Prospects.ac.uk

How to get started in health informatics

AuthorDarcy Nathan, editor
Posted on

With digital health expertise in high demand across the UK, career paths to senior and specialist roles are thriving - ideal for those wanting a non-clinical healthcare career

The health informatics market at a glance...

  • The global digital health market is expected to exceed £500billion by 2028.
  • The NHS has committed over £2billion to digital transformation frameworks.
  • Demand for health data scientists is growing around three times faster than average job growth globally.

What is health informatics?

Health informatics focuses on using data, digital systems and technology to improve healthcare. It brings together ideas from:

  • healthcare and medicine
  • data science and statistics
  • computer science and information systems.

In practice, health informatics helps clinicians and healthcare organisations:

  • design and run digital systems such as electronic health records (EHRs)
  • improve patient safety and outcomes
  • make better decisions using data.

For example, informatics tools can help:

  • analyse medical images
  • identify patterns in patient data that humans might miss
  • support personalised treatments based on genetics.

As Dr Tasakis, a bioinformatics scientist at Solvuu, explains, 'it can help clinicians analyse images, including screenings for breast cancer and other types of cancer. Therapies like CAR-T, a type of individualised cellular therapy, considers the patient's specific genetic makeup for tailored treatment.'

What do health informatics professionals do?

Health informatics professionals work behind the scenes of healthcare. Depending on the role, you might:

  • analyse patient or population health data
  • build dashboards or reports for clinical teams
  • help design or improve digital health systems
  • translate technical insights into clear recommendations.

A healthcare data analyst, for instance, may work with data from EHRs, explore trends using tools like Python or R, and present findings to clinicians or managers.

More technical roles may involve developing algorithms that help detect disease earlier or improve how services are delivered.

Is health informatics right for me?

You don't need to be an expert programmer or a healthcare professional to get started in health informatics. The field is broad and suits people with different interests and strengths.

Health informatics could be a good fit for you if you:

  • are interested in how technology can improve society
  • enjoy problem solving and analytical thinking
  • like working with both data and people
  • want a career with real‑world impact in healthcare.

It's a particularly strong choice if you're looking for:

  • a career with social impact
  • flexibility to move between different roles and specialisms
  • opportunities across the NHS, public health and industry.

What are my study options?

There's no single 'right' way into health informatics, but there are several study routes that can help you build the skills employers look for. Your choice will depend on where you're starting from and how specialised you want to be.

For example:

  • a data analyst might specialise in healthcare systems
  • a nurse might study clinical data science
  • a science graduate might learn programming or statistics.

What matters most is showing that you can work with data responsibly and understand the healthcare context.

Bachelors degrees

At undergraduate level, there are still relatively few degrees titled 'health informatics'. Instead, many students build a strong foundation by studying related subjects such as:

Some universities do offer more specialist options. For example, the University of West London runs a BSc in Biomedical Informatics, which focuses on applying informatics and bioscience to healthcare practice.

Other institutions, such as Birmingham Newman University, offer combined degrees like BSc Computer Science with Bioinformatics, which include bioinformatics or health informatics pathways as part of a broader course.

As Dr Tasakis explains, 'graduates with a Bachelors degree, coupled with relevant experience and training, may find themselves equipped for supportive roles within teams.'

Masters degrees

Demand for postgraduate courses in health data science and informatics has increased significantly, with applications to digital health MScs rising year-on-year.

A Masters degree can give you a strong advantage, as relatively few people hold a recognised qualification specifically in health informatics.

Most programmes last:

  • one year full time, or
  • two to five years part time.

During your studies, you'll usually complete a dissertation and take modules such as:

  • health informatics research
  • knowledge management in healthcare
  • secondary health data.

Universities offering relevant Masters courses include:

Entry criteria vary between universities. For example, the University of Strathclyde accepts students with a 2:2 degree, while Newcastle University typically requires a 2:1 BSc degree.

Tuition fees for health informatics MSc courses typically range from £10,000 to £17,000 per year. While this is a significant investment, financial support is available and can help make funding postgraduate study more affordable.

For example, Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) offers £10,000 Masters scholarships to help meet the growing demand for digital health professionals in the UK. It's important to check whether your chosen course is eligible for a scholarship or bursary, as funding varies between universities and programmes.

As Dr Tasakis notes, 'graduates with advanced degrees often find themselves well-suited for leadership roles within the industry'. Graduates commonly progress to roles such as:

Search for health informatics postgraduate courses.

PGCerts and PGDips

If you want a more flexible or lower‑commitment route into health informatics, a postgraduate certificate (PGCert) or postgraduate diploma (PGDip) can be a good option.

These qualifications are ideal if you want to:

  • explore the subject before committing to an MSc
  • upskill quickly
  • specialise in a particular area.

PGCerts and PGDips take between six and 12 months full time, and allow you to focus on areas such as:

  • clinical decision support
  • data analysis
  • health information management

They're particularly suitable for healthcare professionals and IT specialists who want to expand their skills in a healthcare setting.

In many cases, credits can be carried forward into a full MSc, giving you the option to continue your studies later.

Examples include:

You could also consider the NHS Graduate Digital, Data and Technology Scheme, which combines hands‑on experience across NHS projects with study toward a PGDip in Data Analytics and a PGCert in Healthcare Leadership, bringing together technical and leadership development.

Short courses and CPD

If you're looking to build skills without committing to a full postgraduate qualification, continuing professional development (CPD) courses, microcredentials and professional qualifications offer a flexible way to explore health informatics.

