Program Introduction

Our master program (Master of Science focus on Healthcare Management) was jointly established by Southern Medical University (SMU) and University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL) in Portugal in 2011. It aims to cultivate interdisciplinary talents with international perspective who not only understand the operation rules of the medical and healthcare industry, but also systematically learn and master management knowledge and skills.

●Since the implementation of the ”Healthy China” Strategy, the demand for high-quality managerial talents in medical and healthcare industry who understand China's national conditions with international perspective is increasing.

●Corresponding to the national “The Belt and Road Initiative”, integrating the superior educational resources of the two universities and driving the cultivation of talents in healthcare industry with management skills.

●The program is a combination of the Chinese and the West education with a focus on healthcare management, which helps students to think with the global vision, to successfully apply what they learn in school and then serve the society.

Program Advantages

1. High-quality faculty

Iscte has a vast and highly qualified body of teachers of varying nationalities and distinct areas of knowledge. With 100% of its professors holding doctorates, Iscte is recognized globally for its quality of teaching due to the proximity of knowledge-transmission. Many teachers of ISCTE-IUL have obtained doctoral degrees in management from famous European and American universities such as Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, London Business School and University of Manchester.

2. Exchange students/dual degree

ISCTE has dual degree programs with 22 universities in 17 countries as well as 450 exchange programs, which provides students with a broader international platform for further studies: students who successfully apply for the master's dual degree/exchange program will start a one-semester/one-year study life after completing the one-year courses at ISCTE-IUL.

*For most of the master exchange students/dual degree programs, no additional tuition fees are needed, and the students have the chance to get subsidies from ISCTE-IUL.

3. Broad employment opportunities

The education quality of ISCTE-IUL is widely recognized by the society. The employment rate of its management graduates is relatively high. 98% of graduates were employed within three months after graduation.

Among the program students, 34% of the students who returned to China after graduation found jobs in hospitals or healthcare departments; 19% were employed in foreign companies and 12% were in public institutions; 8% worked in banks or other financial institutions, and 4% started their own business while 23% chose to work in other industries.

4.  Foundation year

The students spend the first year in Southern Medical University, and there are staff assisting them when needed. In addition to the core courses taught in English, there will be different lectures by experts from healthcare industry and an intensive English course to lay a solid foundation and make full preparations for the overseas study.