Musculoskeletal Sciences (Research)

The DPhil/MSc (Res) in Musculoskeletal Sciences is a research-based course exploring disorders like arthritis, bone cancer, and tendinopathy through immunology, tissue engineering, clinical trials, epidemiology, and data science.

You will be based in one of the Botnar Research Centre’s many research groups, working on a research project supervised by one of the principal investigators and your supervisory team. You will take part in the extensive training programme specifically organised for graduate students within the department.

This DPhil/MSc (Res) focuses on a variety of research areas, employing a range of approaches from experimental biology and clinical trials to epidemiology and data sciences.

You will develop your research skills during your first year, including compulsory attendance at the department's fundamentals in biomedical research lectures. During the first term, in consultation with your supervisor, you will develop a training needs plan. Your training will be tailored to your specific project and personal requirements drawing from the vast range of courses available at Oxford and covering specialist scientific methods and transferable skills.

Please note that there is no formal taught component of the DPhil/MSc (Res) in Musculoskeletal Sciences; however, you will develop your research skills through a range of research training in your first year and by attending departmental/institute journal clubs and seminar series.

During the first term there is compulsory attendance at core lectures on a variety of research techniques and foci in the department including:

• immunology

• inflammation

• tissue engineering

• clinical trial design

• epidemiology

• rheumatology

• orthopaedics

• musculoskeletal diseases

During your first year if studying full-time (first two years if studying part-time), you will be expected to attend a number of topic-related modules.

As a member of Medical Sciences Graduate School, you will be entitled to attend various workshops run by the Medical Sciences Skills Training programme which are run during term time.

Attendance on a two-day Data Analysis: Statistics Designing Clinical Research and Biostatistics course is compulsory (if you have had no previous statistical training) to assist you with appropriate research design. As a component of your training, you will be expected to work with your supervisory team to write a research-specific literature review within the first year of your studies if studying full-time (first two years if studying part-time).