FAQs about Our Health Care Law & Strategy Program

This unique master’s degree program offered jointly by NYU School of Law and the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service prepares leaders in the health sector to shape the future of their organizations, providing them with critical skills and insights that will enable them to manage strategically within the complex legal context of today’s health sector.  A key goal of the program is to enhance students’ ability to make strategic decisions for their organizations that promote quality, performance, growth, and innovation.

To achieve this goal, the program will analyze the foundations, requirements, and dynamics of the legal system as a critical lens for effective strategic management.  We will also consider the interplay of law and policy in shaping the current and future operating environment for institutions in the health sector.

It is the only graduate degree program for health leaders that integrates and leverages the expertise, resources, and professional networks of a top-ranked law school and a top-ranked healthcare policy and management program.

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Each cohort begins the program in the fall semester. Students earn their degrees in just 12 months over 3 semesters.

The MS in Health Law and Strategy program is a 30-credit master of science management degree for professionals, incorporating both online courses and hybrid-learning modules. Over 12 months, students will attend three residential sessions.  For more information please visit our Program Overview page.

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MS in Health Law and Strategy graduates receive an NYU Master of Science degree.  The degree is jointly conferred by NYU Law and NYU Wagner.

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Yes, students can receive CLE credit for the MS in Health Law and Strategy courses taught by NYU Law faculty.  For questions about CLE credit, please contact the NYU Law Office of Records and Registration at: law.registration@nyu.edu.

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No.  This program does not qualify one as an attorney or to sit for any US State’s bar examination. For those interested in becoming an attorney, NYU Law’s JD degree meets the educational requirements of all US states’ bar examiners.

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The program is designed for working professionals prepared to leverage their past experience in the health sector, the degree program, and their cohort to make their next career move.  Students and alumni will have access to NYU Wagner’s Office of Career Services and the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development.

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NYU as an institution is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.  The NYU Law – NYU Wagner MS in Health Law and Strategy degree program is registered with the New York State Education Department. Since the MS in Health Law and Strategy is a new kind of healthcare management degree designed to equip emerging leaders with an interdisciplinary lens in management, policy, and law, there is no specialized accreditation that governs this program.

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The first step is to contact our admissions team with any questions. The team may be reached at admissions.mshls@nyu.edu and 212.992.6093.

Or you can schedule and informational meeting with a member of our team here.

To be admitted to the Master of Science in Health Law and Strategy program, applicants must have a first degree and at least eight years of relevant professional experience. Exceptional candidates with five years of relevant professional experience, including mid- or senior-level management experience, will be considered.  More information on application criteria can be found here. 

We do not require applicants to submit standardized test scores, with the exception of English language proficiency exams when necessary.

Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This requirement is waived for applicants who received a college degree from an English-speaking institution.

For admission to the MS in Health Law and Strategy, the minimum test scores are 100 (TOEFL) and 7.0 (IELTS).

When registering for an exam, please ask the testing organization to send your official score reports directly to NYU Wagner. On the TOEFL (administered by the Educational Testing Service), our institution code is 2507.

TOEFL or IELTS examinations should be taken prior to applying, although in some cases we accept scores from test dates occurring post-submission. Submitted applications must include scanned copies of score reports OR a copy of a test registration that confirms an upcoming test date.

TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years.

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Students entering the MS in Health Law and Strategy are required to hold a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or an equivalent degree from a foreign country.

If you submit your application prior to the conferral of your bachelor’s degree or equivalent, the Admissions Committee will accept and evaluate your application with the understanding that your degree completion is in progress. If an offer of admission is made, it will be contingent upon receiving your degree conferral prior to enrollment.

