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.

The Master of Health Informatics (MHI) program offers in-depth knowledge Digital Health for the future leaders and policy-influencers of the future. The Program trains leaders capable of leading substantial change in the healthcare system and in influencing policy.

The MHI program curriculum enables graduates to design systems that serve the needs of multiple stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, developers, vendors and policymakers. It provides training on managing advanced health informatics tasks, building efficient systems, and shaping digital health policies. Advanced subjects such as information governance, interoperability, and cybersecurity are covered, in addition to the traditional topics of business analysis, knowledge management and data analytics.  The program prepares students to enhance healthcare efficiency and patient experience. Real-world experiences and industry connections ensure our graduates are ready to lead in this ever-changing field.

As digitalization in the healthcare system accelerates, the MHI program evolves to meet emerging challenges. Regular course updates keep our curriculum relevant, reflecting the latest in digital health advancements. This adaptability prepares our students to be innovative leaders in health informatics.

Master of Health Informatics

Program Description

There are two options available to complete the MHI:

• Regular MHI option: This option is designed for individuals not currently in a health informatics profession and seeking a career in the field. Applicants to this option should not be employed full-time. The Regular MHI option is offered in person.
• Executive MHI option: This option is designed for individuals with at least five years of work experience in the healthcare sector and are interested in pursuing leadership positions and other career development. This program option enables students to continue professional employment and sustain career momentum while gaining specialized health informatics knowledge. The Executive MHI option is offered through online delivery. Students are required to be on campus for two residencies of 10 days each in February of Year 1 and February of Year 2

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. The Regular MHI option is offered in person.

• Executive MHI option: This is designed for individuals with at least five years of work experience in the health-care sector and are interested in pursuing leadership positions and other career development. This program option enables students to continue professional employment and sustain career momentum while gaining specialized health informatics knowledge. The Executive MHI option is offered through online delivery. Students are required to be on campus for two residencies of 10 days each in February of Year 1 and February of Year 2.

Regular MHI Option (Effective 2023-24)

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 (for example, 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)

  • Students may elect to take up to 0.5 FCE on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) basis. See the list of CR/NCR-eligible courses below.

  • A four-month, full-time practicum or field placement (MHI2005Y; 2.0 FCEs).

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

Students may elect to be assessed on a CR/NCR basis in courses marked by the symbol ^⌘ up to a total of 0.5 FCE.

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

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

Time Limit

3 years full-time

Regular MHI Option (Effective 2024-25)

These requirements are effective from May 1, 2024.

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 (for example, 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)

  • Students may elect to take up to 0.5 FCE on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) basis. See the list of CR/NCR-eligible courses below.

  • A four-month, full-time practicum or field placement (MHI2005Y; 2.0 FCEs).

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

Students may elect to be assessed on a CR/NCR basis in courses marked by the symbol ^⌘ up to a total of 0.5 FCE.

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

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

Time Limit

3 years full-time

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. The Regular MHI option is offered in person.

• Executive MHI option: This is designed for individuals with at least five years of work experience in the health-care sector and are interested in pursuing leadership positions and other career development. This program option enables students to continue professional employment and sustain career momentum while gaining specialized health informatics knowledge. The Executive MHI option is offered through online delivery. Students are required to be on campus for two residencies of 10 days each in February of Year 1 and February of Year 2.

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 (at least five years) as a health services professional (for example, 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.

• Successful applicants may be actively employed in a health informatics role or capacity.

Program Requirements

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

  • Required coursework (7.5 FCEs)

  • Elective coursework (1.0 FCE)

  • Students may elect to take up to 0.5 FCE on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) basis. See the list of CR/NCR-eligible courses below.

  • A four-month, employer-sponsored or mentor-supervised Health Informatics Project (MHI2015Y; 1.5 FCEs).

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

• The Executive MHI option is offered through online delivery. Students are required to be on campus for two residencies of 10 days each in February of Year 1 and February of Year 2.

Required Courses

Practicum Course

Elective Courses

Students are encouraged to select two electives that allow 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