MSc in Translational Health Sciences

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About the course

Utilising innovations to meet healthcare needs is a global imperative – and one that can only become more urgent as demands on our health care systems increase. This applied MSc course brings robust, interdisciplinary and practice-based approaches to addressing the challenges of research translation.

The key focus will be theory and method in the ‘downstream’ phases of translational health sciences – that is, the human, organisational and societal issues that influence the adoption, dissemination and mainstreaming of research discoveries. You can expect to gain a coherent overview of how different academic disciplines can inform problem-solving and guide action in translational health sciences, along with a rigorous interdisciplinary training to further develop your intellectual and research skills.

The course is ideal for researchers who want to study scientific and technological innovation in a healthcare setting and research managers looking to run clinical trials or promote the uptake of research findings. It will also assist entrepreneurs (from industry or the public sector) who seek to improve patient care through innovation and policymakers (local and national) wishing to support research and its translation to improve services. For students interested in undertaking doctoral research, the MSc will prepare them to apply for a DPhil in translational health sciences. The department expects you to have some relevant past experience in a work environment.

You will take one compulsory module, Introduction and Research Methods for Translational Science, which you are strongly recommended to take first. You will also take five option modules and complete a dissertation.

Modules are spaced out throughout the academic year, allowing a choice of options to be taken over a year (for full-time students) or longer for students attending part-time. Not all modules are guaranteed to run every year. Further details about the course and modules can be found on the course page, on the Department for Continuing Education Website (See further Information and Enquiries). Option modules that have recently been available to choose from include:

  • Behavioural Science and Complex Interventions
  • Economics and Regulation in Translational Science
  • Ethics and Justice in Translational Science
  • Health Organisations and Policy
  • Patients, Citizens & the Politics of Evidence
  • Healthcare Evaluation and Research Impact
  • Technological Innovation and Digital Health
  • Translational Science and Global Health.

Modules run over a nine-week blended learning cycle. An initial period of self-directed study is spent working on introductory activities using a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This is followed by a week spent in Oxford for supported face to face teaching, and then a further period of Post-Oxford activities (A mixture of self-directed and supported distance learning also delivered through the VLE). The final week of each module is for self-directed personal study, shortly followed by the assignment submission.

The teaching model aims to make full use of students’ real-world experience and diversity. Once you have covered key principles and topics, you will be encouraged to immerse yourself in case studies (some of which can be from your own experience) and to contribute actively and critically to group discussions. Your learning will be further enriched with input from visiting lectures, experts-in-residence and organisations outside academia (potential examples would include biotech and software companies, policy bodies such as NICE and patient charities).

Attendance

The course is taught using a blended learning cycle of self-directed study using a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and face to face teaching in central Oxford. The full-time course is studied over one year. The part-time course has the same requirements, but is studied over two to four years.

If you are studying full or part-time, there are six modules that require your attendance on the course. Each module will begin with one week (five days) of online introductory activities, followed by a week (five days) of face-to-face teaching in Oxford.  The remaining weeks of each module will be delivered online.

Part-time students are required to attend a minimum of one module in each academic year on 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. The department provides various IT facilities , including the Student Computing Facility which provides individual PCs for your use.

Students will also have access to the Medical Sciences Graduate School.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences and/or the Department for Continuing Education 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 Primary Care Health Sciences and/or the Department for Continuing Education.

Throughout the course you will have a personal supervisor from within the MSc teaching team. Most students have the opportunity to either meet, or contact their supervisor at least once per month.

Assessment

Assessment for each module will be based on performance in a group presentation and a written assignment. Students for the MSc will also be required to complete a dissertation on a topic chosen in consultation with a supervisor and the Course Director.

Part time students typically submit a ‘Notification of Provisional Title’, a calendar year before their dissertation submission date. A full draft is usually submitted two months prior to the submission deadline. The final submission is usually due on the last working day of September, for the given year of completion.

Full time students typically submit a ‘Notification of Provisional Title’ in early February. A full draft is usually submitted two months prior to the submission deadline. The final dissertation submission is usually due in mid-September.

Graduate destinations

The course has been designed to address a significant and urgent skills deficit in linking research discoveries to implementation in practice, service transformation and improved patient outcomes. Such roles include (but are not limited to) the following sectors:

  • higher education: researchers, research managers, knowledge translation/research impact officers
  • medicine: clinical entrepreneurs, knowledge managers
  • industry: designers, research managers, academic liaison officers
  • policy: variety of local and national policy roles
  • third sector: patient advocacy, lobbying.

Previous students have continued on to key roles in research, medicine, policy, and industry. Several have gone on to undertake a DPhil in a subject related to Translational Health Sciences.

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.

Full-time study

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

  • Green Templeton College
  • Harris Manchester College
  • Kellogg College
  • Linacre College
  • Reuben College
  • St Catherine's College
  • Wycliffe Hall

Part-time study

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

  • Green Templeton College
  • Harris Manchester College
  • Kellogg College
  • Reuben College
  • Wycliffe Hall

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Start date Venue
12 Oct 2025 Distance learning Book now

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