MSc Global Health Science and Epidemiology

The MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology aims to equip students with the knowledge and quantitative skills to design, conduct and analyse research studies in population health. Students will be able to:

• understand the global burden and major determinants of disease;
• describe and discuss the role and contribution of epidemiology to health;
• critically appraise, analyse and interpret epidemiological studies;
• select, devise and develop appropriate study designs for epidemiological research;
• conduct appropriate statistical analyses of epidemiological and health-related data.

We welcome students who would like to develop knowledge and skills to understand the global burden and major determinants of disease through the application of epidemiology and quantitative research methods. We receive students from over 40 countries with a wide range of backgrounds.

Recent graduates Brigid Falvey (USA) and Josephine Gondwe (Malawi) have written about their motivation for applying and their experience on the course.

The Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford offers four full time taught degree courses on global/international health and health systems. Here are some of the differences in emphasis between them:

MSc Global Health Science and Epidemiology

• has a greater focus on the application of epidemiology in population health to generate reliable evidence on the burden and determinants of the major causes of premature death
• provides training to conduct appropriate statistical analysis in large-scale epidemiological research.

MSc Modelling for Global Health

• has a greater focus on mathematical modelling, scientific programming and global health financing
• offers a range of techniques and tools for communication with key stakeholders from policy, implementation, commercial and research sectors.

MSc International Health and Tropical Medicine

• has a greater focus on examining major challenges to the health of populations in resource-limited contexts
• provides training in analysis of global health problems, including quantitative and qualitative research methods, health policy, systems research and public health.

MSc Health Service Improvement and Evaluation 

• has a greater focus on health systems approaches to service improvement and evaluation
• provides knowledge and practical skills to understand complex systems, design, plan and implement improvements, and evaluate programmes to inform decision-making. 

Michaelmas term: core content

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. 

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. 

Teaching team

A core group of senior academics are committed to the delivery and oversight of high quality innovative teaching activities. Students are supported by teaching fellows who also organise and run the core modules of epidemiology and statistics. This is led by:

• Associate Professor Hubert Lam, Course Director
• Associate Professor Jennifer Carter, Associate Course Director
• Professor Sarah Lewington, Director of (Taught) Graduate Studies and Scientific Advisor
• Dr Stephanie Ross, Senior Teaching and Research Fellow. 

induction

The department provides a comprehensive induction for all new students in early October. This runs in parallel with induction events organised by colleges and the Medical Sciences Division. The programme of induction is designed to enable students to begin their studies with an understanding of the academic and social environment in which they will be working.

workspace

The majority of MSc teaching takes place in one of the department's teaching suites or in the lecture theatre.

TEACHING STYLES

Teaching is delivered during the first two terms (October to March) and for up to two weeks in the third term (April/May) through a range of methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, student presentations, self-directed learning and independent study. All students are allocated to a tutor group of five to six students, and will meet with either their epidemiology or statistics tutors approximately four to five times for tutor- or student-led activities.

In addition to the assessed modules, a number of masterclasses are organised throughout the course.

The taught element is followed by examinations, after which students undertake a research placement leading to a dissertation. 

CONTACT TIME

It is generally expected that students will spend on average 35-40 hours a week on study: each week will typically include 15-20 hours of contact time within the department and 20-25 hours of self-directed study. 

SUPERVISION

All MSc students are allocated an academic supervisor at the beginning of the course. Supervisors provide support and guidance and monitor their students’ progress in relation to academic and practical skill development to fulfil the requirements of the MSc. Academic supervisors mainly act as a point of contact to discuss practical issues or questions regarding the programme, such as choice of research project, or as a first-line sympathetic ear for pastoral challenges. Students are expected to meet their supervisor at least once per term. 

During the research placement all students are allocated an additional placement supervisor who is their first point of contact throughout the placement. Placement supervisors provide advice to the students on the conduct of their research activities and how these might inform their dissertation, including but not limited to: advice on reading materials, methodology, approach and the structure of the dissertation.

department Pastoral support

In addition to pastoral support provided by individual university colleges, the department is committed to supporting graduate students throughout their studies. The academic supervisor is the first point of contact and the course director may also offer advice and support where there is a difference of opinion between two parties. The welfare contact can also help with signposting students towards suitable support and contacts.

A number of student-led initiatives offer informal advice and guidance on various topics. These include student buddies and trained peer supporters.

Between May and August, students will undertake a 12-week research placement that leads to a dissertation (in the form of a draft publication appropriate for submission to a peer-reviewed journal). The purpose of the placement is to develop and deepen an appreciation and understanding of concepts and skills learnt during the course, and to apply them to a real world situation through independent study.

The majority of past students have completed their placements in the UK (mostly in Oxford), however, a small number of students have chosen to conduct their placements overseas.

Examples of MSc dissertation titles

• The association between speech-in-noise hearing impairment and incident dementia in the UK Biobank
• Associations between changes in eGFR and albuminuria with risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality: analyses from 90,000 English primary care patients
• The burden, treatment, control and consequences of hypertension in Cuba
• Ethnic differences in adiposity in The Malaysian Cohort
• Factors associated with place of death: analysis of decedents in the Million Women Study cohort (1996-2017)
• Soy isoflavone intake and vegetarianism in relation to breast cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition - Oxford cohort
• The association between satellite prophages and disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Determinants of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine receipt in marginalized communities of Tamil Nadu, India
• Patient outcomes in two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: Baseline risk scores in the RECOVERY Trial
• Mortality risks associated with delayed discharge from hospital: an analysis of electronic health records
• Trends in hospital care use in Harbin (2008-2015) using data from the China Kadoorie Biobank
• Estimating the effect of ICU-acquired antibiotic resistant infections on excess length of stay and economic costs
• Characterising the determinants of multidrug-resistant malaria in Southeast Asia: A retrospective analysis of 2,000 P. falciparum genome sequences
• Long term trends in admissions to hospital for primary care sensitive conditions for children aged under 15 in England
• Risk factors for maternal mortality in nine empowered action states in India
• Temporal trends in the incidence of autism spectrum disorders in children and variation in diagnosis rates in the UK.

