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MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care

Course status:

Closed

Duration:

2-4 years, part-time

Study format:

In person and online

Level:

Postgraduate

The MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care will position students to integrate the best available research evidence with their clinical expertise and patient values to make better-informed decisions in their field of health care.

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.

This programme is taught by internationally recognised leaders in evidence-based practice and education. Its flexible structure is designed to fit alongside specialist training pathways while allowing students to tailor their learning to their individual interests and professional needs.

KEY INFORMATION

Visit graduate admissions

The MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care is a part-time course. It includes two compulsory modules, four option modules and a dissertation.

Compulsory modules

Option modules (choose four)

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 aim of the MSc programme is to help health professionals base their clinical and health management decisions on valid, reliable and relevant evidence, determined by sound scientific research and evaluation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be expected to be able to:

Find and critically appraise quantitative and qualitative research evidence efficiently, and understand what the results mean in different contexts and for different healthcare decisions
Integrate and synthesise information from diverse sources when making individual patient and health policy decisions
Demonstrate familiarity with key issues in evidence-based practice within their professional area or speciality
Work confidently in situations of uncertainty and make sound judgements in the absence of definitive evidence
Handle complex and unpredictable situations systematically and creatively
Understand ethical frameworks in health care and apply ethical principles to practical issues
Understand health care organisations, their management, and the changing context in which they operate
Recognise the need for change and demonstrate the ability to manage it effectively
Collaborate with colleagues to make evidence-based decisions and operate effectively in team roles
Provide leadership in evidence-based practice and research
Manage projects, people, time and change effectively
Communicate research evidence and evidence-based practice clearly in written, electronic and oral formats to a range of audiences
Develop robust research protocols suitable for submission in research funding applications
Play a leading role in the conduct and presentation of research
Understand ethical issues in health research and research governance
Apply the principles of reflective practice in a routine and effective manner

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 attendance for one week (five days) of supported face-to-face teaching. Your remaining four modules can be a combination of in-person and fully online delivery. All students must attend 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 wide range of perspectives and disciplines.

The collegiate system is a distinctive part of the Oxford experience. Colleges are friendly and diverse communities where you can take part in seminars, social events and informal discussions with students and academics from across the University.

For a list of colleges that accept students on the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care, please see the Graduate Admissions course page.

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

The programme is delivered through Oxford Lifelong Learning, with the expertise in curriculum design and teaching drawn from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, and the Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School.

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 a supervisor and the Course Director. The dissertation should not normally exceed 15,000 words.

To complete the MSc, students must:

attend and successfully complete the two compulsory modules and four option modules
complete a dissertation, agreed with a supervisor and the Course Director, of up to 15,000 words
attend a viva voce examination at the end of the course, at the discretion of the examiners

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any subject

Successful completion of a professional training course or relevant work experience in the health service or a health-related field may also be considered.

For applicants with a bachelor’s degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA normally required is 3.6 out of 4.0.

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 Evidence-Based Health Care 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 also recommend searching for funding opportunities via the online Fees, Funding and Scholarship search tool.

To be considered for many scholarships, applicants must apply by the January deadline. However, some scholarships require additional application materials and may have different deadlines, so applicants should check the application process for each scholarship carefully.

For information about entry requirements and how to apply, please visit the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care page on the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website. This website provides information on fees and entry requirements, along with guidance 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 remain open for that year’s entry if places are still available.

It can take several weeks to gather all required documents and prepare a competitive application. You should also allow referees sufficient time to submit their references, so applying as early as possible is recommended.

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