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1.  Criteria

Within equal opportunities principles and legislation, applications will be assessed in the light of a candidate’s ability to meet the following criteria:

2.  Academic ability

Proven and potential academic excellence

This course is open to medical and non-medical graduates. Non-medical applicants generally have degrees in a quantitative science or a health-related area. Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or to have achieved a first-class or an upper second class honours undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualifications1). For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA we seek is 3.5 out of 4.0.

We do not seek a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT score.

Academic references/letters of recommendation 

These should be provided by three senior staff at your most recent university. These references must detail intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation and ability to work in a group.

Personal statement 

This should be no longer than two pages. Preference will be given to candidates who aspire to do a DPhil or other doctoral degree in population health research. The personal statement should be written in the English language. Candidates should also include their curriculum vitae.

Performance at interview (s)

Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process. However, short-listed candidates who wish to be considered for funding will normally be interviewed.

Publications

Publications are not essential, but will be considered as an advantage in the  application. 

3. Other qualifications and experience

  • Professional or research experience in a health-related field.
  • Preference may be given to those who have previously studied mathematics or statistics as a module in their undergraduate degree or at A-level.

4. Availability of supervision, teaching, facilities and places

The following factors will govern whether candidates can be offered places:

  • The ability of the Nuffield Department of Population Health to provide the appropriate supervision, research opportunities, teaching and facilities for your chosen area of work.
  • There are minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted onto Oxford's research and taught programmes.
The provision of supervision is subject to the following points.

  • The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Population Health and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff.
  • Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Nuffield Department of Population Health.

5.  English language requirement

Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University (See applications guide - University of Oxford).

6. Deadlines and required full set of application materials

Please refer to the Graduate Admissions website for information on the deadlines which must be met, and the full set of supporting materials required, in order for applications to be guaranteed to be considered.

7. Whether you have yet secured funding

This is not taken into consideration in the decision to make an initial offer a place, but please note that the initial offer of a place will not be confirmed until the college which gives you an initial offer of a place is satisfied that you have sufficient funding to cover your fees and living costs for the standard period of fee liability for your course.

8. Disability, health conditions and specific learning difficulties

Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. Decisions on admission are based solely on the individual academic merits of each candidate and the application of the selection criteria appropriate to the programme of study.Further information on how these matters are supported during the admissions process is available here.

9. Other information

We encourage prospective applicants to communicate with us in order to refine their application, especially where scholarships are involved. In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

10. Admissions Panel

All applications will be assessed by at least 3 members of academic staff with relevant experience and expertise. In all cases, the Admissions Panel will give approval to a decision. Admissions Panels will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

 

[1]If you hold non-British qualifications, you are advised to check with the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC) www.naric.org.uk how your qualifications match these requirements