If you’re reading this today, you’ve almost certainly taken medicine or undergone medical treatment at some point in your life. This can be relatively minor, such as taking acetaminophen to relieve a headache, or life-altering, such as a cancer treatment program.
Many people don’t realize that medical products and treatments go through a rigorous trial and review process before they are widely used. Clinical trials are designed to generate robust evidence about safety and effectiveness, while protecting the rights, safety, and welfare of participants.
To work in clinical research, you’ll need skills that a regular medical degree may not fully cover. Here is a list of seven top universities with programs or training pathways in clinical research.
Top Clinical Research Schools in the World
1. Harvard University
While there are many excellent medical programs available, Harvard is one of the most prestigious universities offering a clinical research program. The Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation teaches students to work collaboratively and develop the skills needed to conduct clinical and translational research.
The program is normally a two-year, full-time master’s degree, with a three-year, part-time option available to eligible Boston-area students. Harvard describes the program as residential, and students are generally expected to relocate to Boston for the program.
2. University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is another top institution for clinical research and is ranked among Australia’s leading universities. Its Master of Clinical Research is designed for medical and health professionals, researchers, and professionals from related disciplines who want to build or formalize a career in clinical research.
The Master of Clinical Research is offered on campus at Parkville and can be completed in 1.5 years full-time or 3 years part-time. It is part of a nested suite of clinical research programs, allowing students to progress from the Graduate Certificate to the master’s degree or exit early with a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research.
A master’s degree at the University of Melbourne can also provide a pathway to further research study, including PhD progression opportunities for students who want to continue into advanced research.
3. University of Sydney
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Location: Australia | Degrees Offered: Master’s; graduate diploma and graduate certificate pathways may be available, but applicants should verify current course availability
The University of Sydney has offered postgraduate training in clinical trials research through the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, a University of Sydney center focused on improving clinical trials research and health outcomes. The center describes its postgraduate clinical trials research courses as online national and international courses.
However, the previously linked Master of Clinical Trials Research page now redirects to a broader postgraduate medicine and health courses page. Prospective students should check the University of Sydney and NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre pages directly to confirm whether this specific program is currently recruiting students.
For students interested in academia or higher research degrees, the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre also identifies opportunities for PhD, master’s, honors, and summer students to work on clinical trials research questions.
4. Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a prestigious private institution in the US and offers several options for students interested in clinical research. Its Master of Science in Clinical Investigation is a 33-credit program that combines coursework with a research project, seminars, and mentorship.
If you want to work on the managerial side, Washington University also offers a Master of Science in Clinical Research Management. The program covers regulatory requirements, ethical issues, product development, grant funding, epidemiology, research design, and data analysis. It is completed entirely online.
Washington University also offers a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies: Clinical Research Management for students in the early stages of a clinical research career, as well as more experienced professionals who want to expand their knowledge of the field.
5. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh previously offered the Clinical Trials (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip, PgCert, and PgProfDev. The university’s current study page states that this program is no longer offered and is closed to recruitment, so prospective students should check for alternative online medicine and health programs before applying.
The University of Edinburgh has also offered the Medical Sciences and Translational Research PhD with integrated study in Engagement for Impact, a four-year PhD program combining a medical sciences or translational research project with taught courses in areas such as science communication, public engagement, patient involvement, data design, and informatics.
6. New York University
New York University offers an MS in Clinical Research through the NYU College of Dentistry. The program is a one-year, 30-credit master’s degree that can also be taken part-time over two years. Because the program is housed in the College of Dentistry, some teaching and research opportunities may be especially relevant to dental and oral health research, while the program also serves students interested in broader clinical research areas.
While there is no dedicated bachelor’s degree in clinical research, students at the College of Arts & Science can pursue a Bachelor’s-Master’s track with Clinical Research. Accepted students must complete at least six graduate credits in clinical research during their undergraduate studies.
7. Erasmus University Rotterdam
Erasmus University Rotterdam offers clinical research training through Erasmus MC. The university notes that, from the 2026–2027 academic year, the Research Master in Clinical Research will continue as a major within the Health Sciences program.
The clinical research pathway is a full-time, English-taught MSc with a two-year duration and 120 ECTS study points. Erasmus MC describes its research master’s and PhD tracks as part of its biomedical research training environment.
As the name suggests, the research master’s pathway leans heavily on research. To be a student here, you’ll need to enjoy working independently and proactively. If you have a clinical research topic in mind, Erasmus University Rotterdam may be a strong fit.
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