Overview

The BHSc Honours in Health Systems Science programme offers four streams: Health Analytics (Data Science), Health Entrepreneurship, Health Leadership, and Leading Health Systems Research (Managing research such as clinical trials within an organisation).

We welcome applicants from a variety of undergraduate programmes, as solving health system challenges requires interdisciplinary thinking. 

Health Systems Science (HSS) is a multidisciplinary field considered one of the pillars of health sciences, alongside biomedical and clinical sciences. HSS employs a systems-thinking approach to understanding healthcare delivery, collaboration among healthcare professionals, and strategies for improving the health system at various levels. This approach aims to enhance health outcomes, such as improved patient experience, while also reducing the cost of care. Systems thinkers are in demand in private, public, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to address inherent system challenges. 

Our programme plays a pivotal role in training students in the principles, methods, and practices of healthcare delivery. We examine the health system through various lenses (figure 1), adding a South African perspective. Our goal is to foster a compassionate and considerate healthcare system, shifting away from a sole focus on efficiency-based, profit-driven quality improvement.

We understand the importance of responsible leadership and our obligations to all stakeholders. We also recognise the need to improve the journey of our health professions students, who are integral to the healthcare system.

To drive significant, meaningful change, we aim to prepare our future healthcare leaders to not only be competent and confident but to also be imbued with values of kindness, care, compassion, and empathy Furthermore, our course focuses on topics such as health policy, informatics, health finance, population health, quality improvement, professionalism, and systems thinking. It provides a comprehensive overview of the South African health system and its application in a global context. 

What sets this programme apart is the multiple lenses (figure 1) through which students view the interdependence of the component parts of a health system. These perspectives are leveraged to improve system outcomes 

A unique aspect of our programme is our commitment to learning excellence. This includes fostering a partnership with students to achieve deep and meaningful learning, and to develop the competencies associated with Health Systems Science (HSS). We value the student voice in curriculum delivery and review and strive to cultivate graduate competencies such as responsive decision-making and interprofessional collaboration. Our goal is to prepare participants for the real world, instilling them with the confidence to apply their HSS competencies. 

Curriculum

The programme comprises 10 subjects made up of the core curriculum and 2 electives. The core curriculum is Contemporary Health; Systems Health; Responsible Health; Innovative Health; Learning in the Workplace; Developing Health Systems Competencies; Research Methodology and the Research project.

Each stream (Health Analytics, Health Entrepreneurship, Health Leadership and Leading Health Research) is unique for inclusion of a primary choice of elective (Health Analytics, Health Analyses and Quality Improvement, Health Entrepreneurship, Leading Health Research, and one additional elective; Managing Health Projects, Medical and Health Humanities, Health Ethics, or Health Analyses and Quality Improvement.

To see an interactive map of the course framework, click here. The map includes a description of all the courses. 

Please note that even though we run the programme in 4 different streams, the qualification that you receive will only state Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours (Health Systems Science)  

Learning and teaching approach 

Please note that this course is 140 credits, which equates to 1400 hours for the average student to pass (a bit more if you are unfamiliar with Health Systems Science or if you would like to get a distinction). This means that the course will take you on average 40 hours per week.

Furthermore, the programme, follows a deep and meaningful learning approach and is offered in a blended learning fashion with 3 sessions online and 1 compulsory face-to-face tutorial per week at the faculty for each course. You will also be required to spend one day per week at an organisation for your work experience (learning in the workplace) course and are therefore required to travel.  

As this course has three online sessions per module, you will require a computer and a stable internet connection or data. 

Entry Requirements

• This is an interdisciplinary programme that considers students from a variety of undergraduate programmes. These include Bachelor of Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, and Computer Science, Humanities and Law. Other qualifications at the NQF 7 level may also be considered. 

For Health Analytics, students must have achieved an average of 65% in Mathematics during their matriculation. Additionally, a minimum average of 65% is needed for applicants to this Honours course. 

Please note that meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee a place in this programme. 

As this is a blended learning programme you will need a laptop and access to a stable internet connection or data.  

You will also have to start the programme in the 1st week of January.

Applications must include: 

• Your curriculum vitae (CV)
• Letter of Motivation and Problem Statement
• Two references
• An added advantage is a link to your portfolio of learning.  

See Application Requirements document for more information.

Course Application Process

Please follow the instructions here:  

• BHSc Honours HSS application requirements

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.