Cancer degrees

At the Faculty of Medical Sciences, we offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Cancer. Our Bachelor in Cancer Biomedicine integrates molecular biology, cancer genetics and therapeutics, which will lead you to a high understanding of the science around cancer. Our postgraduate degrees include master's courses in Cancer and Oncology, and a range of PhD options.

Undergraduate Virtual Open Day

Join a Virtual Open Day to find out more about our programmes and get the chance to ask your questions in a live session. Book your place today.

BSc Cancer Biomedicine: Tues 23 April, 3pm

BSc Infection & Immunity: Weds 24 April, 4.30pm

Laptop screen showing a Zoom call with a man on-screen

Our programmes

Join UCL's world-leading academic community working at the forefront of cancer research. Our courses explore cancer as a disease process and its associated therapies. You will learn about the approaches taken to predict, detect, monitor, and treat cancer alongside research methods and technique used to advance our understanding of this disease and design better treatment strategies.

Cancer Biomedicine, BSc

Study the Bachelor's degree programme that sets you up to play your part in tackling cancer.

Full-time, 3 years.
Subjects: Cancer

Cancer, MSc / PGDip / PGCert

Cancer MSc reflects the depth and breadth of research interests, from basic science to translational medicine.

Full-time, 1 year.
Subjects: Cancer; Medical Technology and Diagnostics; Medical Science and Applications

Oncology, PGCert

The ideal first step for future consultants in clinical or medical oncology. Study cancer biology and evidence-based medicine in detail across two modules.

Part-time, 1 year. Flexible, max. 2 years.
Subjects: Cancer

Oncology, PGDip

This flexible PGDip Oncology is ideal for busy clinicians. Teaching is mostly online with short face-to-face teaching blocks on-campus in London each term.

Part-time, 2 years. Flexible, max. 5 years.
Subjects: Cancer

Oncology, MSc

This MSc Oncology, studied over 3-5 years, is ideal for busy clinicians aspiring to become consultants in clinical or medical oncology.

Part-time, 3 years. Flexible, max. 5 years.
Subjects: Cancer

Infection and Immunity, BSc

Gain an insight into the science of infection and immunity, drawing on the world-class research carried out in the Division of Infection & Immunity.

Full-time, 3 years.
Subjects: Infection and Immunity; Cancer

Infection and Immunity, MSc

This MSc Infection and Immunity emphasises data interpretation, critical analysis of current literature and culminates in a research project.

Full-time, 1 year. Part-time, 2 years.
Subjects: Infection and Immunity; Cancer

Precision Medicine, MSc

The MSc Precision Medicine is an interdisciplinary course relating to the understanding of disease, and the technologies that detect, diagnose and treat them.

Full-time, 1 year. Part-time, 2 years.
Subjects: Medical Technology and Diagnostics; Medical Science and Applications; Cancer

Respiratory Clinical Science, MSc / PGDip / PGCert

Set yourself up to work at the highest levels of respiratory medicine. This MSc focuses on studying the scientific and clinical basis of respiratory diseases.

Full-time, 1 year. Part-time, 2 years.
Subjects: Cancer; Infection and Immunity; Medical Science and Applications

Cancer Institute, MPhil / PhD

A full or part-time research degree at the UCL Cancer Institute offers an unrivalled foundation for building a career in cancer.

Full-time, 3 years. Part-time, 5 years.
Subjects: Cancer

Haematology, MPhil / PhD

Haematology covers areas such as leukaemia biology, stem cell transplantation, immunology, cellular and gene therapy, and more.

Full-time, 3 years. Part-time, 5 years.
Subjects: Cancer

Oncology, MPhil / PhD

Oncology covers areas such as antibody-based medicines, research and development of cancer drugs or treatment resistance.

Full-time, 3 years. Part-time, 5 years.
Subjects: Cancer

Pathology, MPhil / PhD

Pathology covers research areas such as the genetics and cell biology of sarcoma, computational cancer biology, digital pathology and more.

Full-time, 3 years. Part-time, 5 years.
Subjects: Cancer

Staff from the UCL Cancer Institute, with Amandeep Bhamra in the foreground

Why study Cancer at UCL?

