Corvinus University of Budapest

What you'll study

This graduate diploma focuses on the intersection of health care and economics. Teaching combines core economic theory and quantitative methods with modules tailored to health systems, health policy and the management of health organisations. Typical topics include:

• Foundations of Health Economics: supply and demand in health care, market failures, and the role of public intervention.
• Microeconomics for Health Professionals: consumer choice, provider incentives and principal‑agent problems in medicine.
• Health Policy and Systems: comparative health systems, regulation, financing mechanisms and reform strategies.
• Health Financing and Insurance: reimbursement models, risk pooling, provider payment systems and financing sustainability.
• Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Pharmacoeconomics: cost‑effectiveness, budgeting for new technologies and decision frameworks for coverage.
• Biostatistics and Applied Econometrics: statistical methods for clinical and health services data, regression analysis and causal inference.
• Health Management and Organisational Behaviour: hospital administration, quality improvement, change management and leadership in clinical settings.
• Research Methods and Applied Project: research design, evidence synthesis and a practical capstone or applied project addressing a real policy or managerial problem.

The programme typically combines lectures, case studies, quantitative workshops and an applied project. Courses emphasise transferable skills such as economic evaluation, critical appraisal of evidence, data analysis and communication of findings to non‑technical audiences.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally practising medical doctors or holders of a relevant health or life sciences degree, although experienced health professionals with substantive managerial responsibilities may also be considered. Typical requirements include:

• A recognised medical degree (MD) or a related degree in health sciences, nursing, pharmacy or public health; or significant professional experience in health care management.
• Evidence of prior academic achievement, such as transcripts from higher education.
• Demonstrated proficiency in English where instruction is not in the applicant's native language (for example, an internationally recognised English test or equivalent evidence of study/work in English).
• A motivation statement outlining career goals and reasons for pursuing the diploma; some applicants may be asked for a CV and professional references.

Selection is based on a combination of academic background, professional experience and the fit between the applicant's goals and the programme's objectives. Specific documentation and any additional requirements are provided by the university admissions office.

Career prospects

Graduates use the combination of clinical knowledge and economic training to take on roles that require both health-sector insight and analytical skills. Common career paths include:

• Hospital and clinic management, including department leadership and operational roles.
• Health policy advisor roles in government ministries, health agencies or international organisations.
• Health technology assessment and reimbursement positions within HTA agencies, payers or pharmaceutical companies.
• Economic and strategic consultancy focused on health systems, providers and life sciences firms.
• Roles in health insurance, commissioning bodies or contracting authorities.
• Research and teaching positions that bridge clinical practice and health economics.

The programme strengthens candidates' ability to influence resource allocation, design and evaluate interventions, lead service improvements and communicate economic evidence to clinicians, managers and policymakers.

Why study at Corvinus University of Budapest

Corvinus has a long-standing reputation for excellence in economics, public policy and business education in Central Europe. The Orvos közgazdász diploma leverages the university's strengths in quantitative training and health-policy research to offer an interdisciplinary curriculum tailored to health professionals. Students benefit from:

• Faculty with expertise in economics, health policy, and management and links to national and regional health institutions.
• An applied learning approach with case studies, data workshops and an applied project that connects academic learning to practical health‑sector problems.
• The opportunity to study in Budapest, a regional hub for health policy, international organisations and life sciences companies, facilitating professional networking and guest lectures.
• Access to Corvinus's research centres and interdisciplinary networks, which support applied research, consultancy and continuing professional development in health economics.

This programme is suitable for clinicians and health professionals seeking to expand their influence beyond individual care to service design, policy and system‑level decision‑making.