Clinical Research MClinRes, PGDip, PGCert (E-learning)

Overview

This suite of online courses is designed for those working in medicine and healthcare, including doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. It is a collaborative partnership with Newcastle Academic Health Partners.

Our programmes will help you gain knowledge and skills to perform at a high level in all aspects of clinical research. They will encourage you to plan, conduct, analyse and write up clinical research in the context of your own professional role.

You'll learn and develop skills in clinical research in your area of expertise. This is the most valuable way of consolidating the theory you'll learn on the course.

In the final year of your Master's, you'll carry out your own research project. It is useful to have a workplace mentor for this. This is someone who can provide professional and specialist advice and guidance. The University will provide an academic supervisor to support your research.

You'll gain strong theoretical and practical knowledge of clinical research. This helps support your professional development, as well as training for leadership roles.

Our programmes are UK based but globally aware. They reflect international collaborations and their requirements.

Our courses are suitable for any clinical research topic, including:

• medical
• surgical
• mental health
• allied healthcare

Funding

Students on our Clinical Research programmes may be eligible for funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHCR).

Visit the NIHCR website for more information.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation review and recognition of professional qualifications in Europe

Professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by professional bodies to ensure they meet the latest industry practices and regulatory standards. This keeps your degree rigorous, relevant, and highly valued by employers, providing a clear pathway into your chosen career.

If you are studying an accredited degree and considering a career in Europe after graduation, it is important to stay informed about international standards. The best resource for current information is the UK Government's guidance on recognition of UK professional qualifications in EU member states.

This official resource provides essential details on:

• whether your profession is regulated in another country.
• the specific steps you need to take to practice abroad.
• which organisations you should contact to begin the process.

What you'll learn

Some of the core learning outcomes of our programmes include:

• appraising good practice principles in all aspects of clinical research
• recognising academic scholarship in your own work and of others
• differentiating between different forms of clinical research
• identify opportunities in your chosen area of clinical research or chosen pathway

Modules

The module information on our course pages is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

MClinRes 4853P modules (Standard pathway)

Compulsory modules

• Integrity, Infrastructure and Information Governance in Healthcare Research (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Data Management and Communication of Clinical Research: Doing Clinical Research Well (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Writing in a Research Setting (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Designing a Research Proposal (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research Dissertation (E-learning) (60 credits)

Optional modules

You also take 40 credits from the list of optional modules below:

• Clinical Trials (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research Statistics (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Qualitative Research (E-Learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research with Older People (E-learning) (20 credits)

MClinRes 4853P modules (Delivery pathway)

Compulsory modules

• Integrity, Infrastructure and Information Governance in Healthcare Research (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Data Management and Communication of Clinical Research: Doing Clinical Research Well (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Designing a Research Proposal (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research Delivery in Practice (20 credits)
• Advanced Clinical Research Delivery in Practice (20 credits)
• Clinical Research Dissertation (E-learning) (60 credits)

Optional modules

You also take 20 credits from the list of optional modules below:

• Clinical Trials (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research Statistics (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Qualitative Research (E-Learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research with Older People (E-learning) (20 credits)

PGDip 3475P modules (standard pathway)

Compulsory modules

• Integrity, Infrastructure and Information Governance in Healthcare Research (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Data Management and Communication of Clinical Research: Doing Clinical Research Well (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Designing a Research Proposal (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Writing in a Research Setting (E-learning) (20 credits)

Optional modules

 You also take optional modules to the value of 40 credits from the following list:

• Clinical Research Statistics (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Qualitative Research (E-Learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research with Older People (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Trials (E-learning) (20 credits)

PGDip 3475P modules (Delivery pathway)

Compulsory modules

• Integrity, Infrastructure and Information Governance in Healthcare Research (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Data Management and Communication of Clinical Research: Doing Clinical Research Well (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Designing a Research Proposal (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research Delivery in Practice (20 credits)
• Advanced Clinical Research Delivery in Practice (20 credits)

 

Optional modules

 You also take optional modules to the value of 40 credits from the following list:

• Clinical Research Statistics (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Qualitative Research (E-Learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research with Older People (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Trials (E-learning) (20 credits)

