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Cost: £650
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Overview
The Research Methods Course is an intensive four-day short course in research skills organised and led by the UCL Centre for Clinical Research in Infection and Sexual Health.
After completing the course, you will be able to: conduct, appraise and interpret research as well as use research in clinical practice and other settings. You will also be able to disseminate your learning to others. Many of the teaching examples are from infectious diseases and sexual health however, the principles can be applied to any discipline.
This course is run by the Centre for Clinical Research in Infection and Sexual Health based in the UCL Institute for Global Health.
Course content
This course will cover: principles of formulating a research question and designing a study; qualitative, quantitative, mixed research methods; the principles of statistical design and analysis; working with data; the principles of systematic review; questionnaire design patient and public involvement in research; the principles of health economics; an overview of research in low and middle income countries; research governance, ethical approval and good practice in research; presenting at conferences and getting papers published and translating research into policy.
Topics covered will include:
• Principles of formulating a research question and designing a study
• Qualitative, quantitative, mixed research methods
• The principles of statistical design and analysis
• Working with data
• The principles of systematic review
• Questionnaire design
• Patient and public involvement in research
• The principles of health economics
• Research governance, ethical approval and good practice in research
• Presenting at conferences and getting papers published
• Translating research into policy
Who this course is for
This course is aimed at academics, postgraduate students, and professionals working in relevant organisations e.g. healthcare services and NGOs.
Course structure and teaching
The course will run over four days (Monday to Thursday).
This course will be a mix of live lectures with live Q&As, group work and a live panel discussion. There will also be breakout rooms to facilitate group learning.
The course is taught by world leading researchers who are based at UCL. Past tutors include: Professor Caroline Sabin, Professor Pam Sonnenberg, Dr Shema Tariq and Prof Nigel Field.
Certificates and assessment
There is no course assessment.
You will receive a certificate of attendance from UCL on completion of the course.
Cost and concessions
£650 – standard
£450 – concession (students, individuals from middle/low income countries and unwaged individuals)
Individuals who are eligible for a concession rate or a free place are kindly requested to email: IGHResearchMethodsCourse@ucl.ac.uk
Pay by invoice
If your employer is paying and you require an invoice, please email ighresearchmethodscourse@ucl.ac.uk the following details:
- billing address
- approval and email from line manager
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course you should be able to:
- Use research in clinical practice and other settings.
- Describe the range of research methods that can be used.
- Address key practical and ethical issues related to conducting research.
- Outline strengths and limitations of a range of methods.
- Disseminate your learning to others.
Course team
Dr Maeve Barlow
Maeve is a Clinical Research Fellow at the UCL Institute of Global Health, holding a MSc in Tropical Medicine and International Health and a Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. After completing internship and Basic Physician Training in Internal Medicine in Australia, she moved to the UK for her MSc and spent time working on the MATAMAL trial in Guinea-Bissau before working in HIV/Sexual Health at Mortimer Market Centre.
Dr Philip Oddie
Philip is an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Sexual Health and HIV at the Centre for Clinical Research in Infection and Sexual Health at UCL IGH. As well as his role as sub-investigator on the department's clinical trials, he is also leading a project looking at the utility of pro-viral DNA resistance testing for people living with HIV. Alongside his academic work he works clinically as an ST5 registrar in GUM/general medicine.
• Great course. Super informative.
• I feel that this course delivered on what it promised.
• Clinical Trials, PPI, presentation skills were the best ones.
• I really enjoyed the speakers, particularly PPI involvement session. I also found the Quan/qual session useful as well.
• I thought it was all excellent! Shema is a very engaging speaker, Caroline's Sabins talks on statistics are so useful I could have had more teaching from her!
• Thank you very much for organising and to all the speakers. Very high quality.
Following the course:
• Being able to understand research and how it changes policy and practice.
• I may not do anything different for the time being. But it has definitely helped me in terms of putting together a research proposal.
• I have a better understanding of how research works and therefore feel better able to get involved at work.
• Approach a research question in a systematic way.
Book a place
Course information last modified: 2 Feb 2026, 20:29