MSc Leading Clinical Research Delivery (Online)

Program Overview

The MSc Leading Clinical Research Delivery from Exeter University is an online program for healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their clinical research delivery skills. The NIHR-AoMRC funded program provides practical experience, leadership training, and specialization options in areas such as genomics and public health, empowering graduates to lead and support high-quality clinical research within the NHS.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MSc Leading Clinical Research Delivery at Exeter is a fully online program designed for practicing healthcare professionals who aspire to work in clinical research delivery. It is one of only three NIHR-AoMRC funded programs developed in line with the NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework.

Objectives:

• Develop necessary skills and confidence to lead and support clinical research delivery.

• Gain practical experience by supporting current clinical research projects.

• Benefit from flexible access to high-quality interactive online learning modules tailored to meet the challenges and opportunities for clinical research in the 21st Century NHS.

• Support the Government’s plan to create a world-leading UK clinical research environment.

Outline:

Program Structure:

• The program is divided into study units or modules, each assigned a number of credits.
• One credit is equivalent to 10 hours of work.
• Each 15-credit module requires 150 hours of study (around 12 hours per week across a term).
• The 60-credit Master’s project is a full-year project requiring approximately 600 hours to complete.
• Most study is asynchronous, allowing students to work through online material at their convenience.
• Modules include compulsory contact days for meetings with tutors and peers via Teams or Zoom (dates provided in advance).

Course Schedule:

Specialisms:

• Students pursuing the MSc can specialize in one of four areas:
• Leadership:
(options selected from 4 leadership modules)
• Research Methodology:
(options selected from 3 research methods modules)
• Genomic Medicine:
(options selected from 4 genomic medicine modules)

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods:
• The online program is designed for flexibility, allowing students to enhance their knowledge and skills around their current schedule.
• The program includes a combination of evidence-based educational formats, including workplace-based learning.
• Students have access to high-quality interactive online learning to develop knowledge and insight regarding approaches to and delivery of clinical research.
• The program focuses on developing key knowledge, skills, and behaviors to demonstrate capability as a clinician researcher when delivering aspects of networked research within their own practice.
• During the Research Practice Experience (RPE) and Advanced RPE (ARPE) modules, students gain practical experience in the supportive context of a clinical research network while working on existing research studies.
• Students participate in activities such as scoping current evidence, maximizing the potential of routinely collected data, project planning, budget management, exploring different types of research studies, and addressing challenges like improving participant recruitment and problem-solving during clinical research.
• In addition to core modules, students choose an optional module to excel in an area of importance to research delivery in the NHS, such as epidemiology, clinical trials, research methods, genomics, or public health-related modules.
• Faculty:
• Professor Karen Mattick:
Professor of Medical Education, overseeing the development of the online Master's in Leading Clinical Research Delivery.
• Dr Kerry Gilbert: Inaugural Programme Director for the online Master’s in Leading Clinical Research Delivery.
• Dr Anne-Marie Russell: Senior Lecturer with extensive experience in clinical research and global collaborations.
• Ash Hanson: Lecturer with expertise in paramedic education and research.
• Amanda Wallace: Senior Lecturer with extensive experience in clinical research and a passion for supporting future clinical research leaders.
• Jo Studham: Lecturer with over 30 years of experience in clinical research.
• Unique Approaches:
• The program emphasizes using reflective practice to apply and transfer learning from the course, developing students as adaptable, reflexive practitioners ready to lead clinical research delivery.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• The NHS needs to develop and retain a broad range of clinician researchers to lead and support high-quality clinical research in areas with the greatest disease burden.
• The Leading Clinical Research Delivery program provides an alternative route into clinical research for experienced clinicians who are new to the field.
• The program equips clinicians with the necessary networks, skills, and confidence to lead and support clinical research.
• Opportunities:
• The program opens doors to various career opportunities within the clinical research delivery workforce.
• Outcomes:
• Graduates are well-prepared to lead and contribute to research locally within their clinical setting.

Other:

• Accreditation:
• The MSc Leading Clinical Research Delivery is an extension of the PGCert Leading Clinical Research Delivery.
• Both programs are partially funded by the NIHR-AoMRC and have been developed in line with the NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework to support practicing healthcare professionals aspiring to work in clinical research delivery.
• Target Audience:
• The target audience for this program is clinical researchers based in NHS/public-funded healthcare settings in England.
• The program also welcomes applicants from academia, social care, the devolved UK nations, and countries outside the UK for whom the content is relevant.
• Prior Learning Recognition:
• Students who have successfully completed the PGCert will be eligible to join the PGDip/MSc program with their prior learning recognized.
• Students joining the University of Exeter from another institution can use the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process.
• Bursaries:
• The MSc, PGDip, and PGCert Leading Clinical Research Delivery course attracts funding from the DHSC and other funding bodies.
• To be considered for a bursary, applicants must have been allocated a place on the LCRD course.
• Some DHSC bursary funding is available to eligible applicants in the 2024-25 academic year.
• DHSC Bursary Funding:
• Discover Uni:
• Research Excellence:
• The University of Exeter is ranked Top 10 in the UK for its world-leading and internationally excellent Clinical Medicine research (based on 4 + 3 research in REF 2021).
• The University's Public Health research is 11th in the UK for research power (submitted to UoA2 Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care.
REF 2021).
• Investment in Facilities:
• The University has made major capital investments in new buildings and state-of-the-art facilities.

2024/25 entry UK fees per year: MSc: £5,800pa part-time 2 years, £3,900pa part-time 3 yearsPGDip: £3,900pa part-time 2 yearsPGCert: £3,900Standalone module fees: UK: £1,100 per 15-credit module International fees per year: MSc: £13,750pa part-time 2 years, £9,250 pa part-time 3 yearsPGDip: £9,250pa part-time 2 yearsPGCert: £9,250Standalone module fees: International: £2,500 per 15-credit module