Nature Masterclasses
Queen’s has an institutional subscription to Nature Masterclasses.
As a Queen’s researcher (staff and research students), this subscription grants you access to all available online courses on the Nature Masterclasses platform. Make the most of our university’s subscription! See below for details on what the courses are about and how you can get access to the content.

Researchers have access to a broader range of online courses on:
- Narrative Tools for Research
- Managing Research Data to Unlock its Potential
- Effective Collaboration in Research
- Scientific Writing and Publishing
- Advancing your Scientific Presentations
- Data Analysis: Planning and Preparation
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How can I get access to the courses?
Queen’s access to Nature Masterclasses is provided via Single Sign-On.
1. Visit masterclasses.nature.com
2. Go to the Login page and click ‘Select your institution’
3. On the Institutional Login page click on our institution’s name
4. Log in via our institutional portal using your normal institutional login details
IMPORTANT: please do not register on the Nature Masterclasses website, as that will interfere with your Single Sign-On access. You should always go straight to the Login page.
Step by step instructions are provided in the Nature Masterclasses User Guide.
If you need further assistance with your course access, please refer to the Help page on the Nature Masterclasses website, where you will find further useful information, FAQs and contact details for the Masterclasses support teams.
We hope you enjoy using the courses and wish you well with your studies.
- Scientific Writing and Publishing
What is the course about, and who is it for?
- Offers guidance on how to write and publish a great research paper
- For researchers in the natural sciences who want to get published
- Easy-to-use with short 10 minute lessons
- Taught by Nature Research journal editors – so you hear tips from the experts
- Receive a certificate when you complete each part of the course – there are 3 parts in total
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What’s in the course?
1. Part 1: Writing a research paper
How to write clearly, write a great title and abstract, and structure your paper — as well as how to manage and present your data.
Scientific Writing and Publishing Part 1: Writing a Research Paper
2. Part 2: Publishing a research paperHow to select a journal for publication, submit your article, and navigate the editorial process — including how to write cover letters, the peer review process, and editorial decisions.
Scientific Writing and Publishing Part 2: Publishing a Research Paper3. Part 3: Writing and publishing a review paper
What makes a great review paper, how to plan and write a review, and how to referee a review paper.
Scientific Writing and Publishing Part 3: Writing and Publishing a Review Paper - Effective Collaboration in Research
What is the course about, and who is it for?
- Offers guidance on how to join in, set up or lead collaborative projects
- For researchers in the natural sciences who want to make the most out of collaborative research projects
- Easy-to-use with short 15 minute lessons
- Taught by experts in collaboration including researchers, funders, editors and professionals
- Receive a certificate when you complete each part of the course – there are 3 parts in total
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What’s in the course?
1. Part 1: Introducing collaboration
Why should you collaborate?
Effective Collaboration in Research Part 1: Introducing Collaboration2. Part 2: Participating in a collaboration
How to collaborate effectively.
Effective Collaboration in Research Part 2: Participating in a Collaboration3. Part 3: Leading a collaboration
How to start and lead a collaboration, including troubleshooting and managing outputs.
Effective Collaboration in Research Part 3: Leading a Collaboration - Managing Research Data to Unlock its Full Potential
What is the course about and who is it for?
- Offers guidance on how to develop one’s data management skills or mentor others through the process
- For researchers in the natural sciences who want to learn about acquiring practical lifelong skills to manage their data efficiently and comply with evolving requirements, including from funders
- Easy-to-use with short 15-minute lessons
- Taught by experts in data management, including researchers, funders, data publishing and institutional data management specialists
- Receive a certificate when you complete the 4-module course
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What’s in the course?
1. Module 1: Welcome and introduction
Introduction to the course, key concepts, and why data management matters.2. Module 2: Creating and maintaining your data management plans
What does a data management plan look like, why it is useful, and how to set one up for your project.3. Module 3: Managing data in the short and long term
What does a data management plan look like, why it is useful, and how to set one up for your project.4. Module 4: Sharing your data
What to think about when storing your data, how to organise and store data properly and assure its quality.Managing Research Data to Unlock its Full Potential Online Course
- Narrative Tools for Researchers
What is the course about and who is it for?
- Offers guidance on how to enhance your communication to your peers by using narrative tools to tell your research story
- For researchers in the natural sciences who want to learn about how to communicate their research to the scientific community in an effective, compelling and memorable way
- Easy-to-use with short 15-minute lessons
- Taught by 10 experts in using narrative techniques in scientific communication, including researchers, Nature editors and science journalists
- Receive a certificate when you complete the 3-module course
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What’s in the course?
1. Module 1: Why use a story?
Why are storytelling techniques a powerful tool, what essential elements make a story and how can you advance your research and your career using storytelling techniques.2. Module 2: Building your story
Identify your key message and show how your evidence supports it, create the underlying structure for your story and learn useful techniques to help your audience follow your story.3. Module 3: Refining your story
Learn how to refine your scientific story according to the audience, the format, and feedback from peers.
Narrative Tools for Researchers Online Course