Clinical Trials Design
About
This short course is designed to provide students with the ability to critically evaluate clinical trial design, and in depth understanding of patient recruitment and the regulatory and ethical processes involved.
The course will also provide students with the ability to critically appraise clinical trial analysis, reporting and quality assurance.
Research into disease mechanisms and the development of disease diagnostics / therapeutics requires an understanding of clinical trial design including the ethical and regulatory requirements required. This course integrates knowledge of the clinical trials process with patient recruitment.
The aims of this short course are to;
- demonstrate the importance of clinical trials in furthering clinical research.
- develop knowledge on clinical trial design.
- promote understanding of the regulatory requirements for clinical trial running and reporting.
- identify and understand best patient recruitment strategies.
Term dates
Start Date: 27 January 2025 - 6 May 2025.
Attendance
This course is delivered fully online in Semester 2, with no on campus attendance requirements. In addition, students will be required to carry out online research and reading as well as complete assignments.
Location
Delivered fully online.
Assessment
Class Test (Written) [50%]
There will be two multiple choice tests, which will test students on their knowledge of the material covered on research ethics and governance regulatory issues. Each test will last 30 minutes and will be taken online, via Blackboard learn. Each test will be worth 25% of the overall module mark.
Written assignment (Coursework) [50%]
Written assignment (50%): Students will be provided with an example of a clinical trial and they will be asked to critically review this with regards to factors such as trial design and study limitations (2500 words).
Career Options
The short course has particular relevance to;
- Medicine, Pharmacy and Allied Health Professionals.
- Established employees n the pharmaceutical or healthcare sectors who are looking to upskill or learn more about novel and digital trial design.
- Undergraduate or postgraduate students looking for a career in pharmaceutical or healthcare settings.
This short course can significantly benefit potential employees by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective and ethical participation in the dynamic field of clinical research. Or indeed train those professionals from Medicine, Pharmacy and Allied Health Professionals who may work or wish to work in the clinical trials area.
A module in clinical trial design and patient recruitment can provide numerous benefits to potential employees in the healthcare and clinical research sectors.
Further Information
Module
This is a 15 credit module short course - see the about section for details of content.
Entry requirements
Academic qualifications
Students will be considered for entry to the course on an individual basis.
The basic entry requirements are outlined below:
Applicants must:
(a) have gained
a second class honours degree or better with significant bioscience (or biostatistics) such as nursing, biomedical sciences, biology, pharmacy from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification;
and
(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).
In exceptional circumstances, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b), where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements
Apply now - limited places available
There are a limited number of places for this course. Offers will be extended to those applicants who meet the entry requirements following successful completion of the application process. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all offers are extended. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all places are filled. Applications can not be considered once a course has started.
Please note you can only be funded by DfE for a maximum of two courses at any one time (including modules to a total of 45 credits per semester - if studying part-time).
- Click on the Apply Now button.
- This will take you to the online application system – if you have never used this before please click on First Time user account creation and create an account.
- Log into the system and click on New – create a new application.
- Choose Professional Develop Postgrad as the Application Type
- Choose Admission Term Academic Year 2024-2025 and complete your details.
- Click the Fill Out Application button.
- Click on Programme Selection.
- In the programme choice dropdown please choose: PG Cred Upskilling SKILLS PT Derry~Londonderry.
- Please type the title of the short course you wish to study in the box below the programme choice: Clinical Trials Design and Patient Recruitment.
- For the question, Are you applying for a funded place on one of the DfE Skills programmes?, select Yes.
- Please complete all required application sections.
- Ensure your application is complete and then submit.
- You will receive a confirmation email that the application has been submitted, please ensure you check your junk mail as well as the inbox of the e-mail address listed on your application.
- If you have sent all required information and you have been successful, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
- If you have not sent all required information, you will be asked to send outstanding items. If a place is still available and you have met all requirements, you will receive an unconditional offer. You must accept this offer via email and confirm acceptance online to secure your place.
IMPORTANT: If we have requested additional items, you do not have a guaranteed place. You may lose your space if you do not provide any required information by the deadline supplied in the Request for documentation Email - Once your place is accepted, you will receive an enrolment email. You must complete the online enrolment to confirm your place and start your course.