Frequently Asked Questions about the Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework

What sort of role will people with these qualifications work in?

The Postgraduate Certificate will give learners the confidence and the opportunity to become involved in the delivery of clinical research.

The Postgraduate Certificate, the Postgraduate Diploma and the full Master's qualification, will allow learners to undertake leadership roles in clinical research delivery, such as a Co-Investigator or Principal Investigator.

They may take on senior research leadership roles within NHS trusts or Clinical Research Networks.

Are the courses only available to registered clinical healthcare professionals?

The courses could be available to those without a core profession/registration if they have relevant experience and career plans.

Potential learners should contact their preferred university to discuss their individual circumstances. See more information for their email addresses.

Are there any bursaries or other support available to pay for course fees?

Please see the course funding section for full details.

How do you find out if there is a supervisor available for the Research Practice Experience (RPE) module?

Please contact your:

• Research and Development Department
• Research and Innovation Department or
• Primary Care Research Lead

to identify if there are local staff who may be willing to be your workplace-based supervisor. They will be aware of the Principal Investigators and research studies being undertaken in your area.

If you need help finding a suitable workplace-based supervisor in your area, you should contact the relevant university for further guidance. See More information for their email addresses.

Does the RPE module have to take place in the learner’s employing organisation?

Where possible, learners will be matched with workplace-based supervisors within their own employing organisation.

If this is not possible, the universities will help learners based in England find a suitable match.

Your allocated workplace-based supervisor will help you apply for: 

• a Research Passport
• Letter of Access or
• Honorary Research Contract

at the organisation where the RPE module is taken. This must be in place before the RPE module starts.

Will staff be released for study leave and/or to work on the RPE module?

Learners need to agree the arrangements for study leave with their employer. It is important that learners are able to undertake the workplace-based Research Practice Experience modules when staff conducting the clinical research study are available to support them.

Can you choose your own area of interest for the RPE module?

To undertake the Research Practice Experience modules, learners will need to identify a suitable clinical research study (eg an NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio study) with a Principal Investigator who is willing to supervise them. For learners who are unable to do this, the universities will help learners based in England find a suitable research project aligned to their interests.

Does the workplace-based supervisor for the RPE module have to provide all the training for the module?

Learners can also be supported by other members of the research delivery team (under the supervision/direction of their workplace-based supervisor).

What experience/qualities does a RPE module supervisor need to have?

To help learners develop research delivery skills, supervisors need to find learners various face to face or remote shadowing opportunities.

How long does it take for RPE supervisors to support learners?

Evidence from the Royal College of Physicians' pilots for the Research Practice Experience found that on average it takes workplace-based supervisors about an hour a week to support a learner on the Research Practice Experience module.

Will there be any backfill funding for RPE supervisors?

There are no plans to provide backfill funding for workplace-based supervisors.

Will other formal qualifications and relevant work experience be recognised when applying to start at the Postgraduate Diploma level?

You can make an application for credit transfer or recognition of prior learning to the university you are applying to. If this is accepted, you will be able to start studying at Postgraduate Diploma level without completing the Postgraduate Certificate.

How are the courses assessed?

Online modules

The assessment methods for the online theoretical modules will vary but will include work such as:

• essays
• reflections
• multiple choice questions
• portfolios
• peer review

Research Practice Experience (RPE)

The RPE focuses on applied learning, both in the learners’ work contexts and through participation in existing, networked research. The module is supported by the supervision and mentorship of a senior researcher, the RPE supervisor.

For further information about how this module is assessed, please contact the relevant university.

More information

For general enquiries, please email: credentials@nihr.ac.uk 

For course-specific queries, please email the relevant university:

• King's College London - email:  clinical-research-delivery-masters@kcl.ac.uk 
• Newcastle University - email: epgclinres@ncl.ac.uk 
• The University of Exeter - email: PG-LCRDinfo@exeter.ac.uk 
• The University of Sheffield - email: population-health-clinres@sheffield.ac.uk 

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