Cancer Technology
Develop a unique understanding of cancer from a bioengineering perspective.
Course key facts
Qualification
MRes
Duration
1 year, 2 years
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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White City
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Minimum entry standard
2:1 in an Engineering subject, or Physical, Mathematical, Medical or Biological Science, or equivalent
Course overview
Build the skills required to address tomorrow's challenges in cancer on this Master's course.
You'll explore state-of-the-art technologies and the physical sciences/mathematical approaches used in this crucial area of bioengineering.
You'll also gain a critical understanding of the fundamentals of cancer progression and current challenges in cancer management.
A comprehensive cross-disciplinary research project provides an opportunity to apply your knowledge to solving challenges in cancer.
This project will augment your research and analytical skills, with the results communicated through oral and written scientific formats.
You'll also collaborate with experts from the world-leading Institute of Cancer Research as you build up your subject expertise in the field.
This course is available both part-time and full-time, making it suitable if you're looking to fit studies around your professional commitments.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Understand the fundamental biological and biophysical processes involved in cancer and the application of bioengineering to better understand and manage the disease.
Learn data analysis methodologies and understand how to integrate these concepts into your research projects.
Become familiar with the breadth and variety of research in cancer technology, and develop your presentation, writing and critical analysis skills.
Receive additional training in engineering and physical science skills for application towards cancer research and management.
Begin the background research and planning for your research project.
For the Topics in Cancer Engineering module, you'll choose two optional modules.
Example modules are shown here, but are subject to availability.
Optional modules
Discover, describe, and differentiate diverse ranges of biomaterials and their synthesis and functional characterisation.
Analyse the different methods of (bio)chemical sensors and understand basic chemical sensing principles and their application.
Examine advanced imaging technologies and critically evaluate and design imaging experiments to analyse dynamic processes in complex biological systems.
Explore the core aspects of biological and clinical measurement such as data handling, sampling and measurement.
Explore the principles of mechanics, such as solid mechanics and fluid mechanics, and their application to living systems.
Cover the scope of biomimetics and investigate the principles that help engineers solve technical problems using inspiration from nature.
Please note: this is a capped module and is subject to availability.
Study biomechanics on a cellular scale and investigate methods of sensing and cell manipulation.
Appreciate the role of computational and theoretical approaches to understanding the nervous system.
Understand the basic physics of ionising radiation as safely implemented in radiotherapy, and review the range of applications used in the treatment of patients.
Examine digital image processing relevant to image analysis and appreciate aspects of computation involved in interpreting images.
Assess the different industrial applications of cellular engineering and synthetic biology and learn about engineering cell behaviours in a variety of fields.
Appreciate the basic physics of nuclear medicine and discover the range of applications used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Deepen your understanding of the key skills needed by professional engineers in the development of medical systems and devices, specifically in the preparation of regulatory approval.
Explore various aspects of medical device entrepreneurship, looking at case studies from start-ups, industry and investment firms to gain a sense of the process and challenges in developing your own business idea.
Analyse engineering principles and approaches towards the study of biomechanical behaviour from a cellular to tissue scale.
Explore the latest nanotechnological advances in the field of cancer diagnostics and cancer therapies.
Become familiar with the latest advanced features of medical imaging (CT, X-ray, MR and US) and their use in modern hospital practice.
Study advanced concepts in fluid mechanics and the theory and implementation of numerical methods for computational fluid dynamics.
Examine how images of the body can be obtained using different forms of penetrating radiation and how different forms of imaging work.
You'll complete a comprehensive research project, normally supported by at least two academic members of staff.
You’ll explore real-world research problems and apply bioengineering solutions to cancer understanding and management.
Your supervisors will be experts in their field from Imperial or the Institute of Cancer Research.
For those on the full-time programme, you will complete a 9-month research project with full-time project work starting in the spring term. For those on the part-time programme, you will complete your core modules including the research planning module in the first year. In the second year you will focus on carrying out the project.
Your work will be assessed by a literature review, planning report, poster presentation, and final thesis and oral presentation.
Professional accreditation
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This degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and Institution of Engineering Designers (IED), on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (following an accredited Bachelors Degree).
Our course accreditations are renewed every five years; the current accreditation agreement covering the current academic year and onwards is provisional and subject to our satisfying the requirements of the accrediting Professional Engineering Institutes (which have been completed and the final decision is expected imminently).
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
This is a general guide to how teaching and learning are usually balanced across this course. The methods used may change based on the modules you take.
Key
- Lectures and tutorials
- Research project
- Individual study
- 4% Title 1 goes here
- 78% Title 2 goes here
- 18% Title 3 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Lab work
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Presentations
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Virtual learning environment
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Demonstrations
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Lecture recordings
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Research project
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Workshops
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Group exercises
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Coursework
- Exams
- Practical
- 40% Title 1 goes here
- 10% Title 2 goes here
- 50% Title 3 goes here
Assessment methods
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Coursework
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Written reports
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Poster presentations
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Final thesis
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Oral presentations
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Dissertation
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
Unless you are from an exempt nationality, you will need an ATAS certificate to obtain your visa and study this course.
Nationals from the following countries are exempt: Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA and EEA members.
Use this information when applying for an ATAS certificate to study this course:
- CAH code: CAH10-01-06
- Descriptor: bioengineering, medical and biomedical engineering
- Supervisor name: Professor Rylie Green
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
Before submitting your application, you must make contact with at least one potential supervisor to discuss your proposed research and confirm their availability to supervise you.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Fees and funding
Home fee - Bioengineering courses, 1YFT + 2YPT
Full-time
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £19,400.
2 years, part-time
Not setper year
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £9,700.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee - Bioengineering courses, 1YFT + 2YPT
Full-time
Not set total fee
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £45,000.
2 years, part-time
Not setper year
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £22,500.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Develop your research skills for a future career in the field of cancer engineering.
Learn teamwork, research, analysis, and scientific presentation skills.
Gain technical knowledge, expertise, and transferable skills from industry partners.
Potential career paths include pharmaceutical discovery, biotechnology, medical devices, and continued PhD study.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5146
- Email: be.pgadmissions@imperial.ac.uk
Programme Lead: Dr Jun Ishihara
Visit the Department of Bioengineering website.
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Request info
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications