Life as a master's student

Hello to all the prospective applicants and incoming students.

First, congratulations to all incoming students reading for the MSc Global Health Science and Epidemiology (GHSE) at Oxford Population Health. To the prospective applicants thinking, ‘Do I really want to study epidemiology at Oxford?’ the answer is simple: Yes, you do. So, stay with me as I share my experience studying here, hoping it can inspire you to apply for this MSc course.

A little about me and my motivations

My name is Josephine. I trained as a medical doctor in Malawi and practised for a few years before coming to Oxford. As a medical student and clinician, I observed a rising trend of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the hospital, leading to considerable morbidity and mortality. This, too, is the case for many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is little research on how these NCDs manifest in Sub-Saharan African populations, as most treatments/prevention strategies are derived from how these diseases present in the West.

How can we be sure that these lifestyle modifications or treatments work in these specific people? Are we screening the right people for NCDs in Malawi? Why are people presenting with complications from NCDs that are “preventable”? These were some of the questions I had as a junior doctor. After much reflection, I realised there is something I can do about this ─ conduct research that can answer these questions. This is where an MSc in epidemiology is beneficial, as it teaches you how to conduct high-quality and rigorous research that can significantly inform clinical practice.

What are your motivations for studying epidemiology?

Applying to Oxford

The application to Oxford itself is relatively straightforward, so that should not scare you. It is worth looking at the course outline to see if this fits you well. Apart from learning the principles of epidemiology and statistics, there are eight optional modules in Hilary Term where you choose four and can “audit” up to two others, attending sessions but not being assessed. 

Personally, I was keen to learn the NCD epidemiology, clinical trials and meta-analysis and the health economics modules. I think it is worth mentioning that GHSE is not a health systems/policy or public health course. If you are looking for a place to learn how to strengthen health systems, make policies, or implement public health programmes, this may not be the right fit for you.

If you ask me (and you have not, but I will say it anyway), we need more African researchers looking at risk factors for disease in our population, what treatments/ screening programmes work in our context, and what drugs are effective in our people. However, to answer all these questions, we need high-quality research, and for that, the GHSE course is highly valuable.

What about funding?

As a Malawian, I always had to consider funding when applying for postgraduate courses, and I know many of my African counterparts do, too. Apart from the usual external scholarships (Chevening, Commonwealth, The Beit Trust, etc), the department has internal funding for people who apply by the December deadline. I am a proud recipient of the departmental and St Cross shared MSc scholarship. (St Cross was my college; more about that later). I felt that the department strives to ensure that funding does not hinder your studies. Obviously, you should be prudent and apply for other funding opportunities, but by applying on time, you may have a chance to be in a situation like mine.

Studying in Oxford

Okay, now let us fast forward to when you have accepted your offer and are coming to Oxford; what can you expect? I will be the first to say that the GHSE course is intensive, like 9am to 3pm daily classes in the Michaelmas Term, intensive. I still remember getting our first formative in the first week of school – and writing another formative over Christmas break. But, guess what I was also able to do by the end of Michaelmas Term (MT):

• I progressed from not knowing how to open a working directory in STATA to independently conducting logistic regression. (Might I add that I independently conducted prospective analyses in the UK Biobank with nearly half a million participants for my dissertation?)
• I learned what academic writing is and how to do it well (thank you, first-week formative assignment).
• I transitioned from only reading the discussion section of papers to starting with the methods section, allowing me to determine whether the methods are appropriate for the research question being investigated.
• And most importantly (and you should learn this too), I learned chance, bias and confounding.

The teaching staff on the course are incredible and will do what they can to ensure you learn. Additionally, every student gets an academic supervisor whom they can go to for any advice/ troubles they have on the course. 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.

College life + enjoyment

What's that proverb about Jill being a dull girl because she does STATA or R every day and does not rest? I suggest being proactive in taking care of your mental health by socialising with classmates or people from your college. Because of how hectic MT is + November grey skies, + cold in the UK (especially as someone from the tropics), it is easy to slip into loneliness. I made friends on the course and at my college, which helped me enjoy my time in Oxford. Some of my classmates were on rowing or hockey teams, even as students. Furthermore, the department and university have resources to help when it is hard to cope. So, the formals, balls and Afro Bops? Do them all and experience Oxford outside academics.

Josie’s top tip

If you forget everything else I have said, do not forget this when you apply or start the course: confidence. You deserve your place at Oxford. Impostor syndrome is real, and we all feel it. When you come to the course, you will mingle with other brilliant minds like you, and it is normal to start feeling inadequate. But I promise you, this course is not that easy to get into. The admissions team saw your potential, but you must also see it in yourself. The masterclasses also taught me that dots only connect when looking back, and nobody has everything figured out in the present. So be confident in your ability to complete the course successfully. There is something about being optimistic.

What to do now?

Apply for the course, obviously. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Josephine Gondwe studied for the MSc GHSE in 2022─2023. She is now working as a research assistant in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences.