From managing heart failure to supporting people with HIV, clinical trials make a difference to communities across the globe. Discover our research in this area and learn to carry out trials effectively.

Study Clinical Trials and develop the skills to save lives and shape the future of health. We were one of first universities in the UK to create a distance learning programme focused on clinical trials. With extensive expertise in this area and academics in every corner of the globe, we’ll share best practices for carrying out research that tests drugs, comparing alternative treatments, and using cutting-edge methods.

Your award will depend on the number of modules you complete. We offer this distance learning programme as a Certificate, Diploma and MSc.

What you will learn

Explore the issues involved in the design, conduct, analysis and interpretation of randomised controlled trials of health interventions

Understand what happens before a trial – review the literature to see what’s been done before and whether it’s reliable

Practise reporting your findings in a way that is transparent, accurate and helps others apply your results to the real world

Become confident handling statistics for clinical trials

Pick optional modules to expand your interests in this area or choose topics from other areas of specialism in the School

Develop the skills you need to excel in your clinical trials career and make a difference to people’s lives globally

The aims and learning outcomes are detailed in the programme specification.

This online distance learning programme is flexible, so you can study from anywhere in the world. Learn at your own pace and work around your existing work or personal commitments. You can also apply for blending learning.

It’s not just students that are based globally. Our teaching team are too, working on projects that are supporting the health of people around the world. For example, some have studied the management of heart failure and influenced the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, while others have helped develop maternal and child health programmes in India.

We’ve designed this course to help you look at all the aspects that influence clinical trials in practice. You’ll get support in everything from reviewing the literature effectively to analysing statistics so you can feel confident making conclusions and reporting key findings.

Who is it for?

Because this programme is distance learning, students join us from across the globe. Wherever you’re living in the world, the content will be relevant to you – whether you are working in a low-, middle- or high-income country.

Many of our students are working in this area already and are eager to take their skills to the next level. If that describes you, we’ll help you expand your role in the design, management, analysis and reporting of clinical trials.

You’ll learn at your own pace and study when it suits you. The course can be completed in two years, but you can spend up to five years studying with us. We run live sessions regularly which we encourage you to join if you can. These are run at two different times in the day so you can pick the one that works with your time zone.