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Why is it required that students don’t get paid for clinical trials?
Why is it required that students don’t get paid when clinical trials start? It’s 6 months of dedicating our time and gas which will lead us to not having an open schedule to get a job that does pay us so why can’t we as students get paid for clinical?
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Praveen’s Answer
You're absolutely right to ask this question — it's a valid concern that a lot of students in healthcare and related fields struggle with. Here's a more human and honest explanation:
The reason students typically aren't paid during clinical rotations isn't because your time or effort isn't valuable — it's largely because of how the system is structured. Clinicals are considered part of your education, like a class with hands-on experience, rather than a job. The logic behind not paying students is that you're still learning, not yet fully licensed, and technically the hospital or clinic is “training” you rather than employing you.
But that doesn't mean it’s fair.
In reality, you're often doing real work — long hours, patient care, early mornings, commuting, and all while juggling studies and possibly other responsibilities. And unlike a classroom, clinicals often take up most of your week, making it nearly impossible to get a side job. So yes, it puts a financial strain on students, especially those without support systems or savings.
Some people argue that since the hospital benefits from your help (you lighten their load), you should be compensated at least a stipend. And a growing number of programs are starting to explore paid clinical models or offering stipends or scholarships, but it's not widespread yet.
In short: you're not paid because the system labels clinicals as part of your "training," not a job — but that doesn't mean the system is fair or shouldn't be challenged.
🌟 Clinical & Research Opportunities for Students in Leicester
Gain experience. Contribute to science. Grow your career.
🏥 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Offers various entry-level and assistant roles in clinical research across specialties like renal care, cardiovascular health, and diabetes. These roles support ongoing NHS-led clinical studies and provide hands-on exposure in real-world healthcare settings.
🔗 nhsjobs.com
🎓 University of Leicester
The University provides several research assistant positions in departments like:
Diabetes Research Centre – focusing on lifestyle and metabolic health.
Cancer Research Centre – contributing to translational cancer research.
Respiratory Sciences – advancing new diagnostics and treatment strategies.
These roles typically support ongoing clinical trials and public health research.
🔗 jobs.le.ac.uk
🔬 Leicester Clinical Trials Unit (LCTU)
Part of the University of Leicester, LCTU collaborates with clinicians and academics to run high-quality clinical trials in areas like respiratory disease, cardiovascular care, and digital health. This is a great place for students to explore collaborative, real-world research.
🔗 le.ac.uk/lctu
🧪 NIHR Patient Recruitment Centre: Leicester
A national center focused on late-phase commercial clinical trials within the NHS. While specific student internships aren't always listed, the center regularly collaborates with local universities and hospitals, making it a great place to explore volunteer or early-career research roles.
🔗 nihr.ac.uk
💡 Why It’s Worth It
These opportunities allow you to:
Gain hands-on experience in real clinical environments
Build relationships with professionals and researchers
Make a meaningful contribution to patient care and scientific discovery
Whether you’re looking to start your research journey or build your clinical career, Leicester offers a supportive environment with real pathways to growth.
The reason students typically aren't paid during clinical rotations isn't because your time or effort isn't valuable — it's largely because of how the system is structured. Clinicals are considered part of your education, like a class with hands-on experience, rather than a job. The logic behind not paying students is that you're still learning, not yet fully licensed, and technically the hospital or clinic is “training” you rather than employing you.
But that doesn't mean it’s fair.
In reality, you're often doing real work — long hours, patient care, early mornings, commuting, and all while juggling studies and possibly other responsibilities. And unlike a classroom, clinicals often take up most of your week, making it nearly impossible to get a side job. So yes, it puts a financial strain on students, especially those without support systems or savings.
Some people argue that since the hospital benefits from your help (you lighten their load), you should be compensated at least a stipend. And a growing number of programs are starting to explore paid clinical models or offering stipends or scholarships, but it's not widespread yet.
In short: you're not paid because the system labels clinicals as part of your "training," not a job — but that doesn't mean the system is fair or shouldn't be challenged.
🌟 Clinical & Research Opportunities for Students in Leicester
Gain experience. Contribute to science. Grow your career.
🏥 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Offers various entry-level and assistant roles in clinical research across specialties like renal care, cardiovascular health, and diabetes. These roles support ongoing NHS-led clinical studies and provide hands-on exposure in real-world healthcare settings.
🔗 nhsjobs.com
🎓 University of Leicester
The University provides several research assistant positions in departments like:
Diabetes Research Centre – focusing on lifestyle and metabolic health.
Cancer Research Centre – contributing to translational cancer research.
Respiratory Sciences – advancing new diagnostics and treatment strategies.
These roles typically support ongoing clinical trials and public health research.
🔗 jobs.le.ac.uk
🔬 Leicester Clinical Trials Unit (LCTU)
Part of the University of Leicester, LCTU collaborates with clinicians and academics to run high-quality clinical trials in areas like respiratory disease, cardiovascular care, and digital health. This is a great place for students to explore collaborative, real-world research.
🔗 le.ac.uk/lctu
🧪 NIHR Patient Recruitment Centre: Leicester
A national center focused on late-phase commercial clinical trials within the NHS. While specific student internships aren't always listed, the center regularly collaborates with local universities and hospitals, making it a great place to explore volunteer or early-career research roles.
🔗 nihr.ac.uk
💡 Why It’s Worth It
These opportunities allow you to:
Gain hands-on experience in real clinical environments
Build relationships with professionals and researchers
Make a meaningful contribution to patient care and scientific discovery
Whether you’re looking to start your research journey or build your clinical career, Leicester offers a supportive environment with real pathways to growth.
Updated
Stephen’s Answer
You raise a good point about the amount of time and resources that are required for clinical placements! Unfortunately, clinical trials are considered part of your education and not a formal employment position. The idea is that you're there to learn, and not to formally provide labor. However, in practice you end up doing both! As a student, you work under supervision and are not licensed to practice and 'bill' independently. Programs also discourage or prohibit payment in order to keep the focus on your learning. If you received payment, then you may end up focusing on service provision, which could negatively impact on your educational experience. Many healthcare institutions ofen struggle to make ends meet, and integrating students into unpaid placements in their system can cost them significant time and money. Paying students could make these models unfeasible, and they may also depend on students doing unpaid work to keep going! Although it can feel frustrating, clinical placements give you hands-on experience that may open doors to future employment opportunities.