Postgraduate taught 

Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment MSc/PgDip/PgCert: Online distance learning

Research Methods in Health Economics and HTA MED5683

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Health and Wellbeing
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Summer
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Taught Wholly by Distance Learning: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The course will introduce students to commonly used research methods in health economics and health technology assessment. It will provide an understanding of the principles, mixed methods, and real-world application of health technology assessment. The course will teach the necessary skills for carrying out health technology assessments, covering different study designs, data sources, and evaluation methods as well as ethical considerations and research integrity.

Timetable

11-week online course, including one reading week. Course comprises of 10 lectures and 10 accompanying practical exercises.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

1. Essay (70%) - Critical appraisal of an HTA report aided by critical appraisal tools (~2,500 words) ILOs 1, 3 and 5.

2. Protocol development (30%) - Chose a specific study design and develop a protocol to assess an intervention (~1,000 words) ILOs 2 and 4.

Course Aims

The aim of this course is to introduce students to different study designs and commonly applied research methods for health economics and health technology assessment to build their core knowledge and skills.

 

This will include:

■ Mixed methods for synthesising evidence.

■ Economic evaluation (including modelling).

■ Qualitative methods and incorporating patients' and public perspectives, and considerations around implementation critical appraisal and research integrity.


Introduced methods will be accompanied by research examples. The course also teaches practical skills in undertaking health economic assessments. 

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

1. Apply different tools effectively to critically appraise an HTA report.

2. Identify and effectively employ knowledge of good research practice and ethics.

3. Implement knowledge of the mixed methods and perspectives that go into HTA.

4. Illustrate they can identify and explain the various elements of an HTA in line with the appropriate study design.

5. Implement their knowledge and skills of principles and techniques of health technology assessment, including study design and analysis, evidence synthesis, qualitative and quantitative methods, and economic evaluation including modelling.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.