
Clinical Research
Receive broad training and practical experience in designing, implementing and reporting clinical studies.
Postgraduate Certificate
Receive broad training and practical experience in designing, implementing and reporting clinical studies.
Receive broad training and practical experience in designing, implementing and reporting clinical studies
Specialise in diabetes and obesity, human nutrition or translational medicine on a dedicated research pathway
Become familiar with the innovative technologies that underpin novel clinical investigation
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MRes
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Duration
1 year, 2 years
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Start date
October 2023
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Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
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Fees
Full-time: £14,050 Part-time: £7,025 per year Home
Full-time: £23,200 or £40,800 Part-time: £11,600 or £20,400 per year Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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Hammersmith
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Online
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Qualification
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PG Cert
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
October 2023
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£7,025 Home
£11,600 or £20,400 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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Hammersmith
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Online
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Course overview
Receive broad training and practical experience of designing, implementing, and reporting clinical studies on this MRes course.
You'll build skills in research conduct, clinical research measures, and explore a range of clinical research scenarios.
You'll then specialise in a chosen area of clinical research on one of three dedicated pathways:
- Diabetes and Obesity - explore modern investigative techniques including MRI and metabolomics and understand the pathophysiology of both types of diabetes.
- Human Nutrition - understand the regulatory requirements of human nutrition and analyse the latest cutting-edge research. This pathway may be studied on campus or fully online (remote learning). You must select which stream you wish to join when you apply.
- Translational Medicine - assess the challenges of drug development including clinical trial design, and learn about non-drug therapeutic approaches including regenerative medicine and vaccine development.
You'll also have an opportunity to apply your practical experience and training to a research project.
This work allows you to implement essential research skills in your subject area of interest and prepares you for further PhD study.
Receive broad training and practical experience of designing, implementing, and reporting clinical studies on this PG Certificate course
You'll build skills in research conduct, clinical research measures, and explore a range of clinical research scenarios.
You'll then specialise in a chosen area of clinical research on one of three dedicated pathways:
- Diabetes and Obesity - explore modern investigative techniques including MRI and metabolomics and understand the pathophysiology of both types of diabetes.
- Human Nutrition - understand the regulatory requirements of human nutrition and analyse the latest cutting-edge research.
- Translational Medicine - assess the challenges of drug development including clinical trial design.
The course explores innovative technologies in specific areas of clinical research and examines the concepts, theories and developments that underpin novel clinical investigation.
You'll also learn how to critically analyse data and become familiar with governance and ethics in relation to clinical research.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
You’ll study all the following modules.
Core modules
Explore and investigate the challenges, considerations and regulatory framework around research in humans, and become familiar with Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
Gain insight into the design and conduct of clinical research in challenging situations, and build confidence in clinical trial design and conduct.
Develop your ability to appraise research literature and judge its validity.
You’ll study one optional module depending on your selected pathway at registration.
Optional modules
Examine the research methods required to study human nutrition in controlled and free living situations and analyse dietary assessment methods.
Deepen your understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes and obesity.
Investigate the challenges of research in non-drug interventional research, including regenerative medicine and devices.
Apply a range of clinical and laboratory techniques to a specific research area on an extensive project.
The project topic will be based on your selected pathway, with your research skills supported by a supervisor.
Your work will be assessed by a research proposal, final thesis, poster presentation and oral exam.
You’ll study all the following modules.
Core modules
Explore and investigate the challenges, considerations and regulatory framework around research in humans, and become familiar with Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
Gain insight into the design and conduct of clinical research in challenging situations, and build confidence in clinical trial design and conduct.
Develop your ability to appraise research literature and judge its validity.
You’ll study one optional module depending on your selected pathway at registration:
Optional modules
Examine the research methods required to study human nutrition in controlled and free living situations and analyse dietary assessment methods.
Deepen your understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes and obesity.
Investigate the challenges of research in non-drug interventional research, including regenerative medicine and devices.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures, seminars and independent study
- Research project
- 30% Lectures, seminars and independent study
- 70% Research project
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Interactive workshops
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Journal clubs
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Virtual learning environment
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Presentations
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Group work
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Project reports
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Research proposal
Assessment methods
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Case studies
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Critical appraisal reports
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Documentation
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Practical assessment
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Oral examination
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Poster presentation
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Final thesis (research project)
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures, seminars and independent study
- Research project
- 100% Lectures, seminars and independent study
- 0% Research project
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
-
Interactive workshops
-
Journal clubs
-
Virtual learning environment
-
Presentations
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Group work
-
Project reports
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Research proposal
Assessment methods
-
Case studies
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Critical appraisal reports
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Documentation
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Practical assessment
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Oral examination
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Poster presentation
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Final thesis (research project)
Human Nutrition (online stream)
If you choose the Human Nutrition online stream, all taught components, group activities and assessments will take place online using Blackboard Learn and similar platforms.
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
This course is divided into two progressional levels of study:
- PG Certificate (PG Cert)
- MRes
Each level of study has its own separate entry point; you can apply to either level in the first instance.
Read more about Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and MSc degrees
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for all taught Master's applications excluding those to the Imperial College Business School
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Tuition fees
Home fee (all streams)
MRes (full-time)
£14,050
MRes (part-time)
£7,025per year
PG Cert (full-time)
£7,025
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee (on-campus streams)
MRes (full-time)
£40,800
MRes (part-time)
£20,400per year
PG Cert (full-time)
£20,400
Overseas fee (Human Nutrition online)
MRes (full-time)
£23,200
MRes (part-time)
£11,600per year
PG Cert (full-time)
£11,600
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Your future career
Acquire transferable skills relevant to a career in clinical research.
Develop the clinical expertise required to pursue research positions within healthcare or to attend medical school.
Expert leaders in the field provide practical training for a research career.
Our graduates often pursue further study in master's programs or doctoral research.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
Graduates have gained employment in areas such as clinical trials and the food industry.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 3313 6114
- Email: f.bibby@imperial.ac.uk
Course Directors: Professor Martin Wilkins and Professor Gary Frost
Visit the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction website.

Register your interest
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications