Health Informatics (MSc)
Health information science (also known as health informatics) is the study of:
- how health data are collected, stored and communicated;
- how those data are processed into health information suitable for administrative and clinical decision making; and
- how computer and telecommunications technology can be applied to support these processes.
You will learn to identify what information and data are needed and used to make effective healthcare decision by doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, government planners and other health care professionals.
You can study in either our on-campus stream or the distributed (online) stream. Please note: only two courses in the on-campus stream are offered in a face-to-face format. All other courses are offered in our online synchronous classroom format. You’ll complete coursework and complete either a research project or a thesis.
| Expected length | Project or thesis | Course-based |
|---|---|---|
| 2-5 years | Yes | No |
Quick facts
- Program options:
- Master's
- Study options:
- Full-time study
- Program delivery:
- On-campus, Online, Blended
- Dynamic learning:
- Co-op optional
Outcomes
Students in this program will:
- demonstrate leadership and management competencies in health informatics
- demonstrate understanding key aspects of health care information system and health information technology design and evaluation
- recommend selection, deployment and application of evidence-based methods to improve health informatics innovations
- model, design and optimize health care processes, implementations and technology
- apply ethical principles and the professional code of conduct espoused by the International Medical Informatics Association in their professional practice
Find a supervisor
You may list a potential supervisor on your application, but this is not required.
To find a supervisor, review the faculty contacts. When you've found a faculty member whose research complements your own, contact them by email.
Abdul Roudsari
Professor Modelling and Simulation in healthcare; modelling methodology for health resource management; clinical decision support, machine learning and artificial intelligence – development and evaluation of decision support systems; evaluation methodologies with particular application in telemedicine. More recently my interests have developed into : Telemedicine technology, temporal representation and reasoning; utilisation of business intelligence in healthcare; shared decision-making, personalised health records and environmental sensing for health. Application area Chronic diseases.
Alex Kuo
Professor Data interoperability; Health database & data warehousing; AI & Data Mining application in healthcare, and e-health.
Andre Kushniruk
Director, Professor Usability of Health Information Systems; Human Factors in Healthcare; Clinical Informatics; Consumer informatics; Decision Support Systems; Healthcare Decision Making; Cognitive Informatics; AI in Healthcare; Evaluation methods; Healthcare System Design; Data Analytics and Visualization
Claudia Lai
Assistant Professor Digital Innovations that Promote Healthy Aging at home, Shared Decision Making, and Public Health; Community-Based Participatory Research; Digital Health Equity; Integrated Care; Learning Health Systems, Patient Portals
Dillon Chrimes
Assistant Teaching Professor Dr. Dillon Chrimes is currently not available to supervise graduate students.
Elizabeth Borycki
Professor Human Factors (Safety, Workflow and Usability); Design (User Interfaces, Heuristics and Guideline Development); Implementation Science (Technology Strategy, Implementation and Evaluation); Knowledge Management (Information Needs; Information Seeking; Decision Support Systems); Virtual Care (Mobile Health, Sensors, Medical Devices, Smart Homes, Telehealth); Data Science (Analytics, Dashboard Visualizations and AI); Clinical Informatics (ePrescribing, eMedRec, eMedication Administration Systems, Electronic Health Records); Nursing Informatics; Health Informatics (Professional Competency Development, Curriculum Design)
Helen Monkman
Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Advisor Human Factors; User Experience; Usability; Consumer Health Informatics; eHealth Literacy or Digital Health Literacy; Information Visualization.
Karen L. Courtney
Associate Professor, Graduate Advisor Areas of interest: Telehealth; m-Health; Information Technology Ethics; Community-based Informatics; Gerontechnology; Nursing Informatics; Health Services Research; Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
Simon Minshall
Assistant Teaching Professor, Health Terminology Standards Certificate Coordinator Simon Minshall is currently not available to supervise graduate students.
Show me program details
Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:
Your program details
Application deadlines
September 2025 entry – apply by January 15, 2025
September 2025 entry – apply by January 15, 2025
Admission requirements
Program specific requirements
As part of your application, you must submit:
- names and email addresses of two academic referees.
- we will contact your referees for assessment reports
- we recommend that your referees also attach a letter of reference.
- if it has been more than five years since you last attended a post-secondary institution, we recommend that you include two assessment reports from current or former employers in place of academic referees
- a personal resumé including your education background, employment history, professional/academic affiliations and other achievements such as publications or awards
- a letter of intended study
- this letter must describe why you should be considered for enrolment, how you will use the knowledge learned in your workplace or academic career, and how the program improve/change your personal career
Notes:
- we strongly recommend you have at least two years of relevant work experience
- you must complete an undergraduate statistics course with a final grade of B or better before you apply
- if you have completed a non-health or non-IT related bachelor’s degree, we encourage you to consider applying to the Bachelor of Science degree program in Health Information Science
Program specific requirements
As part of your application, you must submit:
- names and email addresses of two academic referees.
- we will contact your referees for assessment reports
- we recommend that your referees also attach a letter of reference.
- if it has been more than five years since you last attended a post-secondary institution, we recommend that you include two assessment reports from current or former employers in place of academic referees
- a personal resumé including your education background, employment history, professional/academic affiliations and other achievements such as publications or awards
- a letter of intended study
- this letter must describe why you should be considered for enrolment, how you will use the knowledge learned in your workplace or academic career, and how the program improve/change your personal career
Notes:
- we strongly recommend you have at least two years of relevant work experience
- you must complete an undergraduate statistics course with a final grade of B or better before you apply
- if you have completed a non-health or non-IT related bachelor’s degree, we encourage you to consider applying to the Bachelor of Science degree program in Health Information Science
Completion requirements
View the minimum course requirements for the on-campus stream or for the distributed (online) stream of this program.
View the minimum course requirements for the on-campus stream or for the distributed (online) stream of this program.
Funding & aid
Note: Co-op or assistantship is based on availability and not guaranteed.
HINF awards
First year in MSc program
- UVic HINF bachelor’s degree alumni are eligible for a graduate student entrance award. Alumni applicants with a GPA of A- (7.0) or higher will be considered. This is one-time funding support. Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria will automatically be considered for one of two HINF alumni entrance awards.
Second year or beyond in MSc program
- Each year, each student is evaluated for graduate funding. There are no multi-year commitments.
- Funding is based on academic performance. We only consider students with a GPA of A- (7.0) or higher. Students on leave are not eligible for this funding. Students may receive up to a maximum of three years funding.
- There are limited funds available for these awards and it is likely that the awards will not cover the cost of tuition. We encourage you to seek university and external funding.
Note: Co-op or assistantship is based on availability and not guaranteed.
HINF awards
First year in MSc program
- UVic HINF bachelor’s degree alumni are eligible for a graduate student entrance award. Alumni applicants with a GPA of A- (7.0) or higher will be considered. This is one-time funding support. Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria will automatically be considered for one of two HINF alumni entrance awards.
Second year or beyond in MSc program
- Each year, each student is evaluated for graduate funding. There are no multi-year commitments.
- Funding is based on academic performance. We only consider students with a GPA of A- (7.0) or higher. Students on leave are not eligible for this funding. Students may receive up to a maximum of three years funding.
- There are limited funds available for these awards and it is likely that the awards will not cover the cost of tuition. We encourage you to seek university and external funding.
Tuition & fees
Estimated minimum program cost*
* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator.
Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.
Ready to apply?
You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.
Faculties & departments
Need help?
Contact Sandra Boudewyn at hisgrad@uvic.ca or 250-721-6459.