Study health care management and health economics in Groningen and make a meaningful impact in the healthcare sector.
The MSc BA Health is the perfect study if you are looking for a multidisciplinary and societally relevant programme. It combines analytic and managerial skills and offers a crisp understanding of the social-economic environment in the healthcare industry. What is more, you are joining our diverse community of students with backgrounds in business, medicine, economics and facility management.
New from September 2025: we are again introducing a brand new course on the economic foundations of health in a society. In 2024, we already introduced a new course on topical ‘Challenges in healthcare’ and a course on 'Strategic collaboration in healthcare'. The latter course was designed to contribute to more seamless organising in the multifaceted world of healthcare and prevention. You can learn about the societal challenge of optimally utilising scarce resources across providers and guaranteeing patient access to appropriate care.
In the first semester, you will study the role of healthcare
purchasers in achieving the right care at the right place and look
at managerial innovations aimed at improving healthcare
performance. You learn to compare and critically reflect on
different strategies and develop your negotiation skills in a
real-life case study. Also, you will learn to apply relevant
theories to assess the (potential) impact of managerial healthcare
innovation on stakeholders, given their power, interests and
concerns.
In the second semester, you gain knowledge about the economic
evaluation in healthcare and about healthcare processes and
systems. Now it is time to write your Master's thesis on a chosen
topics, to name a few:
Throughout the year, you can subspecialize in various
fields and topics by your selection of elective courses. You have
to select at least 1 out of 5 Health-related electives and choose
either 2 general electives or more Health-related
electives.
Semesters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
Healthcare Purchasing and Supply Chains (5 EC) | ||||
Innovation in Healthcare Organizations (5 EC) | ||||
General electives (B-list) MSc BA Health (5 EC) A few examples are: Business Ethics; Sustainability: Strategy, Innovation & Change; Pharmaeconomics: Capita Selecta; Digital Transformation Strategy; Stress, Health and Sustainable Working Life. The full list of electives can be found on Ocasys. | ||||
Health electives (A-list) MSc BA Health (5 EC) Strategic Collaborations in Healthcare; Challenges in Healthcare; E-Health; Population, Health and place; Financial and Economic Organization of Healthcare Markets. The full list of electives can be found on Ocasys. | ||||
Research & Skills for MSc BA (5 EC) | ||||
Economic Evaluation in Healthcare (5 EC) | ||||
Healthcare Operations (5 EC) | ||||
Master's Thesis MSc BA Health (20 EC) |
Programme options |
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Master Internship (specialization) Opportunity to gain work experience by doing an internship in the second semester of your study. You will be rewarded 15 ECTS on top of your programme. Your thesis will be postponed to the third semester. |
Future Prosperity and Sustainability Focus Area (specialization) Focus on the sustainable developments in our current society by the increasing influence of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. The upcoming impact of the SDGs force companies to redefine their purpose and seek a path for meaningful contribution. But, what are companies responsible for, and who bears the burden of the consequences? Your skills and knowledge will prepare you to actively contribute to the strategic developments in this dynamic field. |
Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence Focus Area (specialization) Focus on the digital transformation within our society and understand how to successfully implement digital transformation in business. A successful digital transition allows businesses to conquer markets, witness industries converging, and step into the realm of winner-takes-all dynamics, like dominating tech-giants like Google and Facebook. |
Healthy Society Focus Area (specialization) Focus on tackling problems that impact healthcare providers and their societal partners in their day-to-day work. Issues such as scarce human resources combined with a higher, more complex demand for care, and more demanding citizens require solutions, which you will think about and design. |
Energy Transition and Climate Change Focus Area (specialization) Focus on the serious changes within the energy sector by dealing with issues such as how firms adapt to renewable energy, how the higher taxes are managed during this transition and how to deal with the weather dependent production of energy systems. Gain the knowledge and skills to shape a sustainable future in this evolving energy sector. |
You have the opportunity to do a study exchange with the University of Gent, in Belgium. You will study the second semester in Gent and write your master's thesis on one of their research projects co-supervised by a lecturer from Groningen. There are two positions available for students. For more information, please contact Ineke van Est at r.van.est rug.nl.
