Clinical Research (MSc, full-time and part-time)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Course Overview

The objective of this Master of Science course is to provide training for the next generation of healthcare workers in the clinical research arena. The course aims to provide a platform for achieving greater efficiencies in applying medical discoveries to clinical practice. It is aimed at qualified individuals who wish to become independent clinical investigators or those who wish to seek employment in leadership positions in clinical research teams.

The MSc (Clinical Research) is intended to be a part-time two-year programme of academic study in Clinical Research Methodology. Year 1 will be spent at University of Galway and Year 2 is completed by a combination of distance learning, and on-site modules delivered by University of Galway. A full-time one-year option is available to students who wish to complete the MSc in a full-time capacity.

MSc Clinical Research Graduation 2019

Top L–R: Colm McElwain, Thomas S., Niamh Hurney. Middle L–R: Nathan Devaney, Josie Carroll, Chloe Ryan. Bottom L–Rt: Dr Sonja Khan (Lecturer), Dr Elaine Loughlin, Dr Sarah Gorey and Professor Andrew Smyth (Course Director)

Special features
Course contributors include senior academics and medical professionals from University of Galway, and Saolta University Health Care Group who are actively engaged in clinical research. This programme is closely linked with the HRB Clinical Research Facility, Galway.

Course webinar recording
Watch recording from Virtual Postgraduate Open Day, November 2020, here.

HRB fellowship: call for HRB-CRFG Fellowship Applications
Please click here for information document. Then please click here to download the form referenced in the information document.

HRB Fellows

Photo of HRB-CRFG Fellowship Students from 2022, L–R:: Frank Wu, Aoife Lyons, Laith Al-Sabek

Eligibility criteria

Offered and accepted a full-time position on the MSc in Clinical Research programme.
Be available to commit to working 20 hours per week at the HRB-CRFG.

Allied University of Galway courses

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Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Assessment will take the form of formal, end-of-module examinations as well as continuous assessment, evaluation of contribution to group discussions and module projects. Semester One exams take place in December; Semester Two exams take place in April/May. The research thesis is submitted in August.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Students must have completed either of the following:

An undergraduate degree in medicine
Other healthcare related undergraduate degree with a minimum of 2nd Class Honours, Grade 1*.
Biomedical science-related undergraduate degree with a minimum of 2nd Class Honours, Grade 1*.

Applicants from non-healthcare related degrees will be considered (minimum requirement of 2nd Class Honours, Grade 1*) on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the coordinators.

Applicants with significant relevant experience will also be considered for this programme.

For applicants where English is a second language, we will adhere to University of Galway guidelines of requiring IELTS scores of 6.5, TOEFL scores of 88 and/or Pearson PTE scores of 61 with no less than 5.5 in any component. Duolingo test score requirement: 110 overall, no less than 110 in any one component and valid for 2 years.

Those who do not meet the primary entry criteria as described above will be declined entry into the programme. The remaining applicants will be reviewed in closer detail.

Significant weight will be placed on:

A) the applicant’s essay describing their motivation for applying for this course and their career aspirations following the successful completion of the MSc,
B) the applicant’s referee’s comments, and
C) the applicant’s previous academic performance.

*Or equivalent international qualification

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Applicants with significant relevant experience will also be considered for this programme.

Duration

1 year, full-time
2 years, part-time

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

No set closing date. Please see offer rounds website for further information.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

90 ECTS

Award

CAO

Course code

MSC-CR

Course Outline

Full-time MSc (Clinical Research)

Full-time or part-time course consisting of 90 ECTS.

