This one-off module of study is open to all specialties and is part of the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Research Education and Leadership. It is designed for Specialty Registrars or equivalent, GPs, dentists and newly appointed consultants.
The course is delivered in person from Monday 19th January 2025 to Thursday 19th February 2026 at Madingley Hall, Cambridge and is designed to be flexible and accessible to working healthcare professionals contributing towards research and professional development.
Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Key Features
Students studying for CPPD (not for credit) attend the teaching sessions but do not complete the associated assignment. A certificate of attendance is given at the end of the course.
Aims
- To allow students to participate effectively in clinical research and to provide students with a framework to develop research ideas into publishable studies.
- Provide students with the knowledge to understand the importance of research activity in the future of clinical care within healthcare systems and tertiary health care institutions.
- To provide students with insight into study design, funding and management, and understanding of the regulatory environment in which research is conducted.
- Contribute to continuing professional development of healthcare professionals by providing knowledge of research and academic career pathways
Themes
- Theme 1: Understanding the role of research in clinical practice and the role of clinicians in conducting research, and the elements of good clinical practice;
- Theme 2: Effective review of the literature;
- Theme 3: Understanding research methodologies;
- Theme 4: The clinical study design process and ethical approval;
- Theme 5: Publication and dissemination;
- Theme 6: Funding applications and grant writing skills;
- Theme 7: Statistics, data analysis and data presentation;
- Theme 8: Critically appraising the literature;
- Theme 9: Research career pathways within large organisations, the NHS, and learning from other industries.
Teaching dates 2025-26:
- Monday 19th January 2026
- Tuesday 20th January 2026
- Wednesday 21st January 2026
- Thursday 22nd January 2026
- Thursday 19th February 2026 (Online)
The first week is delivered through face-to-face teaching sessions requiring in-person attendance at Madingley Hall, Cambridge.
Applications are invited from Speciality Registrars or equivalent, GPs, dentists and newly appointed consultants.
Eligible employees from Cambridge Universities Health Partners (CUHP) partner organisations such as, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUHFT), Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (FT) and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT), will be encouraged to apply; however, places will also be made available to other suitably qualified individuals.
Applicants are normally expected to hold a 2.i degree or higher from a UK university or an equivalent from an overseas university.
There is provision to accept applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic criterion. Such applicants must produce evidence of relevant and equivalent experience and their suitability for the course.
English language requirement
To ensure that all participants can participate fully and get the best from studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following arguments presented in written and spoken English at University level.
If English is not your native language, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have an appropriate level of English language proficiency in line with the following recommended tests (achieved in the same sitting and no more than 2 years before the date of booking):
- IELTS Academic: Overall score of 7.0 (a minimum of 7.0 in Listening, Writing and Speaking; 6.5 in Reading)
- TOEFL Internet: Overall score of 100 (a minimum of 25 in each individual component)
- CAE: Grade A or B (with at least 193 in each individual element) plus a Language Centre assessment
- CPE: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 in each individual element)
Alternatively, you may have undertaken all, or part, of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life.
Note that: International students must ensure they have the appropriate immigration status to undertake the course, and this will need to be checked by the University. Students who do not hold an immigration status that permits study and work in the UK will be based overseas and attendance on modules can be supported as a visitor to the UK. There are restrictions on using the visitor route for study and this may restrict the number of modules that can be undertaken across one year. Further information is provided on the International Students website and prospective students are advised to read this in full.
The fees for home students in 2025-26 will be £1,854.42 and £3,708.83 for overseas students.
Participants will be expected to cover the costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence incurred during teaching sessions in Cambridge.
Candidates are required to submit a brief summary of 200-250 words outlining how the module will benefit and enhance their clinical role.
Select the 'Apply now' button on this page and follow the instructions when prompted.
