Start Date

1st September 2025

Format

Part-time

Duration

12 months

Location

Online

Fees

£4,980

Overview
   
Course Content
 
How you learn
 
How you are assessed
 
University
 
Entry Requirements
 
Apply

Overview
   
Course Content
 
How you learn
 
How you are assessed
 
University
 
Entry Requirements
 
Apply

Overview

Bridging the gap between business and healthcare, our one year, online Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Management is for management-level or aspiring management healthcare professionals looking to advance their leadership, industry and management skills.

We are committed to nurturing bold healthcare leaders who thrive in collaborative environments and are unafraid to challenge the status quo to improve outcomes.

Drawing on core functions of business administration with a combination of traditional and rapidly emerging business management subjects, this healthcare management diploma seeks to address the complex challenges facing healthcare managers to help them make more informed decisions.

Our diploma in healthcare management will provide you with the knowledge and capabilities required to develop a comprehensive understanding of the organisational environment, enabling you to deliver effective ethical leadership and management navigation in a variety of healthcare settings.

Designed to fit around your schedule, studying our diploma in healthcare management online means you can advance your career in healthcare without interference to your day-to-day commitments.

Prepare to engage with a peer network of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals around the globe, who you will have the opportunity to learn from and share best practice in your respective disciplines and locations. This in turn allows you to develop a global perspective, strengthening your ability to manage and respond in various healthcare scenarios.

On successful completion of our PGDiploma in Healthcare Management, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate academic knowledge, generate critical debate and apply processes around emerging themes of healthcare management.
  • Apply a range of leadership skills to complex decision making in healthcare contexts whilst being reflective, critical and insightful to maximise the effectiveness of human resources in a healthcare setting.
  • Encourage the application of systematic/creative approaches to improve healthcare services through understanding how knowledge, skills and experiential learning may be used effectively to develop improved working practises, performance and patient care.
  • Demonstrate critical awareness of contemporary and established healthcare issues by focusing on evaluating and integrating theory and practice in the context of effective and problematic healthcare administration issues.

Course Content

The online Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Management will be formed of six 20 credit modules over 12 months. Allowing you to study a variety of interesting and relevant topics.

Modules

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to develop the understanding of organisational behaviour, when applied to a variety of healthcare settings, with a focus on structural and cultural environments.

Module Summary

This first module sets the foundations of Organisational Behaviour within the context of healthcare. Its focus on organisational theories and concepts is to build a greater critical understanding of prominent aspects of organisational theory and structure, the social organisation and multidisciplinary teams, and the importance of culture and motivating others.

Indicative content:

  • Introduction to Organisational Behaviour
  • What is an ‘Organisation’?
  • The Social Healthcare Organisation
  • Organisational Cultures in Healthcare
  • Motivational Theory
  • Human Resources

Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of organisational behaviours and issues in healthcare organisations informed by relevant research and novel practice in the field.
  2. Build an understanding of criticality and reflexivity in applying academic theories and concepts into practice.
  3. Demonstrate originality, insight and critical/reflective practice to solve problems and create innovative propositions related to organisational behaviours.
  4. Use systematic and creative approaches to address complex issues related to organisational behaviours, including undertaking critical thinking and reflective practice to provide confident judgement and apply appropriate courses of action.
  5. Develop skills to contribute to evidence-based decision making in order to influence organisational outcomes.

Module Aims

The overall aim of this module is to consider the different paradigms and approaches to leadership. Critically exploring the historical ‘heroic’ theories, building to the importance of collaborative and systems leadership, and applying these differing leadership perspectives of person, position and process into healthcare practice, will allow exploration and improved knowledge in leading healthcare challenges.

Module Summary

The module will delve deeper into what leadership means, exploring leadership theories to support greater critical thinking in considering what leadership means in supporting a more sustainable healthcare organisation.

