DPhil programmes
Develop your applied research skills in our thriving, multidisciplinary department.
Choose from a broad range of research themes and develop your applied research skills in our thriving, multidisciplinary department, where you'll be part of a strong training community, with access to supervisor expertise.
A multidisciplinary department
As the largest, top-ranked centre for academic primary care in the UK, the thriving Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, located in the centre of Oxford, leads world-class research and training to rethink the way healthcare is delivered in general practice and the community, across the UK and globally, whilst offering our graduate students dedicated facilities in close proximity to their supervisors, support staff, colleges and libraries.
At the forefront of primary care
Integrating evidence and innovation, our main focus is on the prevention, early diagnosis and management of common illness; bringing together academics from many different backgrounds to work together to produce benefits for the NHS, for populations and for patients. We have methodological strengths in qualitative and applied research, randomised trials, analysis of big data and evidence synthesis.
Admissions status
We are now closed to applications for entry in the 2022-23 academic year. We will open for applications for the 2023-24 academic year on 01 September 2022. You can express your interest in applying or contact us to discuss your own project idea.
How to apply
To apply for a place on any of the DPhil's in our department, you will need to submit an application using the online application form.
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Anthony Harnden
Professor of Primary Care; Director of Graduate Studies
"As a DPhil student we offer you a supportive environment for research training and enhancement of your academic experience. We have supervisors who are world leaders in their disciplines, yet are prepared to be challenged by new ideas and thoughts. The DPhil student body is cohesive and welcoming and encourages both academic and social interaction. You will have many opportunities during your time in Oxford which will shape your future life and I am personally committed in helping you make the most of those opportunities."
DISCOVER OUR DPHIL PROGRAMMES IN:
Primary Health Care
Full time: 3-4 years Part time: 6-8 years
DPhil projects span our ten core research themes: health behaviours; health experiences; cardiovascular and metabolic health; infections and acute care; EBM and research methods; digital health; health policy and health systems; big data; international health; and clinical trials.
Translational Health Sciences
Full time: 3-4 years Part time: 6-8 years
Within the social science of healthcare innovation and knowledge translation, this doctoral degree focuses on studying the human, organisational and societal issues that impact on the adoption, dissemination and mainstreaming of research discoveries to be utilised for effective, equitable healthcare.
Evidence-Based Health Care
Part time: 6-8 years
We supervise the DPhil in EBHC, jointly run by the Department for Continuing Education and the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, spanning several research themes including, screening, diagnosis and prognosis; health care interventions; research methods; and Cancer screening, detection and prevention.
Potential projects
We offer several fully funded studentships, in addition to suggested projects without funding. Alternatively, you can submit your own idea for a project, where we strongly encourage you to contact a supervisor to discuss. All applicants must submit their own research proposal.
Meet our supervisors
We encourage all prospective students to enquire with one of our supervisors before submitting an application. This is to ensure that your research ideas fit with our criteria and core themes outlined, and can increase your chances of a successful application.
DPhil training
Alongside free training courses run by the Medical Sciences Division, we provide in-house training programme, introducing our new postgraduate students to some of the skills and areas that will be useful to them including, communications; statistical and qualitative research skills; clinical trials; and grant proposals.
Meet our students
Our graduate community reflects the multidisciplinary nature of our department, coming from a range of backgrounds including statistics, nursing, midwifery, obstetrics, nutrition, epidemiology and medical anthropology. Find out how they are make a difference to the world-class research and teaching in our department.
Funding & Scholarships
The department offers a number of fully funded studentships to outstanding applicants every year. All candidates submitting applications by the early January deadline will automatically be considered for full funding from a number of sources including the MRC, the Clarendon Fund, Oxford Colleges and numerous charitable sources. New for 2021, we also have the Primary Care Health Sciences Scholars Programme and the NIHR SPCR PHD Studentship in Primary Care 2021.
Primary Care Scholarship
Our Primary Care Health Sciences Scholars Programme provides one fully funded three-year DPhil scholarship each year for students wishing to study within the department, for either the DPhil in Primary Health Care or the DPhil in Translational Health Sciences. The scholarship is advertised each October for admission the following October and students must submit a DPhil application online using the University application form by the January deadline to be considered.
What is it actually like to complete your DPhil with us?
Find out from our students as they discuss studying in our department and what they hope to get out of an Oxford DPhil (filmed January 2020):
We also invite you to take a look at the list of research projects currently being explored by our existing postgraduate students and the supervisors that are supporting their studies:
Additional course information
Get in touch
For all enquiries about our DPhil programme or to express your interest, contact us and a member of our admissions team will get back to you.
Alternatively, you can contact our Graduate Studies Officer, Daniel Long, directly at graduate.studies@phc.ox.ac.uk or +44 (0)1865 289362 [Due to COVID-19, please use primarily email as staff may not have access to telephones].
