Clinical Trials (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip, PgCert, PgProfDev

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Medicine

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

Online learning

Part-time intermittent study
  • PgProfDev | 2 years | Start date: multiple dates
Part-time
  • MSc | 3 years | Start date: September 2026
  • PgCert | 1 year | Start date: September 2026
  • PgDip | 2 years | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

Edinburgh Medical School

College

College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

Programme website
Accreditation

Not available

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About the degree programme

Transform your expertise and shape the future of healthcare with our MSc Clinical Trials programme. Whether you are looking to advance your career or pivot to a new speciality in clinical trials, this part-time, fully online programme is designed to give you the knowledge and tools you need to succeed in this vital healthcare field.

The programme offers a structured yet flexible pathway to gaining deep insights and practical skills in clinical trial management, designed to be completed part-time over three years.

The University of Edinburgh is ranked consistently among the top 50 universities globally, reflecting our commitment to excellence in research and education. Our MSc Clinical Trials programme is a testament to this, preparing you to lead and innovate in this crucial field.

Take the next step towards leading in the field of clinical trials.

Study options

You can exit at the end of:

  • Year 1 with a Postgraduate Certificate
  • Year 2 for a Postgraduate Diploma
  • Year 3 with a Master of Science degree

If you need a break, you can take up to 24 months to complete each year of study. You can interrupt or extend your study period by notifying the course organiser of any changes.

If you exit the programme early, your earned credits will be recorded. These can be used if you return to the University of Edinburgh or may be recognised by other institutions as prior learning.

Postgraduate Professional Development

Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit. 

Alternatively, after one year of taking courses, you can choose to transfer your credits and continue on to studying towards a higher award on a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.

Programme benefits

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of clinical trial design and management, equipping you with the skills to lead and innovate in healthcare research.
  • Create a global professional network. Learn with and from a diverse community of professionals from around the world, expanding your professional network and sharing clinical trials insights across different healthcare systems and practices.
  • Study at your own pace with our part-time, online programme designed to fit around your professional and personal commitments, enabling continuous professional development without pausing your career.

You can work full-time in clinical trials or a clinical background and study for this degree. I personally feel that studying with the University of Edinburgh has been the best experience for me. 

Asha Mathews MSc Clinical Trials, graduated 2018
Photo of Asha Mathews in graduation robes

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Part-time intermittent study
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Online Learning Scholarships

The University offers several scholarships specifically for online, part-time postgraduate programmes. These are very competitive. We publish data on the success rate for scholarship applications to help you understand the level of demand.

Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding candidates, and will be applied toward tuition fees.

Learn more about Online Learning Scholarships

Scholarship application success rates

If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan for online study from one of the UK’s governments.

If you intend to apply for a UK government loan you should apply for the 3-year Masters option.

View details: UK government loans

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, biological sciences, life sciences, biomedicine, statistics or other related discipline.

We may also consider your application if you have 3-5 years' relevant work experience; please contact the programme team to check before you apply. You may be admitted to certificate level only in the first instance.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

The Clinical Trials programme is structured so that you can gain specialised knowledge in clinical trials while keeping a manageable schedule that complements your professional responsibilities.

The programme is tailored for you to study part-time, requiring a time commitment of 15-20 hours a week.

Year 1 (Postgraduate Certificate)

You will start with the following foundational compulsory courses:

  • Introduction to Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Medical Statistics
  • Ethical and Regulatory Considerations in Clinical Trials

You may choose a further option course.

After you successfully complete all three courses in Year 1, giving you a total of 60 credits, you can exit and apply for a Postgraduate Certificate, or continue to the second year.

Year 2 (Postgraduate Diploma)

You will deepen your expertise with three option courses. 

You pick and choose your option courses to tailor your studies to your intended outcome.

After you successfully complete all six courses from Years 1 and 2, giving you a total of 120 credits, you can exit and apply for a Postgraduate Diploma, or continue to the third year.

Year 3 (Master of Science)

You will culminate your learning with a comprehensive MSc dissertation project focused on a specific area of clinical trials, or choose to complete your masters through a taught route incorporating a student-led individually created course (SLICC).

Once you have started your dissertation project, you must submit it within one academic year.

Option courses

You can tailor your educational experience by choosing from a variety of option courses that cover advanced topics and specialised areas within clinical trials. These include:

  • Clinical Trial Designs
  • Data Enabled Clinical Trials
  • Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)
  • Principles of Clinical Trial Management
  • Clinical Trials in Special Populations
  • Monitoring and Audit
  • Fundamentals of Health Economics
  • Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
  • Systematic Reviews

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Part-time intermittent study
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Disclaimer

The delivery of option courses in Years 1 and 2 is subject to demand and availability.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Each course within the programme is divided into themed sections, featuring a mix of:

  • short online lectures
  • practical case studies
  • directed readings
  • podcasts
  • archived webinars
  • live workshops
  • group work

This blend of resources is designed to cater to different learning styles and schedules.

Interactive discussion boards and live expert guest lectures are integral parts of your learning experience, providing platforms for collaborative discussion and critical analysis of current issues in clinical trials. This dynamic online environment ensures you are engaged and can apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios.

Assessment

Years 1 and 2

Assessment across the first two years of the programme is designed to evaluate your understanding and application of course material comprehensively. For each course, your performance is assessed through:

  • participation in online discussions and seminars
  • an individual written project, where you will demonstrate your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to a practical problem
  • a reflective portfolio, encouraging you to reflect on and articulate your learning journey
  • group projects, which may sometimes be peer-assessed, allowing you to engage with and learn from your fellow students
Year 3 

In Year 3, you can choose to complete your masters through a taught route incorporating a student-led individually created course (SLICC), or culminate your learning with a comprehensive MSc dissertation project. 