Indicative content:

  • Leadership versus Management
  • Leadercentric’ Theories
  • Followership: the other side of leadership
  • Person, Position, Process, Product: collaborative leadership theories
  • Power and Leadership
  • Leadership challenges in Healthcare (Adaptive Leadership)

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  1. Develop a critical understanding of what leadership theories mean in practice and applied in context, with a focus on the impending complex challenges facing healthcare systems.
  2. Building on the traditional leadership theories of the ‘person,’ critically evaluate the more advanced theoretical frameworks considering leadership as a ‘process’, recognition and insights will be shared as to why leading collaboratively has the potential to critically develop more systematic responses in suggesting new ideas to unpredictable healthcare leadership challenges.
  3. Building on personal experiences in leadership, apply learning to develop advanced interpersonal, team and networking skills to strategically enhance collaboration across organisational boundaries to address complex situations and contribute to the field of healthcare leadership with greater confidence.

Module Aims

The module aims to develop a systematic understanding and critical application of strategic management to ensure a responsible yet innovative and sustainable approach within the complex context of healthcare.

Module Summary

The module builds on the foundations of strategic management thinking to further develop understanding of strategy which supports innovation in healthcare. This is undertaken by exploring, critically and reflectively, contemporary approaches to enable appropriate and informed strategic decisions with a focus on sustainable development.

Indicative content:

  • What is Strategy? Exploration of various definitions
  • Models and frameworks: which are relevant in healthcare?
  • Stakeholders and power mapping
  • Contemporary issues in strategic thinking
  • Strategic focus on sustainability and the future of healthcare
  • Healthcare in 2050: a discussion

Learning Outcomes

  1. Apply a systematic understanding of strategic management, to develop a high level of critical thinking to understand the value of strategy and innovation for the future of healthcare.
  2. Select advanced principles and theoretical frameworks in strategic management to critically develop systematic responses to explore and develop sustainable innovation for the future of healthcare.
  3. Practically explore and apply strategic thinking and innovate for the future, working with stakeholders to address the complex needs and increased demands on healthcare organisations.

Module Aims

This module aims to develop students’ understanding and interpretation of financial management in healthcare, to make more informed decisions to influence and assist the impact of this function on the principles and practices of healthcare management decision making.

Module Summary

To introduce and support a more comprehensive understanding of financial management in healthcare, along with being able to better interpret and apply financial statements, budgeting, costing and investment appraisal in financial and business decision making.

Indicative content:

  • Introduction to financial terminology for the service sector
  • Management accounting in decision making
  • Sources of healthcare finance
  • Budgeting and budgetary control
  • The role and use of different financial statements
  • Financial challenges in healthcare – discussion

Learning Outcomes

  • Recognition and understanding of financial management at a local level to be more effective and efficient in providing high quality care to patients and other service users.
  • Systematically analyse incomplete and/or contradictory evidence, to be better informed at influencing financial planning and contribute realistic recommendations to improve financial sustainability.
  • Develop skills and knowledge to systematically organise and communicate advanced financial management to effectively and confidently use financial data to better inform healthcare stakeholders in unpredictable and complex contexts.

Module Aims

The aim of this module considers the traditional philosophies and processes of marketing, then critically applies what it means in healthcare organisations – public and private. Analysing and developing a comprehensive understanding as to how marketing in the service sector of healthcare is potentially more about communication and setting expectations, the importance of ethics will also be explored in recognition of the expanse of stakeholders, departments and specialisms.

Module Summary

This module is designed to challenge the traditional concept of marketing to critically analyse what it means to communicate with stakeholders across healthcare organisations, exploring what is meant by a communication strategy and what is involved in better engaging the public.

