The side of the Radcliffe Camera through a black gate
The Radcliffe Camera, seen from the Bodleian Quad
(Image Credit: Christopher Wills)

MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care (Medical Statistics)

About the course

This is a course for health professionals who wish to strengthen their statistical skills and ability to analyse data. Students will gain confidence in carrying out the methods that are widely used in medical statistics, and interpreting the results for the practice of evidence-based health care.

The MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care (Medical Statistics) is designed for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, midwives and other healthcare professionals, seeking to consolidate their understanding and ability in medical statistics. Core modules introduce the students to methods for observational and clinical trials research. Optional modules offer the students skills in growth areas such as systematic review, meta-analysis, and big data epidemiology, or specialist areas such as statistical computing, diagnosis and screening research and others.

The course aims to give students high competence in the concepts, methods, terminology and interpretation of medical statistics; and hence, enhance their ability to carry out their own research and to interpret published evidence.

Students should gain:

  • competence in execution and interpretation of core statistical techniques used by medical statisticians, particularly those used in multivariable analyses: multiple linear regression, logistic regression, and survival modelling, statistical analysis plans and statistical reporting
  • competence in execution and interpretation of core statistical techniques used by medical statisticians in clinical trials
  • competence in execution and interpretation of four other areas, selected by the student from the following options: meta-analysis; systematic review; big data epidemiology; statistical computing; diagnosis and screening; study design and research methods
  • hands-on experience, supervised by a senior member of our medical statistics team, of the analysis or meta-analysis of healthcare data, in order to address a question in evidence-based health care.

Compared to the main EBHC course, MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care, this will suit those with basic statistical understanding who now seek deeper understanding on a broader base of statistical methods.

The MSc is a joint course offered between the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences and the Department for Continuing Education. The course works in collaboration with the renowned Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford.

This course has teachers and contributors who are internationally recognised leaders in the field of evidence-based practice and teaching. The flexible structure of the course has been devised to fit with the structure of specialist training and to accommodate student choice.

Teaching is tailored to non-statisticians and delivered by an experienced team of tutors from University of Oxford who bridge the disciplines of medical statistics and evidence-based health care.

Course structure

You will be guided through two core modules, four optional modules, and a dissertation leading to a qualification in the application of medical statistics to evidence-based health care. The majority of modules are run over either an eight, or fifteen week learning cycle and are spaced throughout the academic year. This allows for a choice of options to be taken over the two to four years that you attend the course. 

Core Modules

You will take the following two core modules:

  • Essential Medical Statistics
  • Statistics for Clinical Trials

Optional modules

You will take four option modules in total; two modules from group one, followed by two from group two, or one further module from group one and one from group two. Please note that not all modules are guaranteed to run every year.

Group one modules
  • Big Data Epidemiology
  • Clinical Prediction Rules
  • Meta-analysis
  • Statistical Computing for Health Care Research
Group two modules
  • Economics of Healthcare
  • Evidence-based Diagnosis and Screening
  • Introduction to Study Design and Research Methods
  • Systematic Reviews or Complex Reviews

Teaching format

Most modules are either delivered fully online or in a blended format. However, some modules are only delivered with a blended format that includes a five day attendance in Oxford, and some are only run entirely online. In any given year, not all delivery formats for a module may be available.

More information about the course and modules can be found on the course page, on the Department for Continuing Education Website (See Further Information and Enquiries).

Blended format

An initial period of self-directed study is spent 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.

Fully online format

Fully-online modules are delivered through the VLE with the first week allocated to self-directed introductory activities. 

For some courses, you will have a number of units to work through which are released week by week. Each unit includes a mixture of supported and self-directed learning with discussion forums, tasks and activities. You will then have five weeks of self-directed personal study with use of a revision forum and the requirement to submit an assignment electronically the following week. These courses that usually run over a 15 week period.

For other courses, five consecutive days of synchronous and asynchronous teaching sessions will be followed by a further period of 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. These courses usually run over an eight week period.

Attendance

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 you to attend a week (five days) in Oxford for supported face to face teaching. Your other four modules can be made up of a mix of ‘in person’, or fully online modules. For additional note: All students are required to attend a minimum of one module in each academic year on course. This can either be ‘in person’ or fully online.

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.

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.

Most students have the opportunity to meet, or contact their supervisor at least once per month.

Assessment

Assessments are conducted at the end of each module and comprise a written paper, submitted via an online portal. The dissertation will be on a topic chosen in consultation with your supervisor and the course director and should not normally exceed 15,000 words.

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.

Graduate destinations

Most part-time students starting this course are already in full-time employment. The MSc offers health care professionals opportunities to enhance their working lives by:

  • updating and improving their clinical practice
  • facilitating effective and timely decision making in health care
  • identifying and applying research critically to improve their own and others’ practice
  • disseminating and translating high quality evidence for patient and public benefit
  • opening up new career opportunities.

Past students have also gone on to study for the part-time DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care and all graduates are invited to be part of an international alumni network where success is shared and new initiatives are supported.

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.

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