For health care professionals from diverse backgrounds who wish to expand their knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects of oncology, including:
A full-time programme is also available.
The aim of this programme is to give you a scientific understanding of the cellular basis of cancer. We will then discuss how understanding the molecular pathology of the disease can help in stratifying patients to personalised cancer therapeutic approaches and disease management.
Aiming to allow you to understand the research process, this programme draws on examples from within this renowned research Institute and its associated Clinical Trials Unit. A key part of this Masters programme is the planning, execution and reporting of a piece of independent study leading to submission of a dissertation.
At all levels we aim to encourage interactive rather than didactic learning and lecturing. Therefore, in addition to assembling and learning facts you will also to consider some of the philosophical challenges which underlie the treatment of cancer.
The programme is studied part time over 2.5 years and includes a taught element plus a work place based dissertation. During the first year you normally study 4 taught modules (5 weeks of attendance), whilst in the second year you normally study 3 taught modules (3 weeks of attendance) plus start your dissertation. The programme however is intended to be flexible and other patterns of study are permitted (please discuss with the programme lead (Dr Jean Assender).
You can opt for a Postgraduate Diploma on completion of the core modules and 30 credits of optional modules, or an MSc on successful completion of the taught programme and an independently researched dissertation.
As a Birmingham student, you will be joining the academic elite and will have the privilege of learning from world-leading experts, as well as your peers. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.
This programme is delivered via one or two 5 day blocks of teaching from Monday to Friday approx 9am-5.30pm. You will participate in a range of teaching styles such as lectures, eLectures (Surgical Oncology sample), small group tutorials, presentations, peer group learning, self-study etc.
You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues.
So you can get an idea of what some of our students have to say about the programmes we have been in touch with them and compiled some of their comments into student profiles for you to have a look at:
Dr Selvi Radhakrishna, a recent graduate from the PG Diploma in Clinical Oncology programme here at the University of Birmingham, has written a book that presents the various cultural issues an Indian woman might face when diagnosed with breast cancer. This New Indian Express article tells the story.
Careers Support for Postgraduate Students
Careers Network – We can help you get ahead in the job market and develop your career
We recognise that as a postgraduate student you are likely to have specific requirements when it comes to planning for your next career step. Employers expect postgraduates to have a range of skills that exceed their subject knowledge. Careers Network offers a range of events and support services that are designed for all students, including postgraduates looking to find their niche in the job market. The Careers Network also have subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each College so you can be assured the information you receive will be relevant to your subject area. For more information visit the Careers Network website.
For health care professionals from diverse backgrounds who wish to expand their knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects of oncology, this full-time programme is particularly suitable for medical professionals with an interest in clinical, medical, surgical and translational oncology. Unique to this programme is the exciting opportunity to gain clinical observership status and log your hours observing in a UK based hospital.
We also offer a part-time version of this programme.
The aim of this programme is to give you a scientific understanding of the cellular basis of cancer. We then discuss how understanding the molecular pathology of the disease can help in stratifying patients to personalised cancer therapeutic approaches and disease management.
Aiming to allow you to understand the research process, this programme draws on examples from within this renowned research Institute and its associated Clinical Trials Unit. A key part of the Masters programme is the planning, execution and reporting of a piece of independent study leading to submission of a dissertation.
At all levels we aim to encourage interactive rather than didactic learning and lecturing. Therefore, as well as assembling and learning facts you will also consider some of the philosophical challenges which underlie the treatment of cancer.
You can opt for a Postgraduate Diploma on completion of the core modules and 30 credits of optional modules, or a Masters on successful completion of the taught programme and an independently researched dissertation.
As a Birmingham student, you will be joining the academic elite and will have the privilege of learning from world-leading experts, as well as your peers. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.
This programme is delivered via one or two 5 day blocks of teaching from Monday to Friday approx 9am-5.30pm. You will participate in a range of teaching styles such as lectures, eLectures (Surgical Oncology sample), small group tutorials, presentations, peer group learning, self-study etc.
You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues.
