Reflections of a year studying the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology

'What a time to be studying epidemiology!' I hear regularly. The MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology, like almost every other facet of life, has changed significantly during the past few months. But the people – fellow MSc students, course directors, supervisors, and other members of the department – have made this time as painless as possible, providing invaluable support and giving remarkable insights in to the current global situation.

The academic year started as it does every year: a collection of 20 nervous new MSc students arriving at Oxford’s Richard Doll Building, from all corners of the globe. Michaelmas Term ensued, and was certainly a whirlwind, with hundreds of hours of epidemiology and statistics lectures, tutorials, and masterclasses from the likes of Richard Peto, Rory Collins, and Denise Lievesely. There were the legendary weekly consolidation sessions with Jennifer Carter, the Richard Doll Seminars, the course dinners and pub trips, and of course the Christmas party.

After assessments and mock exams over the Christmas break, we returned eager for a busy Hilary Term of global health, finally seeing the application of the statistics and epidemiology in practice. We got our teeth in to modules such as economics, nutritional and genetic epidemiology, communicable diseases, ethics and clinical trials. We had more inspirational masterclasses from Adrian Hill, George Davey-Smith, Kay-Tee Khaw and Alan Lopez.

We also became increasingly aware of the COVID-19 situation unfolding in other nations and were watching Italy closely. Whilst we all knew a coronavirus outbreak was likely in the UK, I don’t think many of us quite appreciated the enormity of the situation. In February, one MSc student requested a special seminar on the global response to SARS-CoV-2, before it was known to be circulating in the UK. The course directors swiftly put together a line-up of world-class speakers. The seminar’s overwhelming popularity led to it being live-streamed, and the Vice-Chancellor attending. As the term was nearing its final few weeks and our assessments loomed, coronavirus cases were confirmed within the University and many MSc students left before term had formally ended. 

The next few weeks were full of, that now almost clichéd, ‘uncertainty’. Wherever we found ourselves, be it at our family home across the world, or in our college accommodation, we began coursework and exams from our kitchens and bedrooms.

Now, as lockdown eases, and with working from home becoming the new normal, we are in the midst of our summer research placements within various units across the department. Our supervision meetings occur online, and we have adapted to a relatively isolated and self-directed style of work. This relative isolation and loneliness strikes me as somewhat ironic – in that I am using data from half a million individuals in the UK Biobank for potential population-level benefit, whilst alone in my childhood bedroom!

The diversity in the student body goes far beyond something that makes us simply ‘interesting’.

However, I think the pandemic has opened the eyes of many to the immense value of scientific research. Particularly considering a large proportion of the MSc student body comprises doctors and medical students, it can be easy to view each assessed component of this degree as a hoop to jump through towards qualification, as we have spent the majority of our lives doing so. However, having this time to focus solely on one research endeavour, whilst constantly being reminded of the value of research in popular media, has emphasised the importance of our research placements as much more than a mere exercise, but an attempt at improving the lives of entire populations.

So whilst we will not be experiencing the typical, celebratory end to our MSc, this academic year remains undoubtedly one of my life’s most memorable chapters. It is almost certainly down to every individual I have met here. The diversity in the student body goes far beyond something that makes us simply ‘interesting’. The age range, the breadth of nationalities (from Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, and South Africa to name a few), and the diversity of professional backgrounds – this all contributed to providing new and unique insights of general and global health issues that we would otherwise have not considered.

I will never forget being in a tutorial discussing a flawed economic evaluation of malaria treatments, whilst sat across from a fellow student from a malaria-endemic region. He was able to put a new perspective on the economic argument altogether. Similarly, individuals who have experience in health research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) suggested when study designs were not feasible in the context. Those with academic backgrounds helped others add flair to their scientific writing. Older students provided career advice to those just starting out.

As my time at the department is drawing to an end, 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 – particularly at a time like this.

Lilian Hartman is an MSc student in Global Health Science and Epidemiology, and a fourth year medical student at Oxford. Her interests lie in non-communicable diseases prevention and nutrition, and she is currently researching the effects of red and processed meat consumption on systemic inflammation in the UK Biobank.

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