MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine
Provided by University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division
About the course
The course aims to develop your:
- capacity to lead and work in multidisciplinary teams to tackle health challenges in resource-limited settings;
- ability to apply an ethical approach to address inequities;
- foundational skills in research techniques applied in the analysis of global health challenges;
- capacity to critically appraise evidence in global health;
- skills and practical experience in research.
Course structure
Core modules
The first term will consist of topics on research methods, an overview of major global health challenges, and topics related to the research and practice of global health.
Core modules include:
- Paradigms and Tools for Global Health (including epidemiology, statistics, finance, R and reproducible research, health economics, qualitative and mixed methods)
- Challenges and Change in International Health
- Global Health Research and Practice.
Options
During the second term, in addition to some continued core content, students select two module options for further study ranging from topics in vaccinology to international development and health.
Placement project and dissertation
The third term will involve a funded eight-week placement with a global health project in a resource limited setting. Projects represent the range of subjects covered in the course. The department will have a series of projects to choose from each year, hosted by partners in various geographic regions.
This research project will form the basis of a 10,000-word dissertation to be submitted six weeks after return from placement.
Leadership, communication and management training
In addition to the core curriculum, you will benefit from leadership and communication training including:
- Preparation of policy briefs to be presented at the Houses of Parliament
- Debate training and a public debate at the Oxford Union
- Leadership training and team building workshops
- Media training
- Negotiation and stakeholder management workshops.
Moreover, a series of sessions will be organised with senior, internationally-recognised figures in global health. Sessions will be outside the structure of lectures and seminars for core modules, intended to provide stimulating materials to integrate global health thinking and perspectives.
You will also have the opportunity to attend research seminars across the University.
A series of career events will be made available throughout the year and skills-building activities integrated in the curriculum to support various trajectories.
Cohort-oriented teaching and group-based learning
Students on the course are expected to become engaged members of their cohort by actively participating in all classroom sessions, group work activities and cohort exercises. The teaching programme, by design, relies on collaboration. Peer and self-directed learning are key elements of our cohort-based teaching. The overall collective orientation of the course is deliberately design to contribute to the students’ professional development.
Teaching is expected to take place in the Old Library at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
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.
All students enrolled on the MSc will be provided with a laptop and specialised software for the duration of the course. All students will also receive one year membership of the Oxford Union.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Medicine and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
Each student will be assigned an academic advisor who will support them through the duration of the course. Students will also have a placement supervisor related to their chosen placement.
Assessment
Core modules will be assessed as follows:
- Paradigms and Tools for Global Health (including epidemiology, statistics, health economics, qualitative and mixed methods): will be assessed via examination.
- Challenges and Change in International Health and Global Health Research and Practice: will be assessed via a written piece.
Options will be assessed as follows:
- All options will be assessed by a submission.
Finally, the research project carried out during the third term will form the basis of a dissertation to be submitted six weeks after return from placement.
Graduate destinations
IHTM alumni have gone on to assume leadership roles in global health - in governments, non- governmental organisations and/or academic institutions.
Alumni have gone on to:
- Ministries of Health
- International organisations
- Research institutions
- Further study
An alumni network and virtual learning environment will continue support of MSc graduates beyond their time in Oxford.
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 International Health and Tropical Medicine:
- Brasenose College
- Christ Church
- Corpus Christi College
- Green Templeton College
- Hertford College
- Keble College
- Kellogg College
- Lady Margaret Hall
- Linacre College
- Lincoln College
- Magdalen College
- Oriel College
- Reuben College
- St Anne's College
- St Catherine's College
- St Cross College
- St Edmund Hall
- St Hilda's College
- St John's College
- Trinity College
- Wolfson College
- Wycliffe Hall
Enquire
| Start date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 06 Oct 2025 | Distance learning | Book now |