INSIGHT: Inspiring Students into Research

Who can apply?

The research Masters places and opportunities are open to students and recent graduates from a diverse group of professions including:

• nurses and midwives
• allied health professionals comprising of:
• art, music and drama therapists
• dieticians
• occupational therapists
• operating department practitioners
• orthoptists
• osteopaths
• paramedics
• physiotherapists
• podiatrists
• prosthetists and orthotists
• diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers
• speech and language therapists
• pharmacists
• healthcare scientists 
• registered social work professionals 
• registered public health professionals

To be eligible to apply, you’ll need to be:

• an undergraduate student, postgraduate student, or early career professional
• working towards or have recently completed your professional registration with one of the approved regulatory bodies (not including doctors and dentists):
• Academy for Healthcare Science
• General Chiropractic Council
• General Dental Council
• General Medical Council
• General Optical Council
• General Osteopathic Council
• General Pharmaceutical Council
• Health and Care Professions Council
• Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Social Work England
• UK Public Health Register

Doctors and dentists

The INSIGHT Programme is not available to doctors and dentists. If that’s you, you could consider alternative Masters-level opportunities:

• awards available through the Integrated Academic Training (IAT) Programme
• activities offered by the INSPIRE scheme coordinated by the Academy of Medical Sciences 

Experienced health and care professionals

The INSIGHT Programme is for students and professionals at an early stage of their practitioner career. If you are at a more advanced stage of your registered profession, and are looking to start your career in research, the NIHR offers a number of other pre-doctoral funding opportunities.

The Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework provides Master’s level qualifications for experienced healthcare practitioners from all professional backgrounds who want to take on leadership roles in clinical research delivery.

Explore NIHR support and information tailored to your profession

How to apply

You’ll apply to your chosen research Masters programme or engagement opportunity through the INSIGHT Programme within your region.

Get in touch with your regional INSIGHT Programme.

Organisations currently offering INSIGHT Programmes

INSIGHT Programmes are collaborations between higher education institutions (HEIs), NHS trusts, local authorities or other providers of health and/or care services. 

The institutions offering research Masters places within each region are:

Region	Lead organisation	Partners
A. North East and North Cumbria	Northumbria University	Newcastle University, Teesside University
B. Yorkshire and Humber	University of Leeds	University of York, University of Sheffield, University of Bradford
C. North West	University of Central Lancashire	University of Manchester, University of Liverpool, Lancaster University
D. East Midlands	University of Nottingham	De Montfort University
E. West Midlands	University of Birmingham	Aston University, Birmingham City University, Coventry University, Staffordshire University, University of Keele, University of Warwick
F. East of England	University of Essex	University of Hertfordshire
G. North London	City, University of London	Queen Mary University of London, University of East London
H. South London	King’s College London	London South Bank University, St George's, University of London
I. South Central	University of Southampton	Oxford Brookes University, University of Winchester, University of Portsmouth, Solent University
J. South East	University of Brighton	University of Chichester, University of Kent
K. South West Central	University of the West of England	Bournemouth University
L. South West Peninsula	University of Plymouth	University of Exeter

More information

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