Fully funded postgraduate course available to NHS professionals interested in clinical research

Eighteen fully funded studentships in London are being offered to NHS healthcare professionals this year to equip them for careers in clinical research.

The Master of Research in Clinical Practice (MResCP) is aimed at nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, to give them the skills to manage and deliver research in a clinical setting. It is being run by Kingston University and St George's, University of London, and is now recruiting for September 2013 entry. Applications must be received by Friday 17 May.

The inter-professional programme, which can be studied full time over one year or part time over two years, combines practical and academic study to provide students with knowledge of professional research practices. It also gives them the skills to generate research questions, test data collection approaches and interpret results within a scientific framework.

By the end of the course, healthcare professionals will be equipped with the skills needed to participate fully as a clinical practice researcher whether through engagement in research, debate and discussion; by adopting an evidence-based approach to practice; presenting at clinical meetings and conferences; or by publishing their work in clinical journals.

The MResCP will be held at the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, run jointly by Kingston and St George's.

The programme is a central part of the government's drive to modernise clinical academic careers for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. It is funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and the chief nursing officer for England, who awarded £2.4million to fund a total of 36 NHS professionals over the next three years. This support follows the success of the first three years of the course, which began in 2009.

Nurses, midwives and allied health professionals based in England with at least one year's clinical experience and a 2:1 honours degree in a health or social care-related subject are eligible to apply. Funding covers salary costs and course fees, allowing employers to seek reimbursement of employment costs during the period of secondment.

Further information about the course with full details of entry requirements and how to apply are available at www.sgul.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/taught/clinical-practice-mres.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 4 June.

Applicants and line managers are invited to attend a postgraduate open evening at St George's on Wednesday 1 May, details of which are available at .
www.sgul.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/open-evenings