Clinical Research

Entry requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a relevant subject including medicine, nursing, psychology, biological sciences or related subjects. Applicants with relevant professional experience and without a first degree should contact the Course Director.

We may also consider non-standard applicants. Please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Months of entry

October

Course content

Why Lancaster?

Benefit from a unique programme of study that puts science and research at the heart of medicine and healthcare.

Prepare for strategic and leadership roles, learning how to promote evidence-based healthcare using cutting-edge science.

Explore the most effective ways to communicate research to doctors, healthcare professionals, patients, and the wider public – and make an impact.

Why Clinical Research?

Advances in treatments, therapies and healthcare are only possible with clinical research. Research is the gateway to possibility – transforming hypotheses and ideas into robust, tried and tested treatments that can be rolled out to communities with confidence.

Clinical research helps us understand what works and what doesn’t, identifying more effective and efficient treatments while highlighting important side effects and safety considerations.

Is a master’s in Clinical Research for me?

If you want to be behind breakthroughs in medical science, drive progress and ultimately improve health outcomes and quality of life, an MSc in Clinical Research will set you on the right path.

Available over one-year full time, or two- or three-years part time, this flexible programme enables you to study around your work and other commitments, supporting a healthy work-life balance.

It provides high-level training in advanced methodology, preparing you to conduct research thoroughly, reliably and ethically. You’ll learn how to interpret research findings and build important communication and presentation skills so you can make your case. With a focus on real-life application, you’ll look at how research can be translated into healthcare policy and practice – where it can make a real difference.

With plenty of optional modules to choose from, you can explore a range of specialities, including quality improvement, drug development, infectious disease modelling or spatial statistics.

Taught modules are delivered through whole-day sessions of face-to-face teaching, supported by flexible online resources, discussions and collaborations using our virtual learning environment.

During the programme, you’ll have the opportunity to develop and undertake a supervised practice-based project, using your enhanced knowledge and skills to delve deeper into a topic you’re passionate about, from biostatistics and epidemiology to public health, to palliative care or social and ethical aspects of health and medicine.

Where will Clinical Research take me?

With an advanced understanding of the theory and practice of research in a healthcare setting and an astute awareness of research design, analysis and dissemination, you’ll graduate with the critical skills to undertake research as part of a broad range of roles.

You might choose to focus on healthcare intensive research in a clinical setting or lab, or use your research skills to inform service improvement, policy or communications. You could go on to clinical research leadership roles as a research or project manager, research nurse or clinical trial coordinator for the NHS, pharmaceuticals, industry or charities. You’ll also be perfectly prepped to move into academic research with a healthcare-related PhD.

Information for international students

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Fees and funding

Learn more at the fees and funding page.