MSc in Global Women's Health
About the course
The MSc in Global Women's Health is a two-year, part-time course, taught online with two one-week residentials in Oxford.
The MSc in Global Women's Health is is delivered online on a part-time basis and is intended for clinicians and non-clinicians, including policymakers, researchers, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and programme managers from donor organisations working in the field of women’s health.
It provides a comprehensive understanding of the practical and theoretical aspects of global women's health ensuring high-quality, person-centred and intersectional approaches to women’s health in line with the United Nation's Goals for Sustainable Development.
Women experience specific biological and gender-related challenges that can impact on their health, including sexuality, pregnancy, menopause chronic diseases, cancers and their socioeconomic and cultural development. Historically, women have been under-represented in drug-development, clinical trials, large-scale databases powering artificial intelligence algorithms, and policymaking. Collectively, this has resulted in widening health and social inequalities on a global scale. The strategies and methods that could be used to improve the health of women and achieve gender equity in health, span several disciplines, and are not usually taught in a systematic manner.
The MSc in Global Women's Health is innovative, multidisciplinary and utilizes an online and blended learning approach. Modules are led by Oxford and international experts, ensuring that the course has a specific global outlook on how we can tackle the major current issues in global women's health. The course is delivered on a part-time basis over two-years, allowing those working in low-, middle-income and high-income settings to study flexibly alongside their work and family commitments.
The overall aim of the MSc in Global Women's Health is to provide in-depth training in the principles and practice of women's health in a variety of global contexts, to nurture an interdisciplinary forum to develop future leaders in global health. The course will equip students with research, advocacy, leadership and policymaking skills so that our graduates can implement and effect local change, ultimately improving health outcomes for women globally.
Course structure
Details of the core and option modules, and other compulsory elements of the course, are provided in the Course components section of this page.
The course is completed over a 24-month period and consists of five core compulsory modules. In addition, you will select two optional modules from a list of six for further study. The modules vary in length from between 4 weeks to 11 weeks.
The course is designed to support you with flexible part-time study; therefore, lecture delivery will consist of pre-recorded lectures that introduce and explore important concepts and current literature. 'Live' online sessions which will take place, typically at weekly intervals during taught modules to allow engagement. This will be supported by one-week residential courses in Oxford at the beginning of both years 1 and 2.
The course will be taught by a multi-disciplinary team of Oxford staff and international co-leads to fully encompass the global context of women's health. Teaching will include recorded lectures, live discussions, problem-based learning in groups and individually as well as personal reading time.
Attendance
This part-time postgraduate course is delivered online over two years, with a one-week residential component in Oxford each year.
Over the units of study during the course term time it is expected that students devote an average of 20 hours per week to their studies. All resources, including lecture presentations and recommended further reading, as well as material for problem-based learning sessions and/or small-group discussion classes, are made available through Canvas, a virtual learning environment. All students will receive training on the use of Canvas at the beginning of the course. During the research projects, students will become a member of the hosting research group and will conduct a desk-based project with remote support from the host group and a main supervisor. The Course Team will also maintain contact with you and your peers during this time.
If you choose to take the optional Module XI: Practical Skills in Obstetric Ultrasound in your second year, you will need to extend your stay in Oxford by four weeks, either immediately before or after the residential school.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. A supervisor may be found outside the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health.
The Course Directors will be your primary supervisor throughout the course. You will have the opportunity to meet with them online regularly to discuss your progress. During the research project, supervision is devolved to the project supervisor; however the Course Directors remain available to meet with you and will continue to monitor progress.
Assessment
There are nine summative assessments in total.
During the course, you will be assessed through a variety of formats designed to be authentic, which may include presentations, written coursework such as policy papers and grant proposals, and examinations. In the second year of the course, you will complete a dissertation, which may also include the submission of an academic poster.
Students who complete all core modules and two optional modules in a satisfactory manner, but are unable to progress with the course, may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma.
Graduate destinations
The course is designed to ensure that students gain the skills required for employment in the field of global women's health. It is expected that many students will be employed already prior to commencing the course; however, the skills gained on the course should allow these individuals to seek promotion and progress further.
Modules I- III will allow students to engage with key topic areas in global women’s health while module IV is designed to develop softer skills in leadership, advocacy and how to change policy and practice. Module V will allow students to consolidate and develop vital skills in research which is inexorably linked to improving women’s health, independent of which field student’s seek further employment in. Thus, graduates of this course would be able to seek employment in research, leadership, advocacy and policy making in women's health across the world.
Changes to this course
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.
