MSc in Pain Neurosciences
About the course
The MSc in Pain Neurosciences explores pain mechanisms from molecules to brain systems, providing students with the multidisciplinary skills and advanced knowledge essential for understanding and addressing pain in research and healthcare settings.
The MSc is a part-time course, spread over two years, combining online and in-person teaching, delivered by pre-clinical and clinical research teams from the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, the broader Oxford Pain community, Oxford University Hospitals, and external institutions. You will receive comprehensive and high-quality teaching on pain fundamentals and pain research, spanning basic to clinical science.
This format is designed to unite a diverse group of educators and students—including basic and clinical scientists, allied health professionals, and physicians—creating a unique environment for professional collaboration and providing opportunities to undertake research projects in world-leading laboratories.
Furthermore, this course provides a valuable platform for developing a range of transferable skills, such as:
- critical thinking,
- effective communication,
- data analysis,
- problem-solving, and
- collaborative working.
These skills are essential across both academic and professional environments.
Course structure
An overview of the course structure is provided below. Details of the compulsory elements of the course are provided in the Course components section of this page.
This two-year, part-time course with teaching delivered primarily online, is enhanced by two one-week residential sessions at Oxford University and the opportunity to undertake a research project. The course is designed to provide the flexibility to study remotely around other commitments, but also providing immersive in-person teaching in Oxford. The programme includes taught modules, delivered by experts in each field and the opportunity to conduct research in world leading pain labs.
Typically, modules will be taught over 10-11 weeks covering one Oxford term, split into 2-3-week sub-module blocks. Teaching will alternate between asynchronous weeks with written, recorded or interactive material to be covered in your own time, and synchronous weeks with live online group sessions (1.5-2 hours). On average, it would be expected that students devote 10-12 hours per week to their studies.
During the second year you will undertake a research project to be conducted remotely or in-person.
You will also attend two one-week residentials, one in each year of the course. Accommodation will typically be provided within an Oxford college. These weeks will also be an opportunity for you to explore your college, the city of Oxford and take part in social activities (eg college dinner) with fellow students and members of the Oxford pain community.
You will need a computer (Windows or iOS), webcam and microphone for this course. You will also need to ensure appropriate internet connection. The recommended bandwidth for the software is 4Mbps upload and 4Mbps download.
Attendance
Delivery of this course is mostly online, but you will be required to attend two one-week residential sessions in Oxford.
The residential session will take place between Hilary and Trinity Term (spring) in Year one and the second week will take place before Michaelmas Term (autumn) in Year two. Exact dates will be provided at the start of the course.
Resources to support your study
As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of 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, as well as guidance on what technology to bring with you as a new student at Oxford.
Online resources will be made available through the University’s virtual learning platform Canvas.
For research projects you will become a member of the host research group. They will provide support and resources for remote projects. For in-person projects you will have access to their research facilities.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences 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 Clinical Neurosciences.
The Course Director, Co-Directors, tutor, course administration team, and your college will provide support throughout the course. During your research project, your project supervisor will oversee your work, with additional support from the course team as needed.
Assessment
Each module will be evaluated using one or more assessment types which will include written work, data analysis and oral presentations (online and in-person (during residential week)).
Assessments are designed to reflect ‘real world’ tasks of those in basic and clinical research. For example, these may include, submission of a research proposal with a ‘pitch’ style presentation, a critical ‘peer-review’ style appraisal of a contemporary research paper, a patient information sheet as well as in-person and online presentations to mimic conference situations.
There will also be a written dissertation with accompanying oral examination conducted online. Formative assessments will be used throughout the course to provide students with feedback and preparation for summative assessments.
Graduate destinations
Graduates of the MSc in Pain Neurosciences will be uniquely equipped with the advanced knowledge, research skills, and practical expertise necessary to pursue a variety of impactful career pathways for example, further graduate study (e.g. PhD), a broad range of academic and clinical careers, leadership roles in pain management programmes, industry research, teaching in higher education, government and policy-making roles. Students will obtain the skillset necessary to advance the understanding, treatment, and policy surrounding one of the most pervasive healthcare challenges.
