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Health Data in Practice PGDip *
* This course is subject to approval

Part of: Computer and Data Science and Global Health and Development

Unlock the power of data to transform healthcare with our Postgraduate Diploma in Health Data in Practice. Prepare for leadership or strategic positions in the NHS or wider public and private sector organisations. Focus on the practical implementation of health data in clinical settings, applications to health inequalities and quality improvement, and implications for public health and policy.

  • Develop the health data skills and experience needed by employers in the NHS and wider health related organisations
  • Benefit from our unique interdisciplinary strengths to develop a holistic understanding of health data in practice
  • Choose from full-time and part-time options to fit your needs and career goals, or opt for our MSc and complete a dissertation 

Study options

Starting in
September 2025
Location
Whitechapel
Fees
Home: £8,200
Overseas: £16,200
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Apply nowRegister your interest

What you'll study

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Data in Practice offers a cutting-edge, human-centred approach to health and care data, equipping you with the tools and insights needed to drive innovation in real-world setting. Immerse yourself in an interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates statistics, epidemiology, health informatics, health inequalities, and qualitative research methods, allowing you to harness multidisciplinary approaches to design impactful study and inform critical decision-making.

Through this PGDip, you will gain a comprehensive foundation in quantitative analysis, qualitative methods, the context and provenance of health data, and practical data management, preparing you to solve the most pressing health data challenges.
You’ll also develop critical professional competencies, including analytical thinking, problem-solving, and clear communication - skills that are essential for thriving in the fast-evolving field of health data science.

Teaching from our expert faculty will ensure that you experience a holistic education that fuses key disciplines, empowering you to use data-driven insights to revolutionise healthcare outcomes.

Our Postgraduate Diploma in Health Data in Practice will train a new generation of leaders in the health data fields, prepared to make significant contributions in the NHS, public and private sectors. Join us and be at the forefront of transforming healthcare through data science.

Structure

  • Six compulsory modules
  • Two elective modules
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If you study full-time, you will take three compulsory modules and one elective module from a selection each semester. If you study part-time, you will take the modules across both years.

Assessment

  • 100% Modules
  • %

Assessment takes a number of different forms including coursework essays, assignments and presentations, and examinations. 

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, hands-on workshops, and small group seminars. The seminars are designed to encourage interactive discussion around health data topics and may include student-led presentations, group exercises, and practical data analysis sessions. Teaching will take place at the Whitechapel Campus, with access to state-of-the-art facilities for health data analysis.

The programme places a strong emphasis on practical experience with health data, and you will engage with real-world case studies from a range of healthcare areas, including primary care, public health, and clinical specialties. You will also have opportunities to participate in health data seminars and professional events, enabling you to build connections with experts in the field.

We collaborate with NHS partners, health research institutes, and organisations across East London and beyond, providing opportunities for research, practical placements, and community-focused projects. Students are encouraged to engage with both local and national health data initiatives to apply their learning in real-world contexts.

If you study full-time, you will typically have one one-hour lecture and one two-hour practical workshop or seminar per module, per week. Part-time students will take two core modules and two specialist modules in their first year; and complete the remaining two core modules and two elective modules in the second year.

Where you'll learn

Facilities

At Queen Mary you will have access to a number of advanced facilities, some of which are designated exclusively to postgraduate students. These include:

  • the Blizard Building, which has state of-the-art facilities for students and staff including open-plan research laboratories, office space, a 400-seater lecture theatre and a café, and several seminar rooms
  • the newly refurbished Garrod building which includes study and social spaces for Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry students
  • medical libraries located at The Royal London and St Bart's hospitals and at the Queen Mary Mile End campus
  • access to the Postgraduate Reading Room
  • research access to the British Library.

Campus

Your postgraduate learning experience is enhanced by our fantastic location in Whitechapel, in east London. This is the main home of Queen Mary University of London's Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, close to The Royal London Hospital.

Whitechapel is a vibrant area, famous for its street market, variety of curry houses and the Whitechapel Gallery. The campus has its own library, state-of-the-art labs at the Blizard Institute and social and study spaces in the newly refurbished Garrod Building, including the students’ union. 

You can also use all the facilities at the Mile End campus, which is ten minutes up the road.

 

About the Institute

Wolfson Institute of Population Health

This course is based at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, which delivers internationally recognised research and teaching in population health. The Wolfson Institute is a part of Queen Mary University of London’s faculty of medicine and dentistry.

The work of our researchers and educators has had a significant impact on lives across the world. We provide integrated teaching and training opportunities delivered by leaders in the field. By sharing knowledge and pushing the boundaries of research, we will continue to advance population health and preventive medicine on a global scale.   

Queen Mary is a member of the Russell Group of leading research universities in the UK and the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry proudly holds an Athena Swan Gold Award in recognition of our commitment to gender equality.

Contact us

Wolfson Institute

Career paths

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Data in Practice will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in leadership and strategic roles across the NHS, public health bodies, and private sector organisations, including health tech companies, consultancies, and pharmaceutical firms.

In the NHS, you could pursue roles such as health data analyst, clinical informatics specialist, or digital transformation lead, supporting evidence-based decision-making and improving patient outcomes. In the private sector, opportunities include positions in health data consultancy, digital health innovation, and health analytics.

You will develop career-ready skills such as advanced data analysis, problem-solving, and clear communication - critical for success in this fast-evolving field.

  • 97% of Institute postgraduate taught graduates are in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (2021/22)
  • 79% of Institute postgraduate taught graduates are in highly skilled work or graduate study (2021/22)

Fees and funding

Full-time study

September 2025 | 9 months

Unconditional deposit

Home: Not applicable

Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits

Part-time study

September 2025 | 21 months

The course fee is charged per annum for 2 years. Note that fees may be subject to an increase on an annual basis - see details on our tuition fees page.

Unconditional deposit

Home: Not applicable

Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits

Funding

There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.

Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:

Entry requirements

UK

Degree requirements

A 2:1 or above at undergraduate level in a related discipline. Relevant subjects include quantitative disciplines such as Statistics, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, Bioinformatics and Biomedical Sciences, and qualitative disciplines such as Epidemiology and Public Health.

Applications from those with less quantitatively oriented Natural Sciences degrees, such as Biology and Medicine, are welcome if they have focused on the more quantitative elements of those degrees.

Other routes

Applicants with a 2:2 degree with relevant content and at least one year of relevant experience, for instance work in industry, analytics, diagnostic labs, scientific research etc, may be considered on an individual basis.

Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.

International

English language requirements

The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.

The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the Wolfson Institute falls within the following English band:

Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking

We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.

Visas and immigration

Find out how to apply for a student visa.

Contact

Wolfson Institute

Postgraduate Admissions

Related Courses

  1. Health Data in Practice MSc

    1 year Full-time
    MSc

  2. Global Public Health and Policy MSc

    1 year Full-time
    MSc

  3. Global Public Health and Policy MRes

    1 year Full-time
    MRes

  4. Global Public Health Online PGDip

    2 year Part-time
    PGDip
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