Health Informatics

Program Overview

The Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) trains Canada’s future health leaders and researchers through its research and professional graduate degree programs and its involvement in a range of collaborative programs. Its unique interdisciplinary approach is ideally suited to today’s complex and rapidly changing health care landscape.

IHPME’s professional degree programs provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and strategic perspective necessary to assume leadership roles in the health-care system. The faculty members are the foremost thinkers, researchers, and practitioners influencing our health-care system today. Students are exposed to the latest evidence-informed research, thinking, and practice in the Health Informatics program, leading to the Master of Health Informatics (MHI) degree.

This professional program provides graduates with expertise in clinical information and communication technologies (ICTs) required to lead organizational and health system change. The MHI degree program prepares health informaticians to bridge the gaps between clinicians and ICT specialists. The learning experience is further enhanced by practicum placements and a curriculum shaped by strong relationships with leaders and top-performing organizations.

Quick Facts

Master of Health Informatics

Program Description

The Master of Health Informatics (MHI) is a professional program which provides graduates with expertise in clinical information and communication technologies (ICTs) required to lead organizational and health system change. The MHI degree program prepares health informaticians to bridge the gaps between clinicians and ICT specialists.

There are two options available to complete the MHI:

• Regular MHI option: This is designed for individuals who are not currently in a health informatics profession and are seeking a career in the field. Applicants to this option should not be employed full-time.

• Executive MHI option: This is designed for individuals who are currently employed in the health informatics profession and are interested in pursuing leadership positions and other career development. Applicants to this option must be employed in the health informatics sector and have an executive sponsor at their place of employment.

Regular MHI Option

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Eligible undergraduate degrees include those in a health sciences or social sciences specialty, Regulated Health Professions in Ontario, or a computer science or information science specialty with the equivalent of a minimum mid-B average in the last academic year.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements.

• Successful applicants normally have relevant professional experience as a health services professional (e.g., manager or administrator) or health sciences/ clinical practitioner with demonstrated basic literacy and/or programming skills in computer applications relevant to the health sector, or a computer or information technician within a health-care setting or health software vendor.

Program Requirements

• Completion of 10.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • required coursework (7.5 FCEs),

  • elective coursework (0.5 FCE), and

  • a four-month, full-time practicum or field placement (MHI 2005Y [2.0 FCEs]).

• Degree requirements will be completed in 16 months across four consecutive sessions.

Required Courses for the Regular MHI Option

Practicum Course

Elective Courses

Students are encouraged to select an elective that allows them to focus on their individual areas of interest in health informatics. For this reason, the MHI program does not impose a selection of electives. Students are free to choose from all graduate courses across all disciplines at the University of Toronto. All selections are subject to approval in advance by the Program Director and the IHPME Chair.

Program Length

4 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F)

Time Limit

3 years full-time

Executive MHI Option

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Eligible undergraduate degrees include those in a health sciences or social sciences specialty, Regulated Health Professions in Ontario, or a computer science or information science specialty with the equivalent of a minimum mid-B average in the last academic year.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements.

• Successful applicants normally have relevant professional experience as a health services professional (e.g., manager or administrator) or health sciences/ clinical practitioner with demonstrated basic literacy and/or programming skills in computer applications relevant to the health sector, or a computer or information technician within a health care setting or health software vendor.

• Additional requirements for the executive MHI option are as follows:

  • active employment in a health informatics role or capacity; and

  • an executive sponsor at the site of employment, committed to supervising and supporting the student's program including the health informatics project; see program requirements below.

Program Requirements

• Completion of 10.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • required coursework (7.5 FCEs),

  • elective coursework (1.0 FCE), and

  • a four-month, employer-sponsored Health Informatics Project (MHI 2015Y [1.5 FCEs]).

• The executive MHI degree requirements will be completed in 22 months across six consecutive sessions.

Required Courses

Practicum Course

Elective Courses

Students are encouraged to select an elective that allows them to focus on their individual areas of interest in health informatics. For this reason, the MHI program does not impose a selection of electives. Students are free to choose from all graduate courses across all disciplines at the University of Toronto. All selections are subject to approval in advance by the Program Director and the IHPME Chair.

Program Length

6 sessions full-time (S/F/W/S/F/W)

Time Limit

3 years full-time