.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits as outlined below.

Required modules

You are required to take the following modules:

The History of Health and Social Care (15 credits)
Health Systems Management (15 credits)
Health & Social Care Services Development and Delivery (15 credits)
Approaches to Policymaking (15 credits)
Health Economics (15 credits)
Quality Improvement Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional modules

In addition, you are required to take 45 credits of optional modules:

Behavioural Science – Health and Social Care Policy (15 credits)
Learning What Works (15 credits)
Communications Media and Public Policy (15 credits)
Policy Analytics (15 credits)
  • Exceptionally, students may be permitted to take up to 30 credits of optional modules from a range of optional modules available within the Policy Institute if they are offered and approved by the Programme Director.

Part-Time Students

Part-time students are advised to take all compulsory modules and their choice of one optional module in year 1 totalling 90 credits of taught modules in their first year, thereby allowing enough time to focus on the two optional modules and Dissertation in their second year.

Part-Time International Students and paid or unpaid work

Please note that for international students, UK Government guidelines are currently more restrictive for those holding part-time visas than full-time visas. If you hold a student visa for a part-time programme, you will not have the right to undertake any work, paid or unpaid, in the UK.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Students completing the course will, leave the course better equipped with knowledge and skills that will be invaluable in their future careers. Critical skills and knowledge learned across the degree will include:

  • An understanding of the role of evidence and empirical analysis in policymaking and how to build, understand and critique the evidence base around a particular policy area.
  • Practical policymaking skills, including in the use of economics in health policy, behavioural science, evaluation sciences, and approach to policymaking.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the history, present, and future of health and social care policy across international jurisdictions, learning from best practice across a wide range of contexts.
  • Understanding of the relationship and interaction between local, regional, and national government and systems and other agencies in the delivery of health and social care.
  • Critical knowledge of the current and potential structures of healthcare systems for delivery, including the use of public and private provision, as well as their equivalents in Social Care and of the economics of health and social care systems, and how they interact with wider social, economic, and political policy, and with developments in science and technology, digital change, and micro-macroeconomics.
  • Understanding of the integration and lack thereof between health and social care policy.
  • Critical thinking, statistical, and analytical skills that can be applied to contemporary policy challenges, and experience using these skills.
  • Insight into a range of health and care systems in other countries and global health issues.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £16,950 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £8,475 per year (2025/26)

International:

Full time: £30,000 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £15,000 per year (2025/26)

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

  • If you receive an offer before March, payment is due by 20 March.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 March and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 21 May and 15 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 16 July and 10 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer from 11 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Travel costs around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

Base campus

The Quad - Strand campus
Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

UK applicants

Standard requirements

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree

If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

English language requirements

English language band:
B

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection process

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.

Please note that as part of the evaluation process, candidates may be invited to a remote video interview. Interviews will be conducted by the Policy Institute academic staff.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Supporting Document Yes

Please provide a writing sample of around 500 words, answering the following questions. Please note this an essential requirement and supporting statements which do not answer the questions below will not be assessed as part of your application.

Why you are applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit in with your future plans? (max 250 words)

How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? (max 250 words)

Please write these questions as separate answers, with a clear title for your answer to each question. Documents where your answers are not clearly titled and separated will not be accepted

Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References Yes One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you.
Other Optional Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application

Teaching methods - what to expect

Students will have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

We will teach you through a combination of lectures and seminars, typically 20 hours per module. 

Module

Lectures, seminars, tutorials and feed back

Self-study

Per 15-credit taught module

~20

~130 hours

 

Per 30-credit taught module

~40 hours

~260 hours

Dissertation module

Usually 5 contact hours of one-to-one or group consultation with supervisors

595 hours of self-study and project work

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Location

This programme is primarily taught at King’s College London Strand Campus, with occasional lectures and seminars taking place at other King’s campuses. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select.

Assessment

  • Written assignment
  • Essays
  • Dissertation

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework. Forms of assessment typically include essays and other written assignments. All students undertake a research-based dissertation.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Programmes are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits as outlined below.

Required modules

You are required to take the following modules:

The History of Health and Social Care (15 credits)
Health Systems Management (15 credits)
Health & Social Care Services Development and Delivery (15 credits)
Approaches to Policymaking (15 credits)
Health Economics (15 credits)
Quality Improvement Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional modules

In addition, you are required to take 45 credits of optional modules:

Behavioural Science – Health and Social Care Policy (15 credits)
Learning What Works (15 credits)
Communications Media and Public Policy (15 credits)
Policy Analytics (15 credits)
  • Exceptionally, students may be permitted to take up to 30 credits of optional modules from a range of optional modules available within the Policy Institute if they are offered and approved by the Programme Director.

Part-Time Students

Part-time students are advised to take all compulsory modules and their choice of one optional module in year 1 totalling 90 credits of taught modules in their first year, thereby allowing enough time to focus on the two optional modules and Dissertation in their second year.

Part-Time International Students and paid or unpaid work

Please note that for international students, UK Government guidelines are currently more restrictive for those holding part-time visas than full-time visas. If you hold a student visa for a part-time programme, you will not have the right to undertake any work, paid or unpaid, in the UK.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Students completing the course will, leave the course better equipped with knowledge and skills that will be invaluable in their future careers. Critical skills and knowledge learned across the degree will include:

  • An understanding of the role of evidence and empirical analysis in policymaking and how to build, understand and critique the evidence base around a particular policy area.
  • Practical policymaking skills, including in the use of economics in health policy, behavioural science, evaluation sciences, and approach to policymaking.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the history, present, and future of health and social care policy across international jurisdictions, learning from best practice across a wide range of contexts.
  • Understanding of the relationship and interaction between local, regional, and national government and systems and other agencies in the delivery of health and social care.
  • Critical knowledge of the current and potential structures of healthcare systems for delivery, including the use of public and private provision, as well as their equivalents in Social Care and of the economics of health and social care systems, and how they interact with wider social, economic, and political policy, and with developments in science and technology, digital change, and micro-macroeconomics.
  • Understanding of the integration and lack thereof between health and social care policy.
  • Critical thinking, statistical, and analytical skills that can be applied to contemporary policy challenges, and experience using these skills.
  • Insight into a range of health and care systems in other countries and global health issues.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £16,950 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £8,475 per year (2025/26)

International:

Full time: £30,000 per year (2025/26)

Part time: £15,000 per year (2025/26)

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

  • If you receive an offer before March, payment is due by 20 March.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 March and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 21 May and 15 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 16 July and 10 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer from 11 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Travel costs around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

Application closing date guidance

We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed and we may need to request further information from you during the application process.

The final application deadlines for this programme are:

· Overseas (international) fee status: 25 July 2025 (23:59 UK time)

· Home fee status: 25 August 2025 (23:59 UK time)

If the programme becomes full before the final application deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications. Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if we are unable to process further offers because places are filled and we close the course before the final application deadline.

Key information

Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time
Part time
Duration:
Full-time: one year; part-time: two years.
Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent):
UK 180 / ECTS 90
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2025
Apply

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