Master in Health Sciences
Key information
| Awarded title | Master of Science in Health Sciences |
| Program duration | 2 years full-time / individual part-time solutions possible |
| Credits | 120 ECTS-points (based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS); workload about 25-30 hours per ECTS) 90 ECTS-points for graduates of the BSc in Gesundheitswissenschaften |
| Program start | Fall semester (September) / spring start within the 90 program possible |
| Language | English (no language certificate necessary, but level of C1 recommended) |
| Application deadline | 30 April via Uniportal (late applications possible, see here) |
Program structure
The two-year Master’s program with 120 credits includes core courses in the principles of health sciences, advanced research methods, and academic and professional skills. Students choose one of the following majors to get more in-depth knowledge depending on their professional interests and career direction:
- Health Communication
- Health and Social Behavior
- Health Economics and Policy
- Health Services Research
- Health Data Science
During a mandatory research internship, students can apply the knowledge gained in the program, and possibly write their Master’s thesis based on the internship.
Example Curriculum
Majors
Students choose and graduate within one Major. Through core and elective courses, students can create their own individual profile.
Communication is central to providing and promoting health care. Health communication involves studying and applying strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that improve health. The Major in Health Communication offers a scientific understanding of how health information is created, shared, and impacts individuals, communities, institutions, and public policy. It examines communication at three levels—individual (interpersonal and technology-enhanced), public (social marketing, health campaigns, and education), and institutional (knowledge translation from research to policy and practice).
Students explore topics such as health communication theories, persuasion, ethics, medical humanities, consumer health informatics, social marketing, and participatory design. The program prepares graduates for careers as managers in state and federal health agencies, managers in knowledge translations for healthcare institutions, public health leaders as well as educators and communication analysts for health promotion, advertising and marketing.
Psychological aspects and the social environment are key factors influencing health and health behavior. Attitudes, expectations, experiences, emotions, and stress shape how individuals act and perceive their health, while social and material conditions further affect behavior and well-being. Gaining an in-depth understanding of health behaviors and experiences is essential for developing effective interventions that enhance individual and public health.
The Major in Health and Social Behavior offers a solid theoretical and methodological foundation in the psychological, social, and cultural determinants of health. Through lectures, seminars, and workshops, students study topics such as health behavior theories, public health strategies, stress and coping, positive psychology, and health inequalities. Graduates are well prepared for careers in research, public health, and health organizations.
Expenditures for health care constitute are large and growing share of total public and private expenditures, which has led to concern amongst policymakers in many countries. On the other hand, the health sector produces a valuable output, health and health care, and hence it contributes to the general well-being of the population.
The Major in Health Economics and Policy examines the health system from both economic and political science perspectives. Its main goal is to understand how scarce resources are allocated in the health care market by combining positive and normative approaches. Students explore how health is valued economically, the dynamics of demand and supply in health care, and how the unique nature of health as a good shapes the behavior of key market actors. The program also emphasizes the role of policymakers in regulating the health sector and promoting population health, while developing students’ abilities to design, implement, and evaluate public health policies.
The curriculum includes topics such as health policy and governance, health economics and economic evaluation, decision-modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis, evaluation of public health policies, health systems research, global health policy and economics, applied health econometrics, and health care management. This Major prepares students for leadership roles in the public health sector, industry, and health-related organizations, as well as for academic careers.
The Major in Health Services Research focuses on the study of organizations, finance, manpower, technology, and prevention in health care delivery, and their effects on utilization, cost, and quality of care. It bridges clinical research and real-world medical practice to explain the “last mile” to the patient, aiming to improve the quality and efficiency of medical care at the population level.
This Major introduces key research domains of the health system and provides methodological tools to examine access, utilization, quality, and cost of care, with an emphasis on evaluating the effectiveness of health services. Topics include health system analysis, performance assessment, data sources for health services research, efficiency and effectiveness studies, and health care regulations. The program equips students with practical skills relevant for health policy decision-makers, private sector stakeholders, and academic researchers committed to advancing health care services.
Health data become available in ever larger quantities, level of detail, and they can and need to be accessed from a variety of sources. The Major in Health Data Science provides you with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage large and diverse datasets, to apply statistical and machine learning approaches to study and learn from the data, and to draw meaningful conclusions to inform health care practice and policy.
The Major in Health Data Science integrates methods from statistics, computer science, and software engineering within the health sciences, providing a critical understanding of key issues such as data security, ethics, and information governance.
Topics include machine learning for causal inference, computational epidemiology, analysis of routinely collected health care data, statistical programming, and health data challenges. This Major prepares students for careers as health data scientists in academic research, the public sector, or industry.
Research internship
A research internship is a mandatory module of the study program. Students will have the chance to gain first-hand experience in applying their knowledge and skills in a health sciences environment, research and practice. Internships can be done within our own research groups at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, or with our partner institutions such as
- Swiss Paraplegic Research
- Swiss Paraplegic Center
- Lucerne Cantonal Hospital
- Interface Politikstudien Forschung Beratung
External positions are also possible. Internships are self-organized by students, but the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine maintains an internship platform with regular internship offers.
Career prospects
The Master in Health Sciences offers the ideal preparation for students who aspire to have careers in the health sector, in a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment, or who aim at undertaking research in the broad field of health sciences.
In our program, we are dedicated to educating students, so that they are in an excellent position to further their career in health-related areas, including positions in:
- Health administration/public health
- Research/Academia
- Health education and health promotion
- Management in state and federal health agencies
- other health-related industries.
Admission
With its interdisciplinary perspective, the Master in Health Sciences attracts candidates from a variety of educational backgrounds, including social sciences, economics, medicine, psychology, and other health-related disciplines. This will allow students to benefit from the interactions within a diverse class of academic peers.
The required qualification for admission is a Bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent higher education degree) from a university recognized by the University of Lucerne. Please refer to Admission Guidelines for detailed information and exceptions.
Application Deadline
The Master in Health Sciences starts every fall term. The application period for each fall intake lasts from mid-February until April 30.
Late applications are accepted as follows (with an additional fee of CHF 150):
until 31.08.: For applicants who do not require a visa (citizens of CH, EU, EFTA, Japan, New Zealand)
Fees
Due to the national commitment to education and the generous funding from federal and cantonal governments, tuition fees at Swiss universities are relatively low. Please click here for detailed information regarding fees at the University of Lucerne.
Study regulations
For detailed information refer to our study and examination regulations of the Master of Science in Health Sciences.
Contact
Luisa Koller
Program Manager MSc Health Sciences
Dean's Office Health Sciences
T +41 41 229 59 59
Student counselling: University Lucerne, Room 3.A12
masterhealth@unilu.ch




