Program Overview

Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis

The Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis course is a 20-credit microcredential offered by the University of Birmingham. This ten-day course equips students with the skills to understand, plan, and implement a systematic review and evidence synthesis using suitable tools and appropriate software.

Course Overview

A systematic review is a review of literature that adopts explicit and standardized methods for the qualitative and quantitative synthesis of evidence to minimize potential biases and improve the trustworthiness of its findings. The main aims of the module are to provide students with an understanding of contemporaneous methods used in systematic reviewing and evidence synthesis and the rationale behind these methods, and to equip students with the fundamental skills required to carry out a systematic review relating to a range of health care-related questions.

This module covers the key methodological stages of undertaking a systematic review, namely how to:

• Formulate a structured review question
• Search for the most relevant and reliable literature
• Critically appraise and assess the risk of bias of different types of studies
• Synthesize the identified evidence either qualitatively or by meta-analysis
• Present the findings

Course Delivery

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, practical exercises, and hands-on computer sessions. On completion, students will be able to:

• Describe the key steps in undertaking a systematic review and evidence synthesis
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale behind the steps and methods for undertaking a systematic review
• Formulate a clear research question and systematically search relevant repositories of evidence
• Understand the similarities and differences in the approaches to synthesizing different types of evidence
• Critically appraise different types of evidence using suitable tools
• Use appropriate software to carry out meta-analysis and interpret the results
• Understand the importance and the process of developing a plan for carrying out a systematic review

Course Dates

The course is scheduled to take place over two block weeks:

• Week 1: 24th - 28th November 2025
• Week 2: 8th - 12th December 2025

Attendance Required

Students are required to attend two block weeks of teaching.

Assessment

The assessment consists of:

• An assignment based on skills taught during the module (50%)
• A 2.5 hour written in-person examination (50%)

Credits

The course is worth 20 credits.

Teaching Staff

The course is taught by:

• Dr. David Moore, Senior Lecturer
• Ms. Janine Dretzke, Senior Systematic Reviewer

Entry Requirements

A degree-level qualification is required.

Fees and Scholarships

The fees for the course are:

• Microcredential (Home): £1,211
• Microcredential (International): £3,374
• Non-credit: £1,011.20

Application Process

Students can choose to study the course as either a microcredential or a non-credit CPD short course. The application deadline is:

• A minimum of 6 weeks before the module start date for applicants eligible for Home fees
• A minimum of 3 months before the module start date for applicants eligible for Overseas fees