Key facts

Overview

The MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care will position students to integrate the best available research evidence with their clinical expertise and patient values to make better informed decisions in their field of health care.

There are two admission deadlines for applicants who wish to be considered for entry in October 2013. These are 18 January 2013 and 24 May 2013.

Description

This is a joint Programme between the Department of Primary Health Care and the Department for Continuing Education's Continuing Professional Development Centre. The Programme works in collaboration with the renowned Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford.

This programme 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.

A former MSc in EBHC student, Bradley Johnstone, wrote to us when he heard that the Masters in EBHC was being restarted. He said:

"I enjoyed the learning environment immensely while in the MSc program. The teaching and learning philosophy (e.g., small group, self-directed, problem-based, interactive) fits very nicely with my own views and I hope to participate in this type of educational environment again very soon. I can't think of a learning environment that would be more exciting than that of the EBHC MSc course."

Programme details

The MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care is a part-time course consisting of six taught modules and a dissertation. There are two compulsory modules, four option modules and a dissertation.

Compulsory Modules

• Practice of Evidence-Based Health Care
• Introduction to Study Design and Research Methods

Option Modules (four must be chosen)

• Clinical Epidemiology
• Essential Medical Statistics
• Ethics for Biosciences
• Evidence-Based Diagnosis and Screening
• Introduction to Statistics for Health Care Research (online)
• Knowledge into Action
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Randomized Controlled Trials
• Systematic Reviews
• The History and Philosophy of Evidence-Based Health Care

Selection criteria

Course aims

The aim of the MSc programme is to help health professionals base their clinical and health management decisions on valid, reliable and relevant evidence, determined by sound scientific research and evaluation.

By the end of the Master's degree students will be expected to be able to:

• Find and appraise quantitative and qualitative research evidence critically and efficiently and understand what the results mean in different contexts and for different healthcare decisions.
• Integrate and synthesise different sorts of information, from diverse sources, when making both individual patient and health policy decisions in a wide range of situations.
• Be familiar with key issues for evidence-based practice in their own professional area or specialty.
• Work comfortably in situations of uncertainty and make sound judgements in the absence of definitive evidence.
• Work comfortably in unpredictable situations and deal with complex issues systematically and creatively.
• Have an understanding of ethical frameworks in health care and be able to apply ethical principles to practical issues.
• Understand health care organisations, their management and the changing context in which they operate
• Be pro-active in recognising the need for change and have the ability to manage change.
• Understand how to work with colleagues to make informed decisions based on evidence and operate effectively in a variety of team roles.
• Provide leadership for evidence-based practice and research.
• Manage projects, people, time and change effectively and efficiently.
• Present and communicate information about research evidence and evidence-based practice clearly in written, electronic and oral forms to a range of audiences.
• Be able to produce a robust research protocol, for a variety of different types of research question, in a format that can be submitted as an application for research funding.
• Be able to play a lead role in the conduct and presentation of research.
• Have an understanding of the ethical issues in health research and research governance.
• Routinely use the principles of reflective practice.

Assessment methods

Assessment for each module will be based on a written assignment. Students for the MSc will also be required to complete a dissertation on a topic chosen in consultation with a supervisor and the Programme Director. The dissertation should not normally exceed 30,000 words.

To complete the MSc students must:

• Attend and complete the 2 compulsory modules and 4 option modules
• Complete a dissertation on a topic chosen in consultation with a supervisor and the Course Director. The dissertation should normally not exceed 15,000 words.
• Attend a viva voce examination at the end of the course of studies at the discretion of the examiners

Level and demands

To be eligible for the course you should:

• be a graduate or have successfully completed a professional training course
• have at least two years' professional work experience in the health service or a health-related field
• identify a work based problem for which you will be seeking evidence
• be able to combine intensive classroom learning with the application of the principles and practices of evidence-based health care within the work place
• have a good working knowledge of email, internet, word processing and Windows applications (for communications with course members, course team and administration)
• show evidence of the ability to commit time to study and an employer's commitment to make time available to study, complete course work and attend course and university events and modules.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available at the Rewley House Residential Centre, within the Department for Continuing Education, in central Oxford. The comfortable, en-suite, study-bedrooms are rated 3-star, and come with free high-speed internet access and TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.

Payment

Fee rates for the academic year 2013-14

These rates (in pounds sterling) are for the academic year 2013-14 and will increase annually.

Annual award fee

• The annual award fee is due for every academic year (or part-year) attended; module or dissertation fees are due in advance as invoiced. Fees must be paid in accordance with the Terms and Conditions for the programme.

  Illustration for full programme (completing in three years, with six taught modules and a dissertation)

  3 annual award fees:

  • £3,780 for Home/EU students or
  • £15,600 for Overseas students (see note 1)

  plus 6 module fees: £9,450
  plus dissertation fee: £4,725
  Total:

  • £17,955 for Home/EU students or
  • £29,775 for Overseas students (see note 1)

  Module fee: £1,575 (per taught module)

Notes

1. The fee rates listed are for the academic year shown, and you should be aware that these rates will increase annually.
2. See the Oxford University website for Home/EU and Overseas classification of students for fees purposes.
3. The Illustration is based on the fee rates for the academic year shown; however, fee rates for attendance in future years will increase, so students attending for more than one year should expect the total to be higher than is shown in the Illustration. The exact amount will depend on the fee rates set annually, and upon the years you are in attendance; these are normally published well before the start of each academic year, but for your own budgetary purposes you may wish to estimate a 5% annual increase on fee rates.
4. MSc students are matriculated and are full members of the Collegiate University; college fees are included within the MSc programme fees and are paid to the colleges on a student’s behalf.
5. Funding: Overseas students applying for the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care are eligible to apply for a Clarendon Fund Scholarship.

Scholarships

Details of funding opportunities, including grants, bursaries, loans, scholarships and benefit information are available on our financial assistance page.

Modules in this programme

The following modules can be studied as part of this programme:

• Health Sciences (29)
• Clinical Epidemiology
• Essential Medical Statistics
• Ethics for Biosciences
• Evidence-Based Diagnosis and Screening
• Introduction to Statistics for Health Care Research
• Introduction to Study Design & Research Methods
• Knowledge into Action
• Practice of Evidence-Based Health Care
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Randomized Controlled Trials
• Systematic Reviews
• Teaching Evidence-Based Practice
• The History and Philosophy of Evidence-Based Health Care

Apply for this course