masters degree cancer research

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MS in Cancer Research

Search for solutions to one of medicine's greatest challenges with an innovative Cancer Research MS from UNMC.

Why Study Cancer Research?

Advancement in the detection and treatment of cancer continues to accelerate through ground-breaking research, yet cancer remains one of the most complex and challenging problems of biomedical research.

As a cancer researcher, you'll work to better understand the causes of cancer, improve the methods for diagnosis and improve treatment and prevention methods. The answers you find may save a life you know — or your own.

We're in an exciting new dawn in biomedical science where we will see many cures previously deemed impossible.

Why Study Cancer Research at UNMC?

Cancer research is a key area of research at UNMC. Researchers at UNMC are engaged in work that addresses the root causes of cancer, as well as the means of enhancing the detection and treatment. This research employs a wide range of animal and cellular model systems, includes both basic and translational research, and focuses heavily on the molecular basis of cancer. As a result, you'll receive broad-based training in all aspects of cancer biology and employ cutting-edge experimental approaches.

Our innovative program trains future scientists to approach cancer research knowledgeably and creatively and to enter careers in which they can make a significant contribution.

Program Snapshot

Financial benefits.

All Cancer Research MS students receive a stipend of $20,000 and a tuition waiver. Additionally, UNMC students fees and health insurance are paid for the student.

Careers & Outcomes

Graduates with the UNMC Cancer Research MS degree have taken positions in personalized medicine counseling, in management of research laboratories, and in directing community-based health projects. Graduates have gone on to careers such as bench scientist with an international pharmaceutical company, research associate at a research technology company, and as manager in research laboratory.

Sample careers include:

• Senior Licensing Specialist (a position that involves working out agreements between academic laboratories and pharmaceutical industries to commercialize new cancer-related discoveries)
• Assistant Director of a Clinical Molecular Oncology Laboratory
• Director of Bioengineering for a global biopharmaceutical company
• Scientific Director at a company specializing in health-related media communications
• Clinical Instructor

The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases

The Eppley Institute is fighting cancer with some of the brightest minds in science. Faculty and students have access to state-of-the-art research equipment both within the Eppley Institute and in other shared on-campus facilities.

Related Programs

Students interested in this program may wish to explore:

Program in Cancer Biology

Graduate program.

The Cancer Biology Graduate Program is designed to train students for a career in basic and applied cancer research, as well as in related careers associated with the application of information through biotechnology, and the dissemination of information to the next generation of scientists and to the lay public.

Students will be exposed to a series of cutting-edge research areas (such as cancer precision medicine and tumor immunotherapy) and technologies (genomics, proteomics, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, etc.) both in the course work and in the laboratory setting.  Training will extend to exercises designed to develop independent thinking, skills in oral and written presentation, analysis of data and information, and dissemination of information through preparation of grants and manuscripts, as well as teaching.

The program combines rigorous course work with laboratory training and exercised designed collectively to provide students with the necessary theoretical and practical skills to launch productive careers.  At the conclusion of their training students will be in a position to competitively pursue an increasingly wide rage of available careers, including: academic research, undergraduate teaching, scientific consulting and science writing, basic and applied science in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, and scientific administration at National Institute of Health/ National Cancer Institute and private research foundations.

Graduate students in the Cancer Biology program receiving Vanderbilt University financial support or services must devote full-time effort to graduate study. Students cannot accept jobs for pay within or outside the University unless prior approval is given by their advisor, their Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean for the Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training. Exceptions to this rule include part-time internships and activities that contribute to career development and that do not exceed the time commitment outlined by the National Institutes of Health, service as course associates at Vanderbilt, and occasional and temporary part-time pursuits (e.g. house sitting). Engagement in outside employment without obtaining approval may result in loss of financial aid, including stipend.

GUIDELINES: GRADUATE PROGRAM IN CANCER BIOLOGY

These guidelines supplement and expand the regulations of the Graduate School. Students and faculty are expected to read and be aware of the contents of the Graduate School Bulletin and Regulations.

I. General Information

A. Philosophy

The Cancer Biology Graduate Program is designed to train students for a career in basic and applied cancer research, as well as in related careers associated with the application of information through biotechnology and the dissemination of information to the next generation of scientists and to the lay public. Modern cancer research is based on a broad range of disciplines, including Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics, which the students will learn through course work, scientific communication, and laboratory experience. The Cancer Biology Graduate Program is designed to develop independent thinking, problem solving, creativity, oral and written presentation skills, data and bioinformatics analysis, and dissemination of information through teaching. Thus, the proposed program combines rigorous course work with mentored hypothesis-driven laboratory research, and opportunities to develop writing, speaking, and teaching skills. Collectively, these experiences will provide students with the necessary theoretical knowledge, technical experience, and leadership training to launch productive careers using their degree in Cancer Biology. Through dissertation research, students are expected to make original contributions to current knowledge that will impact understanding of cancer biology or cancer diagnosis and treatment. Having graduated from the Program in Cancer Biology, students will be poised to pursue an increasingly wide range of scientific careers, including academic research, undergraduate teaching, science writing, scientific liaison, and basic or applied research in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

B. Admission into the Program

After completing laboratory rotations and the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (IGP) core coursework, students interested in joining the Cancer Biology Graduate Program will apply at the end of the second semester of the first year of graduate school. Acceptance is monitored by the Graduate Executive Committee (GEC) and is contingent on satisfactory performance in both coursework and rotations during the first two semesters. In addition, acceptance into the program is contingent upon approval from the Department Chair of the preceptor’s primary appointment. Mandatory documentation of approval by all involved parties will be provided by signing the Cancer Biology Graduate Program Responsibility Form.

Students admitted into the MSTP (M.D., Ph.D.) Program in the School of Medicine are also eligible to enroll in the Cancer Biology Graduate Program. These students will rotate through the laboratories of program members during their first two years of Medical School, and can be admitted into the Program using the same procedure and criteria as entering IGP students.

1. Transfer Student Provisions

The transfer of students into the Cancer Biology Graduate Program from another Vanderbilt Graduate Program is dependent on the approval of the Graduate Executive committee (GEC, see below). In these instances, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) should be contacted by the student first to request evaluation by the GEC and to assist the student in finding a suitable laboratory for his/her thesis work. (Note that failure to pass the Qualifying Exam in another Vanderbilt Graduate Program excludes admission to the Cancer Biology Graduate Program.) Similarly, the DGS should be informed if a student intends to transfer out of the Cancer Biology Graduate Program so the DGS can assist with negotiating an appropriate course of action.

2. Direct Admission Provisions

The direct admittance of graduate students to the Cancer Biology Graduate Program can be accomplished with the written permission of the mentor whose laboratory they wish to enter and approval by the GEC. Faculty wishing to accept a direct admit student should contact the GEC for approval.

C. Administrative Structure

The Cancer Biology Graduate Program is run by the Program Director ,  currently Ann Richmond, Ph.D., and  Rachelle Johnson, Ph.D.,   Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for the Cancer Biology Program. In addition, the Program Director appoints an   Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP) representative for Cancer Biology (currently Barbara Fingleton), who represents the Program on the IGP admission committee. Cancer Biology Graduate Program policy is monitored and enforced by the Graduate Executive Committee (GEC) (currently Jin Chen, Barbara Fingleton, Ann Richmond, Alissa Weaver, Julie Rhoades, Kim Rathmell, Chris Williams and Rachelle Johnson).

1. Graduate Executive Committee (GEC). The GEC assists the Program Director in monitoring the progress and welfare of the students. Most issues can and should be resolved through consultation with the DGS, but there are limitations to the power and scope of the DGS with respect to certain types of conflict. The GEC exists to ensure fairness and to provide a general oversight role for the Cancer Biology Program. It provides an impartial mechanism for judging and resolving conflicts between and among students and faculty, and is empowered through the Program Chair to enforce its decisions. The GEC is selected by the Program Director/DGS, and consists of at least 5 graduate faculty, including the  Program Director, the DGS, the IGP representative, and a representative of the Biomedical Research, Education, and Training (BRET) office. These individuals meet as needed to arbitrate and resolve special situations that arise from time to time in the course of a student’s graduate career. For example, if deemed necessary, the committee can prohibit faculty from taking on new students based on mentoring issues.

The responsibilities of the GEC are summarized below:

• monitor the program requirements and curriculum
• evaluate/monitor the participating faculty
• resolve and enforce mentoring issues
• assure high standards in the academic program
• make decisions regarding student performance, advancement, or dismissal when disputes arise

2. The Program Director serves as official spokesperson for the Cancer Biology Graduate Program, the liaison with the Graduate School, and representative of the program in matters of university policy. The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) monitors the academic and research progress of each student throughout his/her training. He/she has frequent contact with the students and is responsible for explaining the requirements and expectations. The Program Director and the DGS are also the student advocate when personal problems arise and in cases of possible faculty misconduct. In addition, he/she is aware of a wide variety of medical and counseling resources available to all students under circumstances that might extend beyond program issues. Most student or faculty issues can and should be resolved through confidential interaction with the DGS. When necessary, conflicts can be referred to the Program Director or the GEC (see above).

3. The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP) representative sits on the IGP Admission Committee, which selects incoming graduate students and determines IGP policy. He/she also acts as liaison between the graduate programs of the IGP and the Cancer Biology Program, and facilitates the transition of students from the IGP into the Program.

4. The Program administrative contact (Program Manager) coordinates program admission in response to direction from the Program Director and the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), tracks program requirements, registers students, and maintains the student files throughout their course of study . 

5. Qualifying Examination Parent Committee (QEPC). The QEPC is made up of 10 primary or secondary appointees to the Program with experience with graduate student mentoring. The chair of the QEPC is the DGS. Members of the QEPC serve as Chairs of the qualifying examination committees. The QEPC meets regularly during the time of the qualifying examinations and is charged with maintaining consistent standards in examination format and consistent criteria for passing all components of the qualifying examination. The QEPC serves as the first-line arbitrator in the case of a dispute regarding the outcome of the Qualifying Examination. (Current membership of the QEPC is mentioned above).

D. Teaching

There is no formal teaching requirement. Students pursuing the doctorate may participate in the IGP Focus Groups. Also, students are encouraged to assist in the Advanced Cancer Biology course or other courses organized by the Program.  The Cancer Biology Student Association (CBSA) organizes a student taught technology course every year to assist new (2nd year) cancer biology students preparing for their qualifying exam. Students are encouraged to participate in this team taught effort. One hour of graduate credit may be earned by participating in an official CANB course as a teaching assistant provided certain criteria are met, as detailed in section II.6 below.

E. Master’s Degree Option

Cancer Biology does not offer a M.S. degree program. Students are admitted to the Cancer Biology Program with the intention of completing a Ph.D. degree. However, M.S. degrees can be awarded if this goal changes. The following criteria must be met for a M.S. Degree:

– Satisfactory completion of all didactic Ph.D. course work with a B average

– A Thesis acceptable to the Graduate Executive Committee and the Graduate School. Minimal requirements for a thesis are:

• One complete figure representing unequivocal data generated by the student
• An abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results and discussion section in manuscript format based on the available data.

II. Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

A. Course requirements

1. The total number of graduate credits must conform to the specification of the Graduate School (i.e., 24 didactic hours and 72 total hours). Students will be expected to maintain a B (3.0) average. Student performance will be monitored by the DGS. If a student’s grade point average (derived from didactic hours and research credit hours) drops below 3.0, he/she will be placed on probation. If the sub-par performance persists into subsequent semesters, the DGS and Graduate Executive Committee will work with the Graduate School in evaluating the student’s options and he/she may be subject to dismissal from the Program.

2. Entrance into the Program in the second year of graduate studies requires that students, except Medical Scientist Training program (MSTP students), complete the core curriculum governed by the IGP. In accordance with this program, each student rotates through laboratories of their choosing during the first year of their graduate studies. Students participate in experiments in these laboratories and write a short summary of their activities, which is submitted to the IGP. Grades, and a written evaluation of the student’s performance, are provided to the IGP by the faculty member involved. As many as 16 hours of didactic credit may be earned from the IGP curriculum excluding elective courses.

3. Elective courses to reach the total of 24 didactic hours of formal courses (an additional 8 credits) are to be chosen from high-quality, formal 300 level courses given by the Program In Cancer Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Pathology, and Pharmacology in the School of Medicine, or approved courses given by the Department of Biological Sciences in the School of Arts and Sciences. A list of available courses is found in the Graduate School Bulletin. The topic will be determined by the specific research interests of the student.

4. MSTP Cancer Biology students have the option of transferring courses which are particularly pertinent to training in Cancer Biology as per the current version of The Compass

5. All students enrolled in the Cancer Biology Program must take Introduction to Cancer Biology and Advanced Cancer Biology (CANB 8340 & 8342), which are offered in the fall.

6. Other than Didactic course work the remainder of the student’s 72 hours will be earned through their CANB 8999 (Non-Candidate Research) and CANB 9999 (Ph.D. Dissertation Research) classes. One hour of CANB 8999 credit may be earned from serving as a teaching assistant for an official CANB course. To qualify for the TA-credit, students must fulfill the following criteria: (i) Have successfully completed both the required cancer biology courses CANB 8340 and CANB 8342 and (ii) Have obtained approval from their mentor for participation in the program.

Participation in this program will earn 1 credit and will also entitle the student to a document citing their teaching experience. Participation in the program has four components:

(1) Prospective TAs must participate for at least 2 semesters in a monthly 1-hr journal club to discuss articles related to effective teaching techniques for science education. These journal clubs will include current Cancer Biology course directors, grad student TAs and any other faculty, post-docs or students interested in participating;

(2) Each TA will commit to 12-16 hrs class time, which may involve lecturing, discussion facilitation, one-on-one or small group tutoring, technical assistance or other facilitation as required in that course; (3) Each TA will meet with the relevant course director to contribute to the evaluation of the students in the class. This may include test grading, assessment of written documents and/or oral presentations, and analysis of student participation;

(4) Participation in an annual workshop run by Center for Teaching personnel, when offered. Students may register for Candidate research hours once they have passed their Qualifying exams.

7. Faculty will assign Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) grades for CANB 8999/9999 research each semester.  If a student is found to have made unsatisfactory progress at a committee meeting, they will be given 3 months to correct course and have another committee meeting. If at the second committee meeting, they have still failed to meet the expectations of reasonable progress outlined in the previous meeting and detailed in the committee report, they could be recommended for dismissal by the graduate school .  If a U grade is assigned, the faculty mentor must notify the student, the DGS, and the Program Manager. T he Dissertation Committee chair should submit a report summarizing the Dissertation Committee’s assessment. The student has the right to appeal a U grade, and the details of appeal process can be obtained through the Program Manager . Failure of the student to convene regular dissertation committee meetings every 6 months can result in assignment of U grade by the Dissertation Committee .

8. Training in Biomedical Statistics is required. In view of the movement to incorporate this topic into the required IGP Bioregulation course, it is not listed as a separate requirement. However, in the event that this training is inadequate, a separate course will be developed and will become a requirement for Cancer Biology graduate students.

9. All graduate students are required to attend the weekly Cancer Biology Science Hour Seminar series. Students are required to present their research in a Work in Progress format each year they are in the Cancer Biology program from the third year in graduate school until the Ph.D. in Cancer Biology is awarded. The purpose of Science Hour is for students to practice presenting and hone their presentation skills. Research projects do not need to be a complete story, and students are encouraged to present negative findings and setbacks they encounter. Lisa McCawley is currently the person in charge of the seminar series. Should there be some valid reason for not being present; the student should notify Lisa ahead of time to request an excused absence. Students are expected to document their attendance each week on the sign in sheet and to participate by listening and asking thoughtful questions of the speakers.

C. Admission to the Ph.D. Candidacy (Qualifying Exam)

The qualifying exam for admission to Ph.D. candidacy consists of two parts, both pertaining to the student’s intended thesis proposal. Part I will consist of a written review article covering key papers that serve as background for the student’s dissertation project. The number of articles reviewed will vary depending on the topic of research. However, under most circumstances between 30 and 60 references will be cited. There should be an emphasis on the primary literature and while in some instances it may be appropriate to cite another review, the Review is not a review of reviews, but of the primary literature. The student is expected to identify what is currently known about the topic, integrate the most recent findings in the field in the context of what is current ‘dogma’ in the field, identify remaining questions in the field, and describe how answering these remaining questions would impact our understanding of the indicated area of cancer biology, or how answering these questions could be translated to improved clinical outcome for cancer patients. The written review should conform to the style of review articles published in Cancer Research (see Instructions to Authors for journal specifications regarding formatting). The written review should include at least one original schematic figure representing information integrated in the Review. The written Review must not draw from the preceptor’s previously written reviews, publications, or grant proposals. The written Review must represent the student’s original writing. Evidence of plagiarism will be grounds for disciplinary action.

The Review will be submitted to an Examination Committee comprised of Cancer Biology faculty members with sufficient published expertise in the topic to rigorously critique the Review, and assess the student’s interpretation and integration of published findings. The Examination Committee will be assigned by the DGS with input from the mentor. Once the Examination Committee has received the written Review, the Examination Committee and the student will convene in the format of an oral examination to test the student’s general knowledge of topics and techniques related to the field in which the Review is written. The qualifying exam committee will determine whether the student has the appropriate scientific background, writing skills, and information integration skills to answer key questions remaining in the field. Failure of part I will result in an opportunity to remediate the skills identified as insufficient through tangible efforts, such as increased journal discussion with the preceptor, attendance at scientific writing workshops, and additional exercises in scientific problem solving through experimental approaches. The Committee will present the students with a written critique of the Review article. Within three months, the student will submit a revised version of the written Review to the Examination Committee, including a point-by-point response to the comments written by the Examination Committee. The Committee will convene with the student in an oral examination format. The Examination Committee will determine whether the student has the appropriate background and skills to move to the next examination phase.

When part I of the exam is passed, the student will go forward to the second phase of the qualifying exam. Part II of the qualifying exam will proceed within three months after the student passes Part I of the qualifying exam. Details of Part II are described under Parts C1, 2, and 3.

Both parts of the qualifying exam consist of three major components:

1. The written proposal 2. The oral defense of the proposal 3. General knowledge

The general knowledge component should constitute at least 30 minutes of the overall exam time and take the form of general knowledge questions that arise from the proposed material during the oral defense of the project. Each of the components can and should be evaluated separately. Failure of one part of the exam constitutes a fail.

1. Preparing for the Exam

It is expected that students will have to take time away from the bench during the last month or two of preparation for the exam. It seems reasonable (but is not necessary) to spend half days in the lab over the final months. However, faculty expectations can vary widely as to how much time is appropriate. Some students handle it better than others, and some faculty are more understanding than others. One should do what is necessary to pass the exam. It is a realistic exercise in that it is not that different from the demands on faculty when confronting grant deadlines in the face of teaching and other commitments. Students and mentors should discuss the issue if necessary to reach an understanding. Sometimes new faculty members are not very cognizant of the demands of the exercise and the DGS can help with this.

a. December The DGS will meet with the exam candidates sometime in to brief students on exam expectations. The qualifying exam is taken soon after the spring semester of the student’s second year at Vanderbilt (first year in our Program). Throughout the second year, students should be developing their research topic for the qualifying exam proposal.

b. January (exact date to be set on a yearly basis). Students will attend a grant writing workshop during which they will be given an overview of the qualifying exam process and presented with information on how to plan and prepare a grant proposal in the NIH- NRSA format. Students will also be provided copies of exemplary short review articles and the official guidelines for the review article and the NIH-NRSA, which specify page limits and other important details associated with this review article and predoc-level grant application during the workshop. Copies of reviews and proposals by students from previous years will be distributed.

c. February 15 is deadline for approval of topic from the DGS. The student should research and decide on a topic for the review article and the research grant, meet with the mentor for his/her approval, and notify the DGS. The best way to do this is to email a paragraph describing the topic – not more than one page for entire email . Include a brief background, a rationale for the project, general approach and methodology, a hypothesis based on these items, and a preliminary list of up to three possible aims. It does not have to be formal or polished at this stage. (MSTP students can request more time if necessary because of the heavy work load in the spring semester, however if possible, it is better to keep on schedule with the others).

d. March 15 is the deadline for submission of review article topic and aims of the research proposal. (MSTP students can defer to Aug. 1 if necessary). A copy of the abstract and research proposal aims should be submitted to the DGS by email. Failure to meet this deadline can result in dismissal from the Graduate Program. In rare instances, the DGS may grant an extension. The DGS will use the abstracts to select appropriate faculty for examining committees.

e. The DGS will assign examining committees with input from the mentor. In accordance to Graduate School rules for Qualifying Exam Committees, there must be at least 4 members of the Graduate Faculty on each committee (this includes the student’s mentor). Three of the Graduate Faculty should be from within the Cancer Biology Program and one of the three must have a primary appointment in Cancer Biology. The fourth committee member should have their primary appointment from a different graduate program. MSTP student committees must also include one current or former member of the MSTP Faculty Advisory Committee. Each Examining Committee will consist of faculty chosen for their expertise in the subject area of the proposal and their prior experience with Qualifying Exams. The Chair of the Qualifying Exam Committee will be a member of the Qualifying Examination Parent committee, which will meet regularly and assist with consistency and continuity across student examinations. The student’s mentor will provide input to the DGS on the membership of the Qualifying Exam Committee. The student will be informed of the members of his/her Examining Committee. He/she should contact them immediately and arrange a time and place for Part I of the qualifying exam. Faculty members are encouraged to be available in May and June for examination meetings.

