Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are essential in discovering whether new healthcare interventions improve outcomes for patients. This is an expanding field which offers many exciting career opportunities. This new programme will provide an excellent grounding in clinical trials and enhance the knowledge and understanding of those already working in the field.

Students learn about the scientific, methodological and practical issues involved in the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of clinical trials. Teaching is delivered by researchers with expertise in many different healthcare fields. All types of trials, from early to late phase trials, and from simple to complex interventions are covered.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits), and a dissertation/report (60 credits)

A Postgraduate Diploma, consisting of eight core modules (120 credits) and available for full-time, part-time or flexible study is offered.

A Postgraduate Certificate consisting of four modules (60 credits) and available for full-time, part-time and flexible study is offered.

Core modules

All modules, except where indicated, are worth 15 credits.

• Introduction to Clinical Trial Design and Statistical Analysis (30 credits)
• Protecting Patients and Introduction to Public and Patient Engagement
• Trial Set-up and Conduct - from an Idea to Reality
• Further Trial Designs and Outcomes
• Applying Clinical Trial Design Principles in Practice
• Managing Open Trials, Preparing for Analysis and Disseminating Trial Results
• Patient and Data Pathways through Clinical Trials

Optional modules

No options are currently available for these programmes.

Dissertation/research project

All students undertake a project which consists of a project proposal of 2,000 words, a 20-minute oral presentation, and a journal paper of 6,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, online resources and practical work. Assessment is through written examinations, oral presentations, written assignments (for example, essays, abstracts, background section of a protocol, critical analysis of published work, patient information and communication plans) and the dissertation/report.

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a healthcare or life science related subject (including pharmacy) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Clinicians are required to have a degree (for example, an MBBS).