Compulsory Modules (Core):

Semester 1

MD510 Fundamentals of Health Research and Evaluation Methods; 10ECTS

MD511 Introduction to Biostatistics I; 10ECTS

MD1602 Introduction to the Ethical and Regulatory Frameworks of Clinical Research; 10ECTS

Additional Modules (Optional):

Semester 1 and 2

MD513 Introduction to Biostatistics II; 10ECTS

MD514 Introduction to Research Methods for Randomized Controlled Trials; 10ECTS

MD515 Systematic Review Methods; 10ECTS

MD1541 Harnessing the Basic Biology of Cancer for Development of Novel Therapeutics; 10 ECTS

MD1603 Clinical Research Site Level Activities; 10 ECTS

MD517 Clinical Research Administration; 10ECTS

EC584 Health Systems and Policy Analysis; 10ECTS

EC572 Health Technology Assessment; 10ECTS

MD518 Observational and Analytical Research Methods; 10ECTS

MD1600 Bio-Ethics; 10ECTS

MD1601 Biobank—Advanced Clinical Application and Clinical Testing; 10ECTS

MD1528 First in Human, Early Phase Clinical Trials; 10ECTS

PLUS

MD520 Thesis (30 ECTS), completed over the one-year period. Thesis defence will be completed at University of Galway.

Part-time MSc (Clinical Research)

Students are required to complete three compulsory modules at University of Galway in year 1 of the Masters. A further 3* or 5** modules are selected from additional courses available at University of Galway.

Semester 1

MD510 Fundamentals of Health Research and Evaluation Methods; 10ECTS

MD511 Introduction to Biostatistics I; 10ECTS

MD1602 Introduction to the Ethical and Regulatory Frameworks of Clinical Research; 10ECTS

Additional Modules (Optional):

Semester 1 and 2

MD513 Introduction to Biostatistics II; 10ECTS

MD514 Introduction to Research Methods for Randomized Controlled Trials; 10ECTS

MD515 Systematic Review Methods; 10ECTS

MD1541 Harnessing the Basic Biology of Cancer for Development of Novel Therapeutics; 10 ECTS

MD1603 Clinical Research Site Level Activities; 10 ECTS

MD517 Clinical Research Administration; 10ECTS

EC584 Health Systems and Policy Analysis; 10ECTS

EC572 Health Technology Assessment; 10ECTS

MD518 Observational and Analytical Research Methods; 10ECTS

MD1600 Bio-Ethics; 10ECTS

MD1601 Biobank—Advanced Clinical Application and Clinical Testing; 10ECTS

MD1528 First in Human, Early Phase Clinical Trials; 10ECTS

PLUS

*Thesis (30 ECTS), completed over the 2-year period. Thesis defence will be completed at University of Galway

** MD519 Independent Study Module (10 ECTS), completed and assessed by University of Galway.

Module details for full-time course
Module details for part-time course

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Clinical Research graduates are expected to progress to become principal investigators or key team members involved in the conduct, management and monitoring of clinical research. Such roles have become a prominent source of jobs in a variety of settings, including universities and colleges, the pharmaceutical industry, non-academic clinical research organisations, hospitals, independent funding agencies and government agencies. Additional opportunities include employment in teaching and consultation settings.

What makes this course unique ...

The MSc programme provides training for qualified individuals who wish to become independent clinical investigators or an array of clinical research professionals who wish to seek employment in or to lead clinical research teams. The programme is structured such that those in full-time employment are able to undertake the programme part-time.
The programme content is delivered by experience and active senior researchers, academics and medical professionals from University of Galway and Saolta University Health Care Group via a mixture of face-to-face and online learning.
MSc programme graduates have multiple employment opportunities as the conduct and oversight of clinical research has become increasingly prominent in a variety of settings, including university/colleges, pharmaceutical industry, non-academic clinical research organizations, hospitals, independent funding agencies and government agencies. Additional opportunities include employment in teaching and consultation.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€9,890 p.a. full-time; €5355 p.a. part-time (including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Tuition

€9,750 p.a. full-time; €5,250 p.a. part-time 2024/25

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€19,000 p.a. (€19,140 including levy) 2024/25

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant—please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2024/25). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = Tuition (EU or NON EU) + Student levy as outlined above.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here.