PGCert 3107P modules (Standard pathway)

Compulsory modules

• Integrity, Infrastructure and Information Governance in Healthcare Research (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Data Management and Communication of Clinical Research: Doing Clinical Research Well (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Writing in a Research Setting (E-learning) (20 credits)

 

PGCert 3107P modules (Research Delivery pathway)

Compulsory modules

• Integrity, Infrastructure and Information Governance in Healthcare Research (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Data Management and Communication of Clinical Research: Doing Clinical Research Well (E-learning) (20 credits)
• Clinical Research Delivery in Practice (20 credits)

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

You'll learn online, so you can choose to study anytime and anywhere. This flexibility means that you can fit your studies around your other commitments. It will also allow you to develop your online digital literacy skills.

The courses offer a range of modules to choose from so that you can gain the research skills you need. The master's research project can involve a topic of your choice in line with the needs of your day-to-day job.

We'll provide you with an email address. You'll also receive an account on Canvas (our managed learning environment). Canvas is accessible across a variety of operating systems and browsers.

You don’t need to attend any classes on campus. Instead, you’ll need access to a computer and hardware to take part in group discussion and seminars.

As part of the course, you’ll take part in ‘good clinical practice’ training. This is mandatory for professionals who conduct clinical research. If you can prove that you’ve already completed this training, you won’t need to repeat it.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Computer assessment
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• PC examination
• Poster
• Portfolio
• Report
• Research proposal
• Written exercise

Additional assessment information

You'll undertake a single research project. Projects will offer diverse experiences in research techniques and methods. This will be across the range of research activities in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. You'll work in collaboration with your own workplace environment.

Support

You'll work with an academic adviser to guide you through your studies.

For the master's project, you'll need to nominate a workplace mentor. They will provide professional and specialist advice and guidance. They’ll also:

• support your studies
• maintain academic links
• maintain clinical links

Student Support

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• academic staff
• academic advisers and research supervisors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives
• peers

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff, who will be your academic adviser throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

 

Our staff

Academics, researchers and NHS clinicians deliver the courses. They are all research-active or in NHS research and development teams. They are also part of clinical networks.

Our teaching staff includes:

• Dr Joanne Elson (Lecturer, dissertation coordination)

Your development

Upon completion of our programmes, you'll be able to:

• design clinical research projects or trials
• exhibit good research practices.
• show effective governance and with justified ethical principles and theories
• get the necessary permissions and approvals for carrying out research (specific to Postgraduate Diploma and Master's)
• collect, manage and analyse data using appropriate computer database(s)
• use statistical software and in compliance with relevant legislation
• translate research findings into clinical practice in the context of current research in your own field
• complete the various steps and documentation to gain access and approval to data sources
• interpret and analyse data using appropriate resources
• design, put in place, adjust manage and report on projects (specific to Postgraduate Diploma and Master's)

Your future

Applicants may wish to progress their career in a research-intensive clinical environment. Our courses are also for anyone wishing to introduce clinical research into their workplace. Our graduates include:

• research managers
• projects leads
• research nurses
• clinical trials managers

Our programmes also provide a route into:

• PhD level study
• research management
• research design
• research delivery

Many of our students go on to publish in peer-reviewed journals.

Our Careers Service

Our expert Careers Service is here to help you take the next steps in your professional life. We will support you while you’re studying with us and for up to three years after you graduate.

You will have access to expert one-to-one advice and guidance through our campus careers centre and online, along with digital resources, workshops, networking opportunities, and careers and recruitment events.

We’ve been awarded 5 QS Stars for Student Employability (2025). Many of our degrees are shaped by strong links with national and international businesses. We are committed to helping you access real-world experience opportunities and develop key skills through paid work placements and internships.

Visit our Careers Service website

Facilities

You'll have access to services that will develop graduate and research skills. With these, you'll enhance personal development and employability. Our facilities include:

• professional support services for health and wellbeing
• careers service
• excellent library and IT resources
• participation in academic and programme development

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fees for 2027 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

Search for funding and scholarships

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

How to apply

Open days and events

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events