Essex to train up next generation of health and social care researchers

The University of Essex will provide research training and engagement programmes as part of a national scheme aimed at attracting people into research careers.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research is funding the £34.9m INSIGHT: Inspiring Students into Research scheme, which involves universities across 12 different regions in England. The three-year scheme will support fully-funded Research Masters places to train-up those new to research. 

Essex has been selected as the lead organisation in the East of England and will offer 90 research training masters places across three years alongside partner institution, the University of Hertfordshire. They will work together to help students and those at early career stages to access the full range of research careers, from research delivery to academic.

Project lead, Professor Fay Crawford, of Essex’s School of Health and Social Care, said: “This unprecedented opportunity for research training will increase the capacity for research in health and social care across the region.

“It aims to bring benefits for those who use health and care services in the East of England and help achieve better outcomes in health and wellbeing for those who live and work in the area.

“If you have recently registered as a health or social care practitioner and ever wondered whether a career in health and care research might be for you, this is your chance to find out."

The INSIGHT scheme funds engagement activities to introduce students to the wide-ranging benefits from health and care research. 

INSIGHT regional programmes are open to students and recent graduates from registered healthcare professions (not including doctors and dentists), social work professions and public health professions.

Masters studentships can be held full-time or part-time over a two-year period.

The first cohort of places start from September 2024.

Professor Waljit Dhillo, Dean of the NIHR Academy, said: "We know how important early exposure to research is for helping students and early career professionals develop the knowledge and skills needed to join the research workforce and build successful research careers in the future. 

"The INSIGHT programme will offer over 300 funded Research Masters places per year and provide engagement activities that have the potential to excite and capture the imagination of students at an early stage in their career. 

"I’m delighted that we can invest in our next generation of researchers in this way, and show students all of the benefits that research roles and careers have to offer. "

More about the INSIGHT: Inspiring Students into Research scheme

The scheme will provide over 300 Masters places available per year across 12 regions. It aims to build research capacity across England making sure competitive research training opportunities are available to all regardless of geography. Each region has been awarded up to 30 masters studentships per year.

The regional programmes are open to students and recent graduates from professions without much exposure to research during their professional training. This will broaden access to research training. It will also help create a more diverse research workforce. It is open to students and recent graduates from:

• registered healthcare professions (not including doctors and dentists)
• social work professions
• public health professions

Innovative engagement activities will promote the benefits of research careers within health and care. This includes careers combining research and practice. Activities are wide ranging. Examples include workshops, networking, mentoring programmes and showcase events.

The fully-funded (including both course fees and stipend) Research Masters opportunities will enable students and recent graduates to gain valuable research training and experience. This will help develop the skills needed to join the research workforce. It will also help build capacity within health and social care.

Institutions in each region will advertise their Research Masters training and engagement opportunities. They can be held full-time or part-time (over two years). The first cohort of places start from September 2024.