Dr Selvi Radhakrishna, a graduate from the PG Diploma in Clinical Oncology programme here at the University of Birmingham, has written a book that presents the various cultural issues an Indian woman might face when diagnosed with breast cancer. This New Indian Express article tells the story.
Careers Support for Postgraduate Students
Careers Network – We can help you get ahead in the job market and develop your career
We recognise that as a postgraduate student you are likely to have specific requirements when it comes to planning for your next career step. Employers expect postgraduates to have a range of skills that exceed their subject knowledge. Careers Network offers a range of events and support services that are designed for all students, including postgraduates looking to find their niche in the job market. The Careers Network also have subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each College so you can be assured the information you receive will be relevant to your subject area. For more information visit the Careers Network website.
Our MRes Experimental Cancer Medicine master's course will give nurses, doctors and clinical researchers the skills needed to work in early phase clinical studies.
You will learn how to master experimental cancer through a combination of traditional teaching and hands-on learning, spending a year as a member of the Experimental Cancer Medicine Team at The Christie while also taking four structured taught units.
The taught units will see you learn the details of designing and delivering Phase 1 clinical studies, understanding the pre-clinical data required before a clinical programme can commence, and how to optimise early clinical studies to provide evidence for progressing a promising drug into Phase II/III clinical testing.
Alongside the taught elements, you will be allocated to one or more clinical trials that are being conducted by The Christie experimental cancer medicine team. You will have a named trainer and be exposed to tasks required in the setup, delivery, interpretation and audit of a clinical study.
Nursing and physician students will be expected to participate in patient care, including new and follow-on patient clinics, treatment and care-giving episodes with patients.
For clinical trials coordinators, no direct patient contact is envisaged and duties will involve clinical trial setup, protocol amendments, database setup, data entry, costing and billing for clinical research.
You will be able to choose two aspects of your direct clinical trial research experience to write up for your two research projects in a dissertation format. This will give you the skills and knowledge required to critically report medical, scientific and clinically related sciences for peer review.
The primary purpose of the MRes in Experimental Cancer Medicine is to provide you with the opportunity to work within a premier UK Phase 1 cancer clinical trials unit and, through a mix of taught and experiential learning, master the discipline of Experimental Cancer Medicine.
Extensive practical experience
You will spend most of your time gaining hands-on experience within The Christie's Experimental Cancer Medicine Team.
Meet the course team
Dr Natalie Cook is a Senior Clinical Lecturer in Experimental Cancer Medicine at the University and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Christie. She completed a PhD at Cambridge, investigating translational therapeutics and biomarker assay design in pancreatic cancer.
Professor Hughes is Chair of Experimental Cancer Medicine at the University and Strategic Director of the Experimental Cancer Medicine team at The Christie. He is a member of the research strategy group for Manchester Cancer Research Centre. He serves on the Biomarker evaluation review panel for CRUK grant applications.
Professor Hughes was previously Global Vice-President for early clinical development at AstraZeneca, overseeing around 100 Phase 0/1/2 clinical studies. He was previously Global Vice-President for early phase clinical oncology, having been involved in over 200 early phase clinical studies.
Dr Matthew Krebs is a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Experimental Cancer Medicine at the University and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Christie.
He has a PhD in circulating biomarkers and postdoctoral experience in single cell and ctDNA molecular profiling. He is Principal Investigator on a portfolio of phase 1 clinical trials and has research interests in clinical development of novel drugs for lung cancer and integration of biomarkers with experimental drug development.
Our course is structured around a 2:1 split between clinical-based research projects and taught elements respectively.
Taught course units will predominantly use lectures and workshops.
For the research projects, teaching and learning will take place through one-to-one mentoring from a member of the Experimental Cancer Medicine team.
The clinical and academic experience of contributors to this course will provide you with an exceptional teaching and learning experience.
You will be assessed through oral presentations, single best answer exams, written reports and dissertation.
For each research project, you will write a dissertation of 10,000 to 15,000 words. Examples of suitable practical projects include the following.
