Health and Clinical Research Delivery MSc PG Certificate PG Diploma

Program Overview

This part-time, online Health and Clinical Research Delivery program offers practical knowledge for healthcare practitioners who aspire to be researchers. Students develop skills in planning, analyzing, and evaluating clinical research while reflecting on ethical and societal implications. Graduates are well-equipped to collaborate on or lead clinical research projects, potentially advancing their careers in research or clinical academia.

Program Outline

Health and Clinical Research Delivery MSc PG Certificate PG Diploma | 2024 | Postgraduate

Degree Overview:

This part-time online program offers a practical look into the world of health and clinical research for aspiring researchers and research leaders. The course is aimed at healthcare practitioners – such as doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, healthcare scientists, and allied health professionals – whether you are new to research or are already championing research in healthcare. You will learn to plan, analyze, and evaluate clinical research, and reflect on the challenges, impact, and ethical implications of existing research. Everything you study will be applied back to your field of expertise so you can leave the course with the confidence to lead clinical research in practice. The course will prepare you for future roles as a collaborator, co-investigator, or principal investigator (PI) within your organization.

Objectives:

• Develop the skills and knowledge to deliver and lead on clinical research in your field.
• Learn to plan, analyze, and evaluate clinical research.
• Reflect on the challenges, impact, and ethical implications of existing research.
• Gain the confidence to lead clinical research in practice.
• Prepare for future roles as a collaborator, co-investigator, or principal investigator (PI) within your organization.

Outline:

PG Certificate (60 credits):

• Introduction to Research Methods Online (15 credits): This module provides an introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods and the skills necessary for planning, data gathering, and dissemination stages of health-related research.
Topics covered include research design, methods of data collection, approaches to analyzing data, and writing a research proposal.
• Research Practice Experience 1 (15 credits): This module enables students to develop and utilize their skills and knowledge of the research process and networked research through direct involvement in one or several research studies.
Students will develop a comprehensive e-portfolio of evidence (1,500 words or equivalent) demonstrating proficiency in practice-based core research leadership skills and knowledge.
• Doing Health and Clinical Research Well (15 credits): This module covers practical and regulatory issues associated with carrying out clinical or health-related research within various national and international settings, including the NHS.
Topics include research planning, project management, research governance, patient recruitment and retention, ethical and legal frameworks for research, good clinical practice, patient and public involvement, cultural competence, delivery of the project, and dissemination and impact.
• Leading and Managing Health Services Online (15 credits): This module integrates the principles of managing health care services and leading on rapid changes and advances in regional, national, and international contexts.
Principles of health management will be demonstrated through case-based teaching to enable students to understand how to solve common management problems.

PG Diploma (120 credits):

• All PG Certificate modules (60 credits).

• Research Practice Experience 2 (30 credits): This module aims to further develop and utilize students' skills and knowledge of the research process through direct involvement in one or several research studies.
Students will develop a comprehensive e-portfolio of evidence (2,500 words or equivalent) demonstrating proficiency in practice-based core research leadership skills and knowledge.
• Inclusive Research Practice (15 credits): This module equips students to identify barriers to the inclusion of diverse and underserved groups in research and plan appropriate actions to promote their inclusion.
• Innovative Designs for Research Impact (15 credits): This module ensures that clinical research practitioners are aware of innovative study designs, including project management, patient recruitment and retention, and delivery of the project.

MSc (180 credits):

• All PG Certificate and PG Diploma modules (120 credits).

• Dissertation (60 credits): This module provides students with an opportunity to undertake substantial personal projects (research/literature review).
The project topic must be relevant to the scope of the course and should be realistically achievable within the time and resources available.

Course Schedule:

• The program is delivered part-time and online.
• Most of the study is asynchronous (not scheduled for a specific time or date), allowing students to work through online material at a time and pace that is convenient for them.
• The online course structure means students will benefit from high-quality teaching and support wherever they are, alongside their clinical practice.
• Students can choose to study for one year to obtain a PG Certificate, two years to obtain a PG Diploma, or stay for the full three years to obtain a full master's qualification.

Assessment:

• PG Certificate: Written assignments, essays, reports, and a practice-based placement e-portfolio.
• PG Diploma: Written assignments, essays, reports, a practice-based placement e-portfolio, and a peer review of a fellow student's e-portfolio written piece of work.
• MSc: Written assignments, essays, reports, a practice-based placement e-portfolio, and a dissertation.

Teaching:

• All teaching takes place online.
• Students learn through presentations, video and audio content, screencasts, tutorials, group work, and independent study.
• There are optional live webinars that offer more opportunities to interact with tutors and peers.
• Extensive support is available for students returning to academia after a break from formal study.
Students will get help with study techniques, academic writing, time management, and other essential skills for success.

Careers:

• As a graduate, you will be able to use the knowledge you have gained to introduce or develop clinical research in your current workplace, working as a Collaborator, Co-investigator, or Principal Investigator (PI).
• Alternatively, you may wish to progress your career within a research-intensive healthcare environment or in clinical academic research – for example, as a research nurse, clinical trial coordinator, or data analyst.
• This program has been developed in line with the new NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework.
• We worked with partner organizations from the healthcare sector to develop the course and tailor it to your needs.
• Students with a PG Certificate (60 credits) from the University of Exeter or Newcastle University can transfer their 60 credits to the University of Sheffield to continue and 'top up' their qualification on our PG Diploma or MSc through Recognition of Previous Learning.