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
Compulsory study
The programme includes five taught modules, delivered by experts in each field, which may cover areas such as:
- Foundations of pain neurobiology, physiology, and behaviour eg nociception and pain perception, pain-related pathways and modulation, genetic and epigenetic factors, learning and motivation.
- Mechanisms of chronic pain and specific pain conditions eg low back pain, inflammatory pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, headache.
- Assessment and management of pain eg pain metrics and biomarkers, pharmacological and multidisciplinary pain management, novel interventions
- Pain in distinct populations and pain research methodology eg age and gender, social factors, experimental rigour, research dissemination
- Special topics eg pain and the immune system, pain and sleep, neurotechnology and pain.
You will also attend two one-week residentials are included as part of the programme, with one conducted in each year of the course. These intensive weeks will provide you with an immersive Oxford University experience, and consist of practical workshops covering a range of basic and clinical science approaches for studying pain. They will be an opportunity to hear seminars from world-leading researchers, conduct group academic activities, gain hands-on pain research experience and take part in networking events.
Dissertation
You will also complete a research project for your dissertation. This can be conducted remotely or in-person.
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 with honours in biomedical sciences, neuroscience, psychology or other related science or a a health-related discipline including clinical training (eg medical degree, allied health degree).
It is possible that the requirement for a first-class or strong upper second-class degree with honours can be alternatively demonstrated by a master’s level qualification or substantial relevant professional experience.
For applicants with a bachelor's 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.
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
An appropriate medical qualification equivalent to MBBS (MD for overseas students) is also a suitable background for applicants. The following would be advantageous:
- Experience in pain research or working experience in pain medicine
- Awards of national prizes for excellence, scholarships or peer-review publications
Further guidance
The course will primarily be conducted online and therefore students are expected to have good IT skills with access to audio-visual equipment.
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 will be held as part of the admissions process.
Entry is competitive and candidates will be short-listed for interviews based on their academic background, professional experience, achievements, quality of their personal statement and references.
Interviews will take place online with a minimum of two interviewers.
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).
If invited for interview you will be asked to give a 5-minute presentation as part of the interview covering your educational/professional/research background and your motivations for applying. You will then be questioned by the panel for around fifteen minutes.
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 | £13,065 |
| Overseas | £20,355 |
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
Students will need a computer (Windows or iOS), with webcam and microphone. Students will also need to ensure appropriate internet connection – the recommended bandwidth is 1Mbps. It is necessary that students attend two one-week residential sessions at the University of Oxford. Basic accommodation and subsistence for both residential weeks will be provided by the course. The course will also provide reimbursement for reasonable economy travel costs (including travel visas when required) for the residentials, up to the following maximum limits based on the origin of travel: National Travel (within the UK): Reimbursement is available up to a maximum of £300. European Travel (outside the UK but within Europe): Up to £600. International Travel (Outside Europe): Maximum of £1200. Only costs that comply with the University of Oxford Travel Policy and Expenses Policy can be reimbursed – specific information will be provided to candidates enrolled on the course. Costs above and beyond these will need to be met by the students. Whilst the majority of meals will be provided, students should factor in costs for some meals during their stay, e.g. lunches. For in-person research projects, students will need to cover their own travel and accommodation costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department to help you cover some of these expenses.
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 online 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 during 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.
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 Pain Neurosciences:
Before you apply
Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool 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 a December or January 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 contact the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.
General enquiries should be made to the course team via [email protected].
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 assessed fairly.
Contextual 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, academic preferred
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.
Academic references are ideal though professional references will be accepted where academic references cannot be obtained.
Your references will support intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation and interest in the course and subject area, your ability to work 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.
Statement of purpose:
A maximum of 750 words
Your statement of purpose should outline why you are applying for the course and how pain neurosciences might be useful in your professional practice.
Please include what you hope to get out of the course, what areas you would like to focus on for your research projects (in-person or remote), and your future career plans.
You should provide evidence of 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).
If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.
This will be assessed for your:
- reasons for applying;
- commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course;
- your ability to commit sufficient time (10-12 hours per week) to study and to fulfil all elements outlined in the course description.
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.