Exciting opportunity to develop health, care and social work research careers opens

Are you interested in a research career, but not sure where to start? We’re supporting an exciting opportunity from the National Institute of Health and Care Research to offer fully funded health, care and social work research masters through the universities of Plymouth and Exeter.

The INSIGHT: Inspiring Students into Research scheme provides innovative engagement programmes and Research Masters Studentships to equip people with the skills to deliver research in health and care settings. The programme is inclusive, welcoming registered professionals from healthcare, social work, and public health sectors at the start of their careers, ensuring a diverse and supportive learning environment.

There are 30 places available for NIHR INSIGHT South West Peninsula research studentships starting in September 2024. Studentships will support fees and a stipend to study a research masters qualification via a full time or part time route for registered healthcare, social work and public health professions.

Our Training and Events Manager Dr Sophie Gould said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to gain first-hand experience of a clinical academic career while working towards a fully funded master’s qualification. Participants will gain robust academic training, equipping them with the essential skills and experience to lay a solid foundation for a future research career and positioning them to apply for further opportunities that integrate clinical practice with research and advance their careers.”

Find all the details you need to apply for this brilliant opportunity below.

Questions?

Email our Training and Events Manager Dr Sophie Gould

s.l.gould@exeter.ac.uk

Details

Research Masters Studentships

Studentships will enable individuals to gain academic training and develop the necessary skills and experience to lay foundations for a research career.

The studentships will develop skills in:

A range of research methods including study design, statistics and qualitative analysis
Literature review and critical appraisal to develop research inquiry and get the research question right
Research project management and governance
Research ethics and applying for ethical approval
The dissemination of research findings and writing for publication
Patient and public involvement and engagement in research
Embedding equality, diversity and inclusion within research
The importance and benefits of industry collaborations

Studentship study will engage research practice experience, through activities such as:

Practical modules that enable learners to take part in research in their area of interest
Involvement in existing research studies, whilst being supported under the supervision and mentorship of an experienced researcher
Experience working alongside clinical trial investigators, engaging in recruitment, informed consent, data collection and entry, etc.
Developing and undertaking an independent research project under supervision from an experienced researcher

In addition, students will be able to access relevant optional modules to develop their multi and inter-disciplinary training.

The recipients of studentships will be considered NIHR Academy Members.

Eligibility criteria

This is an inclusive opportunity for early career professionals that have recently completed their professional registration (or will have at the point of commencement of masters studies) with one of the following Regulatory Bodies:

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

NIHR INSIGHT is particularly looking to interest and engage students and recent graduates from a diverse group of professions, irrespective of employment status or locality of residence. *Please note that Doctors and Dentists are not eligible to apply to this programme but have opportunities with the NIHR programme for Integrated Clinical-Academic Training (IAT) and NIHR INSPIRE scheme.

Employment related information

Studentship funding will be paid to applicants rather than employers as standard. Applicants wishing to study part time to supplement an existing part time employment contract are free to apply. Applicants currently employed on a full time contract wishing to study part time over 2 years or full time over 1 year can consider an employment break, reduced employment hours, or sabbatical if agreeable to their employer.

If you or your employer would like assistance to plan to enable your application, please:

Join a webinar
Express an interest using this online form
Book a 1:1 with an NIHR INSIGHT South West Peninsula Programme lead

Contact the project lead for support ahead of your application: lisa.bunn@plymouth.ac.uk

What does this studentship opportunity offer financially?

Successful applicants will receive 100% course fee payment plus £18,622 (full time route study or £9,311 each year for 2 years part time) studentship for living expenses.

This is UKRI aligned and not taxable and as such broadly aligned to a National Health Service band 5 starting salary.

Those opting for full time study and residing alone or with other students may also claim a Council Tax exemption during the period of study.

Places available

Places on the following programmes will be available annually for three years between 2024 and 2026 and will be competitively allocated. Applications from under-represented people and professions are encouraged and 10% of studentships are protected to help support under-represented people and professions, based on the contextualising information applicants share.

Research Masters Studentships available

Masters of Clinical Research, MClinRes, University of Plymouth

Choose either face to face learning or a hybridised learning experience with distance learning options

Full and part time routes available

Initially developed with NIHR funding and local stakeholder engagement in 2015, this programme supports interns and pre-doctoral learners from a wide range of health, social care and healthcare science professional backgrounds. It offers five taught modules plus a module incorporating a substantial individual project. Each module comprises of supported independent study with online support embedded between two scheduled learning blocks, each between two and three days in length to work around the needs of health and social care practitioners in employment. Whilst feedback has determined that some modules work better with in-person delivery methods (namely ‘Applied Qualitative’ and ‘Applied Quantitative’ methods), all modules have the option to study online asynchronously; to remain both inclusive to those preferring this option and reflexive as a means of contingency in response to unanticipated barriers to synchronous delivery that learners can experience.

Optional modules draw from an extensive existing suite of advanced level training in research, education, practice and leadership domains. This programme is based at the InterCity Place University of Plymouth and Plymouth Science Park locations and is available as a 1-year full-time or 2-year part-time route.

Masters in Leading Clinical Research Delivery, MScLCRD, University of Exeter

100% distance learning

Part time route available

This is one of only three NIHR-Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) funded, fully online programmes, developed in line with the NIHRAoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework. It aims to support practising clinical professionals aspiring to work in the clinical research delivery workforce, by equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute effectively to networked clinical research within everyday clinical settings. It also provides options to specialise, for example in research methodologies or leadership. This practical-based part-time course offers dedicated Research Practice Experience modules delivered fully online over 2-years. It utilises synchronous and facilitated learning alongside asynchronous learning activities that encourage peer and tutor interaction and independent study.

Masters in Health Research Methods, MScHRM University of Exeter

A programme of learning that is hybridised with face to face and distance learning components

Full and part time routes available

This programme based at St Luke’s Campus, University of Exeter, has a robust track record of supporting internship and pre-doctoral learners from a wide range of professional backgrounds. It offers six taught modules plus a module incorporating a substantial individual project. Each module comprises of supported independent study and two learning blocks, each between two and three days in length, to work around the needs of learners in employment. It adopts a carefully planned hybridised design of in-person and online deliveries and can be studied as a 1-year full-time or 2-year part-time route.

How to apply

To express an interest and access support ahead of a formal onward application, please complete a short online form.

There are no catchment areas for study, applicants will be asked to indicate programme preferences and allocate places based on availability of places and strength of application.

Please note that offer of a studentship is subject to formal offer from the programme of study. As such you may wish to explore the admissions criteria for your first and second choice course options before applying. This can be found on the webpages for the host programmes.

Please note that a separate application to these programmes without a formal application made for an NIHR INSIGHT masters studentship will not automatically lead to the award of a studentship.

The deadline for formal application for a 2024 studentship will be Tuesday 30th July at 4pm.