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Course structure

smiling student © Keiko Ikeuchi

Michaelmas term: core content

The first term will consist of core topics that form the foundation of learning. Core modules include: 

  • International Research Ethics: introduces students to the key ethical principles guiding health research in a global context.
  • Introduction to Global Health Science: outlines the major causes of premature death around the world.
  • Principles of Epidemiology: covers principles of both descriptive and analytical epidemiology, discusses in detail how epidemiological studies are designed and critiqued. 
  • Principles of Statistics: develops students' understanding of the underlying statistical principles used in population health research and ability to conduct statistical analyses independently.

The first term has a high number of contact hours through lectures, seminars and tutorials. The term will also include the first formative assessments of the course.  

Hilary term: optional modules and core content 

During the second term students must select four of the following eight options for further study: 

  • Clinical Trials and Meta-Analysis: covers the design, conduct and statistical analysis of clinical trials and meat-analyses.
  • Communicable Diseases Epidemiology: introduces students to the concepts and principles of the epidemiology of communicable diseases.
  • Genetic Epidemiology: provides an introduction to the main concepts, principles, approaches, applications and interpretation of human genetic epidemiology.
  • Health Economics: introduces students to the fundamental concepts and principles of economics relevant to health, health care and the functioning of the health care system.
  • Maternal and Child Health: gives students an overview of maternal and child health from a broad perspective, through normal pregnancy, pregnancy complications and mortality to child health, disability and mortality.
  • Non-Communicable Diseases: addresses and examines the burden and risk factors of non-communicable diseases worldwide and covers the challenges faced in studying the epidemiology of these conditions.
  • Nutritional Epidemiology: covers key concepts and principles of nutritional epidemiology with particular emphasis on how dietary intake is measured and the importance of diet for the prevention of non-communicable diseases.
  • Principles and Applications of Data Science: equips students with practical data science skills to process, analyse, visualise, and ultimately, better understand complex health data, focusing on the practical applications of data science and on understanding the concepts behind the methods.

This term will also continue teaching of the core modules. Towards the end of the second term students will be completing the first summative assessments of the course. Students will also work on their project proposals for their placements. 

Trinity term and long vacation: research placements and dissertation 

The third term will involve a twelve-week research placement that leads to a dissertation. 

The course is reviewed annually and is subject to minor changes in response to feedback and evaluation. 

 

“Oxford has a renowned centre for population health... big studies change how we view population health”.

Peter Ho, MSc Graduate

In this section

student experience

Learning at Oxford, surrounded and taught by world-leading epidemiologists and global health scientists, has been transformative, driving me to think critically and innovatively about population health issues. With this enriched experience, I'm eager to apply my skills to impactful, grassroots, and large-scale health research, aiming to improve the quality and quantity of lives of people in Africa and globally.

Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi, 2022─23

 

Undertaking this MSc has provided me with a comprehensive grounding in the principles of epidemiology and statistics to complement my clinical medical training. It has been inspiring to learn from leaders in population health and gain insight into the possibilities that lie ahead from the excellent array of masterclass speakers.

Abinav Mohanamurali, 2022─23

 

The teaching staff on the course are incredible and will do what they can to ensure you learn. One cool thing about the course is the masterclasses ─ real people doing amazing things in the industry/ research centres/ NGOs/ governments who come to share their experiences with you.

Josephine Gondwe, 2022─2023 (Read what Josephine thought about the course.)

 

I feel that the course contents aligned completely with what I expected. I have achieved my aim of gaining the statistical and epidemiological skillset I needed to conduct high quality research independently...I would also say that the department is really supportive and student-centric.

Aaron Ho, 2021─22 (Read what Aaron thought about the course.)

 

One of the best aspects of the course was the diversity of nationalities and experiences in the MSc, which meant that discussions regarding real world examples that classmates had worked on were brought to discussion.

Emma Taylor-Gallardo, 2021─22 (Read what Emma thought about the course.)

 

I can say that I truly believe this MSc to be a perfect case study for the importance and strength of international collaboration in epidemiology and global health research.

Lilian Hartman, 2019─20 (Read Lilian’s experience on the MSc during the COVID-19 pandemic.)