MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care Teaching and Education

Course status:

Closed

Duration:

2-4 years, part-time

Study format:

In person and online

Level:

Postgraduate

The MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care Teaching and Education is designed to help professionals improve their knowledge and application of the skills directly related to their roles as research-informed educators in evidence-based health care.

This MSc will position you to integrate theory and research evidence, critical reflection, and principles of design, assessment and evaluation in planning and delivering effective education in evidence-based medicine and health care. It can be studied part-time alongside work commitments, typically over two to four years.

The programme is delivered in partnership with Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, one of the world’s leading academic centres for primary care, and is supported by the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. You can find out more about the history of the centre and the Evidence-Based Health Care Programme here.

The programme is taught by internationally recognised leaders in evidence-based health care, research-led teaching, and medical education. Its flexible structure is designed to support professionals studying alongside work commitments while allowing students to tailor their learning to their individual interests and goals.

KEY INFORMATION

The MSc in EBHC Teaching and Education is a part-time course. It includes four compulsory modules, two option modules and a dissertation.

Compulsory modules

Option modules (choose two)

Please note that not all modules are guaranteed to run every year.

Most modules run over either an eight- or fifteen-week learning cycle. Modules may be delivered fully online or in a blended format. Some modules include a required five-day teaching week in Oxford, while others are delivered entirely online. Delivery formats may vary each year.

Blended format: an initial period of self-directed study using a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is followed by a week of face-to-face teaching in Oxford. This is followed by post-Oxford activities (a mix of supported and self-directed learning via the VLE), and a final week of independent study before assignment submission.

Fully online format: modules are delivered through the VLE, beginning with introductory activities. This is followed either by weekly released units with structured activities and discussion, or an intensive week of teaching sessions. Both formats conclude with a period of independent study and assignment submission. Courses typically run over 8 or 15 weeks.

The aims of the course are to enable you to:

continue your professional development as an educator, support the development of others, and play a leading role in advancing education in evidence-based health care
develop leadership in the teaching and education of evidence-based health care across the health professional education continuum
enhance your teaching role in clinical and educational settings, including the use of educational technologies and online or virtual environments
teach core concepts of evidence-based health care—such as research methods, critical appraisal, biostatistics and translational science—effectively and confidently
design and evaluate courses in evidence-based health care
broaden and deepen your understanding of relevant theoretical frameworks and educational research evidence
inform your practice using the best available evidence on effective educational methods and approaches
develop skills to evaluate educational interventions rigorously, including evidence synthesis and small-scale research studies, contributing to the evidence base for effective education in evidence-based health care

As a part-time student, you will be required to attend a minimum of two modules (one of which must be a compulsory module) in person in Oxford. Each in-person module requires a week (five days) of face-to-face teaching. Your remaining modules can be a combination of in-person and fully online study. All students must complete at least one module in each academic year, either in person or online.

Oxford College affiliation

As a matriculated postgraduate degree student, you will become a member of one of the University’s multidisciplinary colleges, offering opportunities to engage with a diverse academic community and gain new perspectives across a wide range of subjects.

The collegiate system is a distinctive part of the Oxford experience. Colleges are welcoming and intellectually vibrant communities where you can take part in seminars, shared meals and informal discussions with students and academics from different disciplines.

To find out more about Oxford colleges, please visit the University’s Graduate Admissions website.

Assessment for each module is based on a written assignment of no more than 4,000 words. MSc students are also required to complete a dissertation on a topic agreed with their supervisor and Course Director, which should not normally exceed 15,000 words.

Completion requirements

To complete the MSc, students must:

attend and complete all four compulsory modules and two option modules
complete a dissertation agreed with a supervisor and the Course Director (normally up to 15,000 words)
attend a viva voce examination at the end of the course, if required by the examiners

Successful applicants should:

be a graduate or have successfully completed a professional training course
have professional work experience in the health service or a related field
be able to identify a work-based problem for which they will seek evidence
be able to combine intensive classroom learning with the application of evidence-based and critically reflective educational principles in the workplace
demonstrate the ability to commit time to study, with employer support to complete coursework and attend modules and university events
have access to opportunities to deliver teaching and education activities, including delivery, assessment and/or evaluation during the course

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University’s higher level. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. Further information on English language requirements can be found here.

Please visit the MSc in EBHC in Teaching and Education page on the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website for details of course fees and costs.

Please see our funding page for help and information with regard to funding postgraduate studies. We further recommend that applicants search for funding opportunities via the online Fees, Funding and Scholarship search tool.

In order to be considered for many scholarships, applicants are required to apply by the January deadline. However, applicants should note that some scholarships require additional application materials and may have different deadlines, so applicants should make sure they check the application process for each scholarship carefully.

Applications for this course should be made via the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website. This website provides information on fees and entry requirements, along with help on preparing and submitting your application.

Application deadlines

12:00 midday UK time on:

Stage 1: Wednesday 28 January 2026 (Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships)
Stage 2: Tuesday 3 March 2026

When to apply

Early application for the programme is strongly advised. After the March deadline, the course will only stay open for that year’s entry if places are still available.

Remember that it can take a number of weeks to obtain all of the documents you need and to prepare a competitive application. You should also allow your referees plenty of time to submit your references. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible.

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process within six weeks of the application deadline.