Short Course: Clinical Trials Design and Patient Recruitment
About
This short course is designed to provide students with the ability to critically evaluate clinical trial design, and in depth understanding of patient recruitment and the regulatory and ethical processes involved.
The course will also provide students with the ability to critically appraise clinical trial analysis, reporting and quality assurance.
Research into disease mechanisms and the development of disease diagnostics / therapeutics requires an understanding of clinical trial design including the ethical and regulatory requirements required. This course integrates knowledge of the clinical trials process with patient recruitment.
The aims of this short course are to:
- Demonstrate the importance of clinical trials in furthering clinical research.
- Develop knowledge on clinical trial design.
- Promote understanding of the regulatory requirements for clinical trial running and reporting.
- Identify and understand best patient recruitment strategies.
Term dates
Start Date: Monday 26 January 2026.
Attendance
This course is delivered fully online in Semester 2, with no on campus attendance requirements. In addition, students will be required to carry out online research and reading as well as complete assignments.
*Please note, dates and timetabling may be subject to change.
Location
Delivered fully online.
Assessment
Class Test (Written) [50%]
There will be two multiple choice tests, which will test students on their knowledge of the material covered on research ethics and governance regulatory issues. Each test will last 30 minutes and will be taken online, via Blackboard learn. Each test will be worth 25% of the overall module mark.
Written assignment (Coursework) [50%]
Written assignment (50%): Students will be provided with an example of a clinical trial and they will be asked to critically review this with regards to factors such as trial design and study limitations (2500 words).
Career Options
The short course has particular relevance to:
- Medicine, Pharmacy and Allied Health Professionals.
- Established employees n the pharmaceutical or healthcare sectors who are looking to upskill or learn more about novel and digital trial design.
- Undergraduate or postgraduate students looking for a career in pharmaceutical or healthcare settings.
This short course can significantly benefit potential employees by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective and ethical participation in the dynamic field of clinical research. Or indeed train those professionals from Medicine, Pharmacy and Allied Health Professionals who may work or wish to work in the clinical trials area.
A module in clinical trial design and patient recruitment can provide numerous benefits to potential employees in the healthcare and clinical research sectors.
Further Information
Module
This is a 15 credit module short course - see the about section for details of content.
Entry requirements
Academic qualifications
Students will be considered for entry to the course on an individual basis.
The basic entry requirements are outlined below:
Applicants must:
(a) have gained
a second class honours degree or better with significant bioscience (or biostatistics) such as nursing, biomedical sciences, biology, pharmacy from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification;
and
(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).
In exceptional circumstances, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b), where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are 18 or over at the point of enrolment;
- have a right to work and undertake training in the UK at the point of application and for the duration of the course and must not be disqualified from doing either by reason of their immigration status. Proof of this will be required to progress your application. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements including competency in English (as evidenced by GCSE Grade C in English or alternative). For English competency, a degree taught in UK or Ireland covers this requirement. If your degree is from outside the UK or Ireland, please see our list of acceptable qualifications or tests.
- are available to register in person at the campus as required.
Apply now - limited places available
There are a limited number of places for this course. Offers will be extended to those applicants who meet the entry requirements following successful completion of the application process, and have provided evidence of such, on a first come, first served basis. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all offers are extended. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all places are filled. Applications cannot be considered once a course has started.
Please note you can only be funded by DfE for a maximum of two courses at any one time across all institutions who offer courses as part of SkillUp. You will only be permitted to study one course at Ulster in each academic year or a maximum of two microcredentials up to 45 credits per semester.
When creating your application you will need to have the following documents saved electronically as they need to be uploaded as part of the application process:
- Passport
- Evidence of having right to work and undertake training in the UK*
- Degree Certificate
- English Competency (If you have a degree from UK/ROI, you don't need to provide anything else)
* Holders of UK or Irish passports automatically have this right. if you hold a passport from another nation, please provide evidence of UK immigration permissions to include a ShareCode and/or BRP.
To select the correct course, in the field called Please select the subject area, select Life & Health Sciences from the drop down box. Then select Clinical Trials Design & Patient Recruitment from the next drop down box.
