Program Overview

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Doctor of Medicine by Research MD (Res)

Overview

Make a significant contribution to your clinical specialty with the published research you’ll produce on a programme designed specifically for medical graduates in clinical practice.

Full Description

On this challenging programme, you’ll develop a research proposal, along the lines of an empirical scientific project that’s relevant to your clinical specialty.

This can be related to any branch of medicine including general practice, acute hospital medicine, community health, public health and mental health.

If you can identify a clinical problem for which there is a gap in the evidence base, and have in mind a research project that could help address this problem, this will form the basis of your doctorate.

You can also be involved in a wider, collaborative project, provided that you can demonstrate and identify an independent contribution that meets our criteria.

You will be supported in developing your idea into a research project.

The research can be quantitative or qualitative and may involve primary data collection, or secondary analysis of an existing database.

The research project will be based in your clinical practice so you must hold a clinical post (usually within the UK) in order to carry out your doctoral research. You must also be registered with the GMC(UK) or eligible to be registered by the time you start your project.

It is also important that you identify a clinician within your area of practice who is willing to act as a clinical supervisor, overseeing the clinical and patient safety aspects of your project. This clinical advisor will normally have a doctorate or experience of clinical research.

Supervision and support within the university are provided by a carefully selected team that will include at least one clinician and others as required.

You’ll be provided with comprehensive research training to help you get the most from your programme where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and network with other MD or PhD students.

Completion Dates

• MD Res: full-time 2-4 years, part-time 3-6 years.

Research Theme

• Health, Performance and Wellbeing

Research Groups

• In the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care

PhD Project Opportunities

• in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care

Supervision and Support

We’ll tailor our supervisory support to reflect your needs and specialisms and the team will include at least one clinician in your field of interest.

Our students meet with their supervisors at least monthly, but you’ll be able to ask for advice any time.

Where You'll Research

Your Faculty

The Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care at ARU is primed to meet the demand for healthcare professionals, doctors, scientists and social workers in the East of England.

We've been training undergraduates for professional roles for over 25 years, with a reputation for quality, dedication and ambition balanced with student satisfaction.

We know that our students want the very best experiential learning, and we've invested heavily in purpose-built simulated wards, science labs and skills spaces, to support your learning every step of the way.

Where Can I Study?

• Chelmsford: Our striking, modern campus sits by the riverside in Chelmsford's University and Innovation Quarter.
• Cambridge: Our campus is close to the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

Fees & Funding

Course Fees

• UK students, 2024/25 (per year): £4,786
• UK students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £2,392
• International students, 2024/25 (per year): £15,900
• International students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £7,950

Funding

For advice on the Doctoral Loan and other sources of funding, including ARU scholarships, visit our finance guide for postgraduate researchers.

You might also find The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding helpful.

ARU Research

You'll be supported by state-of-the-art research laboratory facilities, Clinical Trials Units, several research institutes, centres and groups.

Careers

Our Faculty has a strong track record of supervising MD (Res) and PhD students to completion where the students have produced publications in high impact journals. Most of our graduates from this programme have taken up senior clinical posts in the NHS.

By studying for an MD (Res), you’ll be able to develop your research skills in and outside of clinical practice. Moreover, you'll be given training in research methodology, statistics, presentation and scientific writing.

Entry Requirements

• All of our MD (Res) students must hold an undergraduate medical qualification awarded by a UK University or an equivalent qualification from outside of the UK and hold full or limited registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). At ARU's discretion an applicant without GMC registration may be admitted providing their research does not involve contact with patients. Applicants are normally clinicians undertaking research associated with their employment.
• Typically you’ll be a medical graduate at ST level in any clinical speciality. However, we welcome applications from any medical doctor, including consultants or established general practitioners, and career grade and SAS doctors at any stage of their training and career.
• You must be able to devote a substantial amount of time to research. This may mean taking time out from your clinical obligations to do a piece of full-time research, and then devoting further study leave during clinical training to complete the work.

International Students

We welcome applications from international and EU students, and accept a range of international qualifications.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you'll need to make sure you meet our English language requirements for postgraduate courses.

Improving Your English Language Skills

If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.