Health Research MSc

Course overview

Designed and delivered by active applied health and social care researchers, our course will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to progress your research career. Designed to fit around your personal and professional commitments, the MSc in Health Research delivers advanced research methods training designed to inspire the next generation of applied health, healthcare and social care researchers. Our course is ideal for health and social care professionals, those already working in research and those who have an interested in applied health, healthcare and social care research.

You'll be supported by our dedicated and enthusiastic team of academics and researchers to develop and apply your research knowledge and skills through interactive teaching sessions using current examples from their own research. You’ll explore the principles of research design, apply your knowledge to design innovative, high-quality, ethical and inclusive studies, discover the practicalities of delivering applied research, and critically appraise existing studies. There will be opportunities to engage with a range of quantitative and qualitative data, for example big data, survey data, and interview data. Progressing your knowledge through optional topics, you'll be supported to undertake your own research project, applying the knowledge and skills acquired over the course. Our approach means you'll learn alongside colleagues from a range of professional backgrounds, supported by our interdisciplinary team of applied researchers.

Our MSc offers flexible study options where you can study either full-time or part-time. To enable you to fit the taught modules around your professional commitments, most modules are taught in blocks which run over four consecutive days, with a gap of several weeks between modules.

Why study at Leeds?

• The School of Medicine's world-renowned research directly informs our course, meaning your learning will be shaped by current, innovative research that has real-world impact.
• Our interactive and engaging sessions are designed to facilitate your learning and application of research knowledge and skills, providing you with a solid grounding in interdisciplinary, applied health and social care research.
• You'll be supported throughout your studies by our interdisciplinary team, who are experienced and enthusiastic educators, as well as active researchers (both clinical and non-clinical).
• Tailor the course to suit your research interests and career aspirations with a range of optional modules.
• Opportunity to learn together with colleagues from a range of professional backgrounds, including: medics, nurses, allied health professionals, social workers and researchers.
• Our current students highlight the knowledge and infectious enthusiasm of our team, our inclusive learning environment in which all can participate, and the engaging and enjoyable teaching sessions.
• The course is designed with flexibility in mind to enable you to study alongside your professional and personal commitments.
• On successful completion of the course you will graduate with advanced knowledge of applied health and social care research, which is increasingly sought after in healthcare, social care and research sectors.

Course details

The MSc in Health Research is a course in applied health and social care research. You'll study modules totalling 180 credits. These are made up of four compulsory modules, an additional four optional modules, and a research project.

Across the modules, topics include:

• Key principles of designing applied research.
• Designing health and social care research projects that have real-world impact.
• Exploring quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods and evaluative types of research.
• Critically appraising existing research.
• Practicalities of conducting research, including applying for funding, gaining approvals, engaging. stakeholders, and disseminating your findings.
• Opportunities to have a go and analyse health and social care data.
• Exploring the importance of public and patient involvement in applied health and social care research and how we can ensure our research is inclusive.
• Building expertise in particular approaches and methods (eg, statistical methods, qualitative research, health economics, systematic reviews, clinical trials, and informatics and data science).
• Undertaking your own research project.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Health Research MSc Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Health Research MSc Part Time in the course catalogue

Compulsory modules

Getting Started in Health Research (15 credits) – This module is an introduction to applied health and social care research. It introduces the principles of study design (both quantitative and qualitative) and practical elements of setting up and disseminating research. You'll engage in interactive teaching sessions that cover topics including: the architecture of quantitative research, an introduction to qualitative research, philosophy of research, writing a research protocol, research ethics, engaging stakeholders in research, obtaining funding for research, and disseminating research.

Capturing and Handling Data in Research (15 credits) – This module provides you with an in-depth look at collecting and making sense of health and social care data for applied research. It includes sessions on: sampling from populations for quantitative research, an introduction to statistical methods, an introduction to epidemiology and key concepts, mixed methods research design, inclusion in research, critical appraisal, and obtaining and analysing quantitative and qualitative data.

Analytic Research (15 credits) – This module focuses on analytic research (cross-sectional, case-control and cohort analytic studies). You'll participate in teaching sessions that cover: comparative statistics, bias and confounding, critical appraisal, and analysing and displaying analytic study findings. You'll have opportunities to apply your knowledge in practical sessions.

Intervention Research (15 credits) – This module provides you with an introduction to intervention research, in particular clinical trials, systematic reviews and health economics. Sessions include: principles of clinical trial design, the conduct of clinical trials, statistical powe, analysing data, an introduction to systematic reviews, and introduction to health economics.

Health Research Project (60 credits) – This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake a small-scale health or social care research project supported and supervised by experienced researchers/academics. Your research project may be primary research (quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods in nature), secondary research (eg, a systematic review), or a service evaluation/audit. Your completed project will be written up in the style of a journal article.

Optional modules

Candidates will be required to study 60 credits from a list of optional modules (please note: this is an indication of the optional modules that will be available, a definitive list will be provided nearer to your enrolment):

Statistical Methods in Health Research (15 credits) – The module aims to provide you with a thorough understanding and practical experience of statistical methods commonly encountered in health and social care research settings. This includes selecting the most appropriate method, assessing the validity of assumptions behind statistical models, using statistical software to conduct data analysis, and interpreting derived results appropriately. The module is also designed to allow you to interpret appropriate information derived from statistical analysis in published literature.

Systematic Reviews of Research (15 credits) – This module aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of evidence reviews, including systematic reviews. Sessions will include: types of review, designing a review question, search strategies, assessing eligibility and quality of evidence, extracting data; evidence synthesis, and critical appraisal. Practical sessions throughout the module will provide you with opportunities to apply skills learnt in practice.

Clinical Trials Research (15 credits) – This module provides an in-depth understanding of the principles and practical elements of clinical trials research. You'll engage in sessions that cover: the design and phases of clinical trials research, good clinical practice, clinical trials units, obtaining funding, setting up and running a clinical trial, and disseminating results.

Applied Qualitative Health Research (15 credits) – This module will provide you with a thorough understanding of the role and application of qualitative approaches in applied health and social care research. Through interactive teaching sessions, you'll engage in sessions that cover the principles and design of qualitative research, as well as the practicalities of conducting a qualitative study. Topics include: designing a qualitative research question, study design, ethical considerations, sampling, data collection methods (including interviews, observation, and visual methods), analysing qualitative data, and critical appraisal. You'll have the opportunity to design a qualitative study with guidance of our experienced tutors and to engage with qualitative data.

Introduction to Health Economics (15 credits) – High-income countries spend a considerable proportion of their GDP on health care services and technologies. This module considers how health care interventions can be assessed using economic tools to aid the decision making of healthcare agencies and improve the efficiency of health care systems. The module will provide you with a grounding in the role and application of economics in health and health care. The application of the economic concepts and theory within the module will provide you with a greater understanding of the challenges facing the health sector today and how they may be both explained and addressed. Topics include health care markets, the role of government, health financing, equity in health (care), and financing and distribution of health care.

Informatics and Data Science in Health Care and Research (15 credits) – This module is designed to introduce you to a modern conceptualisation of Health Informatics with Data Science. You'll be introduced to the central supporting role of Health Informatics and Health Data Science in the broad and complex activities involved in delivery quality evidence driven health care. This draws on the evidence base and the research methodologies supporting innovation and research.

Learning and teaching

Learning about applied health and social care research in an effective and enjoyable way involves activity. On this course, there is extensive use of problem-based scenarios, workbook exercises, hands-on computer sessions, small-group teaching and group participation. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented with extensive use of our virtual learning environment, meaning that materials will be available to support your studies at your own pace and in your own time. You’ll also have access to University facilities and resources for independent study.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

The modules are assessed by a variety of methods, typically including: workbooks, critical appraisals, research project proposals, written pieces in the style of a journal article, and presentations. Our approach to assessment aims to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and skills through the completion of assessments that align with activities you would typically perform as a researcher (eg, designing proposals, critiquing existing research, empirical research tasks such as analysing and presenting data, in both written and verbal formats). There are no examinations. Your results in all modules count towards the final qualification.

Applying

How to apply

This course is taught by

School of Medicine

Contact us

School of Medicine Postgraduate Admissions

Email: pgmed-admissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £ 4,250 (Total)

International: £ 9,750 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

Career opportunities

Many of our successful graduates work in the UK National Health Service, social care sector, local authorities or universities associated with health and social care research. Graduates of this course have gone on to obtain funding for doctoral studies, research fellowships and research posts within higher education or health and social care sectors.