MSc in Translational Health Sciences

The MSc in Translational Health Sciences is available as a part-time or full-time course. It consists of one compulsory module, five option modules and a dissertation.

Compulsory module

• Introduction and Research Methods for Translational Science

Option modules (five must be chosen — not all modules run every year)

• 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
• Sustainable Health Care

Each module runs over a nine-week cycle. The first two weeks involve introductory activities using a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), followed by a week of face-to-face teaching in Oxford. This is followed by four weeks of post-Oxford activities delivered through the VLE to support assignment preparation, a week of personal study, and then electronic submission of the assignment (typically on a Tuesday at 14:00 UK time).

Modules are spaced throughout the academic year, allowing flexibility in study pace for both full-time and part-time students. Please note that not all modules are guaranteed to run every year. Further details can be found on the course page.

The MSc in Translational Health Sciences aims to provide:

• an introduction to theory and methods in the ‘downstream’ phases of translational health sciences — the human, organisational and societal factors that influence the adoption, dissemination and mainstreaming of research discoveries
• a coherent overview of how different academic disciplines, with a pragmatic focus on real-world challenges, can inform problem-solving and guide action in translational health sciences
• rigorous interdisciplinary training that develops advanced intellectual and research skills and prepares students for progression to doctoral study

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• explain the theoretical basis and practical importance of translational health science as an interdisciplinary field of study
• critically analyse the human, organisational, socio-cultural, economic, regulatory, policy and ethical dimensions of translational health sciences
• identify, combine and apply appropriate theoretical models and empirical methods to address practical challenges, delivering tangible benefits for patients, health services and wider society

To complete the course, you must take one compulsory module, five optional modules (chosen from approximately nine options), and complete a dissertation of up to 15,000 words.

Each module typically involves:

• preparatory reading
• structured individual and group activities delivered online
• a one-week intensive course with lectures, small group activities and presentations
• online follow-up to support the completion of your module assignment

Our teaching model draws on students’ real-world experience and diverse backgrounds. After covering key principles and topics, you will be encouraged to engage with case studies (including those from your own experience) and contribute actively to group discussions. Learning is further enriched through input from visiting lecturers, experts-in-residence and organisations outside academia, such as biotech and software companies, policy bodies like NICE, and patient charities.

Part-time attendance

As a part-time student, you are required to complete six modules. Each module includes a five-day period of face-to-face teaching in Oxford, amounting to a total of six weeks’ attendance. Part-time students must attend at least one module in each academic year.

Oxford College affiliation

As a matriculated postgraduate student, you will become a member of one of the University’s multidisciplinary colleges. This provides opportunities to engage with a wide range of perspectives and disciplines through college life.

The collegiate system is a distinctive feature of Oxford, offering a vibrant and supportive community where you can take part in seminars, dinners and informal discussions with students and academics from across the University.

For a list of colleges that accept students on the MSc in Translational Health Sciences, please see the Graduate Admissions course page.

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

The course is delivered by research-active tutors from the University’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, led by Professor Trish Greenhalgh.

Assessment for each module is based on performance in a group presentation and a written assignment of no more than 4,000 words. MSc students are also required to complete a dissertation on a topic chosen in consultation with a supervisor and the Course Director. The dissertation should not normally exceed 15,000 words.

To complete the programme, students must:

• attend and successfully complete the one compulsory module and five option modules
• complete a dissertation, agreed with a supervisor and the Course Director, of up to 15,000 words

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 to meet the undergraduate-level requirement 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 Translational Health Sciences 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.

In addition, for those interested in pursuing a DPhil in this subject in the future, the Rosamund Snow Scholarship for Patient-Led Research may be available.

For information about entry requirements and how to apply, please visit the MSc in Translational Health Sciences 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 obtain all required documents and prepare a competitive application. You should also allow referees sufficient time to submit references, so applying as early as possible is recommended.

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