Cancer Biology
  • Postgraduate taught
  • MRes

Cancer Biology

Explore advanced technology and approaches used in cancer biology and undertake training towards a research career.

Explore advanced technology and approaches used in cancer biology and undertake training towards a research career

Build key transferable skills in the oral presentation of scientific data and grant writing through a series of workshops

Immerse yourself in a multidisciplinary research environment on an innovative 10-month research project

Course key facts

  • Qualification

    • MRes

  • Duration

    1 year

  • Start date

    September 2024

  • Study mode

    Full-time

  • Fees

    • £16,750 Home

    • £43,250 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • Hammersmith

Minimum entry standard

  • 2:1 in an appropriate subject

View full entry requirements

Course overview

Receive the broad training required to prepare for a research career in the fight against cancer on this Master's course.

You'll examine cutting-edge developments in the field and experience some of the most technologically advanced approaches currently in use.

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 (this stream) focuses on wet lab skills, data analysis, and communicating science to expert and lay audiences.
  • Cancer Informatics focuses on computational and bioinformatics 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.

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

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.

You'll be expected to produce a persuasive and logical experimental study proposal based upon contemporary research.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and learning methods

  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Four students sitting in a tutorial
    Tutorials
  • Person giving seminar
    Seminars
  • Student-led presentations

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Modules
  • Projects

  • 10% Modules
  • 90% Projects

Assessment methods

  • Research project proposal document
    Mock grant proposal
  • Poster project
    Poster presentation
  • Projects (thesis and oral assessment)
  • Statistics

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 Friday 31 May 2024

Tuition fees

Home fee

£16,750

Overseas fee

£43,250

Scholarships

The Dean’s Master’s Scholarships

Value per award

  • £10,000

Who it's for

  • All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine Master’s programme beginning in October 2024
Find out more

The Dr Jean Alero Thomas Scholarships

Value per award

  • Partial or full tuition fee at the Home rate

Who it's for

  • All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine lab-based Master’s programme beginning in October 2024
Find out more

How will studying at Imperial help my career?

Person with magnifying glass over head

Gain transferable skills for a career as a research scientist, research assistant, or scientific officer.

DNA strand with magnifying glass

As well as careers in research, this course is useful in roles that require advanced knowledge and understanding of cancer research.

Man standing under a sign pointing different directions

This can include areas of journalism, patent and intellectual property roles, and financial institutions.

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.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Programme specifications