Hi Raveena,

To enter in MSc Clinical Research a BSc degree is a must but ideally the industry is looking for science graduates from pharmacy, medicine, life science and bioscience fields and within bioscience too there are various other fields such as botany, zoology, biochemistry and genetics. Anybody who fulfils these criteria can join the MSc Clinical Research program.

Individuals with prior work experience of 2 to 3 years are preferred, but like the BPO industry, there is a lack of trained professionals here too. Thus, with the right qualifications finding a job in clinical research should not be a big problem.

The most common entry-level position is of a CRA (Clinical Research Associate). The role of a CRA is varied:

• They are key participants in the design, implementation and monitoring of clinical trials.
• They handle the responsibility of planning and implementing all activities required to conduct & monitor complex clinical trials and ensure that Good Clinical Practices are followed.
• They assist in preparation of manuscripts of scientific meetings and technical journals and attend scientific/professional meetings and training courses as appropriate.

There is high demand for trained professionals in clinical research field and the pay package is impressive at the entry level. Fresher’s can also expect a pay packet of around three lakhs or more per annum. If you have a master's degree , then the amount is almost doubles.
Clinical research is an industry where experience counts the salary will increase with time.

There are various growth opportunities along with the way for those willing to learn. For those interested in serious research work, a PhD is the ideal solution for them. There are post graduate degrees and diplomas offered by various colleges which come in handy to enhance opportunities.