Cancer Biology (Cancer Informatics)
Prepare for the next frontier in cancer research with an MRes that integrates biology, clinical oncology, and the transformative power of AI and data science.
Master multidisciplinary skills across biology, clinical oncology, and the transformative power of AI and data science
Gain new insights into molecular biology and patient care using machine learning and data integration
Immerse yourself in an innovative 10-month research project in leading academic and clinical lab
Course key facts
Qualification
MRes
Duration
1 year
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Full-time
-
Fees
£18,000 Home
£47,300 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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Hammersmith
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Course overview
Receive the broad, interdisciplinary training needed to launch a research career in the fight against cancer with this Master's course.
You’ll receive a crash course in coding, transforming you from a life scientist to a confident informatician - or deepen your computational skills in a biological context..
You'll explore cutting-edge developments in the field, including the use of AI and machine intelligence, and engage with some of the most advanced analytical tools in modern cancer research.
During your studies, you'll analyse the cellular and molecular basis of cancer biology and be introduced to the clinical and pathological aspects of carcinogenesis.
A series of workshops will help you develop key transferable skills for a research career, such as the oral presentation of scientific data and grant writing.
You'll also gain insights into the excellent project opportunities at Imperial and partner institutions including the Crick Institute and Institute of Cancer Research.
Immerse yourself in a multidisciplinary research environment on a 10-month focused research project in world leading labs.
MRes Cancer Biology streams
This course is one of three MRes Cancer Biology streams available at Imperial. You may wish to consider other streams depending on your interests.
- Cancer Biology focuses on wet lab skills, data analysis, and communicating science to expert and lay audiences.
- Cancer Informatics (this stream) focuses on computational and artificial intelligence techniques, ethics, and communicating science to expert and lay audiences.
- Cancer Innovation focuses on the development and translation of bio- and deep-tech platforms from concept to realisation and onward to application and communication to scientific and commercial audiences.
This course page was previously titled "Cancer Informatics MRes". It has been relabelled for clarity to show that this is a stream of our Cancer Biology course. When applying via our My Imperial application system, please apply to "Cancer Biology (Cancer Informatics)", which is the title of the MRes degree you will be working towards.
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
Learn the cellular and molecular basis of cancer processes and hallmarks, together with clinical and pathological aspects of carcinogenesis and treatment.
Advance your skills in fundamental computational and bioinformatic techniques and explore cutting-edge methodologies in a range of informatics areas.
Conduct an innovative 10-month research project, with wet-lab/dry lab projects undertaken primarily at Imperial College London.
Some opportunities will be available for projects that collaborate with industry and at other organisations such as the Bart’s Cancer Institute, the Francis Crick Institute, GlaxoSmithKline, the Institute of Cancer Research, and the Medical Research Council.
Choose either from a list of project proposals from associated academics and industrial partners, or arrange a bespoke research project by agreement with aforementioned researchers.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Technical workshops
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Tutorials
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Seminars
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Student-led presentations
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 vary depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Modules
- Project
- 10% Title 1 goes here
- 90% Title 2 goes here
Assessment methods
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Cancer Informatics assignment
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Mock grant proposal
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Poster presentation
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Projects (thesis and oral assessment)
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – The current round closes on Sunday 25 January 2026.
We consider applications to this course in four batches. Applications received before the closing date of each round are considered in those batches, and applicants are then required to attend an online interview.
If you wish for your application to be considered in a particular batch, please apply at least five working days before the deadline to ensure your application is included in that round of decision making.
The application dates are:
- Apply by 23 November 2025: Online interviews 8-12 December 2025
- Apply by 25 January 2026: Online interviews 9-13 February 2026
- Apply by 22 March 2026: Online interviews 20-24 April 2026
- Apply by 31 May 2026: Online interviews 15-19 June 2026
Competition for places on this programme are high, with 70% of all offers being made following the January submission date.
While we do continue to make offers March to June, less than 5% of our remaining offers are made following the May submission date.
This is a stream in our Cancer Biology course. When applying via our My Imperial application portal, you should select the correct stream you wish to apply for, at the start of the process.
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
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
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee - Cancer Biology streams
2026 entry
£18,000
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 £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- 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 - Cancer Biology streams
2026 entry
£47,300
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 £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- 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 scholarshipsDepartment of Surgery and Cancer Scholarships
Value per award
- £2,000 towards the tuition fee rate for academic year 2026-27
Who it's for
- Offer holders for the department's MSc/MRes courses
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Be equipped with transferable skills for a career as a research scientist, research assistant or scientific officer.
Specialise in fundamental computational and bioinformatics techniques, ethics, and science communication.
Those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of cancer research will also benefit from this programme.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
This can include areas of data science, journalism, patent and intellectual property roles, and financial institutions.
Further links
Contact the department
Course Director: Dr James Flanagan
Stream Director: Dr Kiril Veselkov
Visit the Department of Surgery and Cancer website
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Register your interest
Stay up to date on news, events, scholarship opportunities and information related to this course.
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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