2. Schedule for Part I of the Qualifying Exam

A. Early March . The student meets with his/her mentor to develop the topic for the short review covering the body of work that forms the background for the student’s dissertation project. The student then writes the review with some guidance from the mentor or members of the laboratory and/or collaborating faculty. The article should be completed by June 15 and submitted to the qualifying exam committee.

b. Upon final approval of the review article by the mentor, the student, mentor, and Committee members should set a date for Part I of the qualifying exam. The student should reserve a room for a three-hour block of time for the Oral Examination. It should take place one to two weeks after the June 15 deadline for completion of the review article.

c. When an exam date is confirmed, the student is required to immediately inform the Program Manager and members of the examining committee of the confirmed date. The Program Manager is required by the Graduate School to turn in the Request to Schedule Qualifying Exam form at least two weeks prior to the exam. If the student fails to notify the Program Manager in time, this mechanism will fail and the exam will have to be rescheduled. A formal memo will be distributed to the committee members and the DGS one week prior to the exam. The student is required to submit the review article to members of the Qualifying Exam Committee at least one week prior to the exam date.

d . The Qualifying Exam Committee will evaluate the written content of the review article and during the oral exam will question the student on the background area of the research topic, the key questions that remain in the field covering the review article, how experiments would be designed to answer those questions, and the students general knowledge in the areas of Cancer Biology, Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Biostatistics, and Responsible Conduct in Research.

e. The student will receive a pass or fail on both the written document and the oral exam. A grade of fail on either part of the exam constitutes a fail and the student will have the opportunity to retake the exam only once and this must be completed within three months of the initial exam. If the examination must be repeated, a written detailed description of expectations and suggestions to improve the deficiencies must be conveyed to the student and to the Qualifying Examination Parent Committee, with a copy placed in the student’s file. If the student fails a second time there will not be an opportunity for another retake of the exam and the student must follow the Graduate school guidelines for failure of Qualifying Exam. In the case of a dispute regarding the result of the qualifying examination, the QEPC will act as an arbitrator, hearing both the committee and the student’s viewpoint on the outcome of the examination.

3. Part II of the Qualifying Examination

a. NIH/ NRSA grant instructions will be provided at the Grant Writing Workshop held in January. This document contains specific instructions regarding page length, etc. The student is required to complete the research plan, the front page, and the abstract page. While the student is not required to complete the portions of the grant dealing with animals, he/she must follow the NIH guidelines for the humane treatment of animals for any studies proposed.

b. The student should assume that the grant is for three years of support (the typical Pre- doctoral F31 fellowship) and that he/she has adequate supplies available for the proposed research.

c. The student is encouraged to refer to successful grant proposals to use as a guide. Examples are distributed at the January workshop.

d. Within three months following Part I of the qualifying exam, the student is required to write and present a Thesis Proposal in the form of an NIH NRSA predoctoral proposal. The NRSA proposal is 6 pages plus one specific aims page. The topic must represent a significant body of work that advances scientific knowledge. The dissertation proposal will be written and defended similarly to Part I of the qualifying exam. However, the proposal itself represents collaboration between student and mentor and constitutes a mock business plan that organizes and outlines the plan of attack. Although the student is responsible for researching, organizing, and writing the proposal, he/she can and should seek advice from any relevant source, including the mentor and committee members.

e. The student will write the Research Plan of an NIH NRSA pre-doctoral proposal. This should be a comprehensive document, encompassing the background literature relevant to the proposed research, aims that will be pursued by the student as their thesis proposal, preliminary data (the student’s data and other relevant preliminary data from the lab), and a plan of attack The proposal should include a Specific Aims page (one page only) consistent with NIH style formatting, including an Impact statement. The proposal should include a narrative section, with the following general outline: A. Significance; B. Innovation; C. Research Design (Background, Hypothesis, Aims). Each Aim should include sections discussing the following: 1.) Statistical Considerations; 2.) Expected Findings, Limitations &Alternative Interpretations; 3.) Experimental Pitfalls & Alternatives. The proposal narrative should not exceed 6 pages. The references should start on a separate page, and will not count towards the 6-page limit.

f. Students are encouraged to have other students or postdocs critique the proposal for general overall readability and make suggestions to improve the format of the grant (i.e., amount of detail in the methods, clarity of why a specific experiment is being performed, etc.).

g. The proposal will be submitted to the Examination Committee (the same committee from part 1) for critical review by one week prior to the dissertation committee meeting. The student is responsible for setting the date and arranging the place for the oral presentation. A three-hour time slot should be scheduled. The proposal should be the original work of the student. Within one week after receiving the document, the Committee will convene with the student in an oral examination format. The student is expected to defend the proposal. The Examination Committee will evaluate independent through, critical problem solving skills analytic skills, grant/scientific writing skills, and scientific communication.

Since the written examination is separate from the oral examination, members of the committee can request that the grant proposal be rewritten before the oral examination is completed if it is found unusually deficient. The Thesis Proposal Evaluation Form will be completed and signed by the committee at the proposal meeting and returned to the Program Manager following the meeting for the student’s file. If the proposal is deemed unsatisfactory by the committee, a written detailed description of expectations and suggestions to improve the deficiencies and a date by which the students must make the corrections, must be conveyed to the student and to the Dissertation Committee, with a copy provided to the Program Manager for placement in the student’s file. If the student’s proposal does not meet expectations a second time, the student’s case must be referred to the DGS and Chairs for further recommendations.

h. Upon approval of the written thesis proposal, the oral defense and general knowledge portion of the exam will go forward. Usually, there will be a brief pre-meeting where the student leaves the room and the faculty discusses the proposal and the student’s progress. The student will make an oral presentation to the dissertation committee followed by a comprehensive discussion of the specific aims of the proposal. The defense itself is a formal presentation and defense of the scientific reasoning on which the proposal is based and the rationale for experimental design. It should result in agreement between student, mentor, and committee regarding the overall plan and direction. During the student’s presentation, the mentor will not participate in the discussion. The purpose of the discussion is to ensure that the student has the opportunity to receive advice and the opinions of the committee members in the endeavor to accomplish the goal of obtaining a Ph.D. degree.

The questioning by the committee members will generally follow the topics included in the grant proposal, but can comprehensively cover areas of cancer biology and any topics that the committee feels the student should be familiar. Questions will determine both the depth and breadth of the student’s knowledge. At least 30 minutes should be dedicated to general knowledge questions.

i. The committee will meet again following the oral examination and evaluate the student’s performance. (The student will again be asked to leave while the committee deliberates and reaches a decision). Performance will be broadly assessed according to three criteria: (1) Written examination; (2) Oral presentation; (3) General knowledge. The exam will also evaluate the student’s ability to think critically, understand the rationale and potential pitfalls for experimental design. Alternative strategies, biostatistical considerations, RCR topics, and knowledge in the area of the research proposal will be evaluated.

j. If the student does not pass the oral exam, the committee can give the student one additional chance to repeat any part of the exam that is deemed inadequate. This must be done within 6 months of the original exam. For example, the student might be required to rewrite one or several sections of the proposal or it may be necessary to repeat a particular aim where general knowledge or logic is lacking. Additionally, the student might be asked to research and write a report on a particular technical issue where knowledge is lacking. If the examination must be repeated, a written detailed description of expectations and suggestions to improve the deficiencies must be conveyed to the student and to the Qualifying Examination Parent Committee, with a copy provided to the Program Manager for placement in the student’s file. The QEPC will provide advice to the examination committee as to the criteria required for passing the Qualifying Examination. If the student fails a second time there will not be an opportunity for another retake of the exam and the student must follow the Graduate school guidelines for failure of Qualifying Exam. In the case of a dispute regarding the result of the qualifying examination, the QEPC will act as an arbitrator, hearing both the committee and the student’s viewpoint on the outcome of the examination.

D. Dissertation Committee and Proposal

1. Dissertation Committee Selection

a. A dissertation committee should be selected within 6 months of completion of the qualifying exam. The dissertation committee, chosen jointly by the student and mentor, will consist of (1) Not fewer than four members, (2) three of which must be Graduate Faculty within the Cancer Biology Program and at least one member should have their primary faculty appointment in Cancer Biology; (3) one member must have their primary graduate school appointment from a graduate program other than Cancer Biology. If the person from outside is not graduate faculty at Vanderbilt or is from another university, the Dean of the Graduate School requires a letter from the DGS stating the reason(s) for appointing this person to the student’s committee and a copy of the CV of the person to be appointed). Secondary faculty within the Program of Cancer Biology with a Primary appointment in another Ph.D. granting department within the Basic Sciences may serve as the “outside” committee member. MSTP student committees must also include one current or former member of the MSTP Faculty Advisory Committee.

Although the mentor is responsible for the scientific direction of the dissertation research, one of the other committee members with an appointment in the Program of Cancer Biology will serve as the Administrative Chair of the committee.

The choice of committee members can be critical and should be carefully considered. Committee members are considered co-mentors for the duration of the graduate career and can be extremely valuable assets, particularly if the primary mentor lacks expertise in a particular technology or field. Good scientists do not limit projects to their own restricted area of expertise, and students should consider whether their choices of committee members can close critical gaps in their mentor’s experience. While students are always encouraged to seek external expertise, the individuals on the thesis committee will be especially committed as co-mentors to needs that are unmet by primary mentors. The thesis committee will oversee and approve the thesis project and continue to monitor the student’s progress throughout the remainder of his/her graduate career. Committee meetings should be scheduled at least every 6 months, and can be more frequent if progress is slow or there is a particular issue to be resolved. The student is responsible for assuring that these meetings are held at appropriate times. Failure of the student to convene the Dissertation Committee for the established regular meeting times can result in a grade of Unsatisfactory.

b. Upon passing the qualifying examination, the students should proceed immediately to form a thesis committee in consultation with the mentor and the DGS. The DGS will follow up within 6 months following the qualifying exam to make sure that the dissertation committee has been selected.

c. The student is responsible for contacting and establishing the willingness of faculty members to serve on this committee. After selection of suitable committee members, the student should submit the list of names to the DGS for approval, then the DGS will forward to the Program Manager so that a formal record/file is established. (Note: There are particular requirements and issues that sometimes invalidate particular faculty).

2. Dissertation Research

The first meeting of the dissertation committee will allow for discussion of the Thesis Proposal and allow for incorporation of any revisions after the second phase of the qualifying exam. Following the acceptance of the Thesis Proposal, the student is required to meet with the dissertation committee once every six months to discuss progress. The student should prepare a short (1 – 2 pages) written progress report, which should be emailed to committee members one week prior to the meeting. Following the meeting, the Administrative Chair of the dissertation committee is responsible for making certain that there is written feedback to the student on their progress and the expectations for the next meeting are clearly defined. A copy of the written communication should be submitted to the student, the DGS and the Program Manager who will place the electronic copy of the report in the student’s file. The committee can consider more frequent meetings if necessary. At all stages of the student’s graduate training, continuation in the program is contingent upon satisfactory progress in research-oriented activities.

E. Dissertation Completion and Final Defense

1. Three to six months prior to the anticipated defense date, the student should schedule a committee meeting to review the dissertation progress and request permission from the committee to write.

