Leadership and Innovation
Step into a senior role and lead the change your health system needs.
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.
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Are you interested in learning more about the MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare programme on offer with RCSI Online? Submit your details below and a student advisor will be in touch with you shortly.
RCSI scholarship opportunities
RCSI HealthCARE Scholarship
We are delighted to offer the RCSI HealthCARE Scholarship to dedicated healthcare professionals seeking to advance their careers. With three scholarships available, 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. Please see our terms and conditions.
Eligibility: Open to individuals who have made the first instalment payment.
How to apply: Submit a 500-word personal statement outlining your impact in healthcare.
Deadline: Applications close on 31 July 2025.
Women in Leadership Scholarship
Eligibility: Exclusively open to new applicants identifying as women.
Offer: Two scholarships covering full tuition.
Deadline: Submit your application by 30 May 2025.
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/€22,000
- Duration: 2 years
- Start date: September 2025
- Delivery: Online
- Qualification: MSc
Get personalised guidance on course structure, admissions and outcomes.
- 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 in the Graduate School of Healthcare Management, having previously held appointments in Trinity College Dublin (2000-2018) and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth (2018-2022), where she was involved in professional social work education. She is a registered social worker in Ireland.
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 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.
Schedule a personal consultation