DPhil in Population Health

Full-time study

Most students in the department study full-time, and are expected to complete their research within three years (nine terms). Research takes place 52 weeks of the year, and students are entitled to 38 days of holiday (including UK public holidays) during that time. Students are expected to live and study in Oxford unless fieldwork takes them further afield.

Milestones

Every student begins their studies as a probationer research student. During their DPhil, they will undergo two milestone assessments before their final viva examination. These are designed to evaluate the student’s progress at two key points in their studies.

1. Transfer of Status takes place by the end of the fourth term of study. It consists of the submission of a written report and a verbal interview with two assessors. This provides a detailed check on a student’s progress and their understanding of their DPhil research, and is an opportunity for students to receive independent feedback.

2. Confirmation of Status takes place by the end of the student's ninth term. It consists of the submission of a thesis contents list and a timetable for completion of the thesis, and a verbal interview with two assessors. It offers a further opportunity for students to receive independent feedback as they begin or continue the process of writing up their findings and drawing conclusions for their thesis.

Examination

After a successful Confirmation of Status, students must submit their thesis by the end of their twelfth term. Theses are normally a maximum of 50,000 words in length.

Following thesis submission, a viva (oral examination) will be conducted by two examiners, one internal to the University and one external. This typically takes place within three months of the examiners being sent the completed thesis.

PART-TIME STUDY

If required, students may be given permission to transfer to part-time study during the programme with the approval of their supervisors, college, department, and division. Part-time study is expected to take place at 50% of the intensity of full-time study, so all timescales are usually doubled.

Our part-time doctoral programme offers a flexible way to complete the training in population health research. The programme may be undertaken in conjunction with, and contributing to, paid employment in the same research area, or alongside other work or responsibilities with the agreement of supervisors and programme staff that the research project is appropriate to part-time study.

Part-time study is expected to take place at 50% of the intensity of full-time study.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

This is a six year (18 term) part-time research degree programme. Early submission is allowed from year five (term 13).

Part-time students are not required to live in Oxford but need to be able to make frequent short-to-medium term visits to the city. The attendance requirement is an absolute minimum of 10 days per term, and students are expected to attend for longer. 

Overseas part-time students should contact the University's student visa service for advice. The DPhil in Population Health is not a distance learning programme.

Part-time Milestones

Every student begins their studies as a probationer research student. During their DPhil they will undergo two milestone assessments before their final examination. These are designed to evaluate the student’s progress at two key points in their studies.

1. Transfer of Status takes place by the end of the eighth term of study. It consists of the submission of a written report and a verbal interview with two assessors. This provides a detailed check on a student’s progress, and their understanding of their DPhil research, and is an opportunity for students to receive independent feedback.

2. Confirmation of Status takes place by the end of the eighteenth term after admission. It consists of the submission of a thesis contents list and a timeline for completion of the thesis, and a verbal interview with two assessors. It offers a further opportunity for students to receive independent feedback as they begin or continue the process of writing up their findings and drawing conclusions for their thesis.

Examination

After a successful Confirmation of Status, students are expected to submit their thesis by the end of their 24th term. Theses are normally a maximum of 50,000 words in length.

Following thesis submission, a viva (oral examination) will be conducted by two examiners, one internal to the University and one external. This typically takes place within three months of the examiners being sent the completed thesis.

Departmental resources

Oxford Population Health DPhil students can access a wide range of resources offered by the department, the Medical Sciences Division and the wider University, to obtain the skills they need to become outstanding population health researchers.

induction programme

Research Student committee

See the Research Student Committee page for full details of its activities and opportunities for DPhil students in the department.

MSc Global Health Science and Epidemiology resources

All Oxford Population Health DPhil students have access to the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology course virtual learning environment which includes recordings of MSc lectures from a previous academic year. 

Early Career Researcher Network 

All DPhil students and post-doctoral staff are invited to attend the termly events organised by the Early Career Research Network to discuss issues affecting early career researchers. In addition to providing a wide range of information to support career development, it also provides an opportunity to network with other research staff in the department.

Departmental seminars and events

All students are invited to a range of departmental seminars and events including:

• The Richard Doll Seminars (weekly during term time)
• The Oxford Population Health annual symposium
• Other ad hoc seminars.

 Medical Sciences Division Resources

The Medical Sciences Division offers termly skills training on a broad range of topics including ethics, statistics, writing, and presenting.'

