Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Science
- Duration
- 12 months full-time
- Entry requirements
-
We require an undergraduate honours degree (Upper Second or above), or the overseas equivalent in:
- medicine
- biomedical sciences
Relevant experience and commitment to oncology research will be beneficial.
This course is also available for intercalating medical students, both from the University of Manchester and other UK universities.
For intercalating medical students (after Year 3 or 4), we require satisfactory achievement in Years 1 to 3 or 4 of the undergraduate MBChB course, with no failure at any examination in the past two academic years.
For University of St Andrews students, this includes the three-year degree and the following two years spent in Manchester (Years 3 and 4 of the Manchester course).
- Number of places/applicants
- 20 places
- How to apply
- Please apply via our online application form , following any instructions for completion carefully. See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.
We also offer the Transformative Oncology course, which is 100% online and part-time. This course is research-led, clinically relevant and medically applicable education for those who want to gain a greater perspective and understanding of the field of oncology to improve outcomes for patients with cancer.
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | Y | N | N | N |
Course overview
- Develop skills for a career in cancer research.
- Understand the scientific basis of cancer and its treatments and how to evaluate the potential effectiveness of new treatments.
- Gain hands-on research experience, use the latest research equipment
- You may have the opportunity to publish your work and attend national and international conferences.
- Draw on expertise at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Manchester Institute and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
- Study at a university ranked 8th in the UK and among the top 35 in the world for Medicine (QS World University Rankings 2023).
Open days
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MSc (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £14,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £34,000
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.
All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students for the course duration at the year of entry).
For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees or provide a sponsor letter (which we must first confirm), before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Contact name
- Postgraduate Admissions Team
- Telephone
- +44 *(0)161 529 4577
- pgtaught.medicine@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/medicine/masters/
- School/Faculty
-
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require an undergraduate honours degree (Upper Second or above), or the overseas equivalent in:
- medicine
- biomedical sciences
Relevant experience and commitment to oncology research will be beneficial.
This course is also available for intercalating medical students, both from the University of Manchester and other UK universities.
For intercalating medical students (after Year 3 or 4), we require satisfactory achievement in Years 1 to 3 or 4 of the undergraduate MBChB course, with no failure at any examination in the past two academic years.
For University of St Andrews students, this includes the three-year degree and the following two years spent in Manchester (Years 3 and 4 of the Manchester course).
English language
International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system.
We ask for English language proof if you are from non-majority English speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found here ).
Specifically, we require a minimum of:
- IELTS: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in all components;
- TOEFL: 90 internet-based (with no less than 24 in all components).
See further information about requirements for your country.
We may also accept evidence of a confirmed place on a University Pre-sessional English language course, if your current IELTS scores are:
- Minimum 6.0 overall (with no skill less than 5.5) plus enrolment and attendance on the 6-week pre-sessional course (PS6).
- Minimum 5.5 overall (with no skill less than 5.5) plus enrolment and attendance on the 10-week pre-sessional course (PS10).
English language test validity
Application and selection
How to apply
We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.
We also offer the Transformative Oncology course, which is 100% online and part-time. This course is research-led, clinically relevant and medically applicable education for those who want to gain a greater perspective and understanding of the field of oncology to improve outcomes for patients with cancer.Advice to applicants
We do not require applicants to have already developed their own research proposals.
Your application form must have the following documents.
- One academic reference on letter headed paper or sent from work emails. Professional references can be provided in instances where you have been out of university for more than 3 years.
- Official degree certificates (with translations if not in English) if you have already graduated.
- Official University transcripts (with translations if not in English).
- A personal statement (300-500 words). This should include why you want to undertake this course, any relevant past experience and what you can bring to the course, how this course fits into your future career plans, and any other relevant information.
- Full CV including voluntary experience.
- A scanned copy of your passport if you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK.
- If English is not your first language, we require proof of your English language ability. If you have already taken an English language qualification, please include your certificate with your application. We may be willing to consider your application without this document, but if we choose to make you an offer, the conditions will include IELTS (or equivalent qualification).
Supporting documents can be uploaded with the online application form, or if this is not possible, emailed to pgtaught.medicine@manchester.ac.uk . We are unable to consider your application until we have received all of the documents listed above.
You must include your University ID number on any correspondence.
How your application is considered
Entry onto the MSc in Oncology research course will involve attendance (either in person or via telephone/Skype) at an interview.
For intercalating students, academic recommendation by the Hospital Dean will also be required along with approval by the University.
Further details for students registered on Manchester's MBChB regarding the procedure for intercalation can be found on the Medlea website under the Programme Contents sub-heading.
