MRes Clinical Science
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Research
- Course Length
- 1 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2023
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Course Overview
Clinical Science research underpins every aspect of modern medicine. Clinical research and practice operate as quite separate entities, but it is now widely accepted that advanced research skills develop a greater depth of understanding in doctors – and have a hugely positive impact on their practice.
Our Master’s course in Clinical Science is designed to enable practicing medical professionals to develop a mature approach to a specialist area of research. We believe that an interested student is a motivated student, so we accommodate the full spectrum of clinical scientific research, letting you select and define the question you wish to pursue.
The programme includes four learning modules, but your Master’s dissertation will be your main focus throughout the year. As well as arming you with key research skills, which will prove invaluable to your career, we aim to instil a love of research in you, and to contribute positively to your future practice.
Our MRes Clinical Science is your chance to experience the reality of cutting-edge clinical research. You’ll develop a broader, more considered approach to a specific area of medical research, gaining expertise in the intellectual and practical skills of scientific research in the process. And you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the underlying theories, and greater comprehension of the importance of critical review in the practice of evidence-based medicine.
Driven by the research interests of our students, our programme is incredibly diverse. You choose the project that you want to work on, and we provide the close expert mentoring and the learning to help you develop advanced research skills.
Whether you want to explore the design and deployment of new drugs, or you have a desire to optimise the delivery of primary care, we can accommodate you. And the research skills you’ll acquire will be entirely transferrable, so your project doesn’t have to fall within a discipline you aspire to working in.
Your year with us will be dominated by your dissertation research project, and you will also undertake four learning modules. Our approach throughout is designed to promote a thorough understanding of the diversity and breadth of medicine, the benefits of research, and the value every health professional can add by contributing to the advancement of collective medical knowledge.
It’s our hope that you will find your experience of conducting your own research enjoyable, liberating, fulfilling and useful, and that the skills you learn will provide you with a research base to build a career upon for the foreseeable future.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
Research projects occasionally involve time spent studying abroad, however this is dependent on your project and mentor. Any time overseas must be arranged in a way so that no scheduled teaching or coursework are missed.
Study and Modules
Structure
You can complete your MClinEd degree by studying for three years part-time. During your time with us, you will need to complete four compulsory modules:
- Enhancing teaching, learning & assessment in clinical education (20 credits)
- Leading teaching, learning & assessment in clinical education (40 credits)
- Leading contemporary clinical education (20 credits)
- Introduction to research methods (20 credits)
...and one further research module (20 credits), which you will select from the following options:
- Further quantitative research methods
- Further qualitative research methods
- Systematic reviews and research synthesis
Within your compulsory modules, you will explore advances in both theory and practice in clinical education, and you’ll learn to apply your knowledge to the practical design and development of teaching and inquiry methods.
The clinical education modules are designed to help you reflect on your own learning in order to support learning in others. They will also help you develop the skills you need to design your own teaching programmes and techniques using contemporary methods, in a way that is relevant to your discipline and clinical area.
The research modules will reinforce your skills and understanding of research methods, critical appraisal of research evidence and theory, and application of research evidence to education practice.
You will also complete your Masters’ dissertation (60 credits), firstly identifying an appropriate research question on a clinical education topic, then addressing it through a quantitative or qualitative research study, or through a systematic review.
Each credit relates to about 10 hours of study.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
The four research skill modules you will undertake will be taught by experts in the field and delivered through a variety of methods and formats. These include lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops.
Independent study
Our MRes degree has been designed to encourage autonomy and independence in not only defining your preferred area of study, but also in locating relevant resources and evaluating information. You will have access to expert mentoring, but the emphasis is very much placed on your own pursuit of your research objectives.
Assessment
You will need to submit coursework for the majority of the taught modules, however only one of the modules involves a written test. You will need to achieve a pass in all four modules.
The dissertation module, which represents the majority of your Master’s, is comprised of three elements: a review of the literature, a research paper, and piece of reflection.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors degree - 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Medicine, Biomedicine, Health, Psychology or Life Science related degrees
- English Foreign Language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English or those whose degree was not taught in English. To ensure such students benefit fully from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. We also will require a certain standard to be achieved on the written element of the test.
Our usual entry requirements are as follows:-
IELTS: 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in all component)
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PTE: 76 (minimum 76 in all components)
All scores must be less than two years old.
Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests
INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
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- Intakes
- This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
This course is open to medical students wanting to intercalate after the 3rd or 4th year of their UK Medical, Dental or Veterinary degree.
When submitting your application you will be required to upload a research proposal of 500 words.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:
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UK Students: £9,500 (full time)
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International Students: £19,800 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
For those applying under the Health Education England contract, contract prices will apply.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
You can apply online
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
The majority of our students use the MRes as building blocks for a research-orientated career – be it in medicine, psychology, biomedicine, academia or pharmaceuticals. Many also go on to further study, with a PhD either at UEA or another institution.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Examples of careers you could enter include:
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Medicine PhD
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MD
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ClinPsyD
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Physicians Associate
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University and hospital-based research administration
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The private sector – biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies