The NIHR Masters for Research Delivery Leadership (MRDL) is designed for experienced health and care professionals from all registered professional backgrounds who are looking to step into leadership roles in research delivery.
The Masters for Research Delivery Leadership (MRDL) was developed in collaboration with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and universities.
It used to be called the Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework.
The part-time courses aim to give you the skills and confidence to lead and support research studies. They focus on the practical elements of research delivery.
There are 2 key elements:
- Online modules – flexible access to theoretical modules that provide an insight into the delivery of research.
- Research Practice Experience (RPE) – practical modules where learners put their learning into practice by working on research studies under the supervision of a senior researcher.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you are an experienced health and care professional from any registered background. The qualifications will help you achieve leadership roles in research delivery, such as Co-Investigator or Principal Investigator.
All levels of experience are welcome. You can apply whether you have little to no research experience or currently work in research delivery.
Qualifications and eligibility
There are 3 qualifications on offer:
- Postgraduate Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma
- Masters degree
You can take the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) and Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) as individual qualifications.
Once you’ve achieved the Postgraduate Diploma, you can progress to the full masters (MSc) degree.
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)
The Postgraduate Certificate provides core learning modules to quickly bring you to the level of Co-Investigators on a variety of studies.
You may be able to act as Principal Investigators on less complex research studies as your expertise deepens.
The qualification consists of 1 Research Practice Experience (RPE) module and 2 or 3 online modules (depending on the university delivering the course).
Eligibility for PGCert
You are usually expected to be from a registered healthcare profession and have a degree in a relevant subject.
You could start at this level if you have an equivalent qualification or relevant experience. You will need to discuss this with the university you want to apply to.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
The Postgraduate Diploma extends your expertise and offers different opportunities for methodological specialisation, depending on which university you enrol in.
You may be able to act as Principal Investigators on a variety of research studies according to your clinical expertise.
This qualification consists of 1 Research Practice Experience module and 2 online modules.
Eligibility for PGDip
You usually need to pass the Postgraduate Certificate before progressing to the Postgraduate Diploma. You could start at this level if you have an equivalent qualification or relevant experience. You will need to discuss this with the university you want to apply to.
Masters degree (MSc)
This qualification consists of a dissertation based on a research project.
Typically masters graduates will be able to act as Principal Investigators on most studies, according to their clinical expertise.
Eligibility for MSc
If you have achieved the Postgraduate Diploma, you can progress to the masters degree.
Length of qualifications
The part-time courses are designed for learners with busy work schedules.
As a guide:
- courses start in September/October, and each qualification will take about 10 months to complete
- it takes 3 years to get the full masters (MSc) degree if you start at Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) level
- you will need to study for 10-15 hours each week for a 15-credit module. However, this will vary throughout the courses. Each qualification consists of 60 credits, which is approximately 600 hours
- you will also spend time on workplace-based tasks in the RPE modules
Research Practice Experience modules
You will develop your research delivery skills through Research Practice Experience (RPE) modules.
Through these modules you will be:
- supported and supervised by a senior researcher
- provided with shadowing opportunities to gain hands-on experience, allowing you to take responsibility for specific areas of research delivery
“In terms of practicality, having an RPE supervisor who takes an active part in your research activities on a weekly, daily or monthly basis, is very important and balances out the online learning.”
Identifying an RPE supervisor
Before applying for one of the university courses, you will need to find an RPE supervisor to support you during the module.
For help with identifying a supervisor please contact the following teams at your organisation or in your local area:
- Research and Development Department
- Research and Innovation Department
- Primary Care Research Lead
- NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN)
These teams are usually aware of local Principal Investigators and research studies taking place in your area, and may be able to suggest staff who could act as your RPE supervisor.
If you are still unable to find a suitable supervisor, please contact your relevant university for further guidance.
More information
To learn more about the RPE modules offered by each university, please visit their websites or contact them directly:
More information
Funding
You can apply for a bursary to fund these courses.
Find out more about our bursary and other sources of funding.
Employer information
Find out more about the benefits of the framework for your staff and how to support learners.
Contacts
Please email the relevant university with course specific queries:
- King’s College London: clinical-research-delivery-masters@kcl.ac.uk
- Newcastle University: epgclinres@ncl.ac.uk
- The University of Exeter: PG-LCRDinfo@exeter.ac.uk
- The University of Sheffield: smph-pgt-admin@sheffield.ac.uk
Visit funding web page
(https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/clinical-research-courses-and-support/masters-research-delivery-leadership)