Research proposal
Publication-based/dissertation by publication
Service development/professional report/ report based dissertation
Adapted systematic review (qualitative data)
Full systematic review that includes data collection (quantitative data)
Qualitative or quantitative empirical research
Qualitative secondary data analysis/analysis of existing quantitative data
Quantitative secondary data analysis/analysis of existing qualitative data/theoretical study/narrative review
Teaching will take place within The Christie NHS Foundation Trust , Withington.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: [email protected]
This course is relevant to physician, nursing and clinical research students who are considering a career in Phase 1 clinical studies.
The course provides a theoretical and experiential learning experience and offers a foundation for roles within other experimental cancer medicine centres within the UK and EU, as well as careers in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, clinical trials management and medicine.
The MRes is ideal for high-calibre graduates and professionals wishing to undertake directly channelled research training in the clinical and medical oncology field.
Our MRes Oncology course will enable you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to prepare for a career in cancer research.
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 MRes has both taught and research components and is suitable for those with little or no previous research experience.
Our MRes 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:
Clinical and research components
This is one of only a handful of MRes Oncology courses in the UK. 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.
Our MRes 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 August.
Students are assessed through oral presentations, single best answer exams, written reports and a dissertation.
The course features the following components:
The Research Methods course unit covers topics relating to:
The Clinical Masterclass course unit provides a truly multidisciplinary foundation in the key issues in oncology. Delivery is by lectures and site tours and these classes will offer the student the chance to debate with internationally recognised experts in their field. Areas covered include:
Following attendance at these classes, you will be able to understand how cancer is diagnosed and the principles of cancer surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The Lecture Series course unit comprises two intensive one-week courses, one in November and the other in February. The November course covers the biological basis of chemotherapy, pharmacology and cancer biology. The February course covers the biological basis of radiotherapy and translational aspects of cancer research, including biomarkers and new technologies.
The Tutorial course unit allows students to choose from a selection of clinical and academic oncology topics. The unit aims to improve ability to interpret and criticise literature as well as improve verbal communication skills in a small group setting.
Students will study at the world-renowned Queen Square, and will be taught by internationally recognised experts in the field. Students have the opportunity to interact freely with our neurologists, and undertake a specialist attachment during the second six months of their programme.
Students gain knowledge of the clinical features and scientific basis of the following neurological areas and disorders: nerve and muscle; epilepsy; pain; movement disorders and Parkinson's disease; neuro-otology and neuro-ophthalmology; stroke; neuropsychiatry and cognition; infections of the nervous system; multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology; autonomic function and neuro-urology; neuro-oncology and ITU neurology.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of five core modules (105 credits), one optional module (15 credits) and a research project (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (full-time six months is offered).
Core modules
Optional modules include
Students can choose one 15-credit module from the available options below:
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project, which takes the form of a scientific investigation and culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, clinical teaching (including outpatients, inpatients, workshops, training for history taking and clinical examination and case demonstrations). Assessment is through written examination, MCQ, short case clinical examination, viva voce, continuous assessment and the research dissertation.
Placement
Students are offered the opportunity to undertake a clinical attachment with one or two consultants at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery from April to September each year.
International Students will bear any costs incurred in acquiring certification equivalent to DBS in their home country.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Clinical Neurology MSc
This programme provides an excellent basis for a clinical or research career in clinical neurology and related disciplines.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
For students starting out on their clinical careers the programme will give them skills and experience to move towards specialist training. For more established clinicians it is an opportunity to refresh and refine their clinical practice. All students benefit from exposure to the scientific underpinning of neurology, and the opportunity to undertake an original research project, and a specialist attachment, studying alongside the internationally renowned neurologists at Queen Square.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The mission of the UCL Institute of Neurology is to carry out high-quality research, teaching and training in basic and clinical neurosciences. Together with our associated hospital, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, we form the world-renowned Queen Square and promote the translation of research that is of direct clinical relevance to improved patient care and treatment.
