Current course offerings

Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.

Course description

This course is designed for public health students who want to develop the skills and confidence to use economic thinking in real-world policy, planning, and program evaluation. Throughout the course, we will explore the core economic concepts and methods that are applicable to generate economic evidence to design, implement and evaluate public health policies, programmes and interventions. You will learn why, when, and how to conduct an economic evaluation, how to interpret their findings, and how to critically appraise the evidence they produce. Emphasis will be placed on real-world case studies, policy relevance, and the ethical and equity dimensions of economic reasoning.

The course balances conceptual depth with practical application. You will:

·        Explore how economic incentives shape public health systems and decisions, and develop insights into how economics can be used responsibly to improve public health

·        Participate in budgeting and resource allocation simulations to experience the real-world trade-offs that decision-makers face when allocating limited resources across competing public health priorities

·        Undertake a basic cost-effectiveness analysis using Excel, and develop judgement about when economic analysis tools are relevant and when they are not,

·        Build skills in critical appraisal, written and verbal communication, and collaborative problem-solving, preparing you to interpret, question, and convey economic evidence with clarity and policy relevance. 

Archived offerings