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BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Sciences with Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials
Specialist
Degree apprenticeship
Distance learning
Develop the skilled workforce your organization needs, with training covering ethics, pharmacovigilance and digital skills fit for the future of clinical trial design.
Key information
Apprenticeship standard
Clinical Trials Specialist (ST0609)
Full-time or part-time
46 weeks per year (typically one day a week off-the-job)
Start date
January, April or October
Course length
36-39 months
Degree
BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Sciences with Clinical Trials
Location
Distance learning
Up to one week of in-person teaching annually during both Year 1 and 2, in London.
End-point assessment
Non-integrated
Why choose this degree apprenticeship programme?
Our Clinical Trials Specialist degree apprenticeship programme focuses on ethics and pharmacovigilance while equipping your workforce with the skills to adapt new technologies to contemporary trial designs. Your apprentices will master risk-based approaches to trial management, real-world data integration, good clinical practice (GCP), quality assurance, document management, and modern medicine principles—giving your organization the specialized talent needed to stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving clinical trials landscape.
This programme is designed to align with contemporary trial designs and operations. With our engaging, interactive approach, your team members will gain practical insights and hands-on experience that’s directly relevant to real-world scenarios, as well as learning to integrate artificial intelligence into their practice. They’ll develop skills that are highly valued across a wide range of organizations in the life science and pharmaceutical sectors, including the NHS and trial management organizations, making them valuable assets to your department.
Who is this apprenticeship for?
This programme is designed to be integrated with full-time work, offering an efficient route to degree qualification. It’s suitable for new hires in relevant medical roles, or experienced professionals seeking to develop their knowledge and skills and gain a formal qualification.
Programme overview
What apprentices will study
The Clinical Trials Specialist degree apprenticeship programme will equip your team members with comprehensive expertise. They’ll gain an introduction to clinical operations and key stakeholders involved in clinical trials, develop new digital skills in e-systems, digital health and artificial intelligence, and learn about advances in basic and translational research. The programme also covers regulatory updates with a focus on good clinical practice, pharmacovigilance and marketing authorisations, plus an introduction to statistical analysis and data visualisation for clinical trials—ensuring your staff have the well-rounded skillset needed to excel in today’s clinical trials environment.
By the end of the programme, apprentices will be able to:
- Act as a study site monitor, conducting all stages of site management from set-up to close-out, developing recruitment strategies and conducting Source Document Verification (SDV).
- Produce high quality documentation such as site monitoring visit reports, site agreements, risk based monitoring plans, meeting minutes, risk/mitigation and action logs and effective presentations.
- File and maintain study documents to the Trial Master File (TMF) in line with regulatory guidelines and quality standards, and take part in audits.
- Support Clinical Project Managers by reporting on data quality, tracking equipment and samples, generating consulting/confidentiality agreements and liaising with key staff and contractors.
- Maintain systems such as eClinical Trial Management Systems, finance and budget management systems, eCase Report Forms and trial status reports.
Courses
Summary
These courses are indicative of those planned for learners starting an apprenticeship in the 2025-26 academic year. Courses are subject to change in line with industry needs and apprenticeship requirements.
In addition to the courses below, at the beginning of each new academic year there is a Virtual Induction week where apprentices are expected to be available full-time for off- the-job learning.
The learning experience
Our degree apprenticeship programmes offer:
- Innovative, self-paced learning that blends interactive case studies, quizzes, and games
- Structured workplace activities so your employees can apply their learning in the real world
- Online seminars
- In-person bootcamps
- 1:1 sessions with our academic experts
- Access to industry-leading tools, technology and methods
We pride ourselves on our ability to offer personal attention. Apprentices will have access to:
- A dedicated Success Manager Team, who’ll support apprentices and their line managers from day one through to graduation.
- Subject-specialist course leaders to help learners achieve their full potential.
- Opportunities to learn from peers in different industries and organisations, including social learning activities and small group seminars.
- Options to tailor learning to their workplace, including closed cohorts, guest speakers, industry-specific case studies and bespoke modules.