Interview requirements
The interview assessment consists of a five minute talk based around a single journal paper on a topic of oncology research.
The paper will be chosen by the Programme Director and sent to you prior to the interview. There will also be questions following the talk.
Overseas (non-UK) applicants
CAS Information
Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.
Please upload a copy of your current valid passport with your application showing the photograph page with your application. For CAS purposes, this must show your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and the date the passport is valid until, which must be later than the date of your planned arrival in the UK, and the start date of your course.
You cannot use your CAS to apply for a visa more than three months before the start date of your course, the Admissions Team will contact you at the appropriate time.
Your CAS number is only valid for one Tier 4 application.
Deferrals
Re-applications
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.
Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
Course details
Course description
Cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Approximately 300,000 people develop the disease each year in the UK.
Understanding the basis of tumourigenesis and developing new therapies are high priority areas for investment, especially since the economic burden of cancer is increasing. The field of oncology encompasses a wide variety of biological and physical sciences.
You will learn from renowned basic, translational and clinical scientists at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Manchester Institute and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, with a focus on developing practical research skills.
Our course covers the clinical and research aspects of cancer care, and you will have access to an exceptionally wide range of research projects in basic cancer biology, translational areas and clinical cancer care and imaging.
This MSc has both taught and research components and is suitable for those with little or no previous research experience.
PhD with integrated master's
If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.
You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.Aims
Our MSc course aims to provide postgraduate level training that will equip you with the specialist knowledge and research skills to pursue a research career in the fields of medical and clinical oncology.
You will gain an understanding of the scientific basis of cancer and its treatments, as well as the skills needed to evaluate the potential efficacy of new treatments.
This course also offers the potential to:
- gain hands-on research experience;
- work with world-renowned experts;
- use state-of-the-art research equipment;
- be taught by speakers at the forefront of national and international cancer research;
- undertake laboratory or clinical-based research projects at the Christie Hospital site, the largest cancer centre in Europe with some of the UK's leading cancer researchers;
- enhance your research skills and gain confidence in your research abilities.
Special features
Unlike many other oncology courses, ours has both clinical and research elements, making it suitable for both medical undergraduates and graduates, as well as biomedical science graduates.
Teaching and learning
Our MSc is structured around a 2:1 split between laboratory/clinical-based research projects and taught elements.
Laboratory and clinical research experience is gained through two research placements, one lasting approximately ten weeks (October to December) and the second lasting approximately 25 weeks (January to August).
You may choose to carry out one project for both placements, which most students do, or separate projects for each placement.
Most research placements are based at the Christie site, either within the hospital, the Manchester Cancer Research Centre or CRUK Manchester Institute premises. Projects are also available on the Central Manchester University Hospitals and University Hospital of South Manchester sites.
A list of available projects will be provided to offer holders in September.
Coursework and assessment
Course unit details
The course features the following:
- Understanding the Challenges of Tumour Biology * (15 credits)
- Cancer is an Individualised Disease * (15 credits) **
- Established and Experimental Therapeutics * (15 credits) **
- Clinical Masterclass (15 credits)
- Tutorials (15 credits)
- Research Project 1 (30 credits)
- Research Project 2 (90 credits)
Following attendance at these classes, you will be able to understand how cancer is diagnosed and the principles of cancer surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding the Challenges of Tumour Biology | MEDN62601 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Tutorial Unit | MEDN66100 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Project 2 | MEDN66132 | 90 | Mandatory |
| Clinical Masterclass | MEDN66611 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Project 1 | MEDN66640 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Established and Experimental Therapeutics | MEDN62602 | 15 | Optional |
| Cancer is an Individualised Disease | MEDN62611 | 15 | Optional |
| The Branches of Oncology | MEDN62612 | 15 | Optional |
Course collaborators
Facilities
Teaching will take place in the following locations (utilising state-of-the-art facilities), all in close proximity to each other:
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Withington;
- The Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, Withington.
The clinical and academic experience of contributors to this course will provide you with an exceptional teaching and learning experience.
The majority of these contributors are based predominantly at the above sites, but also elsewhere within the University and our teaching hospitals (ie Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust).
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
Our MSc is ideal for high calibre graduates, students and professionals wishing to undertake directly channelled research training in the clinical and medical oncology field.
If you are a medical student, the MSc will help you to decide whether to pursue a medical career in oncology or in clinical academia.
For biomedical science graduates, the MSc offers the research experience increasingly needed for successful application to a PhD programme in cancer research.
Our previous students have used the knowledge gained from the course to pursue careers in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, clinical trials management and medicine.