Find out More

For general queries, email:

clinicalresearch@universityofgalway.ie

Dr Sonja Khan
HRB Clinical Research Facility
E: sonja.khan@universityofgalway.ie
www.crfg.ie
Twitter: @CrfgHrb
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nuig-clinical-research-masters

Dr Johannes B. Letshwiti | Consultant Neonatologist

I have a special interest in quality improvement (QI) projects and this is the course I had been looking for as a clinical educator. I wasn't sure at the start whether the course would be able be a good fit for those interested in QI, an important part of modern clinical practice. This course provides you with the right tools to critique journal articles, to interpret results, to set up research and QI projects, and to teach trainees on how to present research articles. It gives you basic and in-depth look at research methodology. The course is delivered in the most efficient way for those doing the course either in part-time or full time capacity. There is huge support from the instructors throughout the course. The course is delivered online with some face-to-face lectures. The latter is important as it provides tutorial rather than just lectures. There is an excellent mix of core and optional modules. The optional modules are tailored to suit your area of interest or expertise. I am in a better place right now as this course has consolidated what most health professionals do not get during their training: research methodology, an essential education piece for all clinicians.

in Connect with Dr Johannes

Chiaw Woon Teh | Research Associate

Clinical research is a competitive and growing field. Being a clinical research professional, a strong academic/medical background isn’t sufficient to conduct good quality clinical research. Some significant research skills and knowledge are essential for competence in conducting research and this is the main reason I started MSc Clinical Research with NUI Galway. It is a comprehensive programme with experienced, dedicated and outstanding lecturers which includes clinicians, regulatory specialists and clinical trial specialists. It gives a great overview of clinical research with the concepts, research ethics and guidelines. This course enhances my skills in information seeking, communicating, methodological skills and data analysis. I was lucky to be offered a placement in the oncology department. It was an eye-opener experience which allowed me to have hands-on experience in the clinical trials. This course has changed my career path from a clinical pharmacist to a clinical research associate and I am glad that I made this decision.

in Connect with Chiaw

Kai Meen Chen | Research Associate

This course provides essential knowledge and skills in clinical research areas if you are planning to pursue this field. The teaching method is an adaptive learning platform that included both online & classroom methods. The lecturers in this course are experienced & knowledgeable, they provide full support and guidance. During my academic year, I was honoured to receive the Advanced Therapies Cancer Group Scholarship in Clinical Research Facility Galway (CRFG). This placement allowed me to gain hands-on experience in clinical trials, especially in Haematology and Oncology trials. In the CRFG, I worked as a data manager at the site to complete the patient data in the database, maintain the site file and handle the monitoring visit. This working experience was invaluable and helped me understand the significance of these activities in a clinical trial. I highly recommend this course to those planning to work in clinical research, which would equip you with the basic knowledge to start your career in the academic research or pharma industry. I have no regret studying abroad for this course which is a plus for me to progress to the next level as a project manager.

in Connect with Kai

Aditya Kodumagulla | Pharm D

MSc. in Clinical Research program have equipped me with good Clinical and essential skills that are most needed if you are willing to start a clinical research industry career. The compulsory and optional modules are designed to complete with great flexibility and provide the basic concept with adequate staff support. My journey to Ireland started with my interest in clinical trials and Medical devices to explore good research career opportunities. However, I was fortunate enough to receive the HRB - Fellowship, which has exposed me to many practical aspects and various clinical and non-clinical pieces of training, that have helped me gain essential skills. Moreover, my student life at NUIG was amazingly packed in attending social, sports and career events which gave me enough exposure, confidence and skill to unleash my potential and supported me to create excellent research possibilities for my upcoming career.

in Connect with Aditya

Alice Power | Quality & Regulatory Affairs Manager

The MSc. in Clinical Research was an overall excellent experience. I gained a thorough understanding of all aspects to clinical research and since my graduation this has been beneficial to the progression of my career in research administration and management roles. The module choices offered, through both online and classroom learning, were wide enough to allow for selection on the components you might be more interested in while having optimum required core modules. Engagement, support and insight from experienced course lecturers was always available. I have to say that completion of this MSc. has stood me very well and would highly recommend to anyone considering a clinical research management/administration future.

in Connect with Alice

Dr. Martin O'Halloran | Techrete Snr Lecturer; Dir, Translational Medical Device Lab