The dissertation is assessed on your ability to conduct independent research, your analytical skills in interpreting data, and your competence in presenting your findings coherently. The assessment criteria will include:

  • research methodology
  • data analysis
  • quality of argumentation
  • clarity and professionalism of presentation

This structured approach to teaching and assessment ensures that you not only gain comprehensive knowledge of clinical trials but also develop critical thinking and practical skills essential for your future career.

Learning outcomes

With our MSc Clinical Trials programme, you will: 

  • Gain a critical understanding of clinical trials principles, including trial designs and methodologies.
  • Develop skills in critically evaluating trial designs, methodologies, and ethical aspects globally.
  • Acquire effective project management skills for planning and managing clinical trials.
  • Enhance communication skills to convey complex trial information to various audiences.
  • Strengthen problem-solving abilities to address challenges and ensure trial success.
  • Learn to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams, preparing for advanced roles in the sector.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Teaching support

Teaching teams, including Directors of Learning and your tutors, will be able to support you with your subject or course. 

Cohort Leads

Cohort Leads are in place to create a sense of community within your programme.

Cohort Leads

Our academic staff

We have over 10 expert lecturers working in clinical trials who lead and teach each course on the programme. 

Read more about our team

How online learning works

This degree programme is taught entirely online. There is no need to come to the city or University campus. 

All learning and teaching takes place within our virtual learning environment (VLE). Through the VLE, you can: 

  • access all your learning materials and study resources, including e-books and library resources
  • interact with your tutors and classmates 

An online degree from the University of Edinburgh is academically equivalent to an on-campus postgraduate degree and involves the same level of work overall. The qualification you get is of equal value. Your degree certificate will not mention that you studied the programme online.

Watch our video to see how online learning works.

Time commitment

This programme is designed to be fully flexible to fit around your schedule. You can study in your own time and access all your learning resources, such as reading lists, discussion forms and slides from anywhere in the world.  

The programme is part-time, requiring approximately 15-20 hours of study per week. This allows you to manage your studies alongside your professional and personal responsibilities effectively.

Equipment and software needs

To study this online programme, you will need access to:   

  • a computer or laptop  
  • the internet  
  • the latest version of a web browser  

As an online student, you will have access to a range of software you can download to help you complete your coursework, including Microsoft Office 365. 

IT support is available if you have technical difficulties.  

IT and computing help

Opportunities to attend in person

Our programme is 100% online. Although you will not need to visit Edinburgh in person at any time during your study, we do very much welcome you to visit us if you find yourself in the area.

Graduation 

All students are offered the opportunity to graduate in person in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the completion of their studies.

Support for online students

Student life 

Even though you are not on campus in Edinburgh, there are lots of ways in which you can take part in student life and enjoy being part of our community. 

Online Students website 

Student representation 

Effective student representation is a vital part of our teaching and learning to enhance the student experience. 

Programme student representatives will be nominated and will communicate regularly with the teaching programme about any student concerns. A staff student liaison committee (SSLC) will be held each semester to discuss student feedback. 

The purpose of these meetings will be to discuss issues and good practice, but also to review feedback and work with students to monitor and improve the programme delivery and teaching content, as required. The student representatives will set the agenda and chair the SSLC meetings. 

More information about students getting involved

Postgraduate e-Journal Club

Our e-journal club (eJC), led by staff and students, focuses on Evidence-Based Practice and critical appraisal of research. It involves postgraduate learners from various programmes, enhancing skills and critiquing studies across disciplines like public health, clinical trials, and data science.

Aimed primarily at healthcare professionals, it supports Evidence-Based Practice and knowledge sharing. This platform fosters collaboration, peer review, and builds critical lifelong learning skills.

This club is available to all programme students.

Career opportunities

This programme allows you to enhance your career prospects while continuing your employment.

Our Certificate, Diploma and Masters courses are designed to improve your prospects in the rapidly growing field of clinical trials research. Equipped with a qualification in leading clinical trials, our graduates have found excellent opportunities in academia, the public and non-profit health sectors and industry, including pharmaceutical and biotech companies and contract research organisations (CROs). 

If you have general or specialist experience and wish to broaden your role in the design, management, analysis and reporting of clinical trials, our programme will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to progress further.

A specialised qualification such as this will demonstrate to employers your commitment to continual professional development and will ensure a competitive edge when applying for future positions.

Roles exist in a variety of areas, including: 

  • clinical research – trial managers, administrators, clinical research associates
  • quality assurance and control – trial monitors, QA managers, pharmacovigilance
  • data management – data managers, biostatistics and programming
  • regulatory affairs - global regulatory lead, information management associate, executive roles
  • medical affairs – Chief and Principal Investigators, medical liaison, medical communications and writing
  • product development – medical devices

Professional links

You can leverage our strong connections with healthcare institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and research organisations. These relationships provide valuable networking opportunities and potential career pathways.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Graduate profiles

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 21 August 2026

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including references and transcripts.

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, please upload that evidence as soon as you have it.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You must submit one reference with your application.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

General enquiries

Programme Administrator

Edinburgh Medical School
Usher Building
5-7 Little France Road
Little France
Edinburgh
EH16 4UX

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)131 651 7990

Academic contact

Dr Afshan Dean

Programme Co-Director

  • College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

Address

Usher Building
5-7 Little France Road
Little France
Edinburgh
EH16 4UX

Related degree programmes

In addition to our programme, there are a range of other postgraduate programmes at the University that aim to transform health in society by working with people, populations and data.