Professional and Research Skills15 credits

The aim of this microcredential is to prepare students undertaking the research project (60 or 30 credit module), and for those interested in developing their academic clinical careers. The module will support students to develop their knowledge, skills and experience of the role of research and development in the NHS in improving patient care and service delivery.

The course will introduce you to the ethical and governance frameworks within which genomic research is undertaken and a range of research methods and approaches. You will be required to make effective use of information and critically appraise and draw on evidence to justify and defend their judgements. You will also develop their knowledge of how to communicate scientific messages to both scientific and non-scientific audiences including patients and the public.

This microcredential is compulsory for students taking the 30-credit Dissertation (Module 4)

Content

• Ethical and governance research frameworks including: regulation of health research within the NHS; Health Research Authority (HRA) approval; the role of Research Ethics Committees (RECs).
• Good clinical practice (GCP).
• Data storage, security and confidentiality.
• Research methods/approaches including differences between audit and research; qualitative research methods; quantitative research methods; sampling techniques; study design; hypothesis generation and testing; and levels of evidence in human health research.
• Data analysis techniques including: data validity, reliability and appropriateness; qualitative data analysis techniques; application and interpretation of statistical techniques; and power calculations.
• Research and audit process including: literature searching and referencing; patient/user involvement; peer/expert review; dissemination; intellectual property; and monitoring and reporting.
• Critical appraisal methodical approach to critically appraising published research; and meta-analysis
• Communication methods including: comparison of methods of communication scientific writing
• Writing for a lay audience; readability statistics.

Attendance required

Teaching will take place on 5 days: Monday 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st March and Monday 7th April 2025.

Credits

15 Masters level credits

You should have a good honours degree in a life sciences subject, although we will consider applicants with alternative qualifications and professional experience within the health service or other relevant background.

Please contact the Programme Administrator for further information at genomics@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Please note this microcredential is available for home applicants only.

Why choose a Postgraduate Microcredential short course?

• Microcredentials offer the perfect opportunity to boost your CV without the commitment of a full degree
• Usually taken from existing modules within a Masters, they can be used as standalone credentials with some also counting as academic credits at postgraduate level
• Add a postgraduate level qualification to your CV
• Develop the specialist skills you need for your career goals
• Alumni status with the University of Birmingham
• Learners will have the same access to our student support and campus facilities as our students on full degree programmes.

Please note the deadline for submitting an application:

• Applicants eligible for Home fees are to apply a minimum of 6 weeks before the module start date.
• Applicants eligible for Overseas fees are to apply a minimum of 3 months before the module start date.

Please note that once registered for the microcredential you cannot swap for the non-credit short course version.