MClin Res Clinical Research

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

• MClin Res (full-time distance learning)
  UK students (per annum): £12,600
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £29,900
• MClin Res (part-time distance learning)
  UK students (per annum): £6,300
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,950
• PGDip (full-time distance learning)
  UK students (per annum): £10,100
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £23,900
• PGDip (part-time distance learning)
  UK students (per annum): £5,050
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £11,950
• PGCert (part-time distance learning)
  UK students (per annum): £2,500
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £6,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

NIHR INSIGHT research master's degree studentships

Funded health and social care research master's studentships are available through the north-west regional programme of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) INSIGHT Inspiring Students into Research scheme.

For more information and details of how to apply, visit the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast website .

NIHR Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowships

NIHR Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowships can offer successful candidates backfill and fees to undertake MClinRes units and to prepare a Doctoral Clinical Practitioner Academic Fellowship application. You need to apply directly to NIHR for one of these awards.

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

This course unit will focus on critically evaluating the theory, aims and practicalities of a range of approaches to evidence synthesis including the process of searching, critically appraising, interpreting and synthesizing evidence using a rigorous and systematic approach.  Students will acquire practical skills in applying methods of evidence synthesis as a means of informing health and social care policy, practice and research. 

• Develop comprehensive understanding of, and skills in, critical appraisal.
• Develop in-depth understanding of different systematic approaches to evidence synthesis

Teaching and learning for this unit takes place over one semester. Learning methods utilised involve e-learning via Blackboard. Methods include accessing course material online, interactive demonstrations and activities, and taking part in online discussions with students and tutors.  Directed study components will comprise additional exercises and specified reading related to each on line session.

• Critically evaluate the underpinning theory and rationales of different approaches to evidence synthesis.
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and skills in identifying and retrieving appropriate evidence to address a specific research question.
• Critically assess the quality of evidence using appropriate quality assessment tools.
• Critically interpret and synthesise quantitative and qualitative evidence in order to inform current practice and future research.  

• Critically appraise research in order to inform current practice and future research.
• Critically analyse and synthesise evidence from research using different study designs. 
• Critically evaluate methods of identifying and retrieving the appropriate evidence.
• Debate critically the nature of evidence and the goal of evidence- based practice. 

• Design a review protocol to address a specific research question or an aspect of evidence based practice.
• Critically review the quality of a range of evidence using appropriate quality assessment tools.
• Conduct a systematic synthesis of evidence in the form of a mini-review conducted as part of an online group exercise.

• Critically reflect on their own academic performance and utilise a range of strategies to improve these and overcome any particular difficulties.
• Further develop and enhance skills in effective communication to a range of audiences in a variety of settings.
• Demonstrate skills in working collegiately and effectively with others as a member of a team.
• Effectively utilise information technology / health informatics.
• Utilise skills in systematic and creative approaches to problem-solving and decision-making in relation to complex issues.

Unit Leads ensure that there are appropriate opportunities for students to receive formative feedback regarding their progression throughout a course unit and the subsequent achievement of the associated learning outcomes. Opportunities for feedback are clearly defined in the course unit guide. This may be through seminar tasks, online quizzes, discussions or the submission of a draft/plan outlining their final summative assessment (essay or case study). Individualised feedback on summative assessments will highlight achievements in students work and areas for further improvement and development related to the assessed topic and general study skills.