Lead public health in the GCC
Study the MSc in Population Health Leadership online with RCSI.
Build your expertise in population health, policy, and system-level change – while studying part-time from anywhere.
Strong leadership is key to improving public health. The MSc in Population Health Leadership from RCSI gives you the skills to lead health system improvements across policy, practice, and populations. Explore the drivers of population health and learn to lead strategic initiatives that improve outcomes and reduce inequality.
Ideal for healthcare professionals, administrators, policymakers, and public health advocates across the GCC.
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Are you interested in learning more about the MSc in Population Health Leadership programme on offer with RCSI Online?
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International offer – apply now
We're offering a 20% tuition discount to eligible applicants who apply before 31 May 2025. Don't miss this chance to invest in your leadership future with financial support.
Why Study Population Health Leadership with RCSI
Studying Population Health Leadership at RCSI equips graduates with the advanced knowledge, skills, and ecosystemic perspective needed to drive meaningful health outcomes at individual, community, and systems levels.
Rooted in the science of population health, this programme enables learners to analyse and design evidence-based policies, interventions, and strategies that address complex challenges such as inequality, environmental pressures, and system-level inefficiencies.
Students gain competencies in critical disciplines—including epidemiology, health economics, behavioural sciences, and policy-making – while also developing essential leadership qualities such as communication, advocacy, and ethical decision-making.
The holistic and interdisciplinary learning experience is designed to empower graduates to lead in diverse roles across public, private, and academic sectors, delivering impact through informed, strategic, and innovative action in healthcare and wellbeing systems.
- Price: €22,000
- Duration: 2 years
- Start date: September 2025
- Delivery: Online
- Qualification: MSc
Register your interest now to unlock your potential as a strategic leader in population health and make a difference.
Modules include:
- Optimising Population Health Leadership: Understanding, Deciding, Acting
- Exploring Approaches to Research and Data for Population Health
- Fundamentals of Public Health
- Applying Psychology and Behavioural Sciences to Population Health
- Leadership, Governance and Policy in Population Health Ecosystems
- Implementing Population Health – Translating Evidence and Outcomes
- Assessing Health Needs and Prioritising Resources
- Decision-making for Population Health
- Population Health in Action
- Applied Research Project
Public vs population health: modern framing
While public health often focuses on disease control and government services, this programme reframes the conversation – introducing population health as a leadership-driven, systems-wide approach applicable across public and private sectors. It’s about improving outcomes at scale by shaping policies, allocating resources, and coordinating interventions that address both individual behaviours and broader social determinants.
Core message and differentiation from MPH
This programme includes the core public health disciplines but goes further by embedding leadership, decision-making, and implementation science into every module.
Whereas a Master of Public Health (MPH) builds public health researchers and specialists, this MSc develops action-oriented leaders who can drive systemic change, manage health ecosystems, and influence policy.
MPH vs Population Health Leadership
Think of an MPH as the technical foundation.
This programme is the bridge to real-world impact – equipping healthcare leaders to act, lead, and transform population health outcomes at scale.
Key focus areas and unique value
- Holistic approach: Merges epidemiology, social sciences, leadership, and strategy to build well-rounded population health leaders.
- End-to-end learning: Goes beyond theory – students learn how to lead implementation, evaluate impact, and adapt systems for better health outcomes.
- Leadership-centric: Built for those who want to lead, influence, and innovate – not just analyse.
- Strategic execution: Focus on turning insights into action, using real-world tools to shape interventions and policies that work.
Accreditation and international recognition
RCSI has partnered with the DataFlow Group to provide comprehensive support to prospective students and graduates in navigating the degree certificate recognition process in the UAE and Bahrain.
This partnership has already enabled many of our recent graduates to successfully secure recognition of their certificates by the UAE and Bahrain Ministries of Education (MoE).
Why population health?
Learn the fundamentals of public health through a whole-population frame, focusing on strategic leadership, decision-making and implementation. This course bridges the gap between knowledge and action, helping graduates lead population-wide health improvements.
This programme is ideal for leaders or emerging leaders who want to shape health systems, rather than just work within them. Rather than offering a generic leadership programme, it is deeply applied and designed to produce thought leaders who can drive health improvement at scale.
Lead the future of population health
RCSI's School of Population Health is at the forefront of addressing global population health challenges through research, education, and collaboration.
Programme highlights:
- Comprehensive education: Gain a profound understanding of population health science combined with leadership skills essential for shaping health policies and systems.
- Flexible online delivery: Engage with our part-time, fully online curriculum, structured for working professionals. Live sessions are scheduled to accommodate your busy lifestyle, ensuring a seamless learning experience.
- Real-world application: Learn to synthesise population health principles, evaluate research, and apply innovative solutions to real-world challenges affecting diverse populations.
Embark on a path to leadership in population health. With RCSI, you gain not just knowledge but a platform to transform public health landscapes globally. Start your journey today!
Register your interest
Why study at RCSI?
We understand that healthcare practice requires a lifelong commitment to learning and that this can be challenging for healthcare professionals with busy and professional lives. Our programmes have been designed to maximise flexibility and convenience for postgraduate learners, while continuing to advance their knowledge and accelerate career progression.
Ensuring minimal disruption to your work-life commitments, we provide interactive and flexible online healthcare programmes – designed for every career stage.
As an RCSI Postgraduate student, you will become part of an international learning community – join a multidisciplinary alumni network of over 32,000 graduates.
Learn from leading academics and expert practitioners, who are committed to creating inclusive and dynamic learning environments for busy healthcare professionals.
Immerse yourself in case-based and research-driven education, as RCSI integrates the latest cutting-edge research and innovation into every programme offering.
Discuss your goals, eligibility and next steps with a dedicated advisor.
Register your interest