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Part time — Open
Graduate

MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care (Medical Statistics)

The MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care (Medical Statistics) is a part-time taught course for health professionals, focusing on statistical methods, clinical trials, meta-analysis, and big data to support evidence-based decision-making.

Open: Part time

Applications are still open. Up to a week's notice of closure will be provided on this page - no other notification will be given. 

Expected length:
  • Part time: 2-4 years
Expected start date:
  • Part time:
English language level:
  • Higher level required
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About the course

The course 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: clinical prediction rules; meta-analysis; systematic reviews or complex reviews; 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 healthcare.

Course structure

This section provides an overview of the course structure, while details of the individual course components are provided below.

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 healthcare. 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.

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.

Core components

You will take two core modules and write a dissertation.

Option modules

You will choose four option modules.

Course details

Entry requirements

For entry in 2026-27

Funding and costs

College preference

Before you apply

Completing your application

Contact details