University Resources

Other skills training and professional development opportunities:

• IT Learning Centre
• Research Support
• Bodleian Libraries
• Careers Service
• Language Centre
• University of Oxford Events 
• Oxford Talks
• Centre for Teaching and Learning

course Fees

The elements that you should be aware of when calculating the cost of your studies are the course fee and living costs. Fees are payable for up to three years. Students who continue into their fourth year may be charged continuation fees by their college. Students who continue into their fifth year will be liable for the University Continuation Charge.

Course fees cover academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. They do not cover your accommodation or other living costs. 

Details of fee levels for the DPhil in Population Health can be found by visiting the University fees and funding website. 

additional costs

Overseas applicants should be aware of the Immigration Health Surcharge and visa costs. Further information on these can be found on the University’s student visa page.

The department provides a laptop for all DPhil students for the duration of their studies. If graduate students require an additional PC or laptop, then they are expected to provide their own. 

Students who are not eligible to receive external funding for research costs may request access to departmental research allowances for costs specifically associated with completing their research, such as attendance at conferences, training and fieldwork. 

University and Departmental Scholarships  

The University offers a variety of scholarships based on academic excellence, to give the brightest students from around the world the opportunity to pursue graduate study.

All applications completed by the application deadline will automatically be considered for all relevant competitive University funding opportunities, including scholarships from Oxford Population Health, the MRC, the Clarendon Fund, Oxford colleges and other charitable sources. 

Applications will be assessed according to the Assessment Criteria outlined in the 'How to Apply' section. These criteria take into account factors such as the potential for scientific contribution, academic achievement, and contextual indicators—including references and relevant experience.

Oxford Population Health offers a number of competitive scholarships each year to the brightest and most capable DPhil students of any nationality. These scholarships fund the DPhil fees and provide a stipend of not less than £21,000 per year for three years for full-time study and not less than £10,500 per year for six years for part-time study.

To enable UK students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a postgraduate degree in population health, Oxford Population Health has set up a studentship to provide full financial support to a talented Home applicant from a socioeconomically disadvantaged background each year. This studentship will cover the course fees and provide a stipend of not less than £21,000 per year for three years.

external scholarships

DPhil candidates are encouraged to apply for other independent funding sources for which they may be eligible (for example British Heart Foundation, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Commonwealth). A list of potential external scholarships can be found on this external funding page.

Those who are successful in achieving partial funding for their DPhil studies may also apply for matched funding from Oxford Population Health. Please contact the Graduate Studies Office for more details.

Most fully funded opportunities are only available to students who are about to start a new course. Once you are registered as a student, there are very few substantive scholarships available, so it is vital to explore your options early.

2026 ENTRY APPLICATION DEADLINE 

Applications for entry in October 2026 open on 8 September and close at noon on 2 December 2025. All applications completed by the deadline will automatically be considered for various sources of University funding. Applications submitted after the deadline unfortunately cannot be considered.

Entry Requirements for admission

Full details of the entry requirements for admission to the DPhil in Population Health are available on the DPhil in Population Health Graduate Admissions webpage.

Application tips

• Be clear about why you want to do your research in this department, and what you feel you will gain from the DPhil.
• Before submitting your application, you must speak to your potential supervisor or supervisors about your proposed project, or the listed project. Ensure you feel confident in this project  and that it fits your experience and interest.
• Read the How to apply for the DPhil in Population Health at Oxford University: a guide blog post written by Ling Tao, a current Oxford Population Health DPhil student.
• Consider what you wish to achieve. The DPhil is an intensive three-year research degree. It is a challenging but rewarding experience.

APPLYING TO THE DPHIL IN POPULATION HEALTH

To apply for a DPhil based on one of the advertised research projects offered by the department:

1. Review our list of advertised DPhil research projects.
2. Choose the one that most interests you.
3. Download and complete this prospective supervisor contact form and send it to one supervisor associated with the project, with a brief covering email. If the supervisor agrees that this could be a suitable project for you, you can then discuss developing a research proposal based on the project. Your proposal will be part of your formal application.
4. You must secure the supervisor’s agreement in principle to act as supervisor before submitting your formal application.
5. Apply to the programme via the University’s DPhil in Population Health Graduate Admissions page.