These courses usually focus on practical, applied skills and can last anywhere from a few days to several months. Many are credit‑bearing, meaning they may count toward a formal qualification such as a PGCert or PGDip.

Examples of health informatics short courses include:

  • Data Science: with a focus on healthcare from the University of Cambridge - introduces the core principles of data science in healthcare covering key concepts, terminology, and emerging technologies.
  • Health Informatics Certificate from the University of Lancaster - designed for healthcare staff and IT professionals, this course covers areas such as EHRs, data governance and clinical decision support.
  • NHS Digital Academy - training ranges from short online modules to postgraduate diplomas, including leadership fellowships and flexible learning in data, digital skills and artificial intelligence (AI).
  • The National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) - the recognised national qualification for approved clinical coding auditors and trainers.

Search for CPD in health informatics.

What skills do I need?

Digital skills are increasingly valuable in healthcare. In fact, roles that involve digital and data skills can increase earning potential by 10% to 20% compared to non‑digital roles in similar sectors.

While studying, you can start building skills in areas such as:

  • basic programming such as SQL
  • communication
  • data analysis and problem solving
  • understanding digital health systems like EHRs

Digital, data and technology skills are now central to healthcare delivery. Around one third of NHS job vacancies involve digital, data or technology skills, and demand is increasing rapidly. This means you'll also need some awareness of:

  • data protection and UK GDPR
  • information governance
  • responsible use of AI in healthcare.

You don't need to learn everything at once. Even basic familiarity with a few key tools and concepts can be enough to strengthen your job applications.

Discover what skills employers want.

What health informatics jobs are available?

Health informatics sits within one of the fastest‑growing areas of the UK job market. Data‑related roles consistently rank among the top 10 most in‑demand graduate careers, with the UK needing around 52,000 new data science roles overall.

Within healthcare, demand is particularly strong. In the NHS, data analysts, informatics specialists and cybersecurity professionals are all identified as critical shortage roles, and workforce projections show the need for tens of thousands of additional specialists by 2030.

If you're starting out, common entry‑level roles in health informatics include:

  • clinical coder
  • healthcare data analyst
  • health informatics assistant
  • information officer
  • junior business analyst.

These roles give you hands‑on work experience with healthcare data and digital systems and provide a clear route into more specialised or senior positions over time.

One key driver of the rising demand is the rollout of electronic patient data. With over 90% of NHS trusts now using EHR systems, there is growing demand for professionals who can manage, analyse and improve healthcare data and digital systems.

In the NHS, health informatics professionals work across a wide range of specialist areas, including:

  • Architecture - planning and designing digital and data systems.
  • Clinical informatics - collecting and analysing data to support patient care decisions.
  • Education and training - helping staff use digital systems effectively.
  • Health records and patient administration - managing and maintaining patient data.
  • Information and communication technology - developing and supporting IT systems.
  • Information management - analysing and interpreting data to deliver patient care.
  • Knowledge and library services - providing access to reliable health information.
  • Project and programme management - delivering digital transformation projects.

This breadth means you can shape a career that matches your interests - whether that's:

  • focusing on data and analytics
  • leading large‑scale digital change across healthcare services
  • working closely with clinicians.

How do I get work experience?

Experience really matters in health informatics. These experiences help you:

  • demonstrate motivation and commitment on your CV
  • understand the challenges of working with real healthcare data
  • see how EHRs and analytics tools are used day to day.

Internships are one of the most common ways to get hands‑on experience in health informatics. These opportunities allow you to work on real data and digital health projects, often alongside experienced professionals.

Examples of organisations offering health informatics‑related internships include:

You can also search for internships in healthcare, focusing on roles that include data analysis, digital systems or research.

If internships aren't an option, there are still plenty of ways to build relevant experience. You could consider:

Volunteering opportunities are available across the NHS, including roles that provide insight into how patient data, information systems and digital tools are used in practice. Explore voluntary roles in the NHS.

What could my career look like?

Health informatics is evolving quickly as healthcare becomes more digital. This creates demand for roles such as:

Search for graduate vacancies in healthcare.

Dr Tasakis notes that technologies such as wearable devices - which alert people when they need medical attention - are increasing the demand for specialists like:

  • (bio)informaticians
  • cybersecurity experts
  • data scientists
  • technologists.

This means professionals can transition into health informatics from other IT roles, including areas like applications and website development.

Discover graduate roles in healthcare.

Professional accreditation, joining registers such as the Federation for Informatics Professionals (FEDIP), and ongoing learning can support progression, but many people build successful careers through experience and continuing professional development (CPD).

What could I earn?

Salaries in health informatics vary depending on the type of role you choose and where you work. As with most careers, pay tends to increase as you gain experience and move into more specialist or senior positions.

Your salary will usually depend on factors such as:

  • your level of experience
  • your location
  • your seniority and responsibilities.

In the UK, health informatics specialists typically earn:

  • £30,000 to £50,000 in many roles
  • £60,000 to £70,000 for senior positions or roles based in London.

For students and graduates, entry‑level roles offer a solid starting salary, with clear opportunities to progress as you build skills and experience over time. For example, clinical informatics specialists often earn:

  • a starting salary in the mid‑£30,000s
  • over £60,000 in more experienced or senior roles.

For a more detailed breakdown, you can explore individual roles and salary ranges in our healthcare job profiles.

Find out more

Written by Darcy Nathan, editor

Prospects · April 2026