项目介绍

2021年8月4日

About the course

This doctoral degree is in the social science of healthcare innovation and knowledge translation. Building on a relevant masters-level qualification, you will pursue an independent piece of applied research in a health-related field, supervised by an interdisciplinary team.

For the purposes of this programme, the department defines translational health sciences as the study of the human, organisational and societal issues that impact on the adoption, dissemination and mainstreaming of research discoveries and the harnessing of such discoveries to provide effective, efficient and equitable healthcare.  

This DPhil, which builds on a linked MSc in Translational Health Sciences, has been developed as a partial response to national and international calls for urgent expansion of postgraduate training in the development, implementation and sustainability of innovations in healthcare. On completion of the DPhil, you will have extended the boundaries of knowledge and undertaken an original empirical study in an aspect of translational health sciences as defined above, and to be ready to embark on independent applied research in this field.

Research topics relevant to this programme may pertain (but need not be restricted) to the following:

• How to influence behaviour eg encourage clinicians to use a new technology in their practice (or indeed how to get them to stop using a technology);
• The extent to which a new drug, medical device or other innovation generates value for different stakeholders;
• The challenges of introducing and sustaining an innovation at an organisational level;
• How policy is made and what prevents it from being ‘evidence-based’;
• How the regulatory environment can both enable and constrain innovation in healthcare settings;
• How technologies can (and why they do not always) support care practices;
• How patients and citizens might play an active role in research and dissemination;
• How we decide what is right and reasonable in research;
• How industry, academia and government can work together to optimise the acceleration of innovations into practice;
• Implications for global knowledge transfer of international differences in health systems.

It is anticipated that most students on this DPhil will have previously completed the MSc in Translational Health Sciences. Those who apply with a different masters degree will need to complete relevant modules as short courses to address gaps in knowledge or specific research skills. These will be discussed on an individual basis.

As a doctoral student on the DPhil in Translational Health Sciences, you will join other postgraduate research students in a vibrant and varied programme of peer support and extension activities, described in detail under ‘resources’ below. The department will also encourage and support you to actively build your networks with, and gain experience in, settings outside academia such as healthcare organisations, policymaking, industry and regulation.

The department views the DPhil in Translational Health Sciences both as an extension of the MSc (for students seeking an academic career) and as a means of inspiring the MSc students and adding vibrancy to the MSc course. To that end, you will be encouraged to present your emerging research to MSc students in seminars or guest lectures and offer suitable small-scale projects to MSc students. 

The DPhil can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. The Departmental Postgraduate Handbook provides detailed advice and guidance on starting the DPhil, term dates, working environment, supervisor relationships and troubleshooting, pastoral support and college affiliation.  

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences 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 Primary Care Health Sciences.

You will be appointed two Departmental Supervisors with complementary backgrounds and interests, along with a College Advisor. Where appropriate, and relatively rarely, the second supervisor may be appointed from a different department.  Supervision will typically occur monthly for full-time students and two-monthly for part-time ones, along with additional email contact and pastoral support.

On entry into the programme, you will receive a full induction and meet individually with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and then twice yearly, as well as on an as-needed basis throughout their programme.

Assessment

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within a maximum of six terms as a full-time PRS student or twelve terms as a full-time PRS student, you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. This application is normally made by the fourth term for full-time students and by the eighth term for part-time students.

A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status will require submission of a written progress document and defence of that document in an oral presentation to internal examiners. Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status to show that your work continues to be on track. This will need to done within nine terms of admission for full-time students and eighteen terms of admission for part-time students.

Both milestones normally involve an interview with two assessors (other than your supervisors) and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination.

Full-time students will be expected to submit an original thesis of at least 50,000 words after three or, at most, four years from the date of admission. If you are studying part-time, you be required to submit your thesis after six or, at most, eight years from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in Translational Health Sciences, you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

The MSc and DPhil in Translational Health Sciences have been designed to address a significant and urgent skills deficit in linking research discoveries to implementation in practice, service transformation and improved patient outcomes.  Such roles include (but are not limited to) the following sectors:

• Higher education: researchers, research managers, knowledge translation / research impact officers;
• Healthcare organisations: clinical entrepreneurs, knowledge managers;
• Industry: designers, research managers, academic liaison officers;
• Policy: variety of local and national policy roles;
• Third sector: patient advocacy, lobbying.

Changes to this course and your supervision

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 in circumstances of a pandemic (including Covid-19), epidemic or local health emergency. 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.

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