Cancer is an important concern with global consequences. The UCL Cancer Institute is the hub for cancer research at University College London, one of the world's leading universities. Our courses contain specialist modules in a variety of areas, including cancer immunology, cancer genetics and clinical trials.

Scientist with gloves carefully manoeuvres a pipette

Shared first year for flexibility

Most of the BSc courses in Medical Sciences have a shared first year. This gives you the flexibility to switch degrees if your interests change.

What can I do to change this?

Rahul Vital watched his friend go through cancer and was inspired to find a way to make a difference, so he joined the BSc Cancer Biomedicine.

It is very international

Malika enjoyed that the BSc Cancer Biomedicine included people from around the world and that she got to know everybody in the group well.

It constantly ignites my curiosity

Giselle Best studied the BSc Infection and Immunity at UCL after experiencing the enthusiasm from the course director at an Open Day.

The perfect combination

Nadia Bonnin talks about the importance of being involved in patient care and research as part of the MSc Cancer programme. See her story.

Progression through to PhD

Morgan Palton joined the MSc Cancer, got hired as a technician, and later started her Cancer PhD on CAR T-cell research. See her story.

It's a really great feeling

Aśka from Poland studied a PhD in Cancer under Prof. Charles Swanton. She talks about the thrill of success after conducting a lot of experiments.

Staff working in lab coats working the UCL Respiratory laboratories

What is respiratory medicine?

The lungs are the largest internal organ in the body, and Respiratory Medicine is increasingly vital. Learn more about it and our specialist MSc.

Working with doctors and patients

Savannah-Rose enjoyed working with doctors and patients on novel treatments for respiratory illnesses on the MSc Respiratory Clinical Science.

Bursaries available

The UCL Division of Medicine is offering three bursaries of £5,000 for master's courses including the MSc Respiratory Clinical Science.

Medicine Bursaries

UCL offers a Master's Bursary and Master's Scholarships worth up to £15,000 for those from lower income backgrounds to study a taught master's degree.

UCL Scholarships

Two students in the UCL library, one smiling at the photographer

Careers

Our cancer-related courses will equip you with a real advantage when entering a competitive careers market. Graduates are eligible for a wide range of UK and international career opportunities and are well-equipped for further studies such as a PhD.

You will develop the critical thinking, complex problem-solving and communications skills needed to become a highly skilled scientist.

Our research graduates go on to academic posts at universities around the world. Other career pathways include laboratory management, research, industry, clinical trials co-ordination, scientific writing and more.

“I chose to study at UCL because it's a world-renowned university. I was really interested in the course structure and the catalogue. The modules looked really exciting.

I also liked the fact that it’s a centrally located campus, so it’s easy to commute to as well. That was key for me as a commuting student.

I love the flexibility of the course, the fact that every lecture is different, and the professors seem so engaged – like they love what they do – and I feel like that really helps engage the students.

Anjleena Khurshid
BSc Cancer Biomedicine.

Did you know?

UCL is a top-rated university in the UK for research strength in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
UCLH has one of the two Proton Beam Therapy departments in the UK? Our department can treat up to 650 NHS patients per year from across the country.
Our UCL Cancer Trials Centre is one of the NICE accredited clinical trials units of the National Cancer Research Institute.
UCL is ranked 7th for Clinical and Health in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject.

Two views of Clara Jacobi, a Dutch woman who had a tumor removed from her neck. Seventeenth-century cut

Our research in Cancer

UCL scientists have an international reputation for leading basic, translational, and clinical cancer research and the Cancer Institute is uniquely positioned to leverage the multidisciplinary nature of UCL by engaging a range of disciplines to transform cancer research. Our cancer-related research areas include antibody-based therapies, brain cancer and stem cells, signalling networks and much more.

Better use of drugs increases cervical cancer survival

A short course of additional chemotherapy delivered immediately before the standard chemoradiation can reduce the risk of the cancer returning or death by 35%.

Improving MRI scans for cancer screening

A new study from UCL and UCLH has identified simple ways to treble the number of MRI scans of optimal diagnostic quality for prostate cancer screening.

Where cancer research transforms lives

UCL is taking new and different approaches to tackling cancer. We contemplate the future of cancer research, as we look for kinder and more effective therapies to target and control cancer, and to engineer better outcomes for patients. See our short video for an insight into our approach.

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