Trishul Patel

Your Time at UCL

Why did you choose to study at UCL Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology?

I chose to study the Clinical Trials MSc at UCL due to the knowledge and skills provided from completing the course that will eventually lead me to obtain a job in a variety of sectors including the NHS, pharmaceutical companies or contract research organisations. UCL is globally renowned and recognised for research with a focus for including people from all over the world which allows for open discussion and a different way of thinking.

What were you doing before you became a student at UCL?

I practised as a community pharmacist for 7 years and decided it was time for a career change! I’ve always wanted to go into research and studying the Clinical Trials MSc at UCL was the perfect platform for altering my career path.

How would you describe your distance learning experience?

Whilst working towards achieving my Master’s degree, I was also working full-time. Distance learning gave me the opportunity to do both comfortably. The lectures were pre-recorded a week before the live group activity sessions so I was able to go through lectures in my own time and at my own pace. The facilitators encourage online team-working, through various channels (Zoom, LinkedIn, Whatsapp, etc.), allowing you to feel like you are not missing out on social interaction with other students.

What piece of advice would you give to new students?

The course provides an in-depth look into Clinical Trials and gives you a chance to enhance a variety of skills to be able to fit into most job roles within the field.

The statistics module can be challenging especially if you have not studied it at a basic level in your undergraduate degree. However, the facilitators who lead this module explain everything clearly and provide valuable resources to help you complete this module.

The best advice I can give is to be prepared and hit the ground running. As this is a Master’s degree, you’ll be expected to do a large amount of background reading around the topics covered in each module. Remember to leave some time for relaxing and socialising, a good work life balance is key!