Massive Open Online Courses

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free online courses available for anyone to enroll. The National Institute for Health Research has developed three MOOCs to provide accessible introductions to clinical and healthcare research, and these courses are all available through the online FutureLearn platform.

Explore the world of health research and the role volunteers play in transforming treatments and improving health care.

It was created in conjunction with Health Research Champions and features patients and the public who have been involved in research, telling their stories.

If you’re interested in taking part in health research or discovering how to get involved in supporting health research, this course will help to answer your questions before you make the decision.

Time: 3 weeks, 3 hours per week

On this free online course, find out how medical treatments are discovered, tested and evaluated to improve healthcare for all.

This course is designed for anyone who wants to know more about modern healthcare, and the role of clinical research and discovery within it.

It will be of special interest to: students at school or college; undergraduates or postgraduates who are contemplating a career in healthcare or the life sciences; and health and social care professionals and practitioners who want to find out more about the role of clinical research in improving healthcare.

Time: 4 weeks, 4 hours per week

Discover how scientists responded to the pandemic and how they conduct innovative research to develop treatments and vaccines.

This course is for everyone interested in finding out about the research on COVID-19. This course is also useful for people that work in healthcare to help answer the questions members of the public may ask about COVID-19 research.

TIme: 2 weeks, 2 hours per week