2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Programme Catalogue

MSc Clinical Research Methods (Part-Time)

Total credits: 180

Entry requirements:

At least 1 year's experience of clinical practice post graduation.

A relevant* first degree (minimum 2.1)
AND
Currently registered with the relevant health related professional body as per the HEE/NIHR eligibility criteria e.g. NMC, HCPC, Academy for Healthcare Science
AND
A level of professional engagement with current practice development or research and innovation, to be assessed via interview.

Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the Faculty of Medicine and Health minimum English language requirements as follows:

- British Council IELTS - overall score of 6.5 with no element less than 6.0
- TOEFL iBT - overall score of 94 with the reading and speaking element no less than 23, listening element no less than 21 and the writing element no less than 24.

Exceptional applicants who do not meet the aforementioned criteria may be considered through the University of Leeds' Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) procedures.

Students who have already completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Research at the University of Leeds, normally within the last three years, may be able to APELinto the MSc in Clinical Research Methods.

* 'Relevant' here refers to a focus of study that is deemed to be within a nursing, midwifery or allied health fields related professional field of clinical practice.

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

School of Healthcare

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

School of Healthcare Postgraduate Programme Examinations Board

Programme specification:

At the end of the programme students should:

1) Identify issues in their clinical setting where research may be required and develop research questions to address these issues.
2) Design and set out a proposal for an appropriate research study to address the research questions.
3) Manage a clinical research project from conception to dissemination, including obtaining appropriate ethical and research governance approvals to conduct the research.
4) Demonstrate skills in quantitative and qualitative methods, data collection and data analysis.
5) Formulate a variety of approaches to ensuring the patients and public are involved in clinical research studies.
6) Communicate the findings of research studies to a range of audiences (including peers and patient groups) using a wide range of dissemination techniques.
7) Evaluate the impact of introducing evidence based innovation into clinical practice settings.
8) Critically evaluate published accounts of quantitative and qualitative research.

This programme has been developed in response to a direct request from the HEE/NIHR tender for a masters in clinical research methods specifically designed for health professionals (non-medical or dental) to develop as clinical academics. It forms the first part of a clinical academic careers pathway, with students having the potential to either carry on to doctoral study or participate in clinical research practice.

The programme is the result of collaboration between the School of Healthcare and Leeds Institute of Health Sciences. It builds on the successful MSc in Health Research currently on offer in LIHS, with a view to developing provision of health services research education across the clinical subjects within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. The benefits and distinctiveness of this course are linked to the inclusion of a clinical research focus, the underpinning expertise and collaboration of faculty institutes.

The course has been designed to be trainee-centred, providing students with the opportunity to shape their learning to their own training needs and clinical setting, through tailoring assessments in modules, the opportunity to set their own curriculum in one of the compulsory modules and a clinically focused research dissertation. We recognise that students will have a wide range of prior learning experiences in research methods. Accordingly we have developed on-line research methods self assessment package which students can access flexibly on or off-campus. The package allows students to take ownership of their learning, in particular to revisit prior learning where needed and build on new learning using self-regulated learning styles. The School has provided funding to enable an expert in Information Technology to ensure accessibility so that students can use a range of internet browsers and software.

Pathways for developing a research career as an independent researcher (progressing to PhD) or as a manager or leader of clinical research can be achieved by selection of appropriate optional modules and construction of the most appropriate set of study days (which can include placements with clinical research teams) in the Accredited learning from study days module. The proposed programme offers core modules that ensure that students achieve a foundation level of knowledge and skills, together with a number of optional modules that provide flexibility in career paths should the participants wish to migrate from clinical research, or research management, to independent research pathways over time.

Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Candidates will be required to study 15 credits from the following optional modules:

Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Last updated: 17/03/2017

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