Program Overview

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MSc by Research in Musculoskeletal Sciences

The MSc by Research in Musculoskeletal Sciences is a research-based course exploring arthritis, bone cancer, tendinopathy, infections, aging, tissue engineering, and data science through lab work, clinical trials, and computational methods.

About the Course

As an MSc (by Research) student, you will be based in one of the Botnar Research Centres many research groups, working on a research project supervised by one of the principal investigators and your supervisory team. Projects are available across a wide range of basic sciences, pre/clinical studies, data sciences, and epidemiology in various musculoskeletal disorders.

Attendance

The course can be studied full-time or part-time with both modes requiring attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements. Part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

Resources to Support Your Study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources, including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources, and IT services.

Libraries

You will have access to the Cairns Library based in the John Radcliffe Hospital and musculoskeletal-related topics at the Girdlestone Library located at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre's Knowledge Centre on the Old Road Campus.

Study and Experimental Space

Workspace will be related to and dependent on your individual circumstances. If undertaking experimental "wet" lab work, you will be provided with bench space in a relevant laboratory. If undertaking data analysis and computer-based research, you will be allocated an office space that may be shared.

Lectures and Seminars

You will be notified by email about seminar schedules within the department, and you are encouraged to visit the Oxford Talk website to access other departments' and divisions' seminars and lectures.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Medical Sciences Division and the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff.

Assessment

Your attainment will be evaluated via:

1. Completion of termly reports by you and your supervisor(s) through Graduate Supervision Reporting (GSR)
2. Transfer of Status, to be completed before the end of the fourth term (eighth term for part-time students)
3. Submission and defence of your MSc thesis by viva, no later than the ninth term (eighteenth term for part-time students)

Graduate Destinations

According to the department's records, 100% of MSc by Research in Musculoskeletal Sciences alumni are employed, across a wide range of clinical professions and non-clinical related professions.

Research Areas

Youll have the opportunity to undertake research within the specialized themes of this course, which include:

• Immune-mediated inflammatory disease (including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease)
• Mechano-inflammatory disease (including osteoarthritis and tendinopathy)
• Various bone cancers
• Infections
• Epigenetics
• Metabolism
• Aging
• Microbiome
• Computational and systems biology
• Tissue engineering

Entry Requirements

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown.

Proven and Potential Academic Excellence

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in biological sciences and/or related topics.

References

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course.

Supporting Documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application.

Performance at Interview

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.

Funding

For entry in the academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.

Costs

Annual Course Fees

The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.

• Full-time study:
  • Home: ｣10,470
  • Overseas: ｣34,700
• Part-time study:
  • Home: ｣5,235
  • Overseas: ｣17,350

Living Costs

In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

College Preference

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college.

Full-time Study

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

• Balliol College
• Brasenose College
• Exeter College
• Green Templeton College
• Harris Manchester College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Oriel College
• Pembroke College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

Part-time Study

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

• Balliol College
• Green Templeton College
• Harris Manchester College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Oriel College
• Pembroke College
• Reuben College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

How to Apply

Before you begin an application, we recommend that you consult the Medical Sciences Graduate School's website to identify the most suitable course for your intended area of research.

Proposed Field and Title of Research Project

When applying for advertised projects, you are required to list and rank from the project list on the department's website under 'Field and title of research project'.

Proposed Supervisor

Under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic whose project you are applying for.

Referees

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete.

Official Transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date.

Statement of Purpose and Research Proposal

All applicants should submit a statement of purpose. If you are not applying for specified studentships, you will also need to submit a research proposal.

Deadlines

• 12:00 midday UK time on:
  • Tuesday 2 December 2025: Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships
  • A later deadline under 'Admission status': If places are still available, applications may be accepted after 2 December.