Surgical Sciences

Doctoral programmes focus on a specific research project.

Projects can be chosen from across all areas of research in the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences (NDS), for example:

• ageing and degenerative diseases
• cancer
• cardiac/cardiovascular sciences
• cell biology and genes
• clinical trials and epidemiology
• diabetes
• evidence-based medicine
• immunology
• musculoskeletal science
• neurosciences
• oncology
• stem cells
• translational medicine and medical technology

You will work closely with an academic supervisor who oversees your studies, and you will produce a thesis that represents a significant and substantial piece of work. For experimental sciences you are also likely to collaborate with your supervisor on shared laboratory work as part of a research team.

There is usually no required coursework. However, the Medical Sciences Division's skills training programme offers opportunities for you to develop your research and professional skills over the duration of your DPhil. It is recommended that you spend at least ten days a year on your graduate skills training.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences.

After successfully completing a DPhil in Surgical Sciences, research students typically progress to either postdoctoral research positions pursuing an academic career or, for clinically qualified individuals, to further clinical training and/or clinician-scientist posts.

Changes to this course and your supervision

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. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

Applicants are strongly advised to visit the Medical Sciences Graduate School website to help them identify the most suitable course and supervisors.

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

All graduate courses offered by the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences

Integrated Immunology MSc

Patient Safety PGCert

Surgical Science and Practice MSc

Surgical Sciences DPhil

Surgical Sciences MSc by Research

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Entry requirements