To apply for a DPhil based on your own research proposal:

1. Review the department’s research.
2. Identify a suitable supervisor.
3. Download and complete this prospective supervisor contact form and send it to the supervisor, with a brief covering email, to discuss developing a research proposal based on the project. Your proposal will be part of the formal application.
4. You must secure the supervisor’s agreement in principle to act as supervisor before submitting your formal application.
5. Apply to the programme via the University’s DPhil in Population Health Graduate Admissions page.

Candidates are advised to refer to the Application Guide before making an application.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed by a shortlisting panel using these criteria:

1. Demonstrated ability to contribute scientifically taking career stage into account.
candidate demonstrates a strong personal commitment to and enthusiasm for science, given their personal statement and CV.

• candidate articulates clearly a persuasive rationale for the choice of project(s) or research proposed.
• candidate shows an understanding of the importance of the work they are proposing to do.
• candidate has a track record of productive research – assessed in the context of their career stage.

2. Academic achievement given their stage of study and level of opportunity and taking into
account various indicators of ability.

3. Contextual and other data which help to guide the assessment of applications include:

• References
• Relevant research project, internship or working experience, as appropriate.

COLLEGIATE UNIVERSITY

When you receive an offer from the department your application will be considered for a place at a college. You can state a college preference on your application form or, if you have no preference, you will be assigned to a college. Details of the colleges that accept students on to the DPhil in Population Health can be found on the colleges tab of the DPhil in Population Health Graduate Admissions webpage.

The Oxford collegiate system enables leading academics and students across subjects and year groups, and from different cultures and countries, to come together to share ideas. Belonging to an Oxford college provides students with the chance to participate in a lively intellectual community and access a variety of social activities.

College social events include dinners, banquets and balls. Students have access to their college grounds, libraries, computer rooms, bars and in some cases, punts. All colleges have a variety of sports clubs and societies and students can contribute to decision-making of the college by becoming a member of various committees.

The college system is great, with the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people from different backgrounds. — Stephen McCall, MSc and DPhil graduate

Disability

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments and addressing any individual support requirements for applicants with disabilities. You can find information about the facilities and support available to students from the Disability Advisory Service.

The Oxford Population Health Research Student Committee (RSC) is led by research students, for research students. It is coordinated by volunteers from among the student body, is supported by the Graduate Studies Office and organises a broad range of activities.

Activities

Social activities

• Termly socials – these vary each term but previous events have included meals out, bowling, afternoon tea, crazy golf and movie nights.

Academic and career activities

• Journal clubs – termly journal clubs led by academics from the department where key issues and papers which are making the headlines are discussed.
• Academic talks – sessions on preparing for Transfer of Status, Confirmation of Status, and Examination, led by senior academic staff with experience in assessing and examining DPhil students.
• Committee representation – student representatives sit on departmental and divisional committees to aid communication from the department and division to their fellow students, and to provide feedback from the student body. Meet your student representatives here. 
• Student representative meetings - termly meetings between the Research Student Committee and the Director and Deputy Director of Graduate Studies. 

Welfare support

• Buddying – provided by volunteers from amongst the existing student body for new DPhil students.
• Peer supporters – students in the department who have received formal training to provide peer support, and to act as independent advisors.

Oxford Population Health student blog 

• All graduate students in Oxford Population Health are encouraged to contribute to the student blog which covers a variety of topics ranging from viva tips and film reviews to conference reports.

Get involved

All Oxford Population Health DPhil students are encouraged to volunteer and get involved with the Research Student Committee activities. All suggestions are welcomed.

DEPARTMENT PASTORAL SUPPORT

There are a number of University services available to support students during their studies, including welfare services relating to disability, counselling and mental health, harassment and conflict, and student parents.

In addition to pastoral support provided centrally and by colleges, the department is committed to supporting graduate students throughout their studies. The supervisor is the first point of contact for academic related matters. The Director for Graduate Studies offers advice and support where there may be a difference of opinion between supervisor and student. The Welfare Contact can help with signposting students towards suitable welfare support and contacts, such as college welfare teams, Student Welfare and Support Services and external agencies.

The department has trained student peer supporters who are available to talk to students about anything of concern.

The department has a very strong reputation and has published seminal papers that have resulted in paradigm shifts in treatment. - Gurdeep Mannu, DPhil student

The number of DPhil in Population Health alumni/students from each country

Over 250 students from 55 countries have enrolled on the DPhil in Population Health programme in the last 12+ years.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

We caught up with some of our alumni who had previously been interviewed about their DPhil experience back when they were DPhil students in the department. They told us about what they have been doing since completing their DPhil studies.