In recent decades, the medical devices sector has become an ever-increasing part of the West of Ireland’s economic landscape. The growth of the sector has been supported by academic initiatives like BioInnovate, CURAM and the HRB’s Clinical Research Facility in Galway (CRFG). The Masters in Clinical Research delivered by the CRFG trains medical devices researchers on the fundamentals of designing, implementing and analysing a clinical trial. Uniquely, since the material is delivered by CRF staff themselves, the course also addresses the practical challenges of clinical research. The course content is very carefully considered and is both challenging and engaging. I couldn’t recommend the course highly enough and would consider such training a must for those engaging in medical device trials.

in Connect with Dr. Martin

Dr. Shubham Atal | MD, MSc

Coming from an academic–research background in medicine/pharmacology, the MSc in Clinical Research was a perfect fit for me in terms of its content, exposure and duration. It aims at facilitating a career progression into various roles in the different domains of clinical research. The availability of compulsory and elective additional modules offers great flexibility and perspective. Moreover, there were opportunities in form of part time paid internships / jobs and volunteer research assistantships to gain hands on experience in clinical research activities in the CRFG. This master’s programme is a great platform for anyone looking to launch or further a career in healthcare research in industry or academia. It helped me greatly to transition into working for a top national institute of medicine in my country as an academic actively involved in clinical research.

in Connect with Dr. Shubham

John O'Dea | CEO, Crospon

With the increasing level of translational research and novel medical device design taking place in Ireland, there is a strong need to increase number of trained clinical researchers both within academia and industry. This course has been of great benefit to me in building skills in terms of RCT design and biostatistics in a formal structured manner. The various modes of learning and lecture scheduling have made this a course capable of being managed in the context of a heavy work schedule.

in Connect with John

Colm Mc Elwain | MPharm MPSI

This course has a variety of optional modules, ranging from database development to project management, that gave me great flexibility in how I wanted to steer my own learning experience. The teaching methods used in these modules are flexible, which allows the content to be very student orientated and accessible. I was fortunate to get a place on a research fellowship in HRB’s Clinical Research Facility in Galway (CRFG). This placement was invaluable in allowing me to experience all elements of clinical research in a practical manner. In the CRFG, I worked in database management, quality assurance, quality control and project management on a variety of clinical studies. I was lucky enough to get some great advice from experienced colleagues while I was here. I would recommend the MSc. in Clinical Research to anyone who would like to utilise their skills in the world of clinical research, even if your background isn’t from a clinical setting. The course has an excellent support network and great lecturers that are happy to provide guidance and advice to students.

Shereen Esmael | BCPS,MSc.,Clinical Research Assistant

I started the course hoping to achieve something extra to aid my main field of Pharmacology, but I finished the course with a decision to shift my career to Clinical Research completely at an age where I should be settling with what I've already got going on. The MSc. in Clinical Research is a very well-organised course that boasts the complete package in terms of teaching all the vital aspects of clinical research, building valuable practical experience, and having suitable schedules for graduate students coming from almost any background, mine of course being Pharmacology. The course also offers a diverse selection of interesting optional modules, in addition to the required modules, that provide a wide range of exciting possibilities for your very own unique experience. I was very fortunate to earn a research scholarship in the CRFG, which proved priceless in getting me prepared for my current clinical research job after the course. I would definitely recommend the MSc. in Clinical Research to anyone hoping to pursue a career as a clinical researcher

in Connect with Shereen

Dr Yogesh Acharya | MD, MSc, FAcadMEd, AFAMEE

Clinical research has become an integral part of modern medicine. The impact of research in the healthcare setting lies beyond individual patients. As science continues to evolve, there is an overwhelming need for evidence-based medicine. MSc in Clinical Research at the National University of Ireland Galway provides a suitable platform for physician and healthcare staff to build a clinical research career. Dedicated faculty members consist of academia, clinicians and industry experts, who offer a practical learning experience. The problem-based active teaching and learning environment addresses the challenges in clinical research and equips students with the knowledge, attitude and competence to excel. As a recent alumnus, I highly recommend this course to those who want to build a clinical research career or consolidate their research aptitude.

in Connect with Dr Yogesh

MSc Applied Clinical Data Analytics

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