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Statistics for Clinical Trials MSc

Distance learning programme

This flexible online programme will provide you with an excellent grounding in statistics for clinical trials. You will learn about all types of trials, from early to late phase trials and simple to complex interventions, from both a design and analysis perspective. You will also learn to code in R and STATA. Graduates of this programme will be prepared to pursue meaningful careers in the academic field, industry, or further study at PhD level. Clinicians taking this programme will be equipped with essential, in-demand skills to be involved in clinical trials and fully engage with statisticians. 

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£17,300
£8,650
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£17,300
£8,650
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
All applicants: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a related quantitative discipline (e.g. mathematics, statistics, biostatistics, genetics, computational biology). Clinicians and other allied health professionals are required to have a degree (for example, an MBBS) and evidence of having completed quantitative modules, as well as a keen interest in medical statistics.

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.

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, and statistics in clinical trials in particular, is an expanding field of research that offers many exciting career opportunities for graduates. There has been constant progress in biomedical research, including molecularly targeted therapies in cancer, and messenger RNA technologies in vaccines in research.

Statistics is a fundamental discipline in clinical trials. Statisticians ensure that study designs are statistically robust so that research questions can be answered. They carry out statistical tests and assess uncertainty in the results to determine whether the data supports the research hypotheses.

Statistics are essential in discovering whether new healthcare interventions improve patients’ lives. Statistics is used at the design stage to compare possible designs, calculate the sample size, and at all trial stages until the final analysis and reporting of results.   

As a graduate of this programme, you will take forward practical skills and a critical thinking approach, with the ability to make a tangible and purposeful difference to patients’ health. 

Who this course is for

The programme is accessible to graduates with UK degrees, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a related quantitative discipline (e.g. mathematics, (bio)statistics, computational genomics/genetics, computational biology) and health professionals (e.g. clinicians).

Clinicians and other allied health professionals are required to have a degree (for example, an MBBS) and demonstrate evidence of having completed quantitative modules (please contact the programme team to discuss your circumstances).

The MSc is also aimed at quantitative professionals working in the field of clinical trials who wish to develop their statistical knowledge and skills further.

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

What this course will give you

Taught from a global top 10 university also ranked 7th in the world for public health (Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022), this innovative programme harnesses the expertise of statisticians, clinicians, and trials managers. with a wealth of applied experience and theoretical/methodological knowledge.

There is also expertise at ICTM from early to late-phase clinical trials, stratified medicine and novel interventions such as targeted therapies. 

UCL is linked with four NHS hospital trusts and hosts three biomedical research centres, four clinical trial units and an Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology. Established links between UCL Statistical Science, the NIHR UCLH/UCL Biomedical Research Centre and the Clinical Trial Units provide high-quality MSc summer projects for students.

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

The foundation of your career

Clinical trials, and statistics in clinical trials in particular, is an expanding and highly competitive field of research yet employers find it challenging to recruit people with the appropriate skills and knowledge.

It is a regulatory requirement that every trial receives input from a qualified statistician. 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.

Students completing the MSc Statistics for Clinical Trials will be eligible to work as statisticians in clinical trials. For clinicians, the programme will provide the statistical tools to be involved in research and clinical trials.  

The qualification may also be used as a springboard for further study at PhD-level in the field of clinical trials.

The combination of distance and part-time learning makes the programme highly flexible and accommodating, especially for busy students. The faculties are exceptional and the experts in their respective areas give nothing but the best knowledge and skills to their students.

Simple

Statistics for Clinical Trials MSc

Employability

Potential career opportunities include clinical trial statistics in academic trials units, the pharmaceutical industry, contract research organisations, hospitals and government organisations. Students may also use this qualification as a springboard for further study at doctoral level. Clinicians and other allied health professionals will possess the right knowledge and statistical skills to work in clinical research, in particular clinical trials.

Networking

You will be invited to the Institute’s Monday lunchtime seminars (1-2pm UK time) which are hosted online on MS Teams. These seminars run throughout the academic year and feature invited speakers presenting on topics related to clinical trials / other research and initiatives relevant to staff and students in the Institute.  Students also have the opportunity to work with staff to set up an ICTM journal club – we will welcome volunteers to lead on this initiative each year. In 2023/24, we aim to set up UCL’s first Society for Online Students, giving online students the opportunity to network and make connections. 

Teaching and learning

As this is a distance learning programme, teaching will be delivered online in real-time and complimented with pre-recorded sessions. The students are expected to supplement these with self-study.

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).

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.

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

There is also a variety of formative assessments across the programme to facilitate learning outcomes within a module, to help prepare for the module’s summative assessment, or to help develop key transferable skills.

A Postgraduate Diploma consisting of seven core modules (120 credits) is available for full-time and part-time.

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

A Postgraduate Diploma comprising seven compulsory modules (120 credits full-time one academic year or part-time over two academic years) is offered.

Modules

The MSc in Statistics for Clinical Trials route consists of 120 taught module credits and 60 research project credits.

The taught component for the award of MSc and PGDip is 120 credits.

Full-time students are expected to attend online lectures both on Tuesdays & Thursdays, each lasting approximately 3 hours. In addition, students will learn using a variety of asynchronous teaching methods, including pre-recorded educational videos.

Part-time students will attend the Tuesday modules in year 1, and the Thursday modules in year 2. The time frame for completing the MSc part-time is 2 years. The research project will be done during Term 3 of year 2.

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 are 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 Statistics for Clinical Trials. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Statistics for 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 and Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

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Online - Open day

Book a virtual 1-2-1 about Clinical Trials MSc

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Book a 15-minute appointment with a member of the Clinical Trials MSc team. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have about the programme, careers or studying at UCL.

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Online - Open day

Book a virtual 1-2-1 about Statistics for Clinical Trials MSc

—

Book a 15-minute appointment with a member of the Statistics for Clinical Trials MSc team. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have about the programme, careers or studying at UCL.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £17,300 £8,650
Tuition fees (2024/25) £17,300 £8,650

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

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 assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Statistics for Clinical Trials at post-graduate-level;
  • why you want to study Statistics for 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.

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: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

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

ictm.pgtstatisticsct@ucl.ac.uk

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