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Description Contents Requirements Funding

The aim of the course is to provide students with theoretical knowledge and skills as well as practical research experience to launch an academic clinical career in primary care. Specifically, the course aims to:

Contribute to the commitment of the Cambridge University Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust (CUHNHSFT), Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG / Clinical Commissioning Group and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to continuing professional development of NHS staff in an integrated academic and clinical environment;
Develop a cadre of primary care clinical research leaders who will pursue clinical Academic careers within academia, the NHS and industry;
Contribute to the commitment of the Health Education East of England to continuing professional development of GP Specialty Trainees in an integrated academic and clinical environment;
Expand critical and current knowledge of research methodologies through an academically vigorous education programme offered in a world-leading primary care clinical research environment;
Equip clinical researchers with knowledge about the complex issues associated with conducting sound translational research in general practice and community settings.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this programme successfully will have gained an understanding of the primary care research context, including the distinctive nature and contribution of primary care research, and the contribution of key underpinning methods. Specifically, graduates will possess a grounding in primary care-relevant epidemiological, psychological, sociological and health services research methods, statistical methods and data analyses including surveys, trials and evidence synthesis. Upon successful completion each student will be able to apply contemporary research tools to clinically relevant areas of investigation in primary care.

Successful completion of the MPhil will also equip students with the skills and knowledge defined by the Academy of Medical Sciences’ Supplementary Guidelines for the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) for Specialty Registrars undertaking joint clinical and academic training programmes (September 2011).

Michaelmas Term

This term focuses on epidemiological and biostatistical principles and procedures. Teaching sessions during this term will be shared with students from the MPhils in Epidemiology and Public Health course. The teaching in this term also includes training in basic data handling and analysis using the statistical package Stata. The three modules are:

Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Data handling and appraisal

During this term you will also complete an essay on the epidemiology of a chosen condition in a primary care population. This essay is a formal part of the MPhil examination and will contribute to your final mark. You should also begin to research an appropriate topic for your MPhil thesis. You should discuss this proposal with your Course Supervisor to assess the suitability of the topic and the availability of relevant data.

There will also be an assessment based on the epidemiological component of the first term. This assessment is informal and does not count towards your degree. The assessment provides your Course Supervisor and Course Directors with a guide to your progress. A guideline answer sheet will be provided at the end of the assessment.

Lent Term

This term includes modular-based lectures and seminars in more advanced aspects of epidemiological research and public health which are shared with students from the MPhils in Epidemiology and Public Health, and specific modules on Primary Care Research not shared with other MPhil students.

Modules shared with the MPhils in Epidemiology and Public Health

Health Policy
Social Science
Chronic disease epidemiology
Genetic epidemiology and Public health genomics
Health Promotion

Primary Care Research modules

Introduction to Primary Care Research
Use of routine data in Primary Care
Designing, delivering and analysing surveys in primary care
Qualitative research

Please note some modules may move from term to term.

During this term you will also complete a second essay which should take the form of a protocol for your thesis research. This essay is a formal part of the MPhil examination and will contribute to your final mark. Before starting your protocol, the title of your thesis should be agreed with your Course and Thesis Supervisor. Both your Course and Thesis Supervisor should sign the thesis title form confirming the title. All students must have a designated Thesis Supervisor (in some cases this individual may also be the Course Supervisor).

Easter Term

This term includes a small number of modular-based lectures and seminars again shared with students from the MPhils in Epidemiology and Public Health.

Clinical Trials
Health Economics
Ethics and Law

The remainder of the term is dedicated to revision for the written examinations in June and thesis work. The term ends on the last business day of July 2016 with the hand-in of the thesis. If you leave the UK, you must be prepared to travel back to Cambridge for an oral examination, if required.


One to one supervision	You will be allocated an individual course supervisor for subject-specific and pastoral support throughout the course. Supervisors are drawn from the University clinical and research departments and are usually linked with departments in the School of Clinical Medicine. In general, supervisors are University Teaching Officers (UTO) or lead researchers, although postdoctoral researchers may also act as supervisors if they have the appropriate training in your area of interest, or equivalent training or are supported by a University Teaching Officer or Lead researcher.
Literature_reviews	These form part of the course work throughout the course.
Posters	Students present their work in progress for their essays and theses.

Feedback

Students feedback is essential for continued development and evaluation of the programme. They will be asked to provide feedback on each lecture/module including rating of the sessions via Moodle.

Students can access online supervision reports via the Cambridge Graduate Supervision Reporting System. Students have regular supervision meetings to discuss progress as well as the feedback and marks from the two essays and thesis. There are three student presentation days throughout the course for the Michaelmas term essay, Lent term essay and the thesis. Students receive feedback from peers, course supervisors as well as the Course Directors. Progress meetings can be arranged with the Course Directors if needed.

Assessment

Thesis

A thesis not exceeding 20,000 words in length, including footnotes, but excluding tables, appendices, and bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee for the Faculties of Clinical Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

Essays

Two essays, each not exceeding 3,000 words in length, on subjects approved by the Degree Committee

Written examination

Two written papers, each of which may cover all the areas of study prescribed in the syllabus.

Other

The course components are completed by the end of July. However, to complete the course, students will be required to attend a viva in person on a date (to be announced) in late August or early September.

Magistr (Master's Degree) at Pass level. Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of good or 4/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 4/5 Bologna Bachelor's from other institutions with an overall grade of 5/5, Excellent
Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of Excellent or 5/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 5/5
IELTS (Academic) 7.0
TOEFL Internet Score 100
£50 application fee
First Academic Reference
Second Academic Reference
Transcript
Statement of Interests
CV/Resumé
Personal Reference.