Diego Aguilar-Ramírez

I am a Senior Epidemiologist & NDPH Intermediate Research Fellow working with the Mexico City Prospective Study in Oxford. My research focuses on understanding the key determinants of major non-communicable diseases in the Mexican population, and I divide my time between research and teaching activities in Mexico City and Oxford. The DPhil in Population Health was a crucial stepping stone in my career, equipping me with the foundational research skills and critical thinking that I apply every day. It provided the training and confidence needed to develop research with real-world impact.

Ben Amies-Cull

Since completing my DPhil I’ve remained a clinical academic with my research group, though we’ve now joined our counterpart team at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences. I’ve been building my own programmes of work alongside working a day a week as a GP. The DPhil gave me a range of skills and experience I rely on, often as a GP as well as an academic – an ability to learn, deliver quickly, trust my own judgement and, of course, a wide range of technical skills to carry out research. It’s hard to put into words how much I’ve learned through the DPhil and beyond, and though I’ve remained as an academic it was clear when I was finishing that there was a wide range of careers that the technical and professional skills apply to.

Lauren Bandy

Immediately after my DPhil, I was awarded a two-year NDPH Early Career Fellowship which allowed me to continue my independent research, this time looking at how food companies were responding to the UK’s salt reduction targets. I then in 2022 I moved to the Department of Primary Care, at the University of Oxford, to work with the Sustainable Healthy Food Group. I’m still working on different data and methods for applied policy research, specifically in food, diet and health, and work directly with policymakers and NGOs in Oxfordshire, the UK and internationally.

Mohamed Anisul Karim

The DPhil in Population Health was pivotal for my career as a Physician-Scientist enabling me to parse the genetic architecture of chronic diseases and identify potential therapeutic targets. My first role was at Open Targets (Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK) where I contributed to connecting genes to medically relevant traits and diseases using multi-omic data and employed methods I learned during my DPhil such as Mendelian randomization and genetic colocalization. After a couple of years at Open Targets, I moved continents and relocated to the US to work for a Seattle-based start-up called Variant Bio. At Variant, I am a Principal Scientist involved in studying the genetics of diseases in historically under-studied populations with the aim of translating what we learn to effective medicines for everyone.

Gurdeep Mannu

I completed my DPhil in 2018, and I'm now an Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon and Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist. My DPhil in Population Health at the University of Oxford helped me to develop the methodological foundation and critical thinking skills needed to pursue research alongside my clinical commitments. The experience also opened doors to academic collaborations and new areas of study. It has been instrumental in shaping my ambition to influence breast cancer outcomes, not only through surgery, but also through high-impact, population-level epidemiological research.

Lhuri Dwianti Rahmartani

I am a medical doctor and epidemiologist from Indonesia. I completed my DPhil in 2023, with a thesis on prelacteal feeding and breastfeeding practices in my home country. Before my studies, I was a tenured lecturer at the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, where I now teach epidemiology and apply the research skills I gained. My DPhil was a rewarding, positive experience—so much so that it felt more like a four-year vacation that came with a degree!

Jessica Renzella

I moved from Australia for a 3-year course and am still at Oxford many years later. I completed my DPhil in 2021 and moved straight into a role as Lecturer in Population Health (NDPH). I then moved to a research role in the Sustainable Healthy Food group (NDPCHS) where I focus on population-level approaches to healthy and sustainable diet promotion. Alongside my research, I convene undergraduate Human Sciences papers and supervise DPhil students. I feel very lucky to work in academia on projects I’m passionate about and with people who continue to inspire me. My DPhil gave me the skills and confidence to pursue an academic career – a path I hadn’t considered seriously before starting. I also met my partner while studying at Oxford and we now have a baby together – the DPhil at NDPH completely changed my life both personally and professionally.

Mehrunisha Suleman

After completing my DPhil in Population Health at Oxford, I have built a career at the intersection of medical ethics, public health, and policy. I am now Associate Professor and Director of Medical Ethics and Law Education at the Ethox Centre, where I lead curriculum design and teaching for medical students, supervise DPhil candidates, and contribute to national and global ethics bodies, including UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee and the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. The DPhil provided me not only with rigorous research training, but also with the intellectual confidence and networks that have shaped my pathway as a researcher, teacher, and policy advisor.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

We encourage all alumni to keep in touch after completing the DPhil. If you are interested in showcasing your achievements on the department’s website or giving a talk to our current students please contact the Graduate Studies Office.