Clinical Research MClinRes, PGDip, PGCert (E-learning)
Our Clinical Research MClinRes, PGDip, and PGCert allow you to study clinical research in the context of your workplace.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
The suite of courses is a collaborative partnership with Newcastle Academic Health Partners. You'll gain knowledge and skills to perform to a high level in all aspects of clinical research. Our courses are for professionals in many different areas of the health service. This includes doctors and NMAHPs.
Our programmes encourage you to plan, conduct, analyse and write up clinical research. You'll do this 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 a strong theoretical as well as practical knowledge of clinical research. This helps support your current or future professional as well as 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 health care
Clinical Research Delivery, PGCert
We also run a PG Certificate in Clinical Research Delivery. This course will enable experienced healthcare professionals to contribute to clinical research delivery and will develop future leaders. It has been developed with support from the NIHR-AoMRC Clinical Researcher Credentials Framework. Bursaries are available, please contact us to leave your details to find out more.
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Important information
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Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
NIHR INSIGHT
The NIHR INSIGHT North East & Cumbria programme is fully-funding research masters courses to help early career health and care professionals. Our Clinical Research programme is eligible for this funding. To find out more and see if you are eligible, please visit the NHIP Academy.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
An MClinRes is a taught master’s degree. It allows you to study clinical research in the context of your workplace. It typically includes:
- subject-specific taught modules
- a research project
You can study part time or accelerated.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
A PGCert is awarded if you successfully complete half of the taught modules (60 credits).
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.
A PGDip is awarded if you successfully complete all of the taught modules (120 credits).
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
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
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information 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.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
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 Dissertation (E-learning)* (60 credits)
* The dissertation will be undertaken in the field of the degree programme studied.
Optional modules
OR
You also take 40 credits from the list of optional modules below:
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)
Optional modules
OR
You also take 40 credits from the list of optional modules below:
How you'll learn
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.
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
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.
You'll work with an academic tutor 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
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
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
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)
- Hon. Prof Marieke Emonts (Curriculum Director)
Your development
Upon completion of our programmes, you'll be able to:
- design clinical research projects or trials. They'll exhibit good research practices. They will show effective governance and with justified ethical principles and theories
- get the necessary permissions and approvals for carrying out research. This will be specific to Postgraduate Diploma and Masters
- collect, manage, analyse data using appropriate computer database(s). You'll use statistical software and in compliance with relevant legislation
- translate research findings into clinical practice. This will be 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. This is 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. An excellent example Greig Taylor, Research Fellow in Paediatric Dentistry. He studied for a MClinRes and was recently published in the online International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry.
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
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 and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
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.
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.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
How to apply
Using the application portal
The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.
You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.
If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.
Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
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Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
Programme Coordinator
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 2338
Email: epgclinres@ncl.ac.uk
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