MSc in Experimental and Translational Therapeutics
Provided by University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division
About the course
Oxford has made a major contribution to modern molecular medicine and Oxford’s senior scientists have provided significant insights to our understanding of cancer, diabetes, and cardiac, haematological and infectious diseases. There is an opportunity to harness these advances and translate them into therapeutic benefits for patients.
The MSc in Experimental and Translational Therapeutics draws on the world class research and teaching in experimental therapeutics at the University of Oxford and aims to provide you with the necessary training and practical experience to enable you to understand the principles that underpin clinical research, and to translate that understanding into good clinical and research practice.
The programme will appeal to health professionals from a variety of backgrounds, including:
- qualified doctors
- specialist registrars in clinical pharmacology or in training for other medical sub-specialities
- clinical research fellows
- pharmacists
- nurses
- graduates working in the pharmaceutical industry or in academic clinical trials.
The MSc is a part-time course consisting of six modules and a research project and dissertation. The programme is normally completed in two to three years, but up to a maximum of four years may be taken. You will be a full member of the University of Oxford and matriculated as a member of a college.
The six modules are:
- The Structure of Clinical Trials and Experimental Therapeutics
- Drug Development, Pharmacokinetics and Imaging
- Pharmacodynamics, Biomarkers and Personalised Therapy
- Adverse Drug Reactions, Drug Interactions, and Pharmacovigilance
- How to do Research on Therapeutic Interventions: Protocol Preparation
- Biological Therapeutics.
The class-based taught modules consist of five days of intensive face-to-face lectures and tutorials, and are followed by a period for assignment work. Attendance at modules is a requirement for study. A virtual learning environment (VLE) provides between-module support, and assignments are submitted online.
The modules include group work, discussions, guest lectures, and interaction and feedback with tutors and lecturers, as well as practical work that develops your knowledge and understanding of the subject. It is recommended that you plan to spend around eight to ten hours per week in private study in addition to time spent in classes or participating in on-line learning.
The dissertation is founded on a research project that builds on material studied in the taught modules. The project is normally supervised by an academic supervisor from the University of Oxford, and an employer-based mentor.
Attendance
As a part-time student, you will be required to attend residential sessions during the course.
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.
The Rewley House Continuing Education Library , one of the Bodleian Libraries, is situated in Rewley House. The department aims to support the wide variety of subjects covered by departmental courses at many academic levels. The department also has a collection of around 73,000 books together with periodicals. PCs in the library give access to the internet and the full range of electronic resources subscribed to by the University of Oxford. Wi-Fi is also available. The Jessop Reading Room adjoining the library is available for study.
Opening up possibilities for peer group interaction, students for the MSc in Experimental and Translational Therapeutics are taught alongside those studying for other MSc and Post Graduate Diploma courses in the health sciences, as well as healthcare professionals undertaking the modules for continuing professional development.
The department provides various IT facilities , including the Student Computing Facility which provides individual PCs for your use.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS) and/or Department for Continuing Education and this role will usually be performed by the Course Director.
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 NDORMS and the Department for Continuing Education.
Between starting the course and beginning the dissertation you will be assigned the Deputy Course Director as your supervisor, with whom you will have contact approximately every four-six weeks. When you start the dissertation module, you will be assigned a dissertation supervisor. The University expects there to be contact between a dissertation supervisor and student at least once per month.
Assessment
To qualify for the award of an MSc, you will need to:
- Complete and pass six taught modules, submitting a written assignment with each module. All modules are compulsory and are delivered during a teaching week, taught face-to-face in Oxford. This is a variable-intensity part-time programme and you will be asked to choose which modules you wish to complete at the beginning of each academic year. The module weeks run once each year on fixed dates which are published in advance. We recommend Module 1 is taken in the first year and Module 6 in the second, with some flexibility in the order taken for modules 2, 3, 4 and 5. You may wish to discuss a personal study plan at interview.
- Feedback will be provided for each module assignment when provisional marks are released. Assessment is summative and weighted marks for each assignment will count towards your overall result for the MSc. Full details of the assessment structure are included in the Course Handbook provided to on-course students.
- You will also submit a research dissertation. You will be expected to define your own dissertation topic in consultation with your allocated supervisor and the Course Director.
Graduate destinations
Graduates of the programme use their studies to advance their existing career development, including positions in the pharmaceutical industry (e.g. medical affairs, project management, pharmacovigilance), the emerging biotech industry (e.g. CEO, senior scientist, venture capital) or in medicine, academia and clinical trials. One or two students from each cohort usually go on to study for a doctorate.
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 Experimental and Translational Therapeutics:
- Campion Hall
- Kellogg College
- New College
- Reuben College
- St Catherine's College
- St Cross College
- St Hilda's College
- Wycliffe Hall
Enquire
| Start date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2025 | Distance learning | Book now |