A Master of Health Administration degree or similar program prepares healthcare professionals for management positions. You learn how to organise and lead the effective delivery of services to consumers.
For healthcare professionals seeking greater responsibility, you can open up career opportunities with a masters in health administration online. Available degrees include Master of Health Services Management, Master of Nursing (Leadership and Management) and MBA (Health Management).
Health administrators plan and coordinate healthcare delivery, working in settings such as hospitals and aged care facilities. You can train in this field with a masters of health administration. Accelerated 100% online courses also allow you to earn your degree without time away from work.
Masters in Health Services Management
A popular, contemporary version of a Master of Health Administration degree is the Master of Health Services Management. With a health service management course, you study health administration with an emphasis on consumer experience. Service quality and patient safety are prominent issues.
UTS Online Master of Health Services Management
The Master of Health Services Management from UTS Online prepares leaders in health administration to drive improvement and deliver safe, high-value and accessible healthcare services. The course emphasises quality and safety. Students learn to plan and evaluate health and social care services, with a goal to innovate and enhance systems. You also learn how to harness and interpret data as a tool to achieve excellent service results. Tailor your program to align with your career priorities by going for a major in quality and safety or sub-major in digital health, planning or leadership. Created for healthcare professionals, the program is available part-time and 100% online. Gain job-ready skills that you can immediately apply in your workplace.
Nursing Administration Courses
For nurses, you can do the equivalent of a Master of Health Administration by enrolling in a nursing masters and majoring in administration, management or leadership. Master of Nursing programs allow for specialisation. Instead of studying nursing practice only, you can do a health administration stream that prepares you for leadership roles.
JCU Master of Nursing (Leadership and Management)
As a registered nurse or midwife, the Master of Nursing from James Cook University could be the ideal program for the next stage of your career. A major in Leadership and Management is available for professionals targeting supervisory and administration roles. Subjects include leading and managing in health, ethics and health management, business and finance for the health manager, and conflict and dispute resolution in healthcare. The flexible 12-unit program is 100% online and contains graduate certificate and diploma courses. Double major options are included.
Health Administration MBA
An alternative to a health administration masters is the world's most recognised graduate degree: a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Some online MBA programs have health administration specialisations. Note that program entry does not require you to have a business degree.
An MBA is a general business administration and management program. But you can major in health administration by selecting subjects focused on the health industry. While MBA and MHA qualifications are both in demand, an MBA can be a safer investment. A Health Administration MBA brings career advantages no matter where you may be employed in the future.
Southern Cross University MBA (Health Services Management)
Health Services Management is a specialisation available in the Southern Cross University (SCU) MBA program. To qualify for the major, students do at least two of four health subjects offered: Leading Change in Healthcare, Healthcare Professional Portfolio A, Strategic Health Management, and Principles and Practice of Clinical Accountability. The flexible and affordable 100% online MBA consists of 12 subjects for most students and requires 2 years of part-time study. You do one subject at a time, making for a stress-free learning experience. The accelerated (year-round) program is ideal for busy professionals.
University of Adelaide MBA (Health Management)
The University of Adelaide’s online MBA is a quality program delivered using the best e-learning technology. You benefit from the backing of the prestigious Adelaide Business School. At the same time, students have all the modern conveniences, such as 100% online study, 6-week teaching blocks, collaborative learning with classmates and dedicated online support. The 12-subject program gives you the tools to confidently manage health teams and projects. Topics include leadership, finance, marketing, innovation and entrepreneurship. Students also examine how to do business in the healthcare sector and the challenges facing health managers.
What You'll Study (Course Structure)
A Master of Health Administration degree will typically have you studying 12 subjects, covering topics such as organisational leadership and management, financial management, clinical accountability, and research for managers. You'll gain general, transferable skills and knowledge that you can carry into any health administration role.
To give you an idea of what you'll study, here are sample course structures. Further core subjects and electives are available for each program.
Health Services Management
- Foundations of the Australian Healthcare System
- Using Health Care Data for Decision Making
- Organisational Management in Health Care
- Managing Quality, Risk and Cost in Health Care
- Policy, Power and Politics in Health Care
- Fundamentals of Epidemiology
Master of Nursing Leadership
- Effective Clinical Governance
- Persuasive Communication
- Leading and Managing in Health
- Ethics and Health Management
- Business and Finance for the Health Manager
- Conflict and Dispute Resolution in Healthcare
Health Management MBA
- Leadership and Influencing
- Accounting and Financial Management
- Management Challenges in Health
- Doing Business in Health
- Managing People and Organisations
- Research for Managers
Health Services MBA
- Organisational Behaviour
- Management Communication
- Healthcare Professional Portfolio A
- Leading Change in Healthcare
- Clinical Accountability
- Strategic Health Management
Learning Outcomes
You gain a broad set of knowledge and skills for leading in a healthcare setting with a Masters of Health Administration. Graduates often come away with greater confidence in their capacity to manage and lead after developing a knowledge advantage over people without such an education.
Learning outcomes include:
- a stronger understanding of healthcare systems in Australia
- improved awareness of what you have to do to be an effective leader and manager
- greater verbal fluency when discussing management issues
- an enhanced ability to link research to practice
- a well-rounded grasp of efficiency, quality, safety and equity goals in clinical management.
Career Opportunities
By earning a Masters in Health Administration, you create opportunities for supervision, team leadership and management roles within health delivery and administration organisations. The degree develops your administration competencies while demonstrating to employers that you have the skills and commitment to be a good health manager.
In Australia, employment of Health and Welfare Services Managers is projected to expand by 26.5% over the next 5 years to more than 45,000 jobs. Examples of job titles include: nurse unit manager, director of nursing, clinic manager, health practice manager, medical practice manager, and health services manager.
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for a Master of Health Administration reflect that this is a broad discipline open to people with diverse professional backgrounds. You're generally able to study for a health administration degree with a bachelor degree or comparable professional experience.
Here are examples of program admission requirements. Enquire for further details.
To be admitted into the Master of Health Services Management, you need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification OR evidence of general and professional qualifications showing ability to do postgraduate education.
For academic qualification, the bachelor’s degree should be in the disciplines of health or human services.
Students not meeting entry requirements may, if admitted to the corresponding graduate certificate course, use successful completion of that as an admissions pathway.
More informationTo be eligible for the online Master of Nursing, applicants must have an AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent AND be a Registered Nurse (Division 1) or Registered Midwife AND have at least one year of clinical experience.
Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet English language proficiency requirements.
More informationAdmission into the Master of Business Administration requires a 3-year bachelor degree OR equivalent professional experience.
All students need to be proficient in English.
More informationFor the MBA (Health Management), you need a bachelor degree (or equivalent) and 2 years’ relevant work experience OR a completed GMAT with a score of >500 and 2 years’ relevant work experience OR a University of Adelaide Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
More informationWhat is Health Administration?
Health administrators plan, direct, coordinate and supervise the delivery of health and related services. They're employed in hospital and community healthcare centres, aged care facilities, health departments, government and community organisations, and in primary care and general practice.
Administrators may be clinical specialists in charge of a niche department or service. They might also be generalists who manage projects, multi-purpose facilities or health systems. Some of the complex tasks performed are: integrating health care delivery systems, introducing technological innovations, reorganising work structures, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
A good health administration course is worth it, giving you essential knowledge and skills for management roles. The program develops you as a leader, imparting skills in strategic planning, managing service quality and safety, and making policy decisions. You come away equipped and qualified to work as a manager in different healthcare settings.
