Medical Sciences Teaching - Population Health
Oxford University is currently the top university for medicine in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Oxford Population Health (the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford) is responsible for all medical sciences teaching on population health, medical ethics and law. We teach and assess epidemiology and public health and support the medical school in meeting the national requirement to train medical professionals in these disciplines.
Over a typical academic year, we teach over 400 medical students at various stages of their training. We aim to provide an understanding of the basis for the public health approach (sociology, social determinants of health, policy making), the scientific methods it uses (epidemiology, statistics, health economics, evidence based medicine) and clinically relevant approaches to health improvement and disease prevention (health promotion, screening, health protection and occupational health). Our teaching includes large class lectures, seminars, small groups teaching and tutorials.
POPULATION HEALTH CURRICULUM
Oxford offers medical sciences courses to students entering as undergraduates (standard entry six-year duration) and those who are already graduates (graduate entry four-year duration). Population Health teaching is delivered in all years of both courses. [Click on the diagram to view it full screen.]
standard entry medicine: pre clinical
The standard Oxford medical course has separate pre-clinical (years 1-3) and clinical (years 4-6) components. Students gain a comprehensive grounding in the sciences underpinning medicine, before applying that scientific foundation in the clinical setting.
- Sociology: a series of lectures delivered in Hilary Term of the first year, including social class, ethnicity, ageing and illness behaviour.
- Population and Social Research Methods: a course planned for 2025 introducing quantitative and qualitative methods of descriptive and analytic research design and current approaches to causal inference.
- Final Honours School (FHS): all standard entry students undertake a research project in their final pre-clinical year, and can choose to study a population health-based research project with a supervisor in Oxford Population Health.
graduate entry medicine (accelerated medical degree)
The graduate entry medicine programme is an accelerated medical degree for graduates of specific science degrees. The four-year course leads to the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (BMBCh).
- Behavioural Sciences: a series of seminars threaded throughout the graduate entry year 1 (GE1) course.
- Public Health: a series of seminars on health inequalities and levels of prevention illustrated by public health topics.
- Academic Special Interest project: all graduate medical students complete a literature review in their first year, and a research project in their second year. Students can choose to study a population health-based project with an Oxford Population Health supervisor.
clinical medicine (merged course)
Standard entry and graduate entry streams are merged for most of the three years of clinical training leading to finals. Public health, epidemiology and occupational medicine are covered in the first two years and examined as part of the Medical Licensing Assessment. In the final year of training, students may opt to take a special study module.
- Public Health: a series of lectures on public health policy and services, public health roles in clinical practice, and Occupational Health.
- Epidemiology: epidemiological research designs and measurements.
- Special study modules (SSMs): an option for students to work on a short population health research project for two to three weeks and/or work on a placement within Public Health practice.
STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Our research focuses on improving wellbeing and life expectancy by investigating the causes of diseases and evaluating strategies for prevention and treatment. Our interdisciplinary approach uses:
- large-scale observational studies to identify the causes of disease
- randomised controlled trials to assess new treatments
- qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate healthcare services.
Key research areas include the study of chronic diseases, cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and infectious diseases, as well as the impact of environmental, behavioural, and genetic factors on health outcomes. We use large-scale cohort studies, big data analysis, and innovative methodologies to better understand population health and inform policy decisions. Find out more about our research.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS
By choosing a Final Honours School (FHS) or Academic Special Interest Project (ASIP) in Oxford Population Health, medical students can engage in innovative and impactful research addressing critical public health challenges. We support both standard-entry and graduate-entry medical students and offer a rich environment to develop research skills with the support of experienced investigators.
Final honours school (FHS) research projects
All undergraduate medical and biomedical science students participate in the FHS. This includes a research project on a topic of their interest. Students are responsible for identifying a supervisor and agreeing a topic for research. Project topics must be submitted to the medical school by week 8 of Hilary term for approval.
- Research can be carried out individually or in collaboration with others.
- Data collection or analysis is expected to take eight weeks full-time or 16 weeks part-time.
- Students should arrange the timings of the research with their supervisor.
- Research projects usually start between Trinity term in the second year and Michaelmas term in the third year.
- A project report must be submitted at the end of Hilary term (Year 3) and is assessed through a 4,500-word research report and viva voce examination.
Full details of Final Honours School Projects can be accessed on the FHS Canvas site.
Graduate entry academic special interest projects (ASIP)
During the first and second year of the graduate entry medical degree, all students pursue their own choice of academic interest. Academic Special Interest Projects involve a literature review in Year 1 and related research project in Year 2. Students have protected time to work on their academic special interest during Hilary term of Year 1 and towards the end of Year 2. Students are responsible for identifying a supervisor and agreeing a topic for research. Project topics must be approved by the medical school during Hilary term.
- The literature review should address a specific title and be a concise review of relevant primary research. The word limit is 3,000 words, excluding the cover page, abstract, tables and figure legends. It should be submitted by Trinity term of the first year.
- The research project is assessed by a 400-word abstract and 20-minute oral presentation to peers and examiners. The research project assessment deadline is in Trinity term of the second year.
Full details of Academic Special Interest Projects can be accessed on the Graduate Entry Medicine Canvas site.