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
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Qualification
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MRes
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
September 2025
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£17,100 Home
£45,000 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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Hammersmith
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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 artificial intelligence 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
Learn the cellular and molecular basis of cancer processes and hallmarks, together with clinical and pathological aspects of carcinogenesis and treatment.
Develop advanced skills in biological experimental design, the critical analysis of scientific literature, and biological data interpretation.
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
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Seminars
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Student-led presentations
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Workshops
Balance of assessment
Key
- Modules
- Project
- 10% Modules
- 90% Project
Assessment methods
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Mock grant proposal
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Poster presentation
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Projects (thesis and oral assessment)
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Experimental design and critical review
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 – Round 2 closes on Sunday 26 January 2025
We consider applications to this course in four batches. Applications received before the closing date of each round are considered in those batches, and applicants are then required to attend an online interview.
If you wish for your application to be considered in a particular batch, please apply at least five working days before the deadline to ensure your application is included in that round of decision making.
The application dates are:
- Apply by 24 November 2024: Online interviews 9-13 December 2024
- Apply by 26 January 2025: Online interviews 10-14 February 2025
- Apply by 23 March 2025: Online interviews 23-25 April 2025
- Apply by 31 May 2025: Online interviews 16-20 June 2025
Competition for places on this programme are high, with 70% of all offers being made following the January submission date.
While we do continue to make offers March to June, less than 5% of our remaining offers are made following the May submission date.
This is a stream in our Cancer Biology course. When applying via our My Imperial application portal, you should select the correct stream you wish to apply for, at the start of the process.
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
- £80 for all taught Master's applications, excluding those to the Imperial College Business School.
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School.
- £150 for all MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2025 entry
£17,100
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2025 entry
£45,000
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
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 course
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 course
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Gain transferable skills for a career as a research scientist, research assistant, or scientific officer.
As well as careers in research, this course is useful in roles that require advanced knowledge and understanding of cancer research.
This can include areas of journalism, patent and intellectual property roles, and financial institutions.
Further links
Contact the department
Course Director: Dr James Flanagan
Stream Director: Dr Anabel Varela-Carver
Visit the Department of Surgery and Cancer website
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Register your interest
Stay up to date on news, events, scholarship opportunities and information related to this course.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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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.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications