Degree Project in Medical Management, 30 credits

Bachelor's degree or vocational degree worth at least 180 higher education credits in public health science, healthcare or other relevant social sciences subject area. And proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6.

In order to precede a student must have passed courses corresponding to 60 higher education credits on the Master's programme in health economics, policy and management.

Objectives
The course aims to enable students to, under supervision and via independent work, plan and carry out a research project within health economics, policy, and/or management.
 
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
 
Regarding knowledge and understanding

• show an understanding of whether a research question falls within the boundaries of health economics, policy and management, and whether it is specific and appropriately delimited.
• acquire and critically review relevant scientific literature in support of broadening and deepening his or her subject specific and methodological knowledge.

Regarding skills and ability:

• critically and systematically integrate knowledge acquired during the programme.
• individually plan, design and carry out a research project within specified time limits.
• formulate scientific research questions, motivate choice of scientific methods as well as present and discuss results, orally and in writing.
• critically reflect and draw conclusions on the meaning of obtained empirical results and identify the need for further knowledge.
• critically and objectively assess others' scientific work and be able to give relevant feedback, orally and in written format.
• reflect upon the ethical concerns of the project, as well as the project's impact on society.

Regarding judgement and approach

• take responsibility for one's own knowledge development.
• demonstrate an awareness and ability to take relevant ethical aspects into account throughout the research process as well as in conjunction with possible usage of research results.
• Show insight about the opportunity of science and its limitations, its role in society and the responsibility of people for how it is used.

The course provides the student with an opportunity to in depth studies, at a research-preparatory level, in health economics, policy and management. The course involves the planning, implementation and reporting of an empirical study or a literature review as a scientific thesis. This includes the formulation of the research question, considering aspects of research ethics, surveying the relevant literature, selecting study design and research methods, data processing and analysis, critical scrutiny and assessment of results, authorship, and presentation and defense of the thesis.

The course is principally performed through independent work, with tutorial guidance individually and in groups provided by supervisors approved by the department. Further, the course also includes scientific discussions in seminars, and critical evaluations of another student's work at open seminars.

The examination consists of:

• a project plan and half-time report should be written and submitted according to instructions (Fail/Pass).
• a thesis in English, written and submitted according to instructions (Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction).
• an oral presentation, and discussion of the thesis at the project plan, half-time and examination seminar (Fail/Pass).
• an oral critical evaluation  of another thesis at the project plan, half-time and  examination seminar, (Fail/Pass).
• a written evaluation report for the thesis presented at the examination seminar (Fail/Pass).

In order to pass the course, the student must get at least the grade pass on all examinations.
In order to receive the grade pass with distinction on the whole course the student needs to get the grade pass with distinction on the thesis and the grade pass on all other examinations, as well as hand in the thesis by due date according to the instructions. Submission of the thesis after the deadline will result in the student cannot receive the grade pass with distinction.
 
Compulsory participation
Attendance at project plan, half-time and examination seminars are compulsory. The course director assesses if, and in that case how, absence can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or compensated absence in accordance with the course director's instructions, the student's results for the course/respective part will not be registered in LADOK.

Limitation of number of examination occasions
The student has the right to be examined six times. If the student has not passed the course after four examinations he/she is encouraged to visit the study counsellor.

Examination will be provided during a time of two years after a possible cancellation of the course. Examination can take place according to an earlier literature list during a time of one year after the date, when a major renewal of the literature list has been made.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Education.

The course language is English.