Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Research

The Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Research is now open for admissions.
Apply on the University of Oxford Admissions website

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

This comprehensive and practical qualification is designed for professionals working in Global Health Research within organisations who fund, sponsor or regulate these studies and those working within sites and centres where research is conducted with study participants. This course uniquely covers the whole spectrum of health research, delivering a deep understanding of the cycle of a research study within the context of low resource settings considering vulnerable populations and regulatory and ethical requirements, alongside robust study design and operational delivery. It will thus teach students how to plan such studies from setting the research question to taking research findings into practice.

This postgraduate course will allow such professionals to develop their careers through learning from the programme and by exchanging their experiences with other students, learning from each other’s diverse research backgrounds, operational roles and types of organisations.

We welcome students diverse in gender, geography, academic and professional backgrounds. All of this will provide a variety of perspectives and approaches which will enrich the learning environment.

The postgraduate diploma is very different from all other courses for two key reasons: Firstly, whilst teaching how to set up and conduct a high quality health research study, where the steps and standards would apply to research anywhere in the world, we orientate this course to the context of research to tackle diseases of poverty in low-resource settings. Secondly, this is a highly applied course that uses real study examples, where students can work in groups learning to problem solve and understand health research challenges in highly varied situations and types of research. This is why this course is excellent for both research teams on the ground and also organisations who fund, regulate, collaborate or sponsor such studies

Why should organisations sponsor students from low resource settings on this course? 

There is still vast inequity in where research happens and who benefits, and yet evidence from low resource settings is pivotal for successful health interventions everywhere. To address persistent skills gaps, this course teaches students from anywhere in the world to design, conduct and report ethical, internationally compliant yet contextually relevant studies, and take findings into policy and practice. Impact goes far beyond the qualification, as we nurture alumni in years to come through The Global Health Network’s knowledge areas, tools, resources, training and career development opportunities.

Students may be working in research sites, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisation, regulators and funders. To achieve maximum equity and diversity, those in low resource settings do not need to leave their workplace or family, and travel to a high-income country with all the associated costs.

Please consider supporting such students in accessing this life changing qualification and developing a legacy for them and their wider research networks, whether a staff member or through a bursary.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This postgraduate diploma aims to enhance knowledge and raise standards of professionals working in health research in a global context to understand, guide, influence and  lead successful and high-quality research studies. Students will be equipped to implement best research practices, typically in low resource settings. The core objective is to prepare students to resolve difficult challenges by providing them with tools, skills and knowledge to generate high quality, safe and ethical evidence, and to inculcate in them the competence and ambition to become leaders in health research.

PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this programme, successful graduates will be able to: 

• Design and implement high quality, ethical, health research studies in a global health setting.
• Translate research into new guidelines, policies, best practices or recommendations.
• Effectively manage data throughout the life cycle of a research study, from data gathering to analysis, presentation and sharing.
• Practice and understand health research with consideration of its broader community and societal impact.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

The Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Research will provide students with many transferable skills, especially higher-level critical-thinking and analytical skills to enable them to develop professionally as independent learners during and after their programme of study. They will develop analytical, evaluative and reflective skills that will prove invaluable to their future professional research practice.

Transferable Skills include:

• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Interpersonal communication skills (oral and written)
• Time management/planning/organisation
• Team working and leadership
• Academic writing skills
• Research and report writing skills
• Capacity to work in diverse settings
• Advocacy, influencing and communication skills

Hear from Alumni or What Alumni Say

Alumni from the 2023/2024 cohort share their experiences, insights, and the impact of the program on their careers and research journeys. Through these testimonials, you’ll hear firsthand how this diploma has shaped their understanding of global health, strengthened their research capabilities, and opened new opportunities for collaboration and leadership.

Visit: Hear from Alumni: Reflections on the Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Research