MPhil in Population Health Sciences

Apply using the Applicant Portal

The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and you can also request your references.

An application is only complete when:

1. you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
2. you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
3. your referees have provided their references.

If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.

You must fully explore the MPhil PHS course website, including the advice for applicants, and make thorough use of the pre-application self-screening tool, before completing your application. You must carefully follow all instructions given here and on the website.

Before applying, you should consider how you will address each of the questions on the application form. Your answer to each question should be no more than the stated character limit: we value clarity and succinctness, and longer answers may negatively impact the impression you create.

Please note that we are interested in your academic motivation for taking this course. We explicitly discourage the use of personal anecdotes describing the particular circumstances of an individual's poor health or death to illustrate a desire to pursue a career in population health. Please remember that our discipline is about populations rather than about individuals. More guidance on this (from medicine, but applicable more widely) is available on ethics of confidentiality, storytelling ethics, and ethics of medical memoirs.

Selection Process

The assessment panel will be seeking assurance that the candidate has the experience, ability and commitment necessary to complete the MPhil course, become a future leader in the field of Population Health Sciences, and that the course will support their future career goals. The following criteria are used to consider applications:

• Class of first degree
• References from senior staff at the most recent university and/or place of employment
• Relevance of previous academic and work experience
• Candidate's responses to course specific questions, and statement of their reasons for wishing to take the course
• Candidate's reflection on their engagement with the pre-application self-screening tools
• Other supporting evidence, including an up-to-date curriculum vitae

All applications are considered in batches on an approximately monthly basis (rolling admissions) and offers are made throughout the application period.  As this is a popular course, we strongly recommend that you submit your completed application (including references) as early as possible.   Please note: we also recommend you check back to the website frequently while making your application, as specialisation themes may close early if oversubscribed and all places are taken.

Please note: for 2025-26 entry, we are no longer accepting applications for the Global Health, Health Data Science and Public Health themes, which are fully subscribed.

You should normally receive a response to your application within twelve weeks of applying.

Further information on How To Apply

Things You'll Need

In order to apply for this course you'll need to think about getting a few things ready before you apply.

• Two academic references  
• Transcript  
• CV/resume
• Evidence of competence in English  
  If required - you can check using our tool
• Medical Science - Verification of Qualifications
  Verification of Qualifications: Please confirm that your qualifications meet all the course entry requirements (check entry requirements on the course website and then verify international qualifications if necessary).
• Career Goals
  You must be clear about why you are doing the MPhil and how it will help you to achieve a career in population health sciences in service, academic or other settings. Include mention of how this MPhil will impact both your longer term (5 to 10 years) and shorter term (1 or 2 years) career options.
• Statement of Interest (2500 characters) (mandatory)
  Explain why you are interested specifically in this MPhil course. Briefly discuss two population health problems that interest you and align with the material taught in our modules (see course website) including some causes and potential solutions to those problems.
• Relevant Experience (1000 characters) (mandatory)
  Describe how your prior experience (research, academic, work, extra-curricular) might be relevant to your application for this MPhil, and your success on the course. Maximum 250 words.
• Maths and Stats experience (1000 characters) (mandatory)
  Explain how your previous experience in maths and statistics has helped prepare you for the course. Your response must include a reflection on your engagement with our pre-application mathematics and statistics self-screening tools on our website.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

If you wish to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will also need to provide the following:

• Gates Cambridge Reference  
• Research Proposal (PhD applicants only)

See Gates Cambridge for more information.

How to Find a Supervisor

You do not need to decide on a dissertation topic nor identify a supervisor prior to starting the course. However, we encourage you to review the modules on offer within the MPhil and the research areas of those teaching on the course and across the Departments hosting the MPhil, to ensure that potential areas of interest to study for your dissertation align with the strengths of the course.