Who is the Master’s Degree in Digital Health (M.A.) Suitable For?
The part-time Master’s degree programme Digital Health (M.A.) is specifically aimed at executives and experienced professionals in healthcare who want to be responsible for or manage key digitalisation projects in their work environment. Typical participants include physicians, pharmacists, nursing service managers, managers in hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, healthcare institutions, as well as executives at health insurers, associations, consultancies, and companies in the healthcare sector. The programme is particularly relevant for professionals with existing management or project leadership experience who wish to update and further develop their knowledge of digital processes in the healthcare sector in a future-oriented way.
What Admission Requirements Do You Need to Fulfil?
Admission to the Master’s degree Digital Health (M.A.) at APOLLON University of Health Economics requires the following evidence:
- First professional university degree (at least a Bachelor’s, Diplom, or state examination)
- At least two years of relevant professional experience in healthcare, acquired during or after the first degree
- Basic medical and health technology knowledge; if these are lacking, a preparatory course (propedeutic course) can be completed at APOLLON University. Recognition of previous achievements is possible and shortens the additional qualification.
Direct admission without sufficient professional experience or with a purely non-relevant degree is not possible. The application is especially intended for physicians as well as for master’s graduates with at least 240 ECTS credits. For applicants with only 180 ECTS or without in-depth management knowledge in healthcare, the university recommends alternative programmes such as the Master in Digital Health Management (M.A.).
For successful study, you should have experience in management and process design in healthcare. You need analytical thinking skills, willingness for interdisciplinary collaboration, and interest in the introduction, management, and evaluation of digital technologies in a healthcare context. Important personal qualities include organisational skills, openness to change, as well as the ability to consider complex technological, legal, and ethical issues holistically. Independent and structured working, communication skills, as well as an affinity for digital tools and innovation processes are helpful for successful participation.
Study Contents in Detail
In the Master's programme Digital Health, you acquire an interdisciplinary skills profile that specifically prepares you for digitisation in healthcare. The focus is on imparting digital technologies, legal foundations, ethical considerations, and change management in the health and social economy.
- Digitisation in Care and Medicine: You learn how digital systems are implemented in medical care and nursing and which challenges arise in this context.
- Medical Law: In-depth engagement with the legal framework surrounding digital health applications and data protection.
- Health Technologies: Development, evaluation and application of modern technologies, such as telemedicine procedures or robotic support systems.
- Digitally Networked Society: Analysis of the effects of digital transformation on social structures and actor networks in healthcare.
- Ethics: Reflection on ethical questions and challenges in dealing with digital medical approaches and data processing.
- Digital Change Management: Skills for planning, accompanying and controlling complex change processes in healthcare organisations.
You develop analytical thinking, practical research skills and are empowered to independently plan and implement innovative digital health technologies. The close interlinking of theory and practice enables you to apply acquired knowledge directly in your professional everyday life.
- All lecturers bring comprehensive practical experience from care practice and management.
- The learning content is consistently aligned with current requirements and challenges of the healthcare market.
Course Progression
The distance learning course is modularly structured and can be completed optimally alongside employment. The recommended study duration is 12 months, optionally a part-time variant with 16 months is possible. The division into modules with defined examination requirements ensures clear structure and planning security.
- Study flexibly online – enrolment possible at any time.
- Study materials are available digitally (additionally printed upon request): eBooks, web-based trainings, learning videos, audio formats.
- You can complete seminars and examinations online; additional examination centres exist in Germany and abroad.
- You receive an introductory seminar at the start to ensure confident orientation in your studies.
- New study material is provided every three (for 12 months) or four months (for 16 months).
- Examinations: case studies, term papers, project and group work, seminar achievements as well as the Master's thesis with colloquium at the end.
- If needed, you can extend the study period free of charge by up to 50 % (6 or 8 months).
- 4-week trial study period at the start without risk of costs.
The organisation is designed for maximum flexibility for working professionals. All services and learning offerings are bundled on the APOLLON online campus.
Career Prospects & Employment Opportunities
The Master Digital Health opens up diverse career opportunities in a future-critical field. Graduates are qualified for scientific, research-related and practice-oriented activities across the entire spectrum of the digitalising healthcare provision.
- Leadership roles in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centres: planning, implementing and managing digitisation projects.
- Management positions in health insurance companies, associations, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, including the development of new digital processes.
- Leadership functions in research or consulting institutions on digital health topics.
- Project management for the introduction of new technologies or digital care models.
- Targeted interface function between IT, medicine, nursing, management and society.
Applicants with this degree are particularly in demand when it comes to the digital transformation of healthcare institutions, designing digital care pathways and implementing change processes. Physicians can also earn up to 160 CME credits for their continuing education.
Place of Study
The Master's programme Digital Health is offered as a pure distance learning course and can thus be completed independently of location. The APOLLON University of Health Economics is based in Bremen, but the university’s location is only relevant for organisational purposes.
- Study flexibly from anywhere with full online access to learning materials, online campus and examinations.
- You can attend seminars either online or at examination centres throughout the German-speaking region.
The online campus enables you to exchange with lecturers and fellow students, access support and register for examinations and seminars. Thus, the course is also well compatible with family and work.
Costs and Financing
The total costs for the Master's programme Digital Health at APOLLON University amount to €9,600 (12 months, 60 ECTS).
- Monthly tuition fee: €480
- Start of studies possible at any time; a free extension of the study period by up to 6 or 8 months is included.
- Four-week trial study: you can test the course free of charge in the first 4 weeks.
- Numerous funding opportunities: you can check whether funding such as BAföG, scholarships or support from your employer is possible.
- Recognition of prior achievements can lead to cost reductions and shortening of the study period.
APOLLON University supports you within their study service in individual financing planning and provides information on grants, instalment plans or special funding programmes for healthcare professionals.
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Digital Health? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution APOLLON University of Health Care Management or the editorial team will answer you.
great to see your interest in the Digital Health master's at APOLLON University of Health Care Management. Here's what I can tell you:
The Digital Health (M.A.) programme is aimed at working professionals and delivered as an online distance learning course. However, the course language is German, not English. This means the study materials, online campus, and most likely all exams and formal communication are in German.
Right now, I can't see any official option for taking this master's programme fully in English. There's also no clear information about a preparatory language course specifically for this programme at APOLLON University. Usually, private universities in Germany require advanced German skills (often B2 or C1 level) to enrol in German-taught master's degrees, and they sometimes offer separate preparatory German courses.
If you're really set on studying Digital Health in English, there might be other private universities in Germany or Europe with fully English-taught programmes—if you want, I can help you search for those as well.
Would you consider a master's in German, or do you strictly need an English-language programme? And would you be open to preparatory German courses if needed? That way, I can give you more tailored options!