MSc in Leadership and Innovation
Step into a senior role and lead the change your health system needs with the RCSI MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare.
2026 Scholarship applications closing soon
We are delighted to offer the RCSI HealthCARE Scholarship to dedicated healthcare professionals seeking to advance their careers. With a limited number of scholarships, each offering a 30% reduction in tuition fees, we are committed to supporting your leadership ambitions. Take this opportunity to benefit from financial support and further your professional development.
Eligibility: Open to individuals who have made the first instalment payment.
How to apply:
1. Submit your programme application
2. Accept your offer and complete the first instalment payment
3. Submit a 500-word personal statement outlining your impact in healthcare.
Deadline
17 August 2026
Explore the programme details
This part-time, online MSc is designed for healthcare professionals who are ready to move beyond day-to-day management and into positions of real influence. You’ll learn how to lead teams, drive innovation and manage complex change – all while balancing limited budgets, rising patient demands, and system pressures.
Join a legacy of healthcare excellence
Established in 1784, RCSI has been at the forefront of healthcare education for over two centuries.
Join a vast network of healthcare professionals making an impact in over 100 countries.
Connect with an expert advisor now
Are you interested in learning more about the MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare programme? Submit your details below and a student advisor will be in touch with you shortly.
Study Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare
Learn online at your own pace and acquire a highly sought-after skill set, enabling you to design and lead effective solutions for optimal patient care in your specific setting.
Our MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare online programme is tailored for healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their leadership and management skills.
The programme encompasses seven core modules: Developing and Demonstrating Personal Leadership Qualities, Working with and Leading Others, Leading and Managing Services, Leading Innovation and Change, Strategic Planning and Implementation, Developing a Future-Oriented Mindset, and Research Methods and Methodology. This curriculum equips you with the necessary tools for a forward-thinking leadership role.
Delivered via our digital platform, the course offers the flexibility required to balance professional commitments and advancement.
- Price: €13,750 (EU)/€22,000 (non-EU)
- Duration: 2 years
- Start date: September 2026
- Delivery: Online
- Qualification: MSc
Get personalised guidance on course structure, admissions and outcomes.
RCSI High Potential Innovation Awards
RCSI is delighted to once again partner with the HSE Spark Innovation Programme to offer the High Potential Innovation Awards, a unique bursary that supports and advances transformative solutions for healthcare delivery and patient care.
Each of the three winners will receive bursaries of €3,000, two of which are funded by RCSI and open to all students of the University’s MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare. The third bursary is funded by HSE Spark for employees of the HSE or a Section 38 organisation in Ireland.
For further information on this initiative, please register your interest.
- Developing and Demonstrating Personal Leadership Qualities
- Working with and Leading Others
- Leading and Managing Services
- Leading Innovation and Change
- Strategic Planning and Implementation
- Developing a Future-Oriented Mindset
- Research Methods and Methodology
- Capstone Project: Research Project
What our students say
Testimonial
"The course has significantly nurtured my creative thinking, empowering me to overcome challenges instead of becoming mired by them. I feel much more confident about my career and my capacity to make a meaningful impact on patient care."
"What made the course truly valuable was its practical focus – everything I learned could be applied to real-world healthcare settings. It equipped me with the tools to drive change and lead teams effectively."
Faculty highlight
Biography
Dr Gloria Kirwan
Dr Gloria Kirwan is Senior Lecturer and Education Lead at the RCSI Graduate School of Healthcare Management. She is the editor of several academic journals, a member of the Management Committee of the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW), and also serves as the ICSW's United Nations representative at Geneva.
Lead with impact and drive healthcare forward
RCSI’s MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare is built for professionals ready to step into senior roles and lead real change – across services, teams, and entire systems.
Programme highlights:
- Lead complex change: Learn how to drive innovation across departments and services – even within resource-constrained environments. Gain the skills to challenge inefficiencies, influence senior stakeholders, and redesign care delivery.
- Build your strategic toolkit: Develop the leadership capabilities needed to move into senior roles: strategic planning, change management, stakeholder engagement, and implementation science – tailored to the healthcare context.
- Designed for working professionals: This fully online, part-time MSc lets you apply what you learn directly to your current role. Whether you're leading a team, running a project, or aiming for your next step, you'll see immediate impact.
This programme is ideal for those looking to move from day-to-day operations into system-level leadership. Start your journey with RCSI.
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 35,000 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.
Schedule a personal consultation