HEC5981 The business of health
Faculty of Business and Economics
HEC5981 The business of health is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Caulfield. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Caulfield
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Overview
This unit introduces you to the economic forces that shape the health system. It takes a data-driven approach to understanding the motivation of economic actors and characterising their behaviour under different incentives, market structures and system designs. It will equip you with an analytical framework for strategic decision making in healthcare markets.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Caulfield | Flexible |
Assessment
- Quiz / Test10%
- Exercise10%
- Written80%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
understand organisation and delivery of health services from an economic perspective
- 2
understand the motivation and behaviour of actors in the health system
- 3
analyse and critically appraise economic issues in design of health care systems
- 4
analyse the effect of incentives and regulation on investment and the supply of health care services and products
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials12 hours
- Seminars24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Learning resources
Technology resources
There may be an additional cost associated with purchasing a physical and/or virtual calculator. Specific details will be provided in the Learning Management System by commencement of Orientation week.
Where it fits
HEC5981 is part of 1 area of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Johannes Kunz
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for HEC5981?
HEC5981 has no prerequisites.
When is HEC5981 offered?
In 2026, HEC5981 runs in Semester 2 at Caulfield.
How much work is HEC5981?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does HEC5981 have an exam?
No. HEC5981 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include HEC5981?
HEC5981 is part of Economics and health.