Creating and Applying Evidence 20 credits
- CampusBirmingham (Edgbaston)Delivery formatOnline and in person
- Start dateOctober 2026; April 2027Duration5 days
- AwardMicrocredential (20 credits)
- Entry requirementsFor further information please contact the Programme Administrator.
- Fees (UK/Ireland)CPD course fees vary. Please see fee details for more information.
Page contents
Course overview
This course will equip you with knowledge to strengthen your research skills and broaden your understanding of evidence in healthcare.
The course will enhance your ability to formulate a focused research question, gain a basic understanding of qualitative and quantitative research paradigms and methods, and be able to undertake an in-depth, systematic appraisal of evidence.
By the end of this short course you will be able to:
- Develop a focused research question
- Gain a basis understanding of qualitative and quantitative research paradigms and methods
- Be able to undertake an in depth, systematic appraisal of evidence
- Consider use and application of evidence in healthcare
- Describe the process and available tools to develop a focused research question
- Consider and select the most appropriate methodology to answer a research question
- Systematically identify, select, and critically appraise available evidence.
Course delivery
Course dates
Dates for 2026/27 are TBC. The course normally runs in October delivered face-to-face and in April delivered hybrid..
October cohort: All face-to-face delivery
- October 2026 dates TBC
April cohort: Hybrid delivery
- April 2027 dates TBC
Assessment
- One 3,500-word essay
Teaching staff
Academics involved in the delivery of this course

Dr Nikolaos Efstathiou
Associate Professor
Staff profile for Dr Nikolaos Efstathiou, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Health Sciences at the University of Birmingham
Entry requirements
For more information, please contact the Programme Administrator:
acp@contacts.bham.ac.uk
+44 (0)121 414 6014
Please note this microcredential is available for home applicants only.
Fees and scholarships
Fees for 2026/27 entry
Microcredential (Home): £1,250
Non-credit: £1,050
Application process
You can choose to study this course as either a microcredential or a non-credit CPD short course.
Why choose a Postgraduate Microcredential short course?
- Microcredentials offer the perfect opportunity to boost your CV without the commitment of a full degree
- Usually taken from existing modules within a Masters, they can be used as standalone credentials with some also counting as academic credits at postgraduate level
- Add a postgraduate level qualification to your CV
- Develop the specialist skills you need for your career goals
- Alumni status with the University of Birmingham
- Learners will have the same access to our student support and campus facilities as our students on full degree programmes.
Please note the deadline for submitting an application:
- Applicants eligible for Home fees are to apply a minimum of 6 weeks before the module start date.
- Applicants eligible for Overseas fees are to apply a minimum of 3 months before the module start date.
Please note that once registered for the microcredential you cannot swap for the non-credit short course version.
Non-credit short course
The microcredential and the non-credit short course follow the same course structure, the difference between them both is with the non-credit short course you do not take the assessment at the end therefore you will not receive credits but will receive a certificate of completion, this certificate cannot be converted to credits.
Please note if you apply for the non-credit short course, you cannot swap to the microcredential version once registered.
Places on the non-credit short course are limited so please enquire before if spaces are available.
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