Specific requirements | More information |
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previous education |
To be eligible for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's or Master's degree from a research university in one of the following - or closely related - fields: Business Administration, Econometrics and Operations Research, Economics and Business Economics, International Business. There is a customized entry package for students with a university-level background in movement sciences, biomedical sciences, life sciences, medical sciences, pharmacy, or dentistry. More information: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/mscba-health-entrypackage To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. For more information, please visit: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc. |
other admission requirements |
The information about entry requirements is an indication of your admissibility. Every application will be reviewed individually by the Admissions board so the admission decision may differ from the indication in this table. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Business Administration | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Econometrics and Operations Research | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Economics and Business Economics | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
International Business | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Human Movement Sciences | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of There is a customized entry package for students with a university-level background in movement sciences. More information: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/mscba-health-entrypackage |
Pharmacy | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of There is a customized entry package for students with a university-level background in pharmacy. More information: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/mscba-health-entrypackage |
Life Science and Technology | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of
There is a customized entry package for students with a university-level background in life sciences. More information: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/mscba-health-entrypackage |
Dentistry | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of
There is a customised entry package for students with a university-level background in dentistry. More information: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/mscba-health-entrypackage |
Medicine | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of Deficiency program with a maximum of 25 EC More information: There is a customized entry package for students with a university-level background in medicine. More information: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/mscba-health-entrypackage |
Industrial Engineering and Management | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
Psychology (NL) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:In addition to your BSc programme, you will need to complete a set of (extra) courses. For information, please contact the study advisors: https://www.rug.nl/feb/studyadvisors. |
Sociology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:In addition to your BSc programme, you will need to complete a set of (extra) courses. For information, please contact the study advisors: https://www.rug.nl/feb/studyadvisors. |
Biomedical Engineering | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements with a maximum of There is a customised entry package for students with a university-level background in dentistry. More information: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/mscba-health-entrypackage |
Psychology (EN) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:In addition to your BSc programme, you will need to complete a set of (extra) courses. For information, please contact the study advisors: https://www.rug.nl/feb/studyadvisors. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Gezondheidswetenschappen | Erasmus University Rotterdam | No additional requirements |
Econometrics and Operations Research | Erasmus University Rotterdam | No additional requirements |
Economics and Business Economics | Erasmus University Rotterdam | No additional requirements |
Fiscale Economie | Erasmus University Rotterdam | No additional requirements |
International Business Administration | Erasmus University Rotterdam | No additional requirements |
Business Administration | Erasmus University Rotterdam | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Gezondheidswetenschappen | University of Twente | No additional requirements |
International Business Administration | University of Twente | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Public Administration Science | Leiden University |
No additional requirements More information:For profile Economics, Public Administration and Management. |
Computer Science | Leiden University |
No additional requirements More information:For profile Informatica & Economie. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Business Analytics | Maastricht University | No additional requirements |
Business Engineering | Maastricht University | No additional requirements |
Econometrics and Operations Research | Maastricht University | No additional requirements |
Economics and Business Economics | Maastricht University | No additional requirements |
Fiscale Economie | Maastricht University | No additional requirements |
International Business | Maastricht University | No additional requirements |
Global Studies | Maastricht University |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of You need to first complete the 45 EC (or less) Pre-Master's programme. For information about the Pre-MSc application and entry requirements, please check https://www.rug.nl/feb/premaster. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Accountancy | Nyenrode New Business School | No additional requirements |
Business Administration | Nyenrode New Business School | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Business Administration | Radboud University Nijmegen | No additional requirements |
Economics and Business Economics | Radboud University Nijmegen | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
International Business Administration | Tilburg University | No additional requirements |
Economics | Tilburg University | No additional requirements |
Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation | Tilburg University | No additional requirements |
Econometrics and Operations Research | Tilburg University | No additional requirements |
Economics of Taxation | Tilburg University | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Actuarial Science | University of Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Business Administration | University of Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Business Analytics | University of Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Econometrics and Data Science | University of Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Economics and Business Economics | University of Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Fiscale Economie | University of Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Economics and Business Economics | Utrecht University | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Business Analytics | VU University Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Econometrics and Operations Research | VU University Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Economics and Business Economics | VU University Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
International Business Administration | VU University Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Business Administration | VU University Amsterdam | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Management and Consumer Studies | Wageningen University | No additional requirements |
Economics and Governance | Wageningen University | No additional requirements |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Biomedical Engineering | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of Are you interested in the MSc Business Administration – Health, but do you not meet the requirements for direct entry? We offer a customised entry package of 25 EC. For more information, visit https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/customized-entry-packages/msc-ba-health?lang=en |
Dentistry | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of Are you interested in the MSc Business Administration – Health, but do you not meet the requirements for direct entry? We offer a customised entry package of 25 EC. For more information, visit https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/customized-entry-packages/msc-ba-health?lang=en |
Human Movement Sciences | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of Are you interested in the MSc Business Administration – Health, but do you not meet the requirements for direct entry? We offer a customised entry package of 25 EC. For more information, visit https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/customized-entry-packages/msc-ba-health?lang=en |
Life Science and Technology | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of Are you interested in the MSc Business Administration – Health, but do you not meet the requirements for direct entry? We offer a customised entry package of 25 EC. For more information, visit https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/customized-entry-packages/msc-ba-health?lang=en |
Medicine | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of Are you interested in the MSc Business Administration – Health, but do you not meet the requirements for direct entry? We offer a customised entry package of 25 EC. For more information, visit https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/customized-entry-packages/msc-ba-health?lang=en |
Pharmacy | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of Are you interested in the MSc Business Administration – Health, but do you not meet the requirements for direct entry? We offer a customised entry package of 25 EC. For more information, visit https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/customized-entry-packages/msc-ba-health?lang=en |
Students with a Dutch diploma can apply directly to Studielink. More information on the steps to apply .
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
To be eligible for admission to this Master, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's or Master's degree from a research university in one of the following - or closely related - fields: Business Administration,Business Economics, Econometrics and Operations Research, Economics and Business Economics, International Business, Technology Management. There is a customized entry package for students with a university-level background in movement sciences, biomedical sciences, life sciences, medical sciences, pharmacy, or dentistry. More information: https://www.rug.nl/feb/education/study-programmes/pre-msc/mscba-health-entrypackage To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. For more information, please visit: https://www.rug.nl/feb/apply-msc. If you have any questions concerning admission to this programme, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/admissions. |
language test |
IELTS Academic overall score 6.5 (Speaking 6, Writing 6.5); TOEFL internet-based overall score 90 (Speaking 20, Writing 24); Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (overall score 176, Speaking 169, Writing 176). |
other admission requirements |
Not meeting the pre-education requirements for direct entry? Please read more about our regular P re-Master's programmes . |
Students have to apply via Studielink and the Progress Portal (replacing the previous system, Online Application System OAS) of the University of Groningen. After you apply for the programme of your choice, the Admissions Office will evaluate your educational background and assess your eligibility. Your application will be assessed on an individual basis. More information on how to apply.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
Across Europe, healthcare expenditures are high and health services are still growing as an employment sector. Therefore, managerial knowledge is in high demand to organize all the disciplines and stakeholders involved and motivate them into a coordinated effort. As a graduate of MSc BA Health, you will have the analytic and stakeholder management skills crucial in diagnosing and intervening in the organization of care and issuing advice about its economic environment.
Future employment opportunities may include healthcare organizations such as hospitals and homecare organizations, (inter-)national pharmaceutical companies, consultancy agencies, insurance companies, (semi-)governmental organizations, health technology suppliers, and research institutes.
Our education is research-driven, leading to fresh insights being fed into the courses. An analytical, critical mind and problem-solving capabilities are important qualities in any career our students aspire to. To develop such qualities, we work with lecturers who are active in research and discuss academic research right from the start of the degree programme.
In doing so, clear links with professional practices are made. Through case assignments, guest lectures, and other activities, students apply what they learn to practical healthcare management and health economics problems. As such, you engage in your development as a future professional.
In collaboration with external partners, the faculty conducts research on topical issues such as improving patient logistics; the effectiveness of organizational interventions; implementation and adoption of technological and managerial innovations; continuous quality improvement in healthcare; buyer/supplier relationships between insurance companies and healthcare providers; reducing health inequalities; economic evaluation of innovations or treatments; prevention management issues considering early life conditions and later-life health.
Much of this research is conducted in the Centre of Expertise Healthwise, providing students with numerous links to the outside world. Moreover, many of the lecturers participate in the Aletta School of Public Health, a large multidisciplinary research community .
During my studies in Medicine, I wanted to broaden my interests and learn more about the business and management aspects of a doctor’s duties. I decided to first register for electives at the FEB faculty during my BSc Medicine. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, our healthcare system has shown incredible resilience and expertise, but it has also shown its shortcomings. These developments have rekindled my eagerness to learn about organizational management in the context of our healthcare system, and have led me to pursue a Master's degree in Business Administration (BA) Health.
The MSc BA Health programme in Groningen is versatile ranging from innovation management topics to healthcare operations management. This leads to a broad understanding of the inner workings of healthcare organizations. The medical professionals lecturing us showed how our efforts connect to real-world problems, which was very helpful in understanding those efforts. It is important to know that this Master’s degree will provide you with a unique view on healthcare, which can be really supplemental in understanding healthcare organizations. I would really recommend it to everyone, especially Medicine students looking for an exciting new perspective in their studies.