Undertake an extended research project in industry-standard labs, with real research groups — gaining the knowledge and skills you need to work in cancer biology.
Undertake taught modules with an extended research project in a professional lab.
Examine the processes underlying the development of malignancy.
Develop applied research techniques using state-of-the-art lab facilities.
Design, execute and interpret practical work within the field of neoplastic transformation, diagnosis and treatment.
Build confidence in presenting your work to academic and professional audiences.

This course provides a stimulating, challenging and enjoyable experience of studying cancer biology with practical applications in the forefront of the cancer field. Led by research active cancer biologists, you will develop an understanding of the pathogenesis of malignant transformation from a cellular to whole system level, discussing methods for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Live projects

You'll undertake a research project aligned with the current research interests of an academic member of staff, within our professional laboratories of the Biomolecular Research Centre.

You'll work within a real research group, fully supported throughout by your academic supervisor. The project will include a critical review of the literature relevant to your research project, the development of a project proposal, the development of research methods and the analysis, presentation and interpretation of experimental data. Since the project extends over two semesters, it allows you to have the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the project and to have the time to collect meaningful data, thus enabling an authentic research scientist experience.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

You are taught through various learning activities designed to challenge and support as you progress through the course. The aim is to give a theoretical and practical knowledge of your subject.

In the first semester you will follow taught modules that provide fundamental knowledge, and the module Applied Laboratory Practice will introduce you to the practical and theoretical basis of research. Together these will give you a sound basis to carry out your Extended Research Project in semesters two and three.

You learn through

• lectures and seminars
• workshops and tutorials
• laboratory classes
• an extended research project
• working in a professional laboratory

This course prepares you for a career in the

• Health biotechnology sector
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Industrial biotechnology sector
• Academic research

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

• NHS
• Public Health England
• Novartis
• ThermoFisher Scientific

A 2:1 in a relevant Honours degree is normally accepted as the entry requirement for the course. Applicants with alternative qualifications with academic attainment or skills in subjects which are directly relevant to the course will also be considered.

To be successful on this course, you must have relevant practical laboratory experience. Details of your laboratory experience must be specifically detailed in your personal statement and verified by one of your referees.

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Applied Laboratory Practice	15	Coursework
Cell And Molecular Biology	15	Coursework Exam
Extended Research Project	120	Coursework
Hallmarks Of Cancer	15	Coursework Exam
Therapeutic Targeting In Cancer	15	Coursework Exam