MSc Statistics for Clinical Trials

Course highlights

• Students learn about the main statistical tools and principles used in clinical trials.
• Teaching is delivered by statisticians with expertise in many different areas of applied and theoretical statistics.
• All types of trials, from early to late phase trials, and from simple to complex interventions are covered.

Entry requirements

Graduates with UK degrees, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a related quantitative discipline (e.g. mathematics, statistics, biostatistics, genetics, computational biology) and health professionals (e.g. clinicians). Clinicians and other allied health professionals are required to have a degree (for example, an MBBS) and evidence of having completed quantitative modules, as well as a keen interest in medical statistics.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Good

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Course Content

Statistics is a key tool in clinical trials, which are essential in discovering whether new healthcare interventions improve the lives of patients. Statistics is used at the design stage to compare possible designs, calculate the sample size, and at all stages of the trial until the final analysis and reporting of results.

This online programme will provide an excellent grounding in statistics for clinical trials. Frequentist as well as Bayesian statistics will be covered. You will learn about all types of trials, from early to late phase trials, and from simple to complex interventions. This will be both from a design and analysis perspective. In addition, you will learn to code in R and STATA.

Graduates of this programme will be prepared to pursue careers in academic or industry sectors, or further study to PhD level. Clinicians taking this programme will be equipped to be involved in Clinical Trials and fully engage with statisticians.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of seven core modules (120 credits), and a dissertation/report (60 credits)

A Postgraduate Diploma, consisting of seven core modules (120 credits) and available for full-time, part-time or flexible study is offered.

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MSc in Clinical Trials. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Clinical Trials.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.