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Clinical Trials MSc

Distance learning programme

Clinical trials are essential in discovering whether new healthcare interventions improve outcomes for patients. This distance learning programme will provide an excellent grounding in clinical trials and enhance the knowledge and understanding of those already working in the field. This is an expanding area that offers many exciting career opportunities.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
£16,100
£8,050
Pathways include:
Statistics for Clinical Trials (TMSCTRSSTT21)

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
£16,100
£8,050
Pathways include:
Statistics for Clinical Trials (TMSCTRSSTT21)

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a healthcare or life science related subject (including pharmacy) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Clinicians are required to have a degree (for example, an MBBS).

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Clinical trials are essential in discovering whether new healthcare interventions improve outcomes for patients. This is an expanding field that offers exciting career opportunities.

This online programme will provide an excellent grounding in clinical trials to those new to the field. It will enhance the knowledge and understanding of those already working in clinical trials.

Assessment and learning activities facilitate the development of key skills for careers or further study in the field, from analysis of scientific papers, the ability to critically challenge current research, to academic writing and oral presentation skills.

If you wish to gain a Masters award you will undertake an independent research project, gaining experience of project design, literature review, analysis and interpretation.

Who this course is for

The programme is aimed at graduates from healthcare, life sciences or other related disciplines and health professionals who are interested in a career in clinical trials. It is also aimed at professionals working in the field who wish to develop their knowledge and skills.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology (ICTM) at UCL is a global leader in the field with over 450 researchers (including clinicians, statisticians, trials managers) working within it. You will meet and be taught by many of these researchers.


You will learn the scientific, methodological and practical issues involved in the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of clinical trials. You will learn about all types of trials, from early to late phase trials, and from simple to complex interventions.  You will develop your communication skills through activities carried out both individually and in groups.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Clinical trials is an expanding and highly competitive field of research yet employers find it challenging to recruit people with the appropriate skills and knowledge. This programme has been designed in consultation with employers from academia, the pharmaceutical industry and the NHS. It will give graduates the critical thinking, problem-solving and practical skills that employers seek in this multidisciplinary, collaborative field. You may also use this qualification as a springboard for further study at doctoral level.


Future career prospects will be enhanced on completion of this programme. You will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to become a key team members in the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of high-quality clinical trials.

Employability

Potential career opportunities include working on a range of trials from set up to final reporting.

Skills gained from the core programme will create exciting opportunities to work both in trials and data management, regulation of clinical trials and medical writing.

Career destinations will include academic trials units, the pharmaceutical industry, contract research organisations, hospitals and government organisations.

Teaching and learning

You will be assessed by a variety of methods including:

  • Unseen written examinations
  • Oral presentations
  • Written assignments (for example, essays, abstracts, background section of a protocol, critical analysis of published work, practical problem solving, communicating appropriately with different audiences).

There are 7 core taught modules within this programme. The assessments will consist of a variety of formative assessments across the programme to facilitate learning outcomes within a module.  These are aimed to help you prepare for the module’s summative assessment or to help develop key transferable skills.

Most of the taught modules are based on one summative assessment, while some have two summative assessments worth 50% each.

Assessments are based on real world examples and activities that you would perform or need to be aware of if you work in clinical trials.

The overall contact and self directed study hours is 150 hours for a typical 15 credit module which includes 3 hours live online seminars per week.

A Postgraduate Diploma, consisting of seven core modules (120 credits) and available for full-time, part-time or flexible study is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate consisting of three or four modules (60 credits) and available for full-time, part-time and flexible study is offered.

Modules

Full-time students are expected to attend full-day online classes both on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Part-time students have the flexibility to decide which modules they wish to undertake in that particular term/academic year, with classes either being on Tuesdays or Thursdays depending on your module selection. 

We encourage the students to take the Thursday modules in the first year and Tuesday modules in the second year.

Modular/flexible students have the flexibility to decide which modules they wish to undertake in that particular term/academic year. The choice of studying modules on Tuesdays or Thursdays will depend on the student other commitments, however the programme will need to be completed within the 5 year timeframe. 

Compulsory modules










Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Clinical Trials. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Clinical Trials. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Clinical Trials.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: MSc Clinical Trials

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Join our Virtual Graduate Open Event to find out more about our MSc Clinical Trials. Clinical trials are essential in discovering whether new healthcare interventions improve outcomes for patients. This distance learning programme will provide an excellent grounding in clinical trials and enhance the knowledge and understanding of those already working in the field. This is an expanding area that offers many exciting career opportunities.

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Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) Health

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The UCL DBA Health is a professional doctorate degree designed for leaders in health-related fields who want to apply research skills to tackle health sector challenges. Studying flexibly over 5 years, you'll develop research skills for evaluating, assessing, and overseeing health projects and research, enabling you to apply strategic decision-making. Attend this open day to learn more about the UCL DBA Health, the admissions process and ask any questions you may have about the programme.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) £16,100 £8,050
Tuition fees (2023/24) £16,100 £8,050

Pathways include:
Statistics for Clinical Trials (TMSCTRSSTT21)

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we access your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Clinical Trials at graduate level
  • why you want to study Clinical Trials at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Applications will be considered in gathered fields. For more information, please contact the ICTM administrator.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2023-2024

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology Department
Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology Department

ICTM.pgtct@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.