Transcripts submitted through the online application must meet the following criteria:

• Official transcripts are required from all colleges or universities attended in which you earned grades and/or academic credits at the college-level, including undergraduate, study abroad, transfer credits, continuing education, etc.
• Uploaded files must be scanned copies of transcript(s) received from the college/university registrar OR electronic transcripts (such as those available through eSCRIP-SAFE, Parchment, and National Student Clearinghouse).
• Transcripts must show all courses taken, all credits earned, and all grades received.
• Transcripts must include your full legal name and the name of the college or university attended.
• Transcripts must be written in English.
• Word documents and HTML documents are not acceptable.

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If you received a graduate or undergraduate degree from an institution located outside of the United States, we require that you use a third-party international credential evaluation service to assess U.S. bachelor’s equivalency and obtain a course-by-course evaluation of your grade point average.  

Students who completed degrees in the United States and studied abroad for a semester are exempt from this requirement.  Likewise, waivers may be granted for institutions in Canada (or elsewhere) that have grading systems similar to the United States. Please contact admissions.mshls@nyu.edu for questions or clarification.

Applications should include both official transcript(s) from the degree-granting institution(s) and a copy of your international credential evaluation report from an approved evaluation service.

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Yes, the application fee is USD $85.

NYU hosts a number of virtual conferences and events throughout the year.  Please visit our events page to view upcoming opportunities.  If you would like to schedule a meeting with the admissions team, please complete a preliminary information form for initial feedback on your candidacy.

No, the MSHLS is a lockstep cohort program.  All students begin and end the program together, with each year’s cohort beginning in the fall semester.

No, the MSHLS is a lockstep cohort program and does not accept transfer credits for coursework taken at other institutions or as part of other degree programs.

Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from individuals who can best articulate your academic and professional achievements and potential.  The Admissions Committee strongly prefers that your recommendations come from a professional contact who is familiar with your performance in a work setting, preferably from a former or current supervisor.  Candidates are considered on a rolling admissions basis.  We accept and review applications throughout the year and provide candidates with decisions usually within one month of the application deadline.  We advise all applicants to begin the admissions process without delay as space in the program is limited.

If your application is not complete (for example, missing essays or other items, illegible scanned transcript) you will be informed via email. If you do not provide a completed application by the deadline, we cannot guarantee notification by the initial notification date.

The Class of 2026 program fee is USD $89,430. This fee includes tuition, registration/service fees, course materials, and official events.  Hotel and travel expenses are not included. If admitted to the program, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $1,000 is required to secure a spot in the class.  The deposit is due upon acceptance to the program and non-refundable.

Currently there are no scholarships or grants offered for this program.  Most US citizens or permanent residents are eligible for federal student loans.  Private student loans are available to US citizens or permanent residents and international students, if eligible.

We encourage you to review the information on the NYU Law Financial Aid website and contact the Office of Student Financial Services with any questions on financial aid loans.  There are no scholarships offered for this program, however most US citizens or permanent residents are eligible for federal student loans. Private student loans are available to US citizens or permanent residents and international students, if eligible. To apply for financial aid, please submit the FAFSA using the code for NYU: 002785 as soon as you start your application.  All eligible admitted students will be reviewed for federal financial aid, provided that they complete the most recent FAFSA and submit all necessary items to the NYU Office of Financial Aid. More information on financial aid can be found under Cost, Aid and Assistance.

NYU is proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program. Yellow Ribbon is a part of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 and provides education benefits to military veterans who have served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Beginning with the fall 2018 semester, NYU School of Law will contribute the maximum amount in Yellow Ribbon benefits to be matched by the VA for all Yellow Ribbon eligible veterans.

More details and eligibility guidelines for the GI Bill® and Post-9/11 benefits, including Yellow Ribbon, may be found at www.gibill.va.gov under Education Benefits. Veterans may also contact the VA directly at 1-888-GIBILL1 (442-4551).

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

For more information about applying for VA benefits, please visit the Veteran Students at NYU Law page.

Yes, the application fee will be waived for those who have served or are serving in the United States military (Participation in a foreign country’s military does not qualify an applicant for a fee waiver). US military participants should send their request for a fee waiver to admissions.mshls@nyu.edu and 212-992-6093.