UCL Cancer Institute

MSc Cancer

Educational Aims of the program

The MSc Cancer program is a course designed to reflect the depth and breadth of research within the recently formed UCL Cancer Institute. The program, taught by research scientists and academic clinicians, will provide students with an in-depth look at the biology behind the disease processes which lead to cancer. Students will learn about the approaches taken to predict, detect, monitor, and treat cancer. They will also get a strong grounding in the cutting edge research methods and techniques used to advance our understanding of this disease and design better treatment strategies.

Who is the course for?

The program is designed for those with undergraduate qualifications in the life sciences, scientists, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals including individuals from the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The knowledge and transferable skills developed in the course will be suitable for those in an industrial or healthcare setting, as well as those individuals contemplating further PhD or medical studies.

Qualifications

Course Structure and Curriculum

• Two ‘core’ modules of 30 credits each.
  Each module will consist of a written exam (50%) and coursework (50%).

• Four Specialist Modules.
  Each optional module is worth 15 credits. Each module will consist of a written exam (50%) and coursework (50%). The modules will delve into the latest research and developments within these topics. :

1. Cancer Clinical Trials
2. Biomarkers in Cancer
3. Haematological Malignancy & Gene Therapy
4. Behavioural Science & Cancer

• Laboratory based project or research of 60 credits.
  Students will undertake a laboratory project, be involved with clinical trials or have a systems biology/informatics project. Students will submit a written dissertation of 10,000 - 12,000 words and have an assessed oral presentation about their research project around the midpoint of the module.

Why study with us?

University College London is one of Europe’s largest and most productive centres of biomedical science with great strengths in cancer research. Scientists at UCL have an international reputation for leading basic, translational and clinical cancer research. The newly formed UCL Cancer Institute brings together scientists from various disciplines to synergise multidisciplinary research into cancer. Our researchers’ particular areas of expertise include:

• the biology of leukaemia
• the infectious causes of cancer
• the design of drugs that interact with DNA
• antibody-directed therapies
• the molecular pathology of cancer
• epigenetic changes in cancer
• gene therapy
• early phase clinical trials
• national and international clinical trials in solid tumours and blood cancers

Entry Requirements

A minimum of a second-class Honours degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a recognised university, or an appropriate professional qualification or work experience.

How To Apply

Applications should be submitted directly to UCL admissions. Applications are now being accepted for the 2013-2014 academic year. Please apply early to avoid disappointment. The closing date for applications is 2^nd August 2013.
There is a maximum of 35 students accepted onto the program per annum.

Fees and Funding

Fee levels for the full, 1 year MSc program for the 2013-2014 academic year are £12,250 (home/EU) and £23,000 (overseas). For those students working to organize scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants), early application for admission is strongly encouraged (preferably by Jan 1st for the following academic year).