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Clinical Research - iheed (PGCert/PGDip/MSc) (2024 Entry)

Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research student in the lab

Explore our Clinical Research taught degrees.

This Masters in Clinical Research is a multi-disciplinary programme aimed at providing you with the requisite academic knowledge to conduct research within your professional scope of practice in pharmaceutical, medical device, clinical or the academic sector. The programme covers clinical research design and methodologies, management of data, ethics, leadership, and is closely aligned to industry needs by focussing on the design and management of clinical trials.

Course overview

Developed and delivered in partnership with iheed, the Masters in Clinical Research will help support and educate the new generation of clinical researchers. The course offers state-of-the-art education that can be accessed anytime, anywhere and provide participants with a leading edge understanding of Clinical Research. The content is designed to respond to individual learner and group needs.

The Masters in Clinical Research is designed specifically for healthcare professionals and biomedical scientists wishing to pursue a career in clinical research. As such, candidates will be healthcare practitioners or biomedical scientists fulfilling a variety of roles. The course has been developed to meet the needs of working graduates who wish to up-skill, specialise or change career direction towards research in clinical, pharmaceutical, medical device or academic sectors.

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

  • Hold a 2:2 honours degree (or above) from a UK university or comparable institution.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band A

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

    Core Modules – PGCert

    • Understanding Evidence in Practice
    • Clinical Research Design
    • Clinical Research Analysis

     

    Core Modules – PGDip

    • Understanding Evidence in Practice
    • Clinical Research Design
    • Clinical Research Analysis
    • Leadership in Clinical Research
    • Design of Clinical Trials
    • Management of Patient-Centred Research

     

    Core Modules – MSc

    • Understanding Evidence in Practice
    • Clinical Research Design
    • Clinical Research Analysis
    • Leadership in Clinical Research
    • Design of Clinical Trials
    • Management of Patient-Centred Research
    • Professional Project in Clinical Research

    Teaching

    We adopt a student-centric approach, ensuring that the needs and priorities of our students are at the heart of everything we do.

    Acknowledging the busy schedules of professional students, this part-time, wholly online course offers a state-of-the-art flexible online learning environment, allowing students to balance their studies with their personal and professional commitments. This includes a carefully considered blend of live and asynchronous learning components, enabling students to learn at their own pace and access course materials at any time, on any device.

    We pride ourselves on offering personalised support to students throughout their learning journey. Many of our learners are returning to education after a significant gap so the course includes a comprehensive induction, guidance on academic writing and study and regular feedback. This helps students overcome barriers to learning and fosters a sense of belonging and engagement within their group.

    Throughout the course, students will engage in:

    • Weekly online synchronous tutorials
    • Stimulating weekly activities
    • Tutor-moderated discussion forums
    • Interactive case studies
    • Reflective exercises
    • Online examinations

    Class sizes

    The course recruits 3 cohorts per year, with approximately 40 students in each cohort.

    Students are allocated to groups of approximately 20 based on their preference for tutorial times.

    Assessment

    Students will be assessed using a range of assessment methods as specified in each of the modules that constitute the overall programme. This may include assignments, group or individual presentations. Assessments are designed to enable students to demonstrate achievements of the course level learning outcomes.

    Your timetable

    A personalised timetable will be provided to all students as part of the induction to the programme.

    Your career

    The field of clinical research is vast and dynamic, offering opportunities for specialisation and advancement based on individual interests and skills. There are four principal areas where we would expect to see alumni:

    • Within a professional role in any of the healthcare professions where there is some involvement in clinical research. This would include (but is not be limited to) medicine, pharmacy, pathology, nursing, and radiology.
    • Within the pharmaceutical industry there are many roles in the organisation and management of clinical trials, including those of Clinical Research Associate but also in medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, and drug safety.
    • Clinical Trials Units require Clinical Trials Managers, Clinical Data Managers. These are diverse organisations that need to call upon a wide range of skills and professions.
    • Regulatory bodies require Regulatory Affairs Specialists with in-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and best practice to ensure that clinical research activities and submissions comply with applicable regulatory guidelines and requirements.

    The skills developed in achieving a Masters in Clinical Research have wide application in the diverse clinical research environment, but many are also highly transferable skills that will benefit advancement in any professional career track.

    Tuition fees

    Tuition fees for this course are arranged directly with iheed. Sponsorships, scholarships and flexible payment options are available. Please speak with one of the iheed education advisors for more information.

    Find your iheed course fees

    Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

    How to apply

    For information about the application process, please go to the iheed course page.

    How to apply for an online iheed course  

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    9th in the UK
    (The Guardian University Guide 2024)Link opens in a new window

    67th in the world
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    About the information on this page

    This information is applicable for 2024 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.