MSc in Modelling for Global Health
Provided by University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division
About the course
A strong connection with the Oxford Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine ensures that the portfolio of training provided on this MSc retains the ability to bridge tropical medicine research to policy and implementation. Tropical medicine is a major research theme at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, and quantitative methods have been identified by NDM as a key area for expansion and training. This MSc course will enhance the connection between state-of-the-art technical research and frontline clinical and laboratory science in the Global Health arena.
The course will aim to develop your:
- repertoire of skills in mathematical and economic modelling including, for example, scientific programming, global health financing, genetics and evolution, spatial analysis and model fitting, related cutting-edge bioinformatics and analytics
- breadth of knowledge of current challenges and issues in global health
- range of techniques and tools for communication with key stakeholders from policy, implementation, commercial and research sectors.
MSc students can participate fully in the NDM research community. For example, there is a weekly journal club led by NDM DPhil students from the Oxford Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health to which all MSc students are invited.
Course Structure
Core Modules
The first term will consist of topics on research methods, an overview of major global health challenges and foundations of mathematics required. Modules include:
- Mathematics for Modellers
- Introduction to R for Modellers
- Medical Statistics
- Foundations in Global Health
- Research Skills and Professional Practice
- Introduction to Health Economics
- Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases
- Model Communication
Optional Modules
During the second term, in addition to some continued core content, you will select three optional modules for further study, including:
- Spatial Analysis of Public Health Data
- Global Health Financing
- Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modelling
- Model Fitting and Uncertainty
- Malaria Modelling for Strategy Design
- Introduction to Genetics and Evolution for Infectious Diseases Modellers
- Individual Based Models in C++
- Translational Science and Policy Analysis
Placement Project and Dissertation
During your third term, you will embark on a funded placement (of up to eight weeks) that will involve participation in a global health project in (or related to) are source limited setting. Students will be allocated a placement project based on their preference and in close consultation with the course academic team to ensure it aligns with their desired career trajectory. These placements, which can be carried out in national and international locations, will call upon the skills and topics you will have covered during the first two terms of the course. It is intended you will:
- apply knowledge and skills you have gained in first two terms to a global health research project
- experience the challenges and opportunities for conducting real research
- work as a productive member of a team
- appropriately contextualise your research (ie learn about the context within which the research is conducted).
The research project placement will then form the basis of your dissertation (in the form of a draft publication appropriate for submission to a peer-reviewed journal) to be submitted eight weeks after your return from placement. The learning outcomes of this will be to:
- critically analyse relevant literature
- pose appropriate research questions
- demonstrate sound use of methodology to address questions posed
- appropriately interpret findings
- outline ethical issues involved in the research
- produce a draft publication appropriate for submission to a peer-reviewed journal reporting the placement research findings.
Training
A series of workshops will be held across the academic year, designed to build skills in academic writing and critical appraisal, and foster competencies to support the successful completion of summative assessment outputs (eg scientific reports, policy pieces, journal articles). These sessions to be designed with the technical and numerical nature of the writing tasks in mind.
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.
You will have access to the department’s IT support, University library services such as the Radcliffe Science Library and the Cairns Library based at the John Radcliffe Hospital. To facilitate teaching of technical material, the course has high specification video conferencing technology and high specification laptops will be provided to all incoming students and access to cloud or cluster computing for computer intensive work whilst they are students on the course.
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.
You will be assigned an academic advisor who will support you through the duration of the course. You should try and meet with your academic advisor at least twice each term.
You will also have a placement advisor in Hilary term, related to your chosen placement, who you will meet with for an hour each week.
Assessment
You will be assessed in the following ways:
For all optional modules
You will be required to sit three summative assessments in the form of a written report/essay. These will be structured like a scientific paper and must address a series of questions/issues raised in the respective exam question(s).
Based on your completed placement project and subject to agreement by your supervisor
An electronically submitted dissertation, in the form of a draft journal paper, plus supplementary files.
Graduate destinations
Modelling skills, such as those provided by this course create multi-sector applicability including academia, government and commercial. Graduate Mathematical Modeller/Postdoctoral Researcher/Analyst are examples of early career roles as well as Research Engineer/Scientist and Research Fellow.
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 Modelling for Global Health:
- Green Templeton College
- Harris Manchester College
- Kellogg College
- Linacre College
- Oriel College
- Reuben College
- St Anne's College
- St Catherine's College
- St Cross College
- St Hilda's College
- Wolfson College
- Wycliffe Hall
Enquire
| Start date | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 06 Oct 2025 | Distance learning | Book now |