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UCL Cancer Institute

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Cancer Biomedicine BSc

Cancer poses a significant health and socio-economic burden to society. In this unique degree you will be taught by researchers working at the forefront of basic, translational and clinical cancer research. Knowledge of cancer is widely relevant to careers in biomedical research, health science, allied health professions and the pharmaceutical industry.

Key information

  • UCAS code: B800
  • Duration: Full-time: 3 years
  • Application deadline: 15 January 2022 (September 2022 entry)
  • Location: London, Hampstead and Bloomsbury campuses

Student experience

Video: First year students, Ashton and Rahul, share their experiences of studying Cancer Biomedicine at UCL and offer advice to students considering applying.

MediaCentral Widget Placeholderhttps://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Player/hf3E7Bh4


Degree benefits

  • The focus of this degree programme is on cancer as a disease, its treatment, and the associated research and socio-economic impacts. It is a research-connected curriculum with teaching delivered by leading cancer scientists and clinicians.
  • You will have the opportunity to undertake a unique research project working alongside world-class cancer researchers.
  • The skills, training, and knowledge gained within this programme will be enhanced by the combination of basic science, clinical disease management and translational medicine. This collectively offers a unique skill set to graduates.
  • There is a wide choice of optional modules for you to select from, including the human microbiome, stem cell therapies, drug design and delivery, and nanomedicine.

Structure and modules

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Year one is demanding, covering the foundations of human biology and medicine. There are seven modules providing an understanding of human health and disease. Teaching of biochemistry, physiology and anatomy is integrated with an understanding of each organ system. One further module gives an introduction to cancer medicine in society and leads on to cancer-related modules in years two and three. You will be mostly based at UCL’s Royal Free campus in Hampstead, North London, and taught by world-leading scientists and clinicians.

First year modules
CORE OR COMPULSORY MODULE(S)

Foundations in Health and Disease
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Function in Health and Disease
The Gut, Liver and Drug Metabolism
Kidneys, Hormonal Control of Human Physiology, Fluid Balance and Nutrition
Infection, Inflammation and Repair
Data Interpretation and Evaluation in Health and Disease
Musculoskeletal Biology
Cancer Medicine in Society

OPTIONAL MODULES

There are no optional modules in year one. 


Year two comprises five compulsory modules covering molecular biology, cancer biology and therapeutics, clinical cancer management and clinical trials. Two further modules are optional with a wide range of subjects to choose from.

Second year modules
CORE OR COMPULSORY MODULE(S)
  • Molecular Basis of Disease
  • Techniques in Molecular Medicine—A Practical Approach
  • Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
  • Cancer Epidemiology, Diagnosis and treatment
  • Introduction to Clinical Trials
OPTIONAL MODULES
  • Basics of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
  • Statistical Methods for Biomedicine

Other optional modules will also be available. If there is a particular module that a student is interested in offered elsewhere in UCL, it is possible to select this if approved by the Programme Director. 


Year three comprises four compulsory and three optional modules, with the compulsory modules examining how new cancer treatment strategies are designed and tested. You will also undertake a research project. The wide range of optional modules allows students to tailor-make a preferred route within biomedical sciences, guided by interest and intended career choice.

Final year modules

 

CORE OR COMPULSORY MODULE(S)

Precision Cancer Medicine
Research Methods
Cancer Clinical Trials
Research Project

OPTIONAL MODULES

Drug Design and Delivery
Human Microbiome in Health and Disease
Stem Cell Therapies
Nanomedicine

Other optional modules will also be available. If there is a particular module that a student is interested in offered elsewhere in UCL, it is possible to select this if approved by the Programme Director. 


Your learning

Teaching is delivered through formal lectures, small tutorials, group and independent work. Year two includes laboratory practicals, and in year three you will undertake a research project and produce a dissertation.

Lectures are both face-to-face and online, which gives you the opportunity to review topics at your own pace. There are also more intensive, creative sessions of tutorial-based problem-solving and learning which take place in small groups.

Assessment

Formative and summative assessment methods include: examinations (some of which are in multiple-choice or short-answer question format); coursework; poster presentations; practical skills assessment (OSPE); and online participation. There is a project dissertation which is produced as part of the research project in year three.


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2019/20 academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2019/20 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

UK/EU students
£9,250 (2021/22)
Overseas students
£28,500 (2021/22)

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Funding

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

Additional costs

If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department. 


Entry requirements

A Levels

Grades: AAB
Subjects: Biology and Chemistry required.
Grades (Contextual offer): BBB (more about contextual offers
Subjects (contextual offer): Biology and Chemistry required. (more about contextual offers
GCSEs: English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details online: ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs

IB 

Points: 36
Subjects: A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects including Biology and Chemistry, with no score below 5.
Points (contextual offer): 32 (more about contextual offers)
Subjects (contextual offer): A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects including Biology or Chemistry, with no score below 5. (more about contextual offers)

For full information on entry requirements for all Home/EU and International students, please view Cancer Biomedicine BSc prospectus.


Application and next steps

Your application

We are looking for evidence of a firm interest in science as well as a motivation towards further knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We expect our students to have a real curiosity and desire to contribute to society. We also expect them to be keen for the challenge of this innovative and research-connected programme. 

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Application deadline: 15 January 2022

Apply through UCAS 

Selection

We will use predicted or achieved academic qualifications, your personal statement and references to decide whether to offer you a place. There will be no interviews. For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.