Researcher training courses

To access any data on the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform (UKB-RAP), all researchers are required to complete the full set of mandatory training courses. UK Biobank will not grant access to UKB-RAP until all required training has been successfully completed. Researchers who do not complete the mandatory courses may have their access paused, and in some cases their projects may be closed, until the training requirements are met.

This is to ensure that all users understand data governance responsibilities, privacy obligations, and safe use of the platform.

1. MRC Course: Confidentiality and Data Protection in Health Research 

Researchers must first complete the Medical Research Council (MRC) course: Confidentiality and Data Protection in Health Research and upload the test completion certificate to your AMS account. The course must have been completed within the last 12 months.

To complete the course, you must pass a 10-question multiple-choice quiz with a score of 70% or higher. Your certificate will look like this:

Steps to upload your certificate:

• Log in to your AMS account
• Select 'Profile'
• Scroll down to 'Upload MRC certificate'
• Select the blue 'Browse' button to the right
• Upload your certificate in PDF format

The MRC are not involved with the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform (UKB-RAP) and completed certificates should not be forwarded to them. Please contact us with any questions. 

2. Introduction to using UK Biobank

This module provides an overview of UK Biobank’s data, resources, access processes, and researcher responsibilities. To pass this course, you are required to pass a multiple choice, online test with a pass rate of 80% within AMS.

•  
  1. What is UK Biobank (0 mins 27 secs)
  2. How to access UK Biobank (3 mins 29 secs)
  3. Costs and funding (6 mins 51 secs)
  4. How to analyse the data (11 mins 4 secs)
  5. Researcher responsibilities (11 mins 32 secs)
  6. Next steps and support (11 mins 48 secs)
• What is UK Biobank, Apply for access, Billing and financial support, Researcher responsibilities, costs to access UK biobank
• English

3. Introduction to the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform (UKB-RAP)

This module covers navigating the platform, selecting tools, and working efficiently and cost-effectively. To pass this course, you are required to pass a multiple choice, online test with a pass rate of 80% within AMS.

•  
  1. Getting started on the UKB-RAP (0 mins 29 secs)
  2. Data structure (10 mins 1 secs)
  3. Interacting with the UKB-RAP (16 mins 39 secs)
  4. Working on the UBK-RAP (21 mins 25 secs)
  5. Support and further resources (27 mins 13 secs)
• Getting started guides, gitbook
• English

4. Code repository training

This module covers accessing, using, and managing shared code repositories for reproducible analysis. To pass this course, you are required to pass a multiple choice, online test with a pass rate of 80% within AMS.

•  
  1. Your responsibilities (0 mins 58 secs)
  2. Brief introduction to code repositories (2 mins 12 secs)
  3. Principles of working with health data (3 mins 42 secs)
  4. Best practices for working with code repositories (5 mins 45 secs)
  5. Recommended repository lifecycle (7 mins 45 secs)
  6. What to do if you make a mistake (8 mins 55 secs)
  7. Non-disclosure consequences (10 mins 13 secs)
• Using code repositories, Code repository guidance
• English

Non-completion of Training

The compulsory training modules are essential to ensure that researchers use UKB data responsibly and have a demonstrated understanding of data protection, governance and safe platform operation. Therefore, researchers who do not complete all required training components:

• Will not be granted access to UKB-RAP
• Will have existing access suspended
• May have access permanently removed until all training requirements are met

If you need additional guidance or support please browse our training, visit the forum, or submit a ticket. Please consider leaving feedback about this training through this form. These materials are provided under a CC-BY licence.