Students are given the opportunity to experience the full range of activities of a world-famous specialist hospital.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Institute of Neurology
83% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
If you are a non-radiotherapy graduate who would like to become a registered therapeutic radiographer, this postgraduate course in radiotherapy and oncology will prepare you to become one. By graduating from this course, you are allowed to register for this role through the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
By qualifying in this area you are able to respond to the increasing demand for therapeutic radiographers in the health service. Medical, technological and professional advances in radiotherapy mean the role of the therapeutic radiographer is ever changing.
Your on-campus training is based at the £13 million purpose-built Robert Winston Building. Here you use the state-of-the-art virtual environment for radiotherapy training (VERT). It creates a life-size 3D replica of a clinical environment. We also have 20 networked eclipse planning computers and 10 image review licences with specialist staff on hand to teach you radiotherapy planning and image matching. We are one of the only universities outside of the USA that can offer these facilities.
You get real insights into all aspects of radiography with our professionally approved teaching programme. You learn from a lecturing team who are all qualified radiographers involved in research at a national level.
In addition to this expertise, we invite guest lecturers to teach that are leaders in their field. You also meet and hear from ex-patients who share their experiences of treatment.
As part of the course, you gain important clinical experience in one of our nine participating hospitals. This gives you the knowledge, skills and confidence to undertake and develop your professional role.
Clinical placements may be taken in
To begin with, your studies focus on the theoretical knowledge you need for your clinical experience. We encourage you to question and analyse, not simply accept the theory wholesale. You also learn to look at the complete picture from the view of the patient, healthcare team and associated scientific principles.
You gradually learn to apply theory to practice and tailor treatment to each patient by accurately targeting high dose radiation beams and sparing surrounding normal tissues.
Your studies enable you to develop and adapt your clinical expertise through reflective practice. You learn to analyse and evaluate your experience as you gain and develop new skills and competencies and to look for areas that need changing.
The course is designed in response to recent government initiatives to modernise healthcare education, increase recruitment into the health service and improve cancer care services.
Radiotherapy open days
To build your knowledge and understanding of radiotherapy and oncology you may be interested in attending an open day at one of our partner hospitals. More information about current opportunities to attend a hospital open day are shown here
CPD online
CPD Online, part of our CPD Anywhere™ framework, is being offered free to new graduates of this course for 12 months, as part of our commitment to support your lifelong learning.
CPD Online is an online learning environment which provides information to help your transition into the workplace. It can enhance your employability and provide opportunities to take part in and evidence continuing professional development to help meet professional body and statutory requirements.
For further information, visit the CPD Anywhere™ website at http://www.shu.ac.uk/faculties/hwb/cpd/anywhere.
Care experience
Before you apply for health courses, we require you to have gained some practical experience relating to your subject area. Download our applicant experience guidelines for information about the kinds of experience we expect you to have and the best places to gain it. Evidence of the experience gained, understanding of the profession and a genuine, reasoned commitment to studying a professional course must be explicit in your personal statement to be selected for interview.
This course is pending accreditation by the College of Radiographers.
This course is subject to approval by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Graduates are eligible to apply to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and apply to become members of the Society and College of Radiographers. You must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in order to practise as a therapeutic radiographer in the UK.
Year one modules
Year two modules
After successfully completing the course and registering with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) you will be qualified to work in radiotherapy departments throughout the UK and overseas. Opportunities exist to specialise in particular areas of clinical practice such as management, quality assurance , treatment planning and patient information/counselling.
Alternatively, you may choose to enter the teaching profession.
Lead academic: Dr Thomas Jenkins
This course, offering practical clinical exposure, enables you to apply the fundamentals of neuroanatomy and physiology to better understand the clinical features of patients with neurological disease and learn how insights from the laboratory are translated into benefits for patients.
In small group teaching sessions and clinics, you’ll have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to patients with neurological disease. In the final term you may take a research option (Route A) or a Clinical Neurology Experiential Learning Module (Route B).
Students opting for Route A will choose from a range of clinical research projects based at SITraN or within the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Students opting for Route B will attend additional specialist clinics with patient-centred teaching from experts in the field who will emphasise recent advances in clinical practice.
You’ll be based in teaching hospitals that serve a population of over half a million people and refer a further two million. We also have close links with the University’s other health-related departments.
Our research funding comes from many sources including the NIHR, MRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, the Department of Health, EU, and prominent charities such as the Wellcome Trust, ARC, YCR, Cancer Research UK and BHF. Our partners and sponsors include Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Astra Zeneca and Eli Lilly.
You’ll also benefit from our collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Sciences.
Classes are kept small (15–20 students) to make sure you get the best possible experience in laboratories and in clinical settings.
We have a state-of-the-art biorepository and a £30m stem cell laboratory. The Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) opened in November 2010. We also have microarray, genetics, histology, flow cytometry and high-throughput screening technology, and the latest equipment for bone and oncology research.
At our Clinical Research Facility, you’ll be able to conduct studies with adult patients and volunteers. The Sheffield Children’s Hospital houses a complementary facility for paediatric experimental medical research.
If your course involves a significant risk of exposure to human blood or other body fluids and tissue, you’ll need to complete a course of Hepatitis B immunisation before starting. We conform to national guidelines that are in place to protect patients, health care workers and students.
During the autumn and spring terms, you’ll take four taught modules worth 30 credits each:
Complementing the taught modules is a comprehensive programme of clinical demonstrations, integrated learning activities, themed clinics and neuro-anatomy dissection (autumn term) where students will be able to apply the taught theory and further substantiate their understanding of the topic area being studied.
Either a research project (Route A) or a Clinical Neurology Experiential Learning Module (CNELM) (Route B) worth 60 credits is completed in the summer term.
The taught component of the MSc is delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical demonstrations and student-led group work.
Each of the 30-credit modules is assessed using a formal examination (15 credits) and ongoing assessments during the module (15 credits), including essays and oral presentations.
The research project (Route A) is assessed from the written dissertation and research presentation examination. The CNELM (Route B) is assessed by means of a portfolio (30 credits) and a 6,000-word dissertation (30 credits) on an aspect of the sub-speciality chosen for the module.
The portfolio will contain a reflective log, anonymised details of cases seen, and work-based assessments.
Designed in close collaboration with an international team of clinicians and research specialists, this focused MSc provides an understanding of the causes and treatment of cancer from 'bench-to-bedside'. You study both theory and practice to gain the specialist knowledge and skills required to pursue an academic career in cancer research or move into the more applied fields of cancer treatment, hospital pathology or industry.
The University has an international reputation for medical research and places a strong emphasis on cancer. This MSc is taught by a team of cancer research-focused staff from the School with internal and external expert guest lectures and seminars. We enjoy close collaborative links with NHS clinicians, clinical researchers and oncology staff who also deliver aspects of the programme.
Students are immersed in an excellent research environment and infrastructure, specifically the recently completed £6 million, state-of-the-art, cancer research facility housed in the Allam Building. The University has invested in preclinical optical and radiological imaging and radiotherapy research. Students engage in research in cutting edge facilities employing these and other technologies used for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, both on campus and within the Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.
This MSc is delivered by leading academic cancer scientists, research specialists, consultant clinical and medical oncologists, diagnosticians, radiologists, nurses and cancer surgeons, through a combination of lectures, expert seminars, state-of-the-art oncology-based practicals and projects supported by 'problem classes', workshops and tutorials.
Laboratory-based work is an important part of the programme, which includes an extended 12-week oncology research project carried out in the laboratory of an internationally-recognised cancer researcher. This MSc programme is designed to provide a highly supportive environment, in which teamwork, project management and communication skills are as important as technical proficiency.
Core modules:
Optional modules:
Students are provided with in-depth specialist knowledge and insight into the fundamentals of Translational Oncology, alongside research-led teaching into the practical applications of cancer research. There is a strong emphasis on scientific method and associated skills.
* All modules are subject to availability.
Graduates of the MSc will be highly attractive candidates for competitive PhD programmes with a basis in oncology.
The programme provides a platform for developing transferable skills that are appropriate for employment within industry, basic science laboratories, clinical laboratories, and education and research.
You also learn transferable skills, highly valued by employers in many fields, including team work, critical analysis, IT skills, time management, presentation skills, problem solving, project management and discipline.