Course components
Core modules
The following modules are compulsory:
- Module I: Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights
- Module II: Maternal & Neonatal Health
- Module III: Women's Health: Climate, Conflict & Migration
- Module IV: Advocacy, Leadership and Policy & Practice for Women & Girls
- Module V: Integrated Research Skills for Global Women's Health
Option modules
In order to complete the masters, you will also be required to complete two option modules, chosen from a list of six:
- Module VI: Women's Mental Health: Global Challenges
- Module VII: Women & Cancer: The Global Picture
- Module VIII: Innovation in Women's Health
- Module IX: Menstruation Disorders: Global Trends and Solutions
- Module X: Infertility: A Global Perspective
- Module XI: Practical Skills in Obstetric Ultrasound
Dissertation
In addition to the taught modules listed above, you will be encouraged to develop your own research question in a topic relevant to your own country and work where applicable.
Residentials
You will also be required to attend two one-week residentials held in Oxford (one per year); these residential weeks will allow full engagement with course staff and your class peers. These residential weeks will be held at a college in the city of Oxford.
Entry requirements for entry in 2026-27
Proven and potential academic excellence
The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our guidance to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive.
We know that contextual factors can make it difficult for candidates to demonstrate their full potential. This course is taking part in an initiative to use contextual data to help us to better understand your achievements in the context of your individual background. For further details, please refer to the information about improving access to graduate study in the How to apply section of this page.
Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. Contextual data may also be used in the assessment of studentships.
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 in a subject related to medicine or public health.
The above qualification should be achieved in one of the following subject areas or disciplines:
- clinical medicine;
- nursing;
- midwifery;
- physiotherapy;
- pharmacology;
- ultrasonography;
- international development; or
- social sciences, such as political sciences.
However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent.
For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.5 out of 4.0. However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.7.
If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.
GRE General Test scores
No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience
Applicants must have a minimum of 1-2 years of work experience in an area related to Global Women's Health. This can include unpaid, formal employment and/or internships.
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. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.
| Test | Minimum overall score | Minimum score per component |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (Institution code: 0713) | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| TOEFL iBT* including the 'Home Edition' (Institution code: 0490) | 110 | Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24 |
| C1 Advanced† | 191 | 185 |
| C2 Proficiency‡ | 191 | 185 |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 165 | 155 |
*Changes to the TOEFL iBT test are being introduced on 21 January 2026. The University will not accept TOEFL tests taken from that date to meet the English language condition until a review of the revised test has been completed. Our Application Guide provides full details of the tests we accept.
†Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
‡Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides further information about the English language test requirement.
Declaring extenuating circumstances
If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.
References
You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.
Supporting documents
You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.
Performance at interview
Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.
If you are invited to attend an interview, you may be asked about your ability to commit sufficient time to study and fulfil all elements outlined in the course description (eg completing coursework, assessments, and attending course and University events and modules). You will also be asked some questions about how you intend to fit part-time study around your other commitments.
Offer conditions for successful applications
If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our 'After you apply' pages provide more information about offers and conditions.
In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:
Financial Declaration
If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a Financial Declaration in order to meet your financial condition of admission.
Disclosure of criminal convictions
In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any relevant, unspent criminal convictions before you can take up a place at Oxford.
Other factors governing whether places can be offered
The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:
- the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the About section of this page;
- the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
- minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.
Funding
For entry in the 2026-27 academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.
If you apply by the December deadline shown on this page and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships. For the majority of Oxford scholarships, your application will automatically be assessed against the eligibility criteria, without needing to make a separate application. There are further Oxford scholarships available which have additional eligibility criteria and where you are required to submit a separate application. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.
To ensure that you are considered for Oxford scholarships that require a separate application, for which you may be eligible, use our fees, funding and scholarship search tool to identify these opportunities and find out how to apply. Alongside Oxford scholarships, you should also consider other opportunities for which you may be eligible including a range of external funding, loan schemes for postgraduate study and any other scholarships which may also still be available after the January deadline as listed on our fees, funding and scholarship search tool.
Details of college-specific funding opportunities can also be found on individual college websites:
Please refer to the College preference section of this page to identify which of the colleges listed above accept students for this course.
For the majority of college scholarships, it doesn’t matter which college, if any, you state a preference for in your application. If another college is able to offer you a scholarship, your application can be moved to that college if you accept the scholarship. Some college scholarships may require you to state a preference for that college when you apply, so check the eligibility requirements carefully.
Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.
Costs
Annual course fees
The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.
Fees for the 2026-27 academic year at the University of Oxford
Fee status | Annual Course fees |
| Home | £17,410 |
| Overseas | £17,410 |
What do course fees cover?
Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional costs information below.
How long do I need to pay course fees?
Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year fees will usually increase annually, as explained in the University’s Terms and Conditions.
