Health and Social Policy Specialisation

The course will present an introduction to the socioeconomics of health and social policy and into important social policies including pensions, health and long-term care, unemployment insurance, poverty reduction, education, and family policies. Each social policy will be illustrated by concrete examples in Austria and internationally, and analyzed from economic and interdisciplinary perspectives.

This course explains key economic concepts that are relevant to the public healthcare industry and related policies. The presentation takes the real world perspective from the government and other public institutions. The course covers healthcare demand and disparities, social health insurance, public hospitals and physician practices, cost-effectiveness analysis, and public health.

This course explains key economic concepts that are relevant to the private healthcare industry and related policies and regulations. The presentation takes the real world perspective from private agents making economic decisions. The course covers patients as consumers of care, private health insurance companies, private hospitals and physicians, and the pharmaceutical industry.

The course will start by presenting a European and global comparative perspective on social policies and the role of supranational organizations such as the World Bank, World Health Organization, and the European Union. Examples of supranational social policies and their interactions with national policies will analyzed from interdisciplinary perspectives. The second part of the course will introduce transnational social policies, in particular in the context of the European Union, in areas with large cross-border spillover effects.

The course will present a comprehensive framework to evaluate health and social policies. Special emphasis will be given to the assessment of policy effectiveness with the presentation of methods such as cost-effectiveness analysis. The comprehensive framework will cover the evaluation of the policies’ efficiency, impact, equity, acceptability, relevance, and sustainability, and will be applied to the analysis of concrete health and social policies in Austria and internationally.

All courses (I to V) will be taught each semester. Please register for Course I in the first semester of the specialization through LPIS, after you have been accepted. This is the condition for your enrollment in the specialization. All other courses can be taken in the semester of your choice in any order.

Yes, definitely! Our professors are usually present at the WU's Spezialisierungsmesse which is organized twice a year. They are happy to answer your questions in person. For information on the next event please check the website of the ÖH WU.

See section above on "Access to the specialization".

Please click here for more information on the motivation letter.

Due to the high level of interest in the HSP specialization, we are unable to grant deferrals. 

If you have not been accepted for the HSP specialization, you are eligible for Study Progress Quota placement. This process is managed by WU's central administration, and you will be automatically considered for this option, no separate application is required.

As all our courses are offered every semester, completion is possible in semester, however, it is not guaranteed as you need to secure yourself a place in all the courses. Most of our students complete the specialization in two semesters.

Please click here to find out more about specializations at WU and the selection process in general.

You are welcome to contact us via email at hsp@wu.ac.at.