Research degrees DPhil or MSc by Research

Taught degrees MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care

Research conducted in the Department

The Department is based at 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street in the centre of Oxford and has strong links with local general practices, many of which are involved in undergraduate teaching and research.

Most of the research done in the Department relates to one of four areas – vascular disease, cancer, childhood infection and medical humanities. There is a strong interest in clinical trials but the overall programme encompasses a range of methodologies from qualitative research to laboratory science. The Centre for Evidence Based Medicine in the Department has the mission of ensuring that research impacts on clinical practice.

• The vascular disease research includes studies on the community management of diabetes mellitus (particularly self-monitoring and medication adherence in type 2 diabetes), rehabilitation after stroke, the identification and management of ventricular dysfunction, the identification and management of hyperlipidaemia, and strategies to minimise vascular risk.
• The cancer research focuses on prevention, screening, and early diagnosis of cancer. A number of recent studies have dealt with familial risk of cancer and issues of community follow-up after hospital treatment with curative intent. The Department also has an interest in smoking cessation and hosts the Cochrane Tobacco Group.
• The infectious disease group is particularly concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and transmission of respiratory infection in children. It is trying to exploit new molecular diagnostic techniques to improve understanding of the pathogenesis and presentation of respiratory infection in children in order to inform diagnosis and clinical management.
• The medical humanities research programme encompasses a range of research interests including medical ethics, narrative description of illness and communication between health care professionals and their patients. Of particular note is the DIPEx project (a programme of qualitative research to establish a nationally accessible database of patient experiences).

Research opportunities in Neuroscience are available across a range of departments within the Medical Sciences Division and candidates have the opportunity to make a single application to a collection of relevant programmes to undertake research in this area.  For further information and details of how to apply for postgraduate research programmes in Neuroscience see Graduate Studies in Neuroscience.

The Department provides research training on an apprenticeship basis for both clinicians and other relevant disciplines.

Further details of the research groups and lead researchers can be found on the Department website.

Further information on research: Professor of General Practice, Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, 2nd Floor, 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford OX1 2ET, Enquiry Form

How to apply for research degrees

All candidates should contact the department in the first instance, to discuss their research interests and establish contact with potential supervisors, before submitting an application to the University.

Entry requirements include indications of proven and potential academic excellence, normally including a minimum of a 2:1 (or equivalent) in the undergraduate degree; a research proposal (normally two pages in length to cover areas such as background to research, aims, methodology, expected results, contribution to the field of learning etc); proficiency in English language at the higher level.

For full details of the University application process please see the Applications and Admissions procedure

Suitable applicants will be interviewed by a panel of academics in Oxford.  Non-UK applicants may be interviewed by Skype or video conference.

Funding information
Primary Care Health Sciences DPhil studentships are available for Home/EU applicants and will be advertised on the Studentship section of the website.

Fully-funded studentships are available for outstanding applicants to this Department from any country. For more information please see the Funding section of the Medical Sciences Division Graduate School website.

To be considered for funding students must apply by the early January deadline. 

Further funding information for prospective international and home students can be found on the Fees and Funding website.  This site also has information on Graduate Continuation charges: http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/fees/information/maxlib/pgrccfaq/

Guidance for International Students
Please visit the Graduate Admissions website for information on studying at Oxford as an international student including details of English Language requirements.  For Visa and Immigration information please see here.

To make a preliminary enquiry to the University of Oxford Department of Primary Health Care Sciences please use our enquiry form