Program Overview

---

Introduction to the DPhil in Paediatrics

The DPhil in Paediatrics is a research-based course that covers various aspects of child health, including immunology, infectious diseases, vaccines, imaging, neuromuscular biology, and gastroenterology. The program provides training in research and professional skills, with the aim of developing generic research skills and expertise in specific research methods.

About the Course

The DPhil in Paediatrics is a full-time course that requires attendance in Oxford. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of research methods and techniques, as well as the opportunity to work with experienced supervisors and researchers in the field.

Attendance

The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements. Provision exists for students on some courses to undertake their research in a 'well-founded laboratory' outside of the University.

Resources to Support 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. The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK, with over 13 million printed items and access to e-journals.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Paediatrics. Most students have the opportunity to meet with their supervisor at least three times a term. You will join one of the department's research groups, with primary supervision provided by faculty members in one of the department's laboratory or clinical research facilities.

Assessment

Formal assessment of progress will be made at three points during the course: transfer of status from Probationary Research Student (PRS) status to DPhil Status, confirmation of status, and the final thesis and oral examination (viva voce).

Graduate Destinations

Alumni from the DPhil in Paediatrics include clinicians and scientists who have pursued diverse careers, now populating senior academic and clinical posts in universities around the world.

Changes to the Course

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration.

Research Areas

Supervision for students on this course may be provided by the following individuals:

• Sarah Atkinson: Infectious diseases and micronutrient deficiencies in young children.
• Rinn Song: Novel diagnostics for paediatric tuberculosis.
• Simon Draper: Analysis of the human antibody response to malaria vaccination.
• Michelle Fernandes: The "whole child" approach to promote and rescue early brain growth, health, and development during the first 1000 days of life.
• Daniela Ferreira: Mucosal immunity and the development of effective mucosal immunisation strategies.
• Philip Goulder: Immune sex differences in early life and their impact on infectious disease and vaccine responses.
• Caroline Hartley: The interaction between apnoea and brain development in premature infants.
• Young Chan Kim: Novel vaccine development and diagnostic tools for emerging infectious diseases.
• Teresa Lambe: Mucosal vaccination and the development of next-generation technologies for targeted respiratory immunisation.
• Martin Maiden: The application of evolutionary and population approaches to the genomic analysis of bacterial pathogens.
• Daniel O'Connor: Utilising the "-omics" toolkit to elucidate the mechanisms underlying immune responses to vaccines and infections.
• Andrew Pollard: Oxford Vaccine Group, with a focus on pneumococcal infection and vaccines, viral outbreak pathogens, and typhoid, paratyphoid, and meningococcus.
• Katrina Pollock: Lymph node single-cell genomics, ancestry, and ageing, with a focus on understanding human immunity and developing effective vaccines.
• Maheshi Ramasamy: Enteric infections and mucosal immune responses, with a focus on improving health outcomes in Africa.
• Carlo Rinaldi: The development of effective treatments for hereditary neurological diseases.
• Thomas Roberts: RNA medicine, with a focus on developing new modalities of therapeutic gene manipulation.
• Anindita Roy: The developmental stage-specific cellular and molecular characteristics of fetal and postnatal progenitors in the context of childhood leukaemia.
• Stephan Sanders: The genetic mechanisms underlying severe neurodevelopmental disorders and the development of advanced therapies.
• Laurent Servais: Specialised Translational Research Oxford Neuromuscular Group, with a focus on newborn screening of genetic conditions and innovative outcomes.
• Rebeccah Slater: Paediatric Neuroimaging Group, with a focus on early life neurodevelopment and clinical research translation.
• Nancy Stathopoulou: The genetic and epigenetic basis of congenital heart disease.
• Samantha Vanderslott: Vaccines, Health and Society Unit, with a focus on improving understanding of the roles played by different individuals and groups in healthcare practice and medical research.

Entry Requirements

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

• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a subject relevant to the research project you are applying to.
• No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
• Preference may be given to those who have previously studied in an appropriate scientific research discipline.
• Applicants who have evidence of scientific publication on their application are at an advantage.
• It would be expected that graduate applicants would be familiar with the recent published work of their proposed supervisor.
• English language proficiency at the University's standard level.

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.

• The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.
• Annual course fees for the academic year at the University of Oxford:
  • Home: Ł10,470
  • Overseas: Ł34,700
• What do course fees cover: Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies.

College Preference

The following colleges accept students on the DPhil in Paediatrics:

• Balliol College
• Brasenose College
• Green Templeton College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Oriel College
• The Queen's College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• Trinity College
• Wolfson 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.

• You should identify an academic member of staff who is willing to supervise you and has the resources to support your proposed research project.
• You should communicate with the department in order to refine your application before submitting, especially where scholarships are involved.
• Application fee waivers are available for applicants from low-income countries, refugees and displaced persons, UK applicants from low-income backgrounds, and applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

After You've Submitted Your Application

Your application will be assessed against the entry requirements detailed on this course page. Whether or not you have secured funding will be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

• You can find out more about our shortlisting and selection process in our detailed guide to what happens next.
• Find out how to manage your application after submission, using our Applicant Self-Service tool.