Formative Assessments

In order to qualify for the award of the MSc all students must submit all formative assessments and show satisfactory engagement with formative aspects of the course. During the first two terms there are several formative assessments designed to enable teaching staff and students to monitor progress. Students are provided with feedback on these assessments to help them improve their learning by identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Feedback will consist of in class sessions from module leads and teaching fellows, the return of annotated submissions and tutorial sessions in small tutor groups. 

Summative Assessments

There are two elements that you should be aware of when calculating the cost of your studies: the course fees and living costs. Course fees cover academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. They do not cover your accommodation or other living costs. 

Full details of fees can be found by visiting the University fees and funding website.

Funding Opportunities

University funding

The University offers a variety of scholarship programmes based on academic excellence, to give the brightest applicants from around the world the opportunity to pursue postgraduate study.

Please refer to the University’s dedicated funding pages for information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application.

Departmental funding

Oxford Population Health awards a small number of competitive scholarships each year to attract the best students, irrespective of background or ability to pay. These scholarships may fund the MSc fees and/or a stipend at the UKRI rate for one year. Over 60 students from 29 countries have received departmental funding since 2014/15.

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 at the UKRI rate for one year.

If you wish to be considered for the studentship for students from underrepresented backgrounds, you must:

1. Be ordinarily resident in the UK; and
2. Answer the questions about your socioeconomic and educational background (the University’s graduate admissions webpage has further information about these questions); and
3. Submit a completed application by the December deadline (stated above).

MSc candidates are encouraged to apply for other independent funding sources for which they may be eligible. Those who are successful in achieving partial funding for their MSc studies may also apply for matched funding from Oxford Population Health. Please contact the Graduate Studies Office for more details.

Most fully funded opportunities at Oxford are only available to students 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.

Other MSc funders

Organisations that have funded current and/or past students on this MSc include:

• AfOx Graduate Scholarships
• Chevening Scholarships
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
• Jardine Foundation
• Marshall Scholarships
• NHS England
• Rhodes Scholarships
• Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Scholarship
• The Rotary Foundation 
• The Skye Foundation Scholarships
• Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme

UK Master's Loans 

The UK government has a loan scheme for full-time and part-time master's courses. For more information and to check eligibility please refer to the loans section on the University’s graduate admissions webpage.

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.

Students are expected to bring their own laptop with them for the coursework.

2025-26 APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications for entry in October 2025 are now closed. Applications for entry in October 2026 will open in September 2025. 

You should apply via the Graduate Admissions and Funding webpage.

entry requirements for admission 

Full details of the entry requirements for admission to the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology are available on the Graduate Admissions and Funding webpage for this course. 

application tips

• We advise you to refer to the application guide before making an application.
• Make your personal statement specific and relevant to this MSc – why do you want to study with us in this department, and what do you feel you will gain from studying on this course?
• Make sure you add any relevant experience you have to your statement and explain how this would be relevant to, and prepare you for, the course.
• You can read advice on writing a personal statement and an academic CV on the University's How To Guide.

What happens after I apply?

The MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology is an extremely popular course and is always over-subscribed. 

All applications are carefully considered by an admissions panel comprised of at least two members of the academic team. 

The University provides an outline of the process for the admissions decisions for your information.

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 assigned to a college. Details of the colleges that accept students on to the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology can be found on the colleges page of the Graduate Admission and Funding website.

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 and in some cases punts and bars. 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.

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. 

statistics from previous admissions cycles

 We received 403 complete applications for 2025 entry. Of these:

• 61% were female and 39% were male
• 91% resided outside the UK
• 16% were shortlisted for an interview
• 9% were offered a place on the MSc

54% of applicants for entry between 2022-23 and 2024-25 were from low- and lower middle-income countries (LMICs; according to World Bank Income Group), with 24% of offer-holders during the same period from LMICs.

59% of MSc offer-holders who took up their place between 2022-23 and 2024-25 had achieved the equivalent of a UK first in their undergraduate degree, while 26% had achieved the equivalent of a UK 2:1. The remaining students had achieved either a pass in their medical degree (where no degree class was given) or the equivalent of a UK 2:2.

Since 2014, we have taught over 270 students from 48 countries. We encourage all alumni to keep in touch after completing the MSc.

The aim of the course is primarily to prepare students to continue their studies to doctoral level and beyond, however, the extensive practical component will enable successful students to establish a career in academia, major national and international health organisations, government agencies or in industry.

where are they now?

Our graduates from 2014/15 to 2022/23 have gone on to the following roles:

• 45% continued with a PhD or hold a research position
• 37% have either begun training as a clinician or returned to medicine
• 6% took positions in the government (eg Health Security Agency, US CDC), inter-governmental organisations (eg WHO, UNICEF), or non-governmental organisations (eg CRUK, GAVI)
• 12% have gone to other destinations.

Based on responses to the Government’s Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey, six months after completing the MSc, over half of alumni from our course are in employment and a third are in further education. 

An account of the MSc’s 10-Year Anniversary event, including talks by alumni about their careers, can be found on the student blog.

Read more about the careers of three alumni in academia, industry and the charity sector.

Stephen McCall (graduated 2019), Sophia Lowes (graduated 2016) and Jay Krishnan (graduated 2018)

keeping in touch

Alumni of the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology (and the MSc in Global Health Science, as it was previously named) are encouraged to join our LinkedIn group (only open to current and past students.).

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.