MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care


The MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care is part of the Oxford International Programme in Evidence-Based Health Care, and is offered as a part-time course consisting of six taught modules and a dissertation. This is a joint Programme with the Department of Primary Health Care and the Department for Continuing Education's Continuing Professional Development Centre and a particular aim of the Programme is to strengthen the natural links with the renowned Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford.

A former MSc in EBHC student, Bradley Johnston, 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."

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

  • direct and be committed to their own future lifelong learning

Explore the Modules and Short Courses
in Evidence-Based Health Care