DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care

The DPhil programme follows on from the taught MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care and is overseen by the University’s Continuing Education Board. Admission is through the Department for Continuing Education. All graduate students must apply also for membership of a college. Most choose to become members of Kellogg College, which caters particularly for mature students and which is closely associated with the Department. Supervision is arranged to suit the DPhil topic and may involve staff from within the Medical Sciences Division as well as co-supervision with members of the Evidence-Based network.

The DPhil is part of the Evidence-Based Health Care Programme, which is jointly run with the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in the Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences. The programme also works closely with the Centres of Evidence-Based Nursing, Evidence-Based Mental Health, and Evidence-Based Dentistry. The Department’s graduate students have access to the full range of Oxford’s library and computing facilities.

The DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care regulations normally require a minimum of four years’ part-time study over 12 terms (equivalent to two years’ full-time) up to a maximum of eight years part-time study. Research students may be required to undertake appropriate research training provided within the Department. In addition, they will be strongly encouraged to participate in seminars and informal meetings with staff and other researchers. The major commitment of time will be to individual study and research and research students are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

The DPhil programme accepts applications from those who have already been awarded the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care, MSc in Systematic Reviews, MSc in Medical Statistics, or a master’s in a related subject.

Supervision is arranged to suit the DPhil topic and may involve staff from within the Medical Sciences Division as well as co-supervision with members of the Evidence-Based network.

Level and demands

For the full Selection Criteria please refer to the Graduate Admissions and Funding website.

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

• the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care, or equivalent qualification, with an average of at least 65% across all components of the MSc; and
• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant subject.
• Show prior interest in the area of research proposed

The DPhil programme follows on from the taught MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care and is overseen by the University’s Continuing Education Board. Admission is through the Department for Continuing Education. All graduate students must apply also for membership of a college. Most choose to become members of Kellogg College, which caters particularly for mature students and which is closely associated with the Department. Supervision is arranged to suit the DPhil topic and may involve staff from within the Medical Sciences Division as well as co-supervision with members of the Evidence-Based network.

The DPhil is part of the Evidence-Based Health Care Programme, which is jointly run with the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in the Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences. The programme also works closely with the Centres of Evidence-Based Nursing, Evidence-Based Mental Health, and Evidence-Based Dentistry. The Department’s graduate students have access to the full range of Oxford’s library and computing facilities.

The DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care regulations normally require a minimum of four years’ part-time study over 12 terms (equivalent to two years’ full-time) up to a maximum of eight years part-time study. Research students may be required to undertake appropriate research training provided within the Department. In addition, they will be strongly encouraged to participate in seminars and informal meetings with staff and other researchers. The major commitment of time will be to individual study and research and research students are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

The Course Directors for this programme are Prof Carl Heneghan and Dr Anne-Marie Boylan.

The DPhil programme follows on from the taught MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care and is overseen by the University’s Continuing Education Board. Admission is through the Department for Continuing Education. All graduate students must apply also for membership of a college. Most choose to become members of Kellogg College, which caters particularly for mature students and which is closely associated with the Department. Supervision is arranged to suit the DPhil topic and may involve staff from within the Medical Sciences Division as well as co-supervision with members of the Evidence-Based network.

The DPhil is part of the Evidence-Based Health Care Programme, which is jointly run with the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in the Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences. The programme also works closely with the Centres of Evidence-Based Nursing, Evidence-Based Mental Health, and Evidence-Based Dentistry. The Department’s graduate students have access to the full range of Oxford’s library and computing facilities.

The DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care regulations normally require a minimum of four years’ part-time study over 12 terms (equivalent to two years’ full-time) up to a maximum of eight years part-time study. Research students may be required to undertake appropriate research training provided within the Department. In addition, they will be strongly encouraged to participate in seminars and informal meetings with staff and other researchers. The major commitment of time will be to individual study and research and research students are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

The DPhil programme accepts applications from those who have already been awarded the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care, MSc in Systematic Reviews, MSc in Medical Statistics, or a master’s in a related subject.

Supervision is arranged to suit the DPhil topic and may involve staff from within the Medical Sciences Division as well as co-supervision with members of the Evidence-Based network.

Level and demands

For the full Selection Criteria please refer to the Graduate Admissions and Funding website.

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

• the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care, or equivalent qualification, with an average of at least 65% across all components of the MSc; and
• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant subject.
• Show prior interest in the area of research proposed

Fee rates

The DPhil fees are payable each academic year you are a registered student.

Please visit the Funding and Costs section on the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care webpage for details of course fees.

Scholarships and funding

Details of funding opportunities, including grants, bursaries, loans, scholarships and benefit information are available on our Fees and Funding page.

For information about entry requirements and how to apply, please visit the DPhil in Evidence-Based Healthcare course page on the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website.

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying please contact the course administrator: tel: +44 (0)1865 286938 – email: pgr@conted.ox.ac.uk and for guidance on potential supervisors see EBHC DPhil Clusters.

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

If places are still available, applications may be accepted after 3 March.