Making a Difference
Please note that the Master of Science in Health Systems is not currently available in French.
Rigor and choice. The Telfer Master of Science in Health Systems equips you with the knowledge and skills to conduct interdisciplinary health-systems research. At the same time, our program enables you to customize your research so that it meets your needs and focuses on your interests.
Get grounded in the fundamentals of health-systems research
Most students complete our program in 24 months. During that time, you’ll take core courses that will prepare you to conduct research on an aspect of the health system that interests you. Unlike undergraduate programs, an MSc allows you the freedom to pursue those questions that you are most passionate about. We help you take the knowledge you have gained in your undergraduate, complemented by a deeper understanding of health systems, and apply it to unresolved research questions.
Elective courses make it possible for you to gain specialized knowledge that is directly relevant to your thesis research. Our program offers dozens of these courses through the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, and groups them according to seven themes:
- Quality of care
- Healthcare organizations
- Health services and policy
- Health informatics and technology
- Public health and health promotion
- Clinical decision-making and support
- Health systems analysis and optimization
Tap into the latest knowledge
As part of this core program component, you will participate in the Health Systems Research Seminar Series—a set of interactive seminars that features lectures from top health-systems researchers from across Canada and around the world. These unique events enable you to expand your knowledge, learn about the latest advances in the field and discover research opportunities outside of the program.
Gain hands-on experience while you work on your thesis
One of the unique aspects of our MSc in Health Systems is the opportunity to do an internship outside of the university. For one term, students are placed in an organization conducting health research and have the chance to participate in research conducted in an actual health care setting. Past students have found themselves working locally with research institutes such as Bruyere and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute as well as internationally in such organizations as the World Health Organization. You can find testimonials of past internships here.
