Medical Informatics

By studying Medical Informatics, you will be responding to the ever-growing need for a sound scientific approach to knowledge and information in modern healthcare services.

Medical Informatics at the AMC-UvA: Unique in the Netherlands Medical Informatics (MI) is a discipline concerned with solving information-related problems in the medical and healthcare sectors. Medical informaticians are experts in information analysis, representation, system design, implementation and evaluation, rather than in developing the advanced technologies which underlie information systems. The Master's programme at the University of Amsterdam Academic Medical Centre (AMC-UvA) is a unique course in the Netherlands. A qualified Medical Informatician is able to identify, analyse, describe and solve medical information problems. Being able to select, synthesise and evaluate information science theories, models and methods, plays an important role. Improving the quality and outcome of medical treatment and enhancing the efficiency of the care process are at the heart of the MSc in Medical Informatics. The programme concentrates upon issues in two main areas. Medical treatment - in particular, decision-making and the support from information systems. Healthcare organisation and processes - the use of information technology in improving patient-care processes.

Theory and practice interact

This focus of this masters degree programme lies at the interface between pure and applied scientific research, with a strong emphasis upon interaction between insight, innovation and development on the one hand and practical applications on the other.

An integrated view of issues in Medical Informatics

The curriculum takes an interdisciplinary approach to issues in medical informatics, framed within the overarching context of the healthcare organisation. The curriculum encompasses three closely related fields:

• Medical treatment and patient care;
• Healthcare organisation, processes and logistics;
• Information and communication technology.

It is by studying these subjects as a coherent package that you gain an integrated view of issues in MI during the course.

Lectures, case studies and work placements

Tuition is in the form of lectures and case studies, organised into modules on a semester-based system. The programme also features short multidisciplinary work placements, during which you learn to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to practical working situations at a department of the AMC involved directly or indirectly with patient care.

Alongside its compulsory core components, the programme allows you some freedom to select relevant optional ('elective') courses that provide you with more in-depth knowledge of the themes associated with your chosen research project.

Professional skills on the academic work placement

The MSc programme ends with an academic work placement. You can take this either within the AMC itself or elsewhere, at an institution or company involved in medicine, healthcare or their organisation. This may be in the Netherlands or abroad. Under the auspices of the International Partnership in Health Informatics Education (IPHIE), talented students can take up placements at partner institutions in Europe and the United States.

As a masters student, you demonstrate your professional skills by conducting a research project resulting in a thesis. This involves exploring an issue in health or medical informatics, analysing and investigating the problem in a theoretically and methodologically sound way.

Course overview

The Masters degree programme lasts a total of two years (120 European Credits). The curriculum is summarised in the table below.

First year

First semester

• Current Issues in Medical Informatics I (6 EC)
• Knowledge representation & reasoning in medicine (6)
• Advanced data analysis in medicine (6)
• Biomedical information systems engineering (6)
• Work placement I (6)

Second semester

• Biomedical Research & Evaluation Methodology (6 EC)
• Organisational Settings of Healthcare (6)
• Healthcare Logistics & Information Systems (6)
• Information & Process Modelling in Healthcare (6)
• Work Placement II (6)

Second year

First semester

A choice of two from the following three courses:

• Current Issues in Medical Informatics II (6 EC)
• Health and Medicine (6)
• Medical Records, Classification & Registries (6)

The programme is taught entirely in English.

Additional subject: Pre-Master's programme Previous education: Bachelor's degree Additional subject: In several cases a preparatory programme has to be completed prior to admission. More information: www.uva.nl/isp or at www.uva.nl/medicalinformatics Previous education: Bachelor's degree Additional language requirements:Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English: A1Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: B1IELTS overall band: 6.5TOEFL paper based: 570TOEFL computer based: 230TOEFL internet based: 89 English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A) TOEFL paper-based test score : 570 TOEFL iBT® test: 89

Scholarships / Grants:

The University of Amsterdam:
The University of Amsterdam provides a limited number of full and partial scholarships for excellent students from outside the European Economic Area. The Amsterdam Merit Scholarships have specifically been designed to offer talented, ambitious and dedicated students the opportunity to pursue a Mast
For additional information: Website

Accreditation

Accredited by: Academic Medical Centre in: The Netherlands

Accredited by: NVAO in: The Netherlands