Indicative content:

  • What is marketing? Philosophy or Process?
  • Marketing in the healthcare context: Ethics and Expectations
  • ‘Consumers’ and evaluating the market
  • Developing communication and marketing strategies in healthcare
  • Social-media in marketing – audience and ethics
  • Organising, implementing and controlling marketing in healthcare

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  1. Consider the importance of developing and delivering a comprehensive marketing strategy, analysing the impact and ethics on the diverse mix of stakeholders.
  2. Build on experience and skills to critically explore how marketing frameworks can be adapted to influence internal and external communications in healthcare organisations.
  3. Through research and discussing practical experiences, hone skills to think how marketing and communication can be better targeted to influence the required audience via the appropriate media, using the appropriate language to communicate during unpredictable healthcare management situations.

Module Aims

This module aims to explore how to effectively manage and lead change within complex healthcare organisations. Taking into account some of the traditional change management theories, these will then be critically applied in addressing the inhibitors to change, along with gaining insights into some of the important drivers for change. These include why is the ‘change’ necessary’, change in line with quality improvement (especially in line with patient/user safety) and the importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity.

Module Summary

This module will cover the more popular models and theories of change management, while systematically being encouraged to critically evaluate their practice and process of applying them in healthcare organisations, whilst addressing the challenges of effective long term change.

Indicative content:

  • Change Management theories
  • What are the inhibitors to change?
  • Drivers for change: Why change?
  • Drivers for change: Clinical Governance
  • Drivers for change: Patient safety and quality improvement
  • Drivers for change: Diversity and Inclusivity

Learning Outcomes

  1. Appraise the impact of a variety of organisational change theories, recognising why change can be so complex in the context of prevailing social, economic and health care systems.
  2. Critically apply theories and practical examples to evaluate methods of leading effective and relevant change to benefit the future of healthcare.
  3. By considering why change is necessary and what inhibits change, critically discuss effective techniques in line with how to influence and drive complex and innovative change in healthcare.

How you learn

You’ll learn through our flexible, interactive online platform, which allows you to engage with clinical cases, complete assignments, and collaborate with fellow students at times that suit your schedule. There’s no fixed timetable—simply log in daily to participate in the week’s activities.

Learn through engaging discussion

Our teaching approach is highly interactive, using small groups of 10-20 students to foster a collaborative environment where you can engage in thoughtful discussions and receive guidance from your tutor. You’ll have access to learning resources and discussion forums that encourage ongoing interaction and deeper engagement with the material.

Throughout your studies, you’ll receive support from a dedicated expert tutor and our Student Support Team, ensuring you have the resources needed to navigate the course successfully.

How you are assessed

This programme emphasises learning through active participation in case-based discussions, reflection, and real-life scenarios. Students engage with clinical cases that mirror everyday practice, fostering problem-solving and evidence-based application from the very beginning.

Across the modules, assessments are integrated with learning. Each week, you will work through two to three clinical cases, discussing and reflecting on them with peers under the guidance of an expert tutor. These discussions form the core of your learning and are also the basis for your assessments.

Our innovative teaching methods are designed to help you translate this learning into real-world clinical practice. You’ll need to regularly log in to participate in discussions, ideally on a daily basis, and commit approximately two hours per day to your studies. Our dedicated Student Support Team is available to assist with any challenges you may encounter, from navigating our online platform to managing deadlines.

How Foundational Knowledge is Developed

The programme is structured so that foundational knowledge is introduced through carefully designed clinical cases. Each case is crafted to highlight essential concepts and progressively deepen your understanding as you apply critical thinking and evidence-based analysis. This hands-on approach ensures that you are not only acquiring theoretical knowledge but also learning how to apply it in a practical, clinical setting.

This programme is suited for professionals who thrive in an online, discussion-based learning environment. Please note that this course focuses on interactive, applied learning through peer collaboration and case discussions. You will be fully supported, encouraged and led through the programme to success and graduation!

Scenarios reflective of day-to-day work situations will be presented for students to consider and answer every week. Students critically discuss the concepts within their online group discussion forum facilitated throughout the module by their tutor and marked by them at the end of the module.

