Overview
Why Lancaster?
- Benefit from a unique programme of study that puts science and research at the heart of medicine and healthcare.
- Prepare for strategic and leadership roles, learning how to promote evidence-based healthcare using cutting-edge science.
- Explore the most effective ways to communicate research to doctors, healthcare professionals, patients, and the wider public – and make an impact.
Why Clinical Research?
Advances in treatments, therapies and healthcare are only possible with clinical research. Research is the gateway to possibility – transforming hypotheses and ideas into robust, tried and tested treatments that can be rolled out to communities with confidence.
Clinical research helps us understand what works and what doesn’t, identifying more effective and efficient treatments while highlighting important side effects and safety considerations.
Is Clinical Research for me?
If you want to be part of the team behind breakthroughs in medical science, drive progress and ultimately improve health outcomes and quality of life, boosting your clinical research skills is the right place to start.
Designed to fit around your working life, our Clinical Research PgDip is a part-time course that will take between one to two years to complete. As well as whole day face-to-face teaching sessions, you’ll benefit from the flexibility of online learning, supported by online resources, discussions and collaborations using our virtual learning environment.
The programme provides a solid introduction to clinical research methodology, setting you up to conduct research thoroughly, reliably and ethically. You’ll learn how to interpret research findings and build important communication and presentation skills so you can share your findings. With a focus on real-life application, you’ll look at how research can support healthcare policy and practice and contribute to healthcare innovation.
What’s next?
With your research skills recharged, you’ll graduate from your PgDip ready to bring your new learning to your role and demonstrate the power of clinical research to support decision making and improve services. You might want to take your career in a slightly new direction and make the move into a more research-focused clinical or lab-based role.
After successful completion of the PGDip, you could take the next step and enrol on the Clinical Research MSc to complete a practice-based research project and receive a higher-level qualification.
Entry requirements
Academic Requirements
2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a relevant subject including medicine, nursing, psychology, biological sciences or related subjects. Applicants with relevant professional experience and without a first degree should contact the Course Director.
We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information.
If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.
English Language Requirements
We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.
We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.
Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Pre-master’s programmes
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Course structure
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Core
core modules accordion
The module will engage students with the research process from initial idea to communicating results. Students will develop a systematic understanding of research management applicable to their organisational context and clinical practice. Students will cover an overview of topics including selecting a research question, considering a method, the practicalities of research (ethics, governance, funding, project management, data management), data collection and analysis, and reporting and presenting research.
This module will introduce a range of quantitative and qualitative research designs, providing an introduction to the underlying theory and some practical experience of using data collection and analysis methods in practice. Students will cover topics including the concept and definitions of research quality, including their applicability to different methodological approaches and evidence-based practice, and quantitative and qualitative study designs, methods, methodologies and analytical methods.
The module will introduce students to the complex relationship between research evidence, health policy and practice. It will enable them to use tools to critically appraise research literature, and to communicate with different groups of stakeholders to outline research priorities and findings. Students will become familiar with topics including evidence synthesis/systematic review, critical appraisal, relating research interests and key research priorities, communicating research, translating evidence into policy and practice and Public and Patient Involvement.
Fees and funding
The Clinical Research programme is designed for professionals working in healthcare settings who are interested in building a research career. Following successful completion of the PG Certificate in Clinical Research, students have the opportunity to register for and progress to the PG Diploma.
The PG Diploma is 120 credits, taken as a part time tiered exit/24 month route and is available to students who have successfully undertaken the PG Certificate. This equates to 60 credits per year for two years (£4,710 per annum at 2025/26 prices). The total fee for the PG Diploma is £9,420.
The programme offers a flexible pathway through study, with a tiered exit structure allowing students to exit with a PG Certificate, PG Diploma, or MSc over three years. Following completion of the PG Diploma, there is opportunity to progress to the MSc year. The full MSc Clinical Research programme (180 credits) is £14,140 for home students and £30,310 for international students in 2025/26.
Visa restrictions mean that the PG Certificate and PG Diploma are only open to UK applicants.
Additional fees and funding information accordion
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2025, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
For most taught postgraduate applications there is a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.
For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
Scholarships and bursaries
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.
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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.
Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.
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Medicine
- Anaesthesia and Peri-Operative Sciences PgDip
- Clinical Psychology DClinPsy
- Clinical Research MSc
- Clinical Research PgCert
- Health Data Science MSc
- Health Data Science PhD
- Medical Education PgCert
- Medical Ethics and Law PhD
- Medical Sciences MSc by Research
- Medicine M.D.
- Medicine PhD
- Social and Behavioural Sciences in Medicine PhD
- Sports and Exercise Sciences PhD
- Statistics and Epidemiology PhD
Who should apply?
The Clinical Research programme is designed for professionals working in healthcare settings who are interested in building a research career.
The programme offers a flexible pathway through study, with a tiered exit structure allowing students to exit with a PG Certificate, PG Diploma, or MSc over three years.
The MSc can also be studied full time over one year, or part time over two years.
Lancaster Medical School
Lancaster Medical School is an emerging school offering high quality teaching, research and expertise addressing fundamental issues in health and medicine. We aim to contribute to continuing professional development of doctors and allied professionals across the health sector.
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Research in the Faculty
Interests include epidemiology, medical education, social science and biomedical science subjects applied to medicine.
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CHICAS
The Centre for Health Informatics, Computing and Statistics.
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Social and ethical aspects of health and medicine
Exploring the social and ethical aspects of health and medicine, and informing policy and practice.
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Athena Swan: gender equality at Lancaster
We hold the Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising our commitment to advancing the careers of women in higher education and research.
Important Information
The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.
Why Lancaster?
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League tables and reputation
A highly-ranked university with a global reputation.
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Colleges and community
Your college will be your home away from home.
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Careers and employability
Career support for our students through university and beyond.
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Lancaster has so much to offer. On our campus, in our city and in our community, you’ll find your place – whoever you are.
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Where is Lancaster?
Lancaster is easy to get to and surrounded by natural beauty.
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The campus and the city
Our campus and the surrounding area is a great place to call home.
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Build your global community on campus and around the world.
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