MSc in Applied Digital Health
Provided by University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division
About the course
The MSc is led by the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences (NDPCHS). The course combines front line clinical experience with theoretical and methodological expertise, capitalising on the breadth of internationally leading digital health research in the department. In addition, recognising the interdisciplinary nature of digital health, the MSc draws on the expertise of faculty from across the University, spanning medicine, social science, engineering, computing and data science.
Digital Health is one of five cross-cutting themes in the department's research strategy. Applied Digital Health is also one of six themes in the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford & Thames Valley Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), led by Theme Lead John Powell, Academic Director of the MSc in Applied Digital Health.
Academic staff in NDPCHS have world-leading reputations in researching a wide range of digital health topics: from applied social science and clinical researchers leading studies aimed at bringing a critical perspective to understanding the practices and processes of digital health care, to data scientists and software developers working on novel ways to access and analyse
and share actionable insights from routine digital data.
Aimed at early-career professionals, entrants to the MSc in Applied Digital Health come from a wide range of backgrounds, including (but not limited to) clinical medicine, medical sociology, psychology, statistics, computer science and engineering. No pre-existing knowledge is assumed, although you must have an interest in both the social and technical aspects of digital health. The breadth of content means that this MSc is not suitable for those who wish to focus their studies on only one component of the digital health field.
Upon successful completion of the course you will be able to:
- discuss the drivers, enablers, barriers and challenges to digital health innovation, using real-world examples
- summarise the state-of-the-art in digital health tools – including digital therapeutics, digital diagnostics, artificial intelligence, learning health systems and those that facilitate automated care pathways or improved patient (self)management – and both explain and critically evaluate the theories and techniques that underlie them
- identify and formulate a response to the ethical, policy, regulatory and practice challenges facing digital health
- explain in detail the need for user-focused development, meaningful evaluation and successful implementation of digital health tools, and propose appropriate methods, actions and processes to meet these requirements
- describe and apply key qualitative and quantitative research methods used to study digital health care, as well as identify the strengths and weaknesses of those methods.
It should be noted that this MSc is not a computing or engineering course. While it does include significant content on the concepts underlying tools and technologies commonly used in digital health, it does not teach how to programme digital health software.
Course outline
The teaching on this course is delivered via a range of methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations, self- directed learning and study, with all theoretical learning underpinned by real world case-studies.
The course consists of eight compulsory modules and a dissertation.
The modules spotlight different ways in which digital health can be used to address the challenges facing twenty-first century healthcare. These solutions include harnessing multimodal health data to support diagnosis and prognosis; improving outcomes via remote patient monitoring and digital diagnostics; using digital tools to facilitate physical and cognitive behaviour change; facilitating more efficient and effective models of care delivery; reducing the cost of care.
Module titles are as follows:
- Foundations of Digital Health
- Harnessing Big Data for Clinical Decision Support
- AI for Efficient Healthcare Systems
- Remote Monitoring and Digital Diagnostics
- Supporting Health Behaviour Change using Digital Tools
- Digital Transformation of Primary Care
- Economics of Digital Health
- User Focused Design and the Lifecycle of Digital Health Innovation
There are a number of cross-cutting themes that run throughout the modules. These themes include artificial intelligence and machine learning, behavioural science, challenges facing health systems, electronic health records, ethics, implementation, policy, programming for data analysis, regulation and law, sociotechnical processes, statistics and study design for the evaluation of digital tools.
The modules run consecutively, with each covering a two-week period. In the first week of each module teaching is delivered via a range of face-to-face methods, including lectures, seminars, and group work. In the second week you will engage in guided self-study and complete your assessment for the module, with learning further supported by a guest lecture series and a journal club.
In the third term you will undertake an original research project, culminating in a research dissertation and a short presentation. You will be supported in the selection of a research topic, although the department welcomes students to propose a topic of their choosing (subject to conditions).
Attendance
The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements.
Resources to support your study
As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.
The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.
The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.
Beyond the University, the department has strong links to the active digital health innovation community in academia, the NHS and industry, both in the Oxford area and further afield.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. A supervisor may be found outside the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences.
Students will be assigned an academic advisor for the entirety of the course, in addition to their dissertation supervisor, who they will meet with twice a term. In addition, each student will be allocated a dissertation supervisor for that component of the course.
Assessment
During the first two terms there are a series of formative assessments designed to enable teaching staff to monitor your progress. You will be provided with feedback that will enable you to improve your learning by helping you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
There are also eight summative assessments in the first two terms, one per module. Each of these summative assessments account for 8.75% of the final mark. The assessments vary according to the content of the module but may include essays, sets of exercises and presentations.
The dissertation in the third term is worth 30% of the final mark.
Graduate destinations
This course provides graduates with the skills to creatively and successfully harness digital health tools, be that as researchers, policymakers, technology specialists or health practitioners. For example, some students may go on to roles within health organisations that require digital health expertise, or similar roles in pharmaceutical, consulting or health tech companies. Others may be experienced health professionals who seek to exploit digital health opportunities in their own practice. Some may want to pursue an academic career path and may go on to a doctoral research position or a health policy role within government.
Wherever their particular interests may lie, it is anticipated that course graduates will be well placed to do pioneering work in the digital health sector.
Changes to this course and your supervision
The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.
Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.
For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.
College preference
Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs).
If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief introduction to the college system at Oxford and our advice about expressing a college preference .
If you are a current Oxford student and you would like to remain at your current Oxford college, you should check whether it is listed below. If it is, you should indicate this preference when you apply. If not, you should contact your college office to ask whether they would be willing to make an exception. Further information about staying at your current college can be found in our Application Guide.
The following colleges accept students on the MSc in Applied Digital Health:
- Harris Manchester College
- Jesus College
- Linacre College
- Lincoln College
- Reuben College
- St Catherine's College
- St Cross College
- Somerville College
- Wolfson College
Enquire
| Start date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2025 | Distance learning | Book now |