Entry requirements
Standard offer
To study for this degree apprenticeship with us, you must be employed in a suitable role with responsibilities aligned to the Clinical Trials Specialist apprenticeship standard.
We set entrance requirements for our apprenticeships in partnership with employers on a case-by-case basis. Typically, apprentices will need to have:
Three A-levels (or equivalent) at BBB or above
GCSE Maths and English at grade 4/C or above
We’ll also consider prior learning and skills developed in the workplace if you don’t have the traditional qualifications listed above. If this is the case, you should follow our Recognition of prior learning and credit transfer policy.
Qualifying for apprenticeship funding
To be eligible for funding, apprentices must fulfill the following requirements and provide all necessary documentation and evidence before their application can be processed and considered for approval.
To be eligible for funding, apprentices must:
- Meet the government’s residency requirements – this usually means applicants must have been living in the UK for the past three years.
- Have left full-time education before the apprenticeship start date.
- Be able to complete their apprenticeship, including the end-point assessment, within applicable time constraints (for example, a visa or fixed-term contract.)
- Be at least 16 years old.
Workforce development
Building capacity across your organisation
Developed with leading employers, the Clinical Trials Specialist degree apprenticeship equips professionals with the skills to stay ahead in their industry and help your organisation succeed. Apprentices will gain:
- Support to take on new responsibilities, developing their career and bolstering employee retention
- 1:1 support to help set and reach the goals that matter most in their role
- Critical thinking skills
- Collaborative skills essential for organisational success
What roles is this apprenticeship relevant for?
You’ll find Clinical Trials Specialists across life sciences and pharmaceutical organisations. This apprenticeship is relevant for people who are employed in the following kinds of roles:
- Clinical Trials Assistant/Administrator
- Clinical Research Associate
- Study Coordinator, with potential to develop to Clinical Project Manager
Support for Apprentices
We work closely with our apprentices and employers to ensure you’re fully supported from day one of your journey with us. Apprentices will receive:
- Personalised guidance from a dedicated Success Manager Team
- Regular review meetings
- 1:1 bookable office hours with their course leads
- Additional learning support provided by our Student Support Team, complemented by access to external services where helpful
Support for Employers
Line managers and employers also benefit from:
- Regular manager forums
- Training and induction sessions
- Comprehensive reporting to help your apprenticeship scheme stay on track
Register your interest
Does your organisation have skills gaps to fill? Connect with our expert team to see how apprenticeships could be your solution.
Frequently asked questions
The information here is for organisations employing apprentices. If you’re interested in an apprenticeship, but not yet in a suitable role, you’ll need to apply directly to an employer. Vacancies with our employer partners are usually advertised on the government’s Find an Apprenticeship service or on company websites. For a head start, you can check out our application tips.
If you’re an employer or manager looking to upskill a member of your team (or an individual already employed in a relevant role), you can register your interest by booking a consultation call with our business development team. They’ll guide you through the process and help you determine the best approach for your organisation.
If the prospective apprentice is employed in a suitable role, they can join the next cohort that works for you. We have regular intakes in October, January and April. Applications typically close 4 weeks before each start date, so register your interest early to ensure enough time to get your employee onboarded.
No – apprentices can schedule most of their studies around work commitments. Some activities like exams and in-person bootcamps have fixed dates, which we’ll share in the programme timetable before you start.
As part of our application process, we undertake an initial assessment process with prospective apprentices to identify if our programme is sufficiently aligned to the employee’s role. We’ll work closely with apprentices and their line managers to make sure your learning is relevant, and that there are plenty of opportunities to apply new skills. This will include structured workplace activities to support your progress, and regular check-ins between our Success Managers and apprentices’ line managers.
All our programmes are designed to be accessible from the start. Our Student Support Team will provide apprentices with personalised support, where applicable, and we can also arrange Clear Links support workers or tailored learning support plans to help learners reach their full potential. If you would like to discuss a particular learning need for one of your employees in more detail, please book a call with our apprenticeship team.
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