Comparison of MSc courses

We welcome students who would like to develop knowledge and skills to understand the global burden and major determinants of disease through the application of epidemiology and quantitative research methods. We receive students from over 40 countries with a wide range of backgrounds.

Recent graduates Brigid Falvey (USA) and Josephine Gondwe (Malawi) have written about their motivation for applying and their experience on the course.

The Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford offers four full time taught degree courses on global/international health and health systems. Here are some of the differences in emphasis between them:

MSc Global Health Science and Epidemiology

• has a greater focus on the application of epidemiology in population health to generate reliable evidence on the burden and determinants of the major causes of premature death
• provides training to conduct appropriate statistical analysis in large-scale epidemiological research.

MSc Modelling for Global Health

• has a greater focus on mathematical modelling, scientific programming and global health financing
• offers a range of techniques and tools for communication with key stakeholders from policy, implementation, commercial and research sectors.

MSc International Health and Tropical Medicine

• has a greater focus on examining major challenges to the health of populations in resource-limited contexts
• provides training in analysis of global health problems, including quantitative and qualitative research methods, health policy, systems research and public health.

MSc Health Service Improvement and Evaluation 

• has a greater focus on health systems approaches to service improvement and evaluation
• provides knowledge and practical skills to understand complex systems, design, plan and implement improvements, and evaluate programmes to inform decision-making.