Students learn by finding relevant literature, reading and critically appraising it; discussing it within the discussion forum and applying it critically to real world examples and your own practice. The content of the scenario is based on the learning outcomes for the module.

The scenarios, reflective portfolio and the group work is carried on as the module progresses which ensures engagement throughout the module.

The reflective journal is used by students throughout each module to monitor personal progress. This is guided by weekly feedback from your tutor and is graded at the end of every module. The journal typically includes the following:

  • Initial expectations and reasons for taking the course.
  • Module and/or personal learning objectives.
  • Description of events, issues and learning points within current personal practice.
  • Change in every day practice due to knowledge gained on each module.
  • A description of what has been learned during the module.

At the beginning of each module, students are presented with a module assignment. The module activity may take the form of an individual piece of work, such as an essay on a relevant topic, or may be a group activity, such as the creation of a marketing plan. This activity tests a student’s ability to work independently or work within a team: to select, sift and analyse information, interact with colleagues and apportion group member’s roles and derive a solution to the module task.

The diverse assessment methods within each module are designed to test the expected characteristics of Masters graduates. These include critical awareness of current issues and developments in leadership, critical skills, knowledge of professional responsibility, integrity and ethics and the ability to reflect on their own progress as a learner.

About Learna

A Shared Vision for Accessible, Professionally Relevant Education

We partner with Learna because they share our commitment to accessible, flexible, and industry-aligned education. Like us, they believe learning should empower professionals to grow without pausing their careers. Together, we deliver qualifications that are responsive to real-world needs.

Who Are Learna?

Learna is a trusted provider of postgraduate online education, partnering with respected institutions including the University of South Wales, University of Buckingham, and University of Wolverhampton. Since 2010, over 5,000 students have advanced their careers through Learna’s online courses.

Why Study with Learna?

  • Professionally Relevant – Programmes tailored to working professionals
  • Accredited University Partners – Delivered in collaboration with UK universities
  • Flexible Online Platform – Study 24/7 at your own pace, with no fixed timetable
  • Affordable, Global Access – Competitively priced with no international surcharges
  • Expert Faculty – Taught by global subject specialists selected for their expertise
  • Diverse Learning Network – Connect with professionals worldwide
  • Low-Carbon Footprint – 90% fewer emissions than traditional study models

Beyond the Degree

Learna’s mission is to improve global outcomes through accessible professional education. Whether in healthcare, business, or other fields, their programmes are designed to support ambitious professionals on their own terms.

Study smarter. Study with Learna.

Entry Requirements

Since our courses are conducted entirely online, they are accessible to both UK and international registered healthcare professionals.

Applicants will typically hold a first degree or equivalent (including international qualifications) in a relevant professional healthcare field, such as a medical or nursing degree.

Registered healthcare professionals without these recognised qualifications will be considered on an individual basis and a wide range of prior experience may be taken into account. In some cases, applicants may be asked to submit a piece of work for assessment in order to confirm that they are able to work comfortably at postgraduate level, and demonstrate the requisite clinical and professional knowledge.

Documents Required

  • A copy of your updated CV including your address and date of birth.
  • A copy of your undergraduate degree certificate.
  • The name and email address of someone who is able to provide a reference, this can be a work colleague, employer or former tutor.
  • A detailed personal statement explaining why you would like to undertake the course.
  • A copy of your proof of English competency (see below).

English Language Requirements Proficiency in the English language is also essential to completing our courses. If English is NOT your first language, we ask for proof of competency during the application process. We are able to accept an IELTS overall score of 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 for each band) or an equivalent qualification.

If you do not meet these requirements, please don’t worry. The run a number of English Language Programmes at the Centre for International English to prepare you for your academic studies.

Should you have already successfully completed the 1 year Postgraduate Diploma and wish to convert to the MSc and complete only the second year of the programme this is possible.

Apply

To enquire and apply please complete the form and upload your CV (preferably as a PDF). Our application team will then check your eligibility for this course.

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

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