2. The dissertation should be written in close consultation with the mentor, and the mentor must read and approve the dissertation before it is copied and distributed to other dissertation committee members. The dissertation should be submitted in printed format to members of the dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the defense. The dissertation must conform to the formatting guidelines set by the Graduate School and the final document must be submitted to the dissertation committee at least one week before the final defense. The student should consult the Academic Regulations section of the Graduate School catalog for detailed information on the dissertation requirements. Further, students should consult with Graduate School personnel to be certain of required format. A checklist of information for students preparing their dissertation is also available at this site:  http://www.vanderbilt.edu/gradschool/form_locator/thesis_and_dissertation_submission/thesis_g uide.pdf

3. The dissertation research project must result in publication of an appropriate number of original and first author research articles as approved by the mentor and the Dissertation Committee. It is preferred that all requirements for the Ph.D. be completed prior to the scheduling of the defense, including publication of relevant papers documenting accomplishment of the aims of the research proposal. In no instance will the Ph.D. be conferred without publication of original research with first authored papers or the equivalent. There are some cases where a student can receive permission from the Chair to complete their Oral Defense prior to publication of manuscript(s) derived from the dissertation research. In this case the student’s committee will hold off on signing the student’s title pages for their dissertation until the requirements for Ph.D. are completed. The committee may, however, sign the Results Form for the defense to be turned in to the Program Manager following the Oral presentation. Degree confirmation will be based on when the actual written dissertation, including the signed title pages, is finally submitted to the graduate school.

4. The final defense is administered by the student’s dissertation committee after obtaining approval from the DGS. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the Committee members and Program Manager of the date, time, place, and title of the final defense at least three weeks ahead of time. The student fills out the Request to Schedule Defense Form located at: (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/gradschool/form_locator/phd_committee,_qualifying_exam,_and_dis sertation_defense_forms/request_to_schedule_dissertation_defense_form.pdf). This must be turned in to the Graduate School and the Program Manager at least two weeks prior to the defense date to allow time for processing of paperwork. Failure of the student to notify the DGS, Program Manager, and graduate school within the above time frame can result in postponement of the defense.

Committee members will receive an official notice from the Graduate School at least one week prior to the defense if paperwork has been turned in prior to that. The date and time of the defense will be published in the Vanderbilt Calendar as a public announcement. The final defense should be completed at least 14 days before the deadlines posted by the Graduate School each semester for dissertation submission. This will allow ample time for any possible revisions suggested by the Committee to be completed and approved.

5. Dissertation defense announcements will be distributed to the Cancer Biology Program and to the appropriate Calendars and E-mail lists by the Program Manager 1 week prior to the defense. This will publicize the event and provide topic information to those attending the defense. Students needing to postpone should give the information to the Program Manager prior to that time.

6. The defense begins with a public seminar. Following the seminar, the committee meets with the student for the final oral examination phase of the defense. The final examination is concerned with the student’s dissertation, the literature relevant to the research topic, unanswered questions, conclusions, and the significance of the study. Passing the final oral examination is denoted by signatures of the dissertation committee members on the Dissertation Results Form. The student should download this form and bring it to the defense: (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/gradschool/form_locator/phd_committee,_qualifying_exam,_and_dis sertation_defense_forms/dissertation_defense_results_form.pdf). The signed form should be submitted by the student to the DGS for signature and submitted to the Program Manager for posting to the Graduate School. A copy will be made for the student’s file. Passing the written dissertation is denoted by signatures on the required title page in the dissertation, and can occur at a later date if additions or corrections are required.

7. The policy regarding distribution of fees and costs associated with preparing the dissertation follows:

a. The mentor will pay for figure expenses and for photocopying the dissertation drafts for him/herself and committee members.

b. The Program will pay for the binding of the Cancer Biology library and the mentor copies of the dissertation. The student will obtain binding fee payment information from the Program Manager for Campus Copy charges for printing the dissertation

c. Photocopied soft-bound copies are appropriate for committee members.

F. Graduation and Degree Conferral

1. A student is considered to have completed the program requirements once the oral defense has been completed, the Dissertation Results form has been signed as “passed” by the dissertation committee members and the DGS, and the dissertation has been accepted by the graduate school. Once the committee has signed the title pages for the dissertation, the student is required to turn the dissertation in to the graduate school within a week. A student may not hold on to a signed dissertation in order to prolong enrollment. Once a student is graduated, they should no longer be working in their labs unless they have been hired as an employee in that lab. To complete the graduation process, a student must fulfill the following.

• Complete and turn in Intent to Graduate Form by the stated deadlines for each semester. See the Graduate School website for deadline dates: (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/gradschool/current_students/intent_to_graduate/index.php ). The student completes the form and obtains the signature of the DGS. The DGS forwards the completed form to the Program Manager who then makes a copy of the form for the student’s file and sends the original to the Graduate School prior to the deadline.
• Successfully pass the Dissertation Defense . Turn in the completed and signed Dissertation Defense Results form to the Program Manager along with a signed grade form for any outstanding grades that have not been turned in. (The dissertation defense results form can be downloaded by the student from the Graduate School website before the defense. The student will obtain the signature of the DGS on the forms signed off on by the dissertation committee and submit this to the Program Manager who will make copies for the student’s file and send the originals to the Graduate School. http://www.vanderbilt.edu/gradschool/form_locator/phd_committee,_qualifying_exa m,_and_dissertation_defense_forms/dissertation_defense_results_form.pdf ).

c. Turn in the final copy of the dissertation, including any revisions suggested by the student’s committee, to the Graduate School by the stated deadlines for each semester See the Graduate School website for deadline dates. If a student cannot turn in the dissertation by the deadline his/her degree conferral will be postponed until the next semester.

2. End-of-term degree conferrals occur three times a year: May, August and December. Intra-term degree conferrals occur as follows: https://gradschool.vanderbilt.edu/academics/intraterm-graduation.php

a. If a student has graduated but has not yet had his/her degree officially conferred, they may request letters from the Graduate School confirming the student has completed all the requirements for a Ph.D. and giving the official conferral date.

b. Students with end-of-term degree conferral in August, December, and any intra-term conferral date can make arrangements with the Registrar’s office to pick up their diplomas; otherwise, diplomas will be mailed to the permanent address indicated on the Intent to Graduate form.

c. The Commencement Ceremony is only held in May. It is optional and has no bearing on the official graduation or degree conferral date. It is a ceremonial recognition of the student’s accomplishment only. All students graduating in the summer or fall just prior to the May ceremony may participate but will have already received their diplomas in the mail. Spring recipients will be handed their diplomas at the ceremony if they have indicated they will be participating on their Intent to Graduate Form. If not their diplomas will be mailed to the permanent address listed on the Intent to Graduate form.

d. The student may obtain information about ordering regalia and participation in the ceremony on the grad school website. If a student chooses to participate, they must notify the Program Manager of who will be hooding them and confirm that the person has agreed to do so. A student may request the Program Director hood them if their mentor is not available. The Program Manager will notify the Graduate School of the names of graduates and the faculty members who will be responsible for the hooding of each graduate.

Application Procedure

Vanderbilt University highly encourages electronic applications to its graduate programs (see links below). Those students interested in Cancer Biology should apply through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP). The deadline for IGP applications is December 1.   Following are a few general requirements.

Graduate Record Examination Scores 

GRE scores are optional as part of the application. Official scores should be sent directly from ETS. Copies are not allowed. Scores should be sent to institution code 1871. A program code is not required but is helpful. For IGP applications, scores should be sent to program/department code 0202 or for Systems & Cognitive applications, scores should be sent to program/department code 0213.

Official Transcripts 

A copy of unofficial student transcript should be uploaded to the application by or before the application deadline.

Letters of Recommendation 

The University requires three to five letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate your academic and professional qualifications. On your application, you will be asked to provide the e-mail addresses of your recommenders. Vanderbilt will contact your recommenders by e-mail and provide them with a link to a web site, a password, and instructions on how to submit the recommendation online. Online recommendations are instantly attached to your application. If you are unable to provide e-mail addresses for your recommenders, it is your responsibility to contact them and provide them with the recommendation form.

Begin Your Online Application 

Click here to apply via the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP)

Graduate Courses

Graduate courses administered by the program in cancer biology, fall semester.

CANB 8340: Introduction to Cancer Biology

Course Director- Fiona Yull Credit hours- 2 Day(s) & Time: Mon. 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Location- PRB 749 Prerequisite- IGP core course or consent of instructor.

This course is focused on molecular and cell biological under-pinning’s of cell migration, with emphasis on cancer motility, invasion and metastasis. It is an in-depth analysis of three to four research areas in molecular and cell biology. It is intended for graduate students with a strong foundation in experimental biology. Students in interdisciplinary fields such as engineering and mathematics are welcome (and encouraged) to take the course if they already have some background biological knowledge, however it is encouraged to discuss enrollment with the instructor first. This course will add options for graduate students interested in cancer metastasis and related biological processes (leukocyte motility, bone and tissue remodeling, embryonic development, etc.) taught by experts in each sub-discipline through lectures and discussions of papers from the current literature. This is a didactic lecture series in which general concepts in Cancer Biology will be reviewed. Topics range from molecular biology of cancer (oncogene and tumor suppressors) to novel concepts such as cancer stem cells and therapeutic approaches.

CANB 8342: Advanced Concepts in Cancer Biology

Course Director- Barbara Fingleton Credit hours- 4 Day(s) & Time: Wed. & Fri., 10:00 am – 11:55am Location- PRB 749 Prerequisite- Must be a Cancer Biology graduate student or have consent of instructor.

Advanced concepts in Cancer Biology will be reviewed in depth using a combination of lectures and student-led discussion sessions based on current literature. This course is offered only in tandem with the Introduction to Cancer Biology course to be taken concurrently.

Spring Semester

CANB 8344: Cancer Immunotherapy

Course Director- Sebastian Joyce Credit hours- 2 Day(s) & Time: TBD Location-TBD

 The extraordinary rise of Cancer Immunotherapy is used as a platform to examine the past, current and future implications of this rapidly growing discipline. The team taught course combines didactic lecture with key literature assignments aimed at providing not only an understanding of the current immunotherapy landscape, but also an important sense of perspective. The first half of the course covers basic concepts in adaptive and innate immunology, and cancer, needed to read and understand the literature. The second half is based on recent landmark literature in “Cancer Immunotherapy”. Instructor presentations aimed at addressing overarching concepts will be coordinated with student-presentations of key papers. Joyce, Johnson, Wilson. [2]

CANB 8351: Teaching Assistantship in Cancer Biology Curriculum.

Course Director- Barbara Fingleton Credit hours- 1 Day(s) & Time: TBD Location-TBD

Prerequisites: CANB 8340 and CANB 8342, Ph.D. candidacy.

Enrollees in the course will act as teaching assistants for one of the Cancer Biology courses (8340 or 8342 in Fall; 8347 or 8384 in spring) with a maximum of 16 hours class contact time. All enrollees will also be required to participate in a monthly journal club for that semester devoted to teaching methods in STEM subjects; and to work with course directors on evaluations. Prerequisites: CANB 8340 and CANB 8342, Ph.D. candidacy.