Where can I find more information about fees?
Our fees and other charges pages provide further information, including details about:
- course fees and fee liability;
- how your fee status is determined; and
- changes to fees and other charges.
Information about how much fees and other costs will usually increase each academic year is set out in the University's Terms and Conditions.
Additional costs
To participate in this course, students must have a computer (Windows or iOS) with a webcam and microphone. A stable internet connection is also essential; a minimum bandwidth of 1 Mbps is recommended for the course software. Financial assistance for internet access can be applied for.
The course includes a mandatory one-week residential school at the University of Oxford at the start of each academic year. The department will cover accommodation at St Hilda's College and college meals. Students are responsible for their own travel and other incidental costs. Financial aid is available to help a portion of students with overseas travel expenses. Detailed information on eligibility and application procedures can be found on the department's scholarships and funding pages.
Students who select the optional ultrasound module in their second year must extend their stay in Oxford by four weeks, either immediately before or after the residential school. While students are responsible for the associated accommodation and living costs for this extended period, the department offers various funding opportunities to help offset these expenses. A dissertation is a core requirement of the course. Depending on the research topic, students may incur additional costs for travel or data collection. While students are responsible for these costs, small departmental or college grants may be available to help cover a portion of them.
All other compulsory course elements are covered by tuition fees and the costs outlined above.
Living costs
In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.
Living costs for part-time study
Your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you will still need to cover your cost of living on a full-time basis for the duration of your course, even if you will not be based in Oxford throughout your studies. While the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student living in Oxford in the 2026-27 academic year is between £1,405 and £2,105 per month, living costs outside Oxford may be different.
Part-time students who are not based in Oxford will need to calculate travel and accommodation costs carefully. Depending on your circumstances and study plans, this may include the cost of a visitor visa to attend for short blocks of time (if visitor visa eligibility criteria are met).
Further information about living costs
The current economic climate and periods of high national inflation in recent years make it harder to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. For study in Oxford beyond the 2026-27 academic year, it is suggested that you budget for potential increases in living expenses of around 4% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation.
A breakdown of likely living costs for one month during the 2026-27 academic year are shown below. These costs are based on a single, full-time graduate student, with no dependants, living in Oxford.
| Lower range | Upper range | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | £315 | £545 |
| Accommodation | £825 | £990 |
| Personal items | £160 | £310 |
| Social activities | £50 | £130 |
| Study costs | £35 | £90 |
| Other | £20 | £40 |
| Total | £1,405 | £2,105 |
For information about how these figures have been calculated as well as tables showing the likely living costs for nine and twelve months, please refer to the living costs page of our website.
College preference
Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs).
If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief introduction to the college system at Oxford and our advice about expressing a college preference.
If you are a current Oxford student and you would like to remain at your current Oxford college, you should check whether it is listed below. If it is, you should indicate this preference when you apply. If not, you should contact your college office to ask whether they would be willing to make an exception. Further information about staying at your current college can be found in our Application Guide.
The following colleges accept students on the MSc in Global Women's Health:
Before you apply
Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application, including advice to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive.
If it is important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under the December deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance. Check the deadlines on this page and the information about deadlines and when to apply in our Application Guide.
Application fee waivers
An application fee of £75 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:
- applicants from low-income countries;
- refugees and displaced persons;
- UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and
- applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.
You are encouraged to check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver before you apply.
Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?
You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply. You are welcome to communicate with the Course Directors and/or Manager of MSc Taught Programmes to discuss the course content, teaching, assessment and any questions you may have, via the contact details provided on this page.
Improving access to graduate study
This course is taking part in initiatives to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.
Socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used as part of an initiative to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.
Completing your application
You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.
For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application.
If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.
Referees
Three overall, of which at least two must be academic
Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.
Your references will be assessed for:
- your intellectual ability
- your academic achievement
- your motivation and interest in the course and subject area
- your ability to effectively both in a group and independently
Official transcript(s)
Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.
More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.
Personal statement:
A maximum of 500 words
Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in.
The word count does not include bibliography, brief footnotes, captions, titles or legends that are applied to images, tables or charts.
If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.
Your statement will be assessed for:
- your reasons for applying
- your ability to present a coherent case in proficient English
- your commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course
- your preliminary knowledge of the subject area and research techniques
- your capacity for sustained and intense work
- reasoning ability
Start or continue your application
You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please refer to the requirements above and consult our Application Guide for advice.
After you've submitted your application
Your application (including the supporting documents outlined above) will be assessed against the entry requirements detailed on this course page. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed. You can find out more about our shortlisting and selection process in our detailed guide to what happens next.
Find out how to manage your application after submission, using our Applicant Self-Service tool.