EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Healthcare Data Science

Insights derived from the analysis of large, complex data sets will make significant contributions to the prevention and treatment of disease. The aim of this doctoral training programme in Healthcare Data Science is to offer systematic training in statistics, machine learning, and data management. Core to the entire programme is to combine this technical training with a foundation in ethics. 

Ethics plays a central role in health data science, and our approach to doctoral training reflects this. Ethics and research responsibility is a vertical theme running through the four years of the programme. Each of the first two terms begins with a week of training in ethics, responsible research and innovation, and collaborative working. In the first term, this training addresses ethical issues in data science and big data in general. In the second, it focuses upon specific ethics and governance issues in health data science and healthcare delivery. 

This EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Healthcare Data Science is located in the Big Data Institute/Oxford Population Health Building at the University of Oxford.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A data science subject degree including Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering Science, Computer Science or a related field with substantial mathematical background. Applicants are recommended to have completed an MSc in one of the above subjects. 

How to apply

We're delighted that this programme has been renewed as the EPSRC CDT in Healthcare Data Science for another five cohorts starting from October 2024. Please see the admissions page on the University website for information about entry this autumn.

This course is taking part in a continuing pilot programme to improve the assessment procedure for graduate applications, to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly. For this course, the socio-economic data you provide in the application form will be used to contextualise the shortlisting and decision-making processes where it has been provided. Read the instructions concerning submission of your CV/résumé, statement of purpose, transcript and letters of support from referees in the this Application Guide page as well as the full details about this pilot.

It is important that you follow these new steps for your application to be considered. Please use the standardised CV template provided and do not upload your own personalised version as these will not be reviewed by the Directorate.

Please ignore the section that states referees should anonymise their references, this applied to other courses on the pilot scheme but not ours.

We suggest considering Reuben College or Kellogg College as the CDT has forged partnerships with these colleges. You are of course free to select any college on your application form but the CDT encourages you to consider one of these two listed colleges.

The Centre is hosted within the Big Data Institute (BDI)/Oxford Population Health (OxPop) Building, a purpose-built building at the heart of the University of Oxford's biomedical campus. The Big Data Institute is an analytical hub for multi-disciplinary working at Oxford, connecting world-leading expertise in statistics, computer science, and engineering to data-driven research in clinical medicine and population health. It is also home to the Ethox Centre, a world-leading centre for clinical and research ethics, and the Oxford Centre for Ethics and Humanities. 

The building hosts the clinical informatics and big data activity of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a substantial programme of translational research, delivered by the University in partnership with Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust. CDT students will have the opportunity to contribute to the work at the BRC, to access the expertise of the team, and to become involved in multi-centre research collaborations. 

The BDI/OxPop Building is also home to UK Biobank, a major national and international resource for health research. The Biobank team are leading the development of tools for the acquisition, processing, analysis, and re-use of data from clinical and online assessments, imaging, sensors, genotyping, and national datasets (including hospital episodes, death, and primary care) for a cohort of 500,000 participants. CDT students will have the opportunity to access the expertise of the team, and to become involved in Biobank-based research.