Clinical Research

Clinical Research
  • Postgraduate taught, Online
  • MRes

Clinical Research

Receive broad training and practical experience in designing, implementing and reporting clinical studies.

  • Postgraduate taught, Online
  • PG Cert

Clinical Research

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

How would you like to study?

Study option:

Course key facts

  • Qualification

    • MRes

  • Duration

    1 year, 2 years

  • Start date

    September 2025

  • Study mode

    Full-time, Part-time

  • Fees

    • Home
      £15,200

    • Overseas
      £25,600 Online
      £45,000 On-campus

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • Hammersmith

    • Online (Human Nutrition only)

Minimum entry standard

  • 2:1 in medicine or life sciences

View full entry requirements

Minimum entry standard

  • 2:1 in medicine or life sciences

View full entry requirements

Study option:

Course overview

Receive broad and high quality training and practical experience in designing, implementing, conducting and reporting clinical studies on this MRes course within the intensive world-leading clinical research environment of Imperial College London.

You'll build the broad and rounded skillset of a clinical researcher. With core skills such as clinical trial design, conduct and implementation, research dissemination conduct, PPI, critical appraisal, applying for ethics and research funding, and explore a range of challenging clinical research scenarios and contexts.

You'll then specialise in a chosen area of clinical research on one of three dedicated pathways:

  • Diabetes and Obesity –  Develop a deep understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, and research advances in the prevention, management and treatment of diabetes and obesity.
  • Human Nutrition – Gain deep insight into the latest developments of interplay of diet, health and  disease, such as gastrointenstinal tract mechanisms, aging and chronic disease , engaging with cutting edge research including investigative techniques such  as Camera technology,  Metabolomics and and Omic technology, to accurately explore the most clinically relevant research questions.
  • Translational Medicine – assess the challenges of drug development including clinical trial design, and learn why most drug development programmes are unsuccessful, and how to improve the success rate. You'll also have an opportunity to apply your practical experience and training to a research project.

This course will allow you to develop the essential clinical research skills in your subject area of interest and prepare you for clinical research oriented career or further research study, such as a PhD.

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.

Study option:

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.

Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.

You’ll study all the following modules.

Core modules

You’ll study one optional module depending on your selected pathway at registration.

Optional modules

Apply a range of clinical and laboratory techniques to a specific research area on an extensive project of your choosing. 

The project topic will be based on your selected pathway, and supervised by a Imperial based research academic.

Your work will be assessed by a research proposal, research paper, poster presentation and oral viva voce examination.

You’ll study all the following modules.

Core modules

You’ll study one optional module depending on your selected pathway at registration:

Optional modules

Study option:

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

  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Interactive workshops
  • Journal clubs
  • Blackboard virtual learning environment
    Virtual learning environment
  • Presentations
  • A group of people interacting
    Group work
  • Project reports
  • Books for research studies
    Research proposal

Assessment methods

  • Case studies
  • Critical appraisal reports
  • A document of written text
    Documentation
  • Oral examination
  • Poster presentation
  • a laptop screen with a clock on top
    Online exams
  • Research Article

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

  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Interactive workshops
  • Journal clubs
  • Blackboard virtual learning environment
    Virtual learning environment
  • Presentations
  • A group of people interacting
    Group work
  • Project reports
  • Books for research studies
    Research proposal

Assessment methods

  • Case studies
  • Critical appraisal reports
  • A document of written text
    Documentation
  • Oral examination
  • Poster presentation
  • a laptop screen with a clock on top
    Online exams
  • Research Article

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.

Study option:

Entry requirements

We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.

Study option:

How to apply

Apply online

You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.

Tuition fees

All streams - Home

MRes (full-time)

£15,200 total fee

MRes (part-time)

£7,600per year

PG Cert (full-time)

£7,600total

On-campus streams - Overseas

MRes (full-time)

£45,000 total fee

MRes (part-time)

£22,500per year

PG Cert (full-time)

£22,500total fee

Human Nutrition online - Overseas

MRes (full-time)

£25,600 total fee

MRes (part-time)

£12,800per year

PG Cert (full-time)

£12,800total fee

Study option:

Scholarships

MRes in Clinical Research – Translational Medicine bursaries

Value per award

  • £7,450

Who it's for

  • Home students on the MRes Clinical Research Translational Medicine pathway programme for 2024/2025.
Find out more

The Dean’s Master’s Scholarships

Value per award

  • £10,000

Who it's for

  • All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine Master’s programme
Find out more

The Dr Jean Alero Thomas Scholarships

Value per award

  • Partial or full tuition fee at the Home rate

Who it's for

  • All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine lab-based Master’s programme
Find out more

The Dean’s Master’s Scholarships

Value per award

  • £10,000

Who it's for

  • All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine Master’s programme
Find out more

The Dr Jean Alero Thomas Scholarships

Value per award

  • Partial or full tuition fee at the Home rate

Who it's for

  • All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine lab-based Master’s programme
Find out more

How will studying at Imperial help my career?

Microscope

Acquire transferable skills relevant to a career in clinical research.

Chemistry research on computer screen

Develop the clinical expertise required to pursue research positions within healthcare or to attend medical school.

Teacher in front of classroom

Expert leaders in the field provide practical training for a research career.

Graduate Cap above rolled Degree

Our graduates often pursue further study in master's programs or doctoral research.

Lightbulb above a book

With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.

Briefcase with a hand below it

Graduates have gained employment in areas such as clinical trials and the food industry.

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.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Programme specifications