Paid Internship Opportunity

We are pleased to announce the Health Economics Internship Programme funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for undergraduate students, hosted by the Health Economics and Policy Evaluation Group, at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences (NDPCHS), University of Oxford.

As part of this programme, we are looking to recruit three interns (two Oxford-enrolled undergraduate students and one undergraduate student from other UK universities) to join our research team over a six-week period (20 August – 1 October 2025). The internships are fully funded by NIHR and will provide hands-on experience in health economics research.

Interns will have the opportunity to:
· Contribute to research projects and receive tailored supervision and training.
· Develop research skills including literature reviews and statistical analysis.
· Attend seminars and workshops provided by the group and beyond.
· Present their findings to the Health Economics and Policy Evaluation Group at NDPCHS.

Interns will support one of three research projects: (1) a literature review of outcome measures used in children’s mental health; (2) a literature review on models of care and cost-effectiveness for people with dementia and multimorbidity; or (3) an analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) data exploring links between depression and dementia.

Interns will attend a series of presentations delivered by researchers from the Health Economics and Policy Evaluation Group, offering insight into the breadth of work undertaken by the team. They will also participate in interactive sessions with senior researchers and professors, exploring potential career paths in health economics. The programme will conclude with an in-person networking event hosted by the NIHR.

We aim to attract individuals who are considering a research career and have an interest in the economic aspects of health, healthcare, and applied health research more broadly. Our goal is to inspire undergraduate students from a wide range of academic backgrounds—including those from non-economics disciplines—to explore a potential future in health economics research.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree and should not be in their final year of study. This opportunity is open to first- and second-year students on a three-year programme, or first-, second-, and third-year students on a four-year programme. Exceptions may be made on an individual basis in exceptional circumstances, such as for students from disadvantaged backgrounds or those with specific personal circumstances.

We particularly welcome applications from students from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, and are committed to fostering an inclusive research environment that values diversity and promotes equal opportunity.

Salary information:
Interns will be paid for the full 6-week placement at a standard hourly rate, based on full-time hours (36.5 hours per week over 6 weeks, at approx. £22 per hour).

Additional support may be available to cover travel and subsistence for interns who are not normally based in Oxford during the internship period.

Location information:
Interns will be based at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, located in the Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG.

Flexible working arrangements, including the potential for hybrid working, may be discussed and agreed upon with the supervisory team depending on project requirements and individual circumstances.

How to apply:
To apply for this internship, please send your CV (maximum 2 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 600 words) by email to Dr Phuong B Tran at phuong.tran@phc.ox.ac.uk. Please include “Summer 2025 Internship Application” in the subject line of your email.

Your cover letter should briefly address the following:
· Why you are interested in this internship
· Your preferred order of the three available research topics, ranked by interest
· Your previous work and research experience, along with skills or knowledge relevant to any of the advertised research topics.
· Examples demonstrating strong written, verbal, and presentation skills
· Your interest in healthcare and health policy and commitment to professional development
· What you hope to gain from this internship and how it fits with your future career plans
· Your availability during the proposed internship period