CANB 8384: Cancer Precision Medicine

Course Director- Kimberly B. Dahlman Credit hours- 2 Day(s) & Time: TBD Location-TBD Prerequisite- CANB 8340

This course will provide a unique experience in oncology where medical and graduate students work together to explore the molecular drivers of cancer and how that information is translated into targeted cancer therapies. Students will learn the risk factors for and signaling pathways that are often deregulated in cancer through seminars and literature review sessions. This information will be used as a platform to describe how molecular changes are detected in the laboratory and leveraged in the clinic for personalized patient care. Students will examine the multidisciplinary teams necessary in the care of cancer patients through participation in tumor board meetings, clinical experiences, and roundtable discussions. Furthermore, cancer screening, imaging, pre-clinical drug discovery, the advantages and barriers of clinical trials, and socioeconomic disparities will be presented in this course. Although this course will focus on melanoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer, students will demonstrate an ability to apply their knowledge of tumor diagnosis and targeted inhibition to other tumor types through a group project.

CANB 8999: Research prior to entry into candidacy (completion of qualifying examination) and for special non-degree students. [Variable credit: 0-12]

CANB 9999: Ph.D. Dissertation Research.

SUMMER Semester

CANB 8326: Cancer Biology Grant Writing 

Course Directors- Rachelle Johnson, Ann Richmond Credit hours- 1 (P/F, no didactic credit) Day(s) & Time: TBD Location- TBD

Cancer Biology Grant Writing. This self-guided course provides applied training in grant writing for students in their first year in the Cancer Biology program, second overall year in graduate school. Students will write an NRSA proposal and are assigned two faculty reviewers and peer reviewers who will provide feedback in at least three meetings. Input from the mentor is essential but needs to be limited to verbal discussions with the student. The proposal will be written and submitted to the reviewers in stages, with three required face-to-face meetings. Passing of the course depends on the final quality of the proposal, the ability of the student to incorporate suggestions and to respond to criticism, and the adherence to deadlines laid out by the course director at the beginning of the course. Course Directors: Rachelle Johnson, Ph.D., and Ann Richmond, Ph.D. SUMMER. [1]

New Student Responsibility Form

Grad School Travel Grant Application Form

Qualifying Exam Part I

Grad School Request to Schedule Qualifying Exam Form

SACS Qualifying Examination Evaluation Form Part I

Grad School Qualifying Exam Results Form – Required in conjunction with “SACS Qualifying Exam Evaluation Form Part I”

Grad School Request to Appoint Ph.D. Committee Form

Grad School Request to Change Ph.D. Committee Form

Qualifying Exam Part II (Thesis Proposal)

SACS Qualifying Examination Results Form Part II (Thesis Proposal)

SACS 6 Mos Committee Meeting Form with RCR Form

SACS RCR Discussion Record Form

Dissertation Defense

Grad School Request to Schedule Defense Form

SACS Defense Evaluation Form

Grad School Defense Results Form – Required in conjunction with “SACS Defense Evaluation Form”

Graduate Student Outcomes

Name                          Year of PhD               Current Position

Tristin Abair                 2007                            Chief Medical writer, priME Oncology

Omozusi Andrews        2014                            Postdoctoral fellow, NIH

Meredith Brown            2008                       Intellectual property manager, Metabolon Inc.

Nikki Cheng                  2002                          Associate Professor, University of Kansas

Laura DeBusk              2008                            Scientist, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute

Joseph Deweese          2009                            Associate Professor Pharmaceutical Science Lipscomb University

Dominique Donato        2010                         Lecturer, University of Leiden, Netherlands

Charnise Goodings      2009                     Postdoctoral fellow, St. Judes’ Children’s Hosp.

Mark Harris                  2003                           Founder and CEO, NexGxDx Inc.

Katherine Amato         2015                            Postdoctoral fellow, Yale University

Rachelle Johnson       2011                             Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University

Nuruddeen Lewis        2011                            Senior Scientist, Codiak BioSciences.

Holli Loomans             2017                           Postdoctoral fellow, NCI

Lauren Matise             2012                Business Development Manager, GlaxoSmithKline

Nicole Fowler               2008                            Medical Writer, INC Research

Ian Nicoud                   2007                       Scientist, Kiadis Pharma of Regenerative Med

Daniel O’Brien             2008                      Patent Lawyer, Seed Intellectual Property Law                                                                                 Group

Seth Ogden                 2009                        Patent Lawyer, Patterson Intellectual Property

Veronica Placencio      2010                        Project Scientist, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center

Shenika Poindexter     2014                           Assistant Professor, Xavier University

Jillian Pope                  2014                          Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Florida

Meghana Rao              2012                       Senior Consultant, InVentiv Health Consulting

Alisha Russell              2010                       Assistant Professor, Trevecca University

Jamie Ausborn            2016                       Postdoctoral fellow, Dana Farber Cancer Inst.

Jennifer Tillman           2007                          Principal Scientist, Celgene Corporation

Yee Mon Thu               2011                           Assistant Professor, Grinnell College

Nicole Neel                 2008                           Scientific Writer, INC Research

David Vaught              2011                           Grants Manager, Komen Foundation

Kimberly West             2008                           Scientist, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute

Li Yang                        2004                            Senior Investigator, Head, Tumor Micro- environment Section, NCI

Brian Yaspan              2008                            Scientist, Genetech Inc.

Guanglei Zhuang         2010                           Assistant Professor, Shanghai Xiaotong University

Beyond the Lab

Nikki Cheng

Kim dahlman, nuruddeen lewis, meghana rao, graduate student and faculty resources.

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Wayne State University

School of medicine, cancer biology program cancer biology program, master of science in cancer biology, master of science  cancer biology graduate program department of oncology (updated 10-16-2023), program description, the master of science (ms) program in cancer biology offers a strong didactic and laboratory curriculum in cancer biology with a major focus on molecular oncology. our goal is to provide intensive research training for students who are interested in a career in academia, medicine, industry, or related careers in which first-hand research experience is an asset. research interests in the department of oncology are diverse, allowing students to choose from a broad spectrum of topics for their research thesis. students are encouraged to attend monthly research seminars, along with karmanos cancer institute-sponsored research meetings and symposia.  these regular interactions between students and faculty help our students develop oral communication and collaboration skills for future success., degree requirements, the master's degree in cancer biology is offered under plan a only. a minimum of 30 credits (eight of which must be from thesis research) and the completion of an original research project including a written master’s thesis are required to complete the requirements for the ms degree in cancer biology. the coursework includes 17 credits of compulsory courses and 5 credits of elective courses (below). a minimum gpa of 3.0 must be maintained throughout the ms program. students are required to complete two laboratory rotations by the second semester of year 1 of study in order to have a thesis advisor in place for beginning full time thesis research. the student and mentor should identify two additional faculty members to serve on the thesis committee. students should strive to publish one peer-reviewed paper in connection with the ms research., plan a curriculum (total 30 cr.), required courses (17 cr.):, mgg 7010 molecular biology & genetics (4 cr.) fall semester. bio 6000 molecular cell biology i (3 cr.) fall semester. cb 7210 fundamentals of cancer biology (3 cr.) winter semester. cb 7500 ms biostatistics (2 cr.) winter semester. cb 7510 - journal club/seminar ms, winter semester only (1 cr./ winter semester). total of 2 cr. over the course of the program. cb 7710 rotation (2 cr.) fall semester cb 7800 ethics (1 cr.) winter semester cb 8999 master’s thesis research (8 cr), elective courses (5 cr.): in addition to the courses listed above, students are allowed to select appropriate courses from other departments/programs across the campus., cb 7300 special topics (1-4 topics, 1 cr.) phc 7650 (1-4 topics, 1 cr.) psl 7880 special problems (1 cr.) admission requirements, admission to the ms program is contingent upon admission to the graduate school and the graduate programs of the  school of medicine . qualified applicants must have a bs or ba degree from an accredited college or university, preferably with a major in biology, chemistry, physics, or a closely related discipline. a complete application includes the basic application form, personal statement, official transcripts from previous institutions, and three letters of reference.  international students must be proficient in english (as determined by satisfactory performance on the test of english as a foreign language (toefl) examination). toefl scores should be reported to wayne state university using institution code 1898. applications must be submitted online by april 1 st . graduate school admissions policies can be found at the  office of graduate admissions., contact information, administrative office for ms program in cancer biology department of oncology wayne state university school of medicine 421 e canfield street detroit, mi 48201, tel: 313-578-4302 email: [email protected].

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Cancer Sciences MS

Roswell park graduate division, program description.

The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is the world's first cancer research institute and a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Our cancer sciences graduate programs are in collaboration with the University at Buffalo. The internationally-recognized scientists and world-class facilities at Roswell Park provide an outstanding training environment. Because Roswell Park is a cancer research hospital, students have a wide spectrum of choices for their research focus, from the basic investigation of cancer mechanisms, to translational/clinical research with direct relevance to disease treatment.

Rami Azrak Elm and Carlton Streets Buffalo, NY 14263 Email:  [email protected]

Instruction Method

• In Person   (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Credits required, time-to-degree.

• 1.5 to 4 Years

Application Fee

Admission tests**.

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

** At least one of the admissions tests are required for admission. Test and score requirements/exceptions vary by program. Contact the department for details.

M.S. Courses

Students are required to complete 30 credits of coursework with a 3.0 GPA. Our curricula have the flexibility for students to choose electives to tailor the program to their interests.

• Jump To: General Required Courses
• Standard Track Required Courses

Cancer Systems Biology Track Required Courses

General required courses,     tbio 6508 cellular & molecular aspects of the transformed cell.

4 Credits | Fall Semester

Designed to provide students with an integrative overview of mechanisms of growth control and malignant transformation by physical, chemical, abd viral mechanisms. Introduction to growth factors, oncogenes, and suppressor genes. Includes an introduction to means of reverting or blocking malignant behavior with particular emphasis on biochemical & molecular mechanisms.

    TBIO 6510 Biochemistry for Cancer Research

In this course, students will be introduced to basic biochemical pathways involved in normal human tissue and in carcinogenesis. Furthermore, students will be encouraged to think about how molecular interventions of biochemical pathways could be applied to solve current problems in cancer research.

    TBIO 7050 Cancer Research Techniques

3 Credits | Fall Semester

Laboratory Research Project required for M.S. Students. Part 1 of 2.

    TBIO 7060 Cancer Research Techniques

3 Credits | Spring Semester

Laboratory Research Project required for M.S. Students. Part 2 of 2.

Standard Track Required Course

    tbio 6536 cancer pharmacology.

4 Credits | Spring Semester

An overview of the fundamentals of pharmacology as applied to cancer therapy. Mechanisms of action and resistance to chemotherapeutic, antihormonal, biological response modifiers, and new experimental drugs will be emphasized.

    TBIO 6530 Systems Biology & Bioinformatics

An introduction to bioinformatics in systems biology, covering microarray data analysis, proteomic informatics, and regulatory network and pathway analysis, and discuss how a systems approach to the analysis of “omics” data can improve our understanding of biology.

    SYSM 5910 Biomedical Informatics

This new didactic course will provide an overview of the field of Biomedical Informatics from different perspectives. Particular emphasis is given to understanding the basic building blocks, various information resources and the application areas of Biomedical Informatics. Students will learn to explore the process of developing and applying computational techniques for determining the information needs of health care providers and patients.

    SYSM 5940 Translational Bioinformatics

Standard Track students must complete 12 credits of electives, including 3 credits of coursework in Quantitative Data Analysis & Scientific Experimental Design. The Tumor Biology Department must approve which course(s) will satisfy the 3 credits. Course offerings vary each semester.

Cancer Systems Biology Track students must complete 8 credits of electives.

    BCHB 5140 Intro to Bioinformatics

1 Credit | Fall/Spring Semester

The sequencing of the human genome that was completed in 2001 and the explosion of “omic data” has accelerated our understanding of basic genetics and how we think of biology. We are now in the “omic” era of molecular biology that has given birth to the new field of Bioinformatics. All this data can be used meaningfully for biological and clinical research only if we can extract the relevant functional information from them and convert biological data into knowledge of biological systems. Fortunately, by using bioinformatics we can make headway in understanding and extracting relevant biological information from these sequences. The aim of this course is to introduce the various tools and resources that are available as applicable to biomedical research. This course is highly experiential with both lectures and “hands-on” sessions.

    BCHB 5190 Medical Toxicology

2 Credits | Fall Semester

This course will introduce students to the foundational concepts of Toxicology and Pharmacology. Topics to be discussed will include major classifications of toxicants and drugs as they relate to organ systems or major pathophysiological disease effects such substances are likely to engender. Toxic substances in Foods, Water and Medicines will be discussed as well as in Industrial chemical substances that can be encountered in environments at work, home and at leisure.

This course has a lab component.

    BCHB 5350 Programmed Cell Death

This lecture and laboratory course familiarizes students with different pathways leading to apoptosis and their importance in development as well as in diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Ischemia.

    BIOT 5310 DNA Damage, Repair & Human Therapy

1 Credit | Fall Semester Prerequisites: Some background knowledge and/or familiarity with molecular biology and genetics through either formal coursework or tutorials will be helpful in understanding course material.

DNA repair and human therapy will focus on the innovative and rapidly expanding field of gene editing and genome engineering as molecular medicine for human therapeutics. Our focus will be on the historical development of the current tools being advanced toward clinical application and how these tools will be used to treat inherited disease, infectious disease and cancer. Through a series of weekly readings and websites that will augment lecture material, the concepts surrounding this form of gene therapy will be discussed.

    SYSM 5900 Applications of Biostatistics to Big Data

This course will introduce the idea of how to reason via statistical models to get and interpret information from big biological data. To introduce the idea of how formal models of data are used, examples will also be drawn from related sciences. Students will learn how to apply regression-type models to data and assess the consistency (or inconsistency) of the results they produce with theory. The course will encourage students to set biological or medical problems they are working on within the context of formal statistical models. 

    SYSM 5970 Clinical Bioinformatics

This course will cover the methodology and bioinformatics of next-generation sequencing technologies for virus detection and discovery in clinical, environmental, and biological samples. It will comprise a combination of lectures, invited seminars, and hands-on computer-based exercises utilizing web-based bioinformatics tools and publicly available databases for analyzing next-generation sequence datasets and for annotation of viral sequences. Additionally, the course will provide working-knowledge for developing bioinformatics pipelines for big data analysis. The course will include hands-on experience with the most popular Biomedical Workbench licensed software for data analysis. The course will also cover aspects of Translational Sciences applicable to analysis of “Big data.” The course will be co-directed by an eminent scientist in the area of retroviruses from FDA.

    TBIO 6513 Clinical Conference on Breast Cancer

This course promotes an appreciation for the biology of breast cancer as it occurs in individual women, allowing students to better formulate research programs addressing issues of clinical significance.

    TBIO 6520 Cancer Prevention, Control, & Epidemiology

Cancer epidemiology, prevention, and control relies on the conduct of basic science research and applied research in the behavioral, social, and population sciences to create or enhance interventions that, independently or in combination with biomedical approaches, reduce cancer risk, incidence, morbidity, and mortality, and improve quality of life. The objectives of this course are to equip students with the understanding of cancer problems from cell to society and to provide them with evidence of the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration between biomedical and behavioral sciences. The overall goal of the course is to stimulate students to apply broad perspectives to their areas of research interest that ultimately lead to a successful research career in cancer prevention and control.

Required for M.S. Standard Track. TBIO-Ph.D. Program Requirement.

    TBIO 6522 Epigenetics: Mechanisms & Environmental Implications

This is a combined lecture/literature review/problem-based discussion course designed for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students in Human Science, Molecular/Cell Biology, Tumor Biology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience. Moreover, a broad range of topics will be covered by discussing landmark papers and emerging concepts in the field of epigenetic research, including environmental health, cancer, and neurological disorder. Following an introductory lecture on each topic, students will discuss in detail recent papers and background material concerning each individual topic.

    TBIO 6523 Cancer Epigenetics

The Cancer Epigenetics course covers epigenetic mechanisms in human diseases, focusing on cancers. This is a combined lecture/literature review/discussion course designed for graduate students in Molecular/Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Tumor Biology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience. The course has five primary objectives: (1) understanding the epigenetic regulation in normal & cancer cells; (2) deciphering epigenetic pathways and molecular targets in malignant transformation; (3) learning the impact of epigenetic alterations associated with cancers; 4) reviewing recent advances in epigenetic issues/phenomena by highlighting the growing importance of epigenetic therapeutics in cancers; (5) learning the scientific approaches/methods employed to define epigenetic-mediated cancer drivers and their therapeutic potential.

    TBIO 6525 Cancer Genetics

This course provides an understanding of the principles and practices related to cancer prevention and control, highlighting the application of social, psychological, behavioral, and translational research across the cancer control continuum, from cancer diagnosis to survivorship. We will examine strategies to help control the impact of cancer from the individual to population levels, with innovative examples from clinically-applied and research-tested approaches in the fields of tobacco control, diet and physical activity promotion, cancer screening and management, and survivorship education and health outcomes.

    TBIO 6532 Principles and Practices of Behavioral Science in Cancer Control

    tbio 6543 clinical survey of human cancer.

1 Credit | Fall Semester

This course features a broad site by site survey of human cancer. The perspective is primarily from the points of view of the medical oncologist and pathologist, with an emphasis on providing an integrated view of each principal cancer covering the following: natural history, biology, and treatment.

    TBIO 6546 Resources for Cancer Research

0 credits | Fall Semester

This course provides an introduction to the Shared Resources of the Lombardi Cancer Center. Emphasis will be on the practical aspects of utilization.

    TBIO 6560 Animal Models in Cancer Research

Animal models are an invaluable tool for cancer research and the goal of TBIO 6560 is to introduce graduate students to the wide variety of models available to the factors that inform the choice of an appropriate model for the research planned, and to provide basic training in the ethical, legal, and technical aspects of their use.

    TBIO 6568 Minority Populations & Health Disparities in Cancer

2 Credits | Spring Semester

Cancer health disparities represent a major public health problem in the United States. This course addresses the biological basis for the observed unequal burdens of cancer across racial/ethnic populations. The impact of genetic/genomic/epigenetic variability between groups that may affect cancer susceptibility and/or response to therapy which is vital to reducing the cancer gaps will be explored. The course will also explore evidence-based mechanisms that are designed to increase our understanding of biological factors and mechanisms that play a role in cancer health disparities.

    TBIO 6572 Pathological Basis of Cancer

A combination of lecture and lab, this course provides a strong background in pathology as related to cancer. The course consists of general introductory pathology lectures, followed by the pathologic basis of specific cancers, including colon, breast, prostate, cervical and endometrial, and hematopoietic.

    TBIO 6581 Topics in Molecular Epidemiology

    tbio 6583 introduction to cancer as a disease.

The discipline of Tumor Biology (or cancer biology) occupies the intersection between multiple other fields including biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, pharmacology, and pathology, since at its essence it is the study of how processes within the body, whether normal or perturbed in some way, are involved in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and the response to anti-cancer therapy. The goal of this course is to provide an overview of the field of Tumor Biology through a series of short informal presentations by Tumor Biology Program faculty describing their research interests, how their work relates to the field as a whole, and the research projects currently ongoing in their labs. The course usually starts in the middle of October. Each session includes two to three presentations. The sessions are informal and student participation in discussions is expected. Grading is based on attendance and class participation.

    TBIO 6584 Intro to Tumor Biology

    tbio 6585 transcriptomics: microarray analysis.

1 Credit | Spring Semester

An introduction to microarray experimental and data analysis. This is a distinct unit of TBIO 6530, which will run from January to mid-February.

    TBIO 6586 Proteomics: Mass Spectrometry

An introduction to mass spectrometry data analysis and proteomic biomarker discovery. This is a distinct unit of TBIO 6530, which will run from mid-February to the end of March.

    TBIO 6587 Systems Biology: Pathway & Network Data Analysis

An introduction to the metabolomics, interactomics, regulatory network, and pathway analysis, and -omics data integrating and mining. This is a distinct unit of TBIO 6530, which runs from the end of March to the end of April.

View prerequisites and begin your application.

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• Cancer Biology, MS

The graduate program in cancer biology offers a course of study and research leading to the PhD degree. Although a master’s degree is offered under special circumstances, students are not admitted for a master’s degree.

The Cancer Biology Graduate Program was established at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research in 1940 as the first graduate program in the United States to offer a degree in basic cancer research. The program now includes more than 50 faculty trainers from multiple departments including Oncology, Medicine, Human Oncology, Cell and Regenerative Biology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and others. This interdepartmental structure offers students remarkably diverse training opportunities that span the entire breadth of cancer biology research from haploid or diploid genetics, viral and chemical carcinogenesis, eukaryotic cell and molecular biology, virology, molecular toxicology, and whole-animal carcinogenesis. Through the graduate curriculum, students are introduced to the body of knowledge that has been derived directly from experiments on the induction, properties, and therapy of cancer, and receive the necessary background to conduct independent research.

Curriculum requirements are designed to be flexible, providing a maximal opportunity for specialization within this multidisciplinary field. Students learn through core and elective courses; by participation in seminars, conferences, and journal clubs related to their specific areas of expertise; and most important, from their research advisors. Students who join the program select research advisors after conducting a minimum of three month-long rotations in different laboratories during the first semester. After choosing an advisor, students will also create an advisory committee of five faculty members who will provide guidance throughout the process of earning the PhD degree. The average time to complete the PhD is 5.5 years. The program prepares students for careers in teaching and research in academia, government, and industry.

This master’s program is offered for work leading to the PhD. Students may not apply directly for the master’s and should instead see the admissions information for the PhD.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Mode of Instruction

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

Required Courses

The curriculum for Cancer Biology is designed to introduce you to research related to the induction, properties, and therapy of cancer and to ensure that you have the necessary background in one or more areas of related, fun­damental science to enable you to do original research.  Courses are drawn from the Department of Oncology as well as vari­ous related departments, including Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biomolecular Chemistry, Chemistry, Genetics, Human Oncology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Pharmacology. 

The Graduate School at UW-Madison requires PhD students to complete a minimum of 51 credits in order to obtain a PhD Degree. These credits are fulfilled via core curriculum courses, 990 research, and electives. Courses numbered below 300, audit, and pass/fail do not satisfy the credit minimum requirement. It is suggested that you take approximately 2 courses per semester with the remaining credits being 990 research. All courses must be completed by the end of your second year, before completing the Preliminary Exam.

Students will enroll in up to 12 credits per semester as pre-dissertators (only 2 credits during the summer term).

Beginning in your second year, you will be required to give an annual, formal presentation in the Cancer Biology Student/Postdoc Seminar Series. You will register for ONCOLOGY 901 Seminar  during the semester in which you present. Your seminars will be recorded and you will receive feedback from the seminar course instructor to help improve your public speaking and presentation skills.   Attendance at this seminar series is required . 

In addition, you are expected to attend the Cancer Biology Seminar throughout your graduate career (no registration required). The Cancer Biology Seminar, which features local and outside faculty speakers, is held on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in 1345 HSLC. The schedule is posted on the McArdle website .

Suggested Electives

Graduate School Policies

The  Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures  provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate credits earned at other institutions.

With program approval, students may transfer no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

With program approval, students may transfer no more than 7 credits numbered 300 or above from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree, or the equivalent from other institutions.

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison

With program approval, students may transfer no more than 15 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master's degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

A semester GPA below 3.0 or an incomplete grade (I) will result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a semester GPA of 3.0 is not attained or the Incomplete grade is not cleared during the subsequent semester of full- time enrollment, the student may be dismissed from the program or allowed to continue for 1 additional semester based on advisor appeal to the Graduate School.

Advisor / Committee

All students are required to have an advisor. Students must create a certification committee (advisor plus four additional faculty members) by the end of their first year. After passing their preliminary examination, students are required to conduct a progress report meeting with their certification committee each year. Failure to do so may result in a hold being placed on the student’s registration.

Credits Per Term Allowed

Time Limits

All doctoral students must pass their preliminary examination by the end of their second year (August 31). Under special circumstances, a one-semester extension may be granted when justified in writing by the student and advisor.

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS)  (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

Grievance Policy for Graduate Programs in the School of Medicine and Public Health

Any student in a School of Medicine and Public Health graduate program who feels that they have been treated unfairly in regards to educational decisions and/or outcomes or issues specific to the graduate program, including academic standing, progress to degree, professional activities, appropriate advising, and a program’s community standards by a faculty member, staff member, postdoc, or student has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing of the grievance following these grievance procedures. Any student who discusses, inquiries about, or participates in the grievance procedure may do so openly and shall not be subject to intimidation, discipline, or retaliation because of such activity. Each program’s grievance advisor is listed on the “Research” tab of the SMPH intranet .

This policy does not apply to employment-related issues for Graduate Assistants in TA, PA and/or RA appointments.  Graduate Assistants will utilize the Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures (GAPP) grievance process to resolve employment-related issues.

This policy does not apply to instances when a graduate student wishes to report research misconduct.  For such reports refer to the UW-Madison Policy for Reporting Research Misconduct for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Research Associates .

Requirements for Programs

The School of Medicine and Public Health Office of Basic Research, Biotechnology and Graduate Studies requires that each graduate program designate a grievance advisor, who should be a tenured faculty member, and will request the name of the grievance advisor annually.  The program director will serve as the alternate grievance advisor in the event that the grievance advisor is named in the grievance.  The program must notify students of the grievance advisor, including posting the grievance advisor’s name on the program’s Guide page and handbook.

The grievance advisor or program director may be approached for possible grievances of all types.  They will spearhead the grievance response process described below for issues specific to the graduate program, including but not limited to academic standing, progress to degree, professional activities, appropriate advising, and a program’s community standards.  They will ensure students are advised on reporting procedures for other types of possible grievances and are supported throughout the reporting process.  Resources on identifying and reporting other issues have been compiled by the Graduate School.

• The student is advised to initiate a written record containing dates, times, persons, and description of activities, and to update this record while completing the procedures described below.
• If the student is comfortable doing so, efforts should be made to resolve complaints informally between individuals before pursuing a formal grievance.
• Should a satisfactory resolution not be achieved, the student should contact the program’s grievance advisor or program director to discuss the complaint. The student may approach the grievance advisor or program director alone or with a UW-Madison faculty or staff member. The grievance advisor or program director should keep a record of contacts with regards to possible grievances.  The first attempt is to help the student informally address the complaint prior to pursuing a formal grievance. The student is also encouraged to talk with their faculty advisor regarding concerns or difficulties.
• If the issue is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student may submit a formal grievance to the grievance advisor or program director in writing, within 60 calendar days from the date the grievant first became aware of, or should have become aware of with the exercise of reasonable diligence, the cause of the grievance.  To the fullest extent possible, a grievance shall contain a clear and concise statement of the grievance and indicate the issue(s) involved, the relief sought, the date(s) the incident or violation took place, and any specific policy involved.
• The grievance advisor or program director will convene a faculty committee composed of at least three members to manage the grievance.  Any faculty member involved in the grievance or who feels that they cannot be impartial may not participate in the committee.  Committee composition should reflect diverse viewpoints within the program.
• The faculty committee, through the grievance advisor or program director, will obtain a written response from the person or persons toward whom the grievance is directed. The grievance advisor or program director will inform this person that their response will be shared with the student filing the grievance.
• The grievance advisor or program director will share the response with the student filing the grievance.
• The faculty committee will make a decision regarding the grievance. The committee’s review shall be fair, impartial, and timely.  The grievance advisor or program director will report on the action taken by the committee in writing to both the student and the person toward whom the grievance was directed.
• The grievant will be notified in writing, within 5 business days of the written appeal, acknowledging receipt of the formal appeal and establishing a timeline for the review to be completed.
• The senior associate dean or their designee may request additional materials and/or arrange meetings with the grievant and/or others.  If meetings occur, the senior associate dean or their designee will meet with both the grievant and the person or persons toward whom the grievance is directed.
• The senior associate dean or their designee will assemble an ad hoc committee of faculty from outside of the student’s graduate program and ask them to prepare a written recommendation on whether to uphold or reverse the decision of the program on the student’s initial grievance.  The committee may request additional materials and/or arrange meetings with the grievant and/or others.  If meetings occur, the committee will meet with both the grievant and the person or persons toward whom the grievance is directed.
• The senior associate dean or their designee will make a final decision within 20 business days of receipt of the committee’s recommendation.
• The SMPH Office of Basic Research, Biotechnology, and Graduate Studies must store documentation of the grievance for seven years. Grievances that set a precedent may be stored indefinitely.
• The student may file an appeal of the School of Medicine and Public Health decision with the Graduate School.  See the Grievances and Appeals section of the Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures .

Steps in the grievance procedures must be initiated and completed within the designated time periods except when modified by mutual consent. If the student fails to initiate the next step in the grievance procedure within the designated time period, the grievance will be considered resolved by the decision at the last completed step.

• Professional Development

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

• Learning Outcomes
• Articulates research problems, potentials, and limits with respect to their research and how it relates to the field of cancer biology.
• Formulates novel ideas, concepts/hypotheses, designs experiments to test the hypotheses, and shows proficiency in the necessary techniques to carry out their dissertation research.
• Creates and carries out scholarly research that asks a novel and important biological question and makes a substantive contribution to the field of cancer research.
• Demonstrates the breadth of their knowledge through thoughtful and creative design of their research and their ability to answer questions from varied audiences.
• Advances contributions in cancer biology to society through publication, presentations at national and international meetings, and various outreach activities.
• Communicates complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner both in their oral and written presentations.
• Fosters ethical and professional conduct in all aspects related to their development as a scientist.

For the most current list of faculty and descriptions of their research interests, visit the  program website .

• Requirements

Contact Information

Cancer Biology Program, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research School of Medicine and Public Health [email protected] cancerbiology.wisc.edu

Hilary Berry, Graduate Program Manager [email protected] 608-262-4682 6435 Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research

Eric Johannsen, Director of Graduate Studies [email protected]

Grievance Advisor, Lisa Arendt, Associate Professor [email protected]

Grievance Advisor, Shigeki Miyamoto, Professor [email protected]

Graduate Program Handbook View Here

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu

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• Cancer Research

Cancer Research (MS)

Print options, graduate committee .

Dr. Joyce Solheim (Chair & Program Director), Dr. Tadayoshi Bessho, Dr. Jennifer Black, Dr. Pi-Wan Cheng, Dr. Babu Guda, Dr. Keith Johnson, Dr. Xu Luo, Dr. Aaron Mohs, Dr. Youri Pavlov, Dr. Angie Rizzino, and Dr. Pankaj Singh

Scientists with Master of Science degrees can make many important contributions related to cancer, which is a very widespread and often deadly disease.  Students have the option of obtaining a Cancer Research MS degree after writing a research thesis (Thesis Option) or without a research thesis (Non-Thesis Option).  Graduates with the UNMC Cancer Research MS degree have taken positions in personalized medicine counseling, in management of research laboratories, and in directing community-based health projects.  

General Requirements

• Completion of at least 30 semester credits beyond the bachelor's degree, including both lecture coursework and research credits 
• Completion of coursework
•  Completion of the comprehensive examination
•  Completion of a research project consistent with a master's level achievement
•  Completion and successful defense of a master's thesis (Thesis Option only)

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Masks Strongly Recommended but Not Required in Maryland, Starting Immediately

Due to the downward trend in respiratory viruses in Maryland, masking is no longer required but remains strongly recommended in Johns Hopkins Medicine clinical locations in Maryland. Read more .

• Vaccines  
• Masking Guidelines
• Visitor Guidelines  

The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

Graduate programs.

Johns Hopkins provides diverse training opportunities in cancer-related graduate training. These Graduate programs are multi-disciplinary and are housed in the School of Medicine, the Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Whiting School of Engineering:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology *
• Cancer Epidemiology *
• Cellular and Molecular Medicine *
• Human Genetics *
• Immunology *
• Nanotechnology for Cancer Research *
• Pathobiology

**These graduate programs are supported by NIH T32 training grants (two are NCI-funded), and the other four are directed by SKCCC Members. To inquire about one of these programs, please contact their respective program Contacts.

Master Degree Program in Genetic Counseling

The Bloomberg School of Public Health, in a joint effort with the Department of Health, Behavior and Society and the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers a Master Degree program in Genetic Counseling . Students rotate in SKCCC clinics, work with SKCCC Genetic Counselors and participate in Molecular Tumor Board with opportunities to develop clinical and research projects in oncology.

Master Degree Programs at Bloomberg School of Public Health with Cancer Emphasis

The Bloomberg School of Public Health offers 9 Master Degree programs in areas of broad relevance to cancer and public health. For example, twenty percent of Masters of Health Science and Masters of Public Health students work on cancer-related topics with SKCCC Members. Additional information may be found here.

Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation (GTPCI)

Clinical scholars who partake in the Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation (GTPCI)  program take part in a joint venture between the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. GTPCI trains clinicians in the rigors of clinical research and provide masters and doctoral training programs.

MSc in Applied Cancer Science

• Entry requirements
• Funding and costs

College preference

• How to apply

About the course

The MSc in Applied Cancer Science is a one-year, full-time course, designed to develop cancer research scientists of the future, whether that be in academia or in industry.

High-quality understanding of fundamental cancer science is the bedrock of future cancer innovations. The main aim of this course is to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the principles of DNA damage and repair processes, the tumour microenvironment, and tumour immunology and to discuss how this science is used in cutting-edge research towards future therapies.

The course is based on a series of overarching learning outcomes, which you will be able to demonstrate on completion of your studies:

• Critically analyse the importance of understanding the DNA damage repair response for cancer research and treatment
• Evaluate how in-depth knowledge of tumour characteristics can be utilised in targeting cancer therapy
• Critically discuss the application of principles of immunology when studying and developing treatments for cancer
• Conduct, and explain the principles behind, essential experimental techniques required in modern cancer science
• Demonstrate originality in the application of existing knowledge and established techniques to create and interpret new developments in cancer science
• Critically discuss the challenges of translating new discoveries in therapeutics for clinical use
• Apply the scientific method to address research questions within the field of cancer science

Compulsory modules

You will take eight compulsory modules, which are delivered in two-week blocks, following on from each other:

• Genome Regulation
• The Cancer Cell
• The Tumour Niche
• Cancer Immunology
• DNA and Cellular Targeted Therapies
• Tumour Microenvironment Targeted Therapies
• Immunological Therapies
• Translational Research Methods and Applications

Modules one to four are delivered in Michaelmas term and cover the underpinning principles of cancer biology, starting at the level of the DNA before covering the behaviour of individual cancer cells, then tumours, and extending out to discuss the interactions between cancer and the immune system by the end of the term.

Modules five to eight are delivered in Hilary term and cover the application of the underpinning principles of cancer science from the previous term to the development of therapeutic strategies to target different characteristics of cancer.

Balance of teaching

You can expect to receive seven to eight lectures and three to four tutorial or practical classes per module. There will also be preparatory reading, independent study tasks, and formative assessments set throughout the course, to be completed in the non-contact hours. Alongside the module specific tutorials, you will also attend a series of compulsory Directors’ Tutorials throughout the year. These cover overarching themes such as critiquing a scientific paper, or essay writing skills, and help to prepare you for specific assessment methods, including the dissertation.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Department of Oncology and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department of Oncology.

You will be assigned a Director of Studies from the course team, who will help you review your progress, and discuss any concerns you have; your Director of Studies and the course administration team will usually be your first port of call for any queries about your studies. You will also have an advisor at your Oxford college, to whom you can turn if you feel you need to discuss your progress, or anything else pertinent to your study, away from the course team. During the research project you will be allocated a project supervisor who will be responsible for your supervision and training. It is recommended that you arrange meetings with your supervisor on a regular basis, at least every two weeks.

Taught modules are assessed by a mixture of submitted coursework, presentations, and timed assessments such as examinations. The taught modules are assessed at the end of the term in which they are delivered. The dissertation is assessed by a written thesis and a poster presentation at the end of the academic year.

You will have the opportunity to submit formative assignments to develop your writing and presenting skills and receive feedback prior to completing your summative assessed work.

Graduate destinations

This course is new for 2023/24 but based on other MSc degrees in the Department of Oncology approximately 40-50% of our graduates go on to study for a doctoral level qualification (DPhil/PhD). We expect that many graduates from this particular course will go on to use their skills within scientific industry roles.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours  in a biological or medical science subject.

Entrance is competitive and most successful applicants will have a first-class degree or the equivalent.

For applicants from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought. 

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• Peer-reviewed publications are not requirement for the course, but will be viewed positively
• Students will be required to complete a DBS check and enhanced security screening for certain research projects. This is completed while on course and will not affect admission, but will affect the research projects available

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Applicants will be shortlisted based on the quality of the application, including relevant professional experience, which will be assessed against the entry requirements for the course.

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process. It is expected that interviews will be scheduled in January, and will normally be held by video conference. The interview panel will consist of a minimum of three academic staff. The purpose of the interview is to:

• establish your level of interest, motivation and potential to benefit from the course of study
• clarify any uncertainties about compliance with requirements
• ensure that you are fully informed of the standard of the achievement and level of commitment required by the course of study; and
• answer any questions you may have. 

You will be notified of the outcome of your interview within four weeks.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

• socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
• country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
• protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Initiatives to improve access to graduate study

This course is taking part in a continuing pilot programme to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, in order to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

For this course, socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.  Further information about how we use your socio-economic data  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

The Department of Oncology is located in the Old Road Campus Research Building, which includes a large communal atrium containing seating and a cafeteria, and houses the Knowledge Centre, one of the Bodleian Health Care Libraries, which offers workspaces, Wi-Fi, IT and printing facilities and subject collections. Students will have access to all of the University’s Bodleian libraries, including the online service SOLO, the University’s online library, which provides access to both e-books and peer-reviewed journals.

Students within the department have access to the Oncology Education Hub, which includes dedicated lecture and tutorial rooms at the heart of the department, alongside an open plan, unassigned seating workspace for masters and first year DPhil students.

There is a regular programme of departmental seminars and poster presentation events, which are open to staff and students. Additionally, the Oncology Student Network coordinate a programme of student only activities, including both academic and social events.

The Department of Oncology has an established graduate training programme for science graduates and clinical research fellows under the leadership of Professor Mark Middleton.

It is one of the largest departments in the University of Oxford’s Medical Sciences Division. It houses over 400 staff and graduate students, both clinical and non-clinical, and brings together research and clinical groups from across Oxford who are based at the Old Road Campus Research Building (ORCRB), the Radiobiology Research Institute (RRI), the Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine (WIMM) and the NHS Cancer and Haematology Centre.

The Department of Oncology offers promising graduates a broad range of multidisciplinary and translational cancer research projects. As a result, its graduates come from a wide range of scientific backgrounds, including biology, medicine, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and physics. The department prides itself on supporting and training the next generation of world leaders in cancer research to ensure its research continues over the long term.

The department ethos is to improve treatment of cancer patients by harnessing Oxford University’s scientific research prowess and translating this into an impactful benefit to cancer patients through our own clinical trials. Working together to achieve this aim, we have renowned experts alongside cutting-edge scientists that collaborate across the university to understand the biology of cancer and how to best adopt new therapeutic strategies in medical and clinical oncology.

Research in the Department of Oncology is focused on the biology of cancer and how to translate discoveries into better treatments for patients. The department research strategy centres around the three core themes of DNA (including DNA damage, repair, and replication), cell and tissue biology (tumour microenvironment), and immuno-oncology (including cancer vaccines and virotherapy). Details of individual research groups  which work within each of these themes can be found on the department website.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the Medical Science Division website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students on the MSc in Applied Cancer Science:

• Green Templeton College
• Magdalen College
• Reuben College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• Trinity College
• University College
• Wolfson College

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines and when to apply  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Referees: Three overall, academic preferred

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

Academic references are preferred. One professional reference is acceptable, but in cases where more than one such reference is sought you should contact the department to explain why this is necessary. 

Your references will be assessed for:

• your intellectual ability
• your academic and professional achievement
• your motivation and interest in the course and subject area; and
• your ability to work effectively both in a group and independently. 

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Personal statement: A maximum of 1,000 words

Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in. 

Your statement will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying
• your ability to present a coherent case in proficient English
• your commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course
• your knowledge of the subject area and research techniques
• your capacity for sustained and intense work
• reasoning ability; and
• your ability to absorb new ideas, often presented abstractly, at a rapid pace.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 1 December 2023 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships

A later deadline shown under 'Admission status' If places are still available,  applications may be accepted after 1 December . The 'Admissions status' (above) will provide notice of any later deadline.

*One-year average (applications for entry in 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Department of Oncology

• Course page on the department's website
• FAQs and  Funding information from the department
• Academic and research staff
• Departmental research
• Medical Sciences Graduate School
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 617410

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

Other courses to consider

You may also wish to consider applying to other courses that are similar or related to this course:

View related courses

• Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Oncology (MSc)
• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Go to programs search

The Interdisciplinary Oncology Program (IOP) is a graduate program designed to appeal to a broad range of students interested in cancer research. IOP offers advanced study and research in a variety of fields relating to oncology, including: molecular and cellular biology, tumour microenvironment, molecular pathology, tumour immunology, biophysics, metastasis, genetics, genetics, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical sciences, radiological sciences, sociobehavioral studies, epidemiology and health economics. The goal of the program is to provide graduate students from diverse backgrounds, with an education in a number of oncology-related disciplines and to provide intensive training opportunities in specialized aspects of cancer research. The IOP has been training the next generation of cancer research leaders since 2001.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

The IOP integrates diverse areas of oncology research by offering two required courses that provide an interdisciplinary perspective of oncology in a form that is accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. In addition to these required courses, IOP students have the freedom to take several elective courses that provide intensive training in one or more subject areas specific to the student's research area, while also giving an opportunity to gain expertise in disciplines that have potential synergy with their primary specialization. An innovative rotation course is a unique option for students to gain hands-on experience by rotating through specialty laboratories. Students have access to UBC Faculty members, scientists, and clinicians through the world-renowned BC Cancer to gain a practical perspective on oncology treatments and outcomes.

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

Students must secure a supervisor before they can be admitted into the program. As well, they must meet the minimum admission requirements set out by Graduate and Post-doctoral Studies at UBC.

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

A B.Sc is the minimum requirement.

Document Requirements

CV, Official transcripts, three letters of reference, Official English exam scores (if required)

2) Meet Deadlines

May 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, september 2025 intake, deadline explanations.

Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.

Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.

Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

• Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Oncology (MSc)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Program components.

Once students are enrolled in the IOP, they will have an opportunity to design a training program that allows for interdisciplinary course selection, intensive research training in a particular area of interest, and potential research rotations through other IOP faculty member's labs to gain insight into research areas outside their specific supervisor's research.

Research Facilities

The majority of IOP supervisors have research programs located off-campus at the BC Cancer Research Institute, the Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, or other hospital-related research buildings. IOP supervisors can also be found on the UBC-Vancouver campus or at BC Cancer facilities in Victoria and Prince George.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

The mandatory minimum stipend for a full time IOP MSc graduate student (Canadian or international) is $24,300 per year. This stipend may be derived from competitive scholarships and/or from the Supervisor’s research funding. Admission to the IOP requires a commitment from the Supervisor to ensure the student will be supported to the minimum funding level for the duration of their studies. Students are not permitted to self-fund their graduate program.

Students must pay tuition from their stipend, with the tuition amount depending on whether the student is domestic or international (see above).

The minimum duration of the annual stipend is normally 2.5 years for an MSc student. If the student has not completed their program requirements after 2.5 years, continued funding is at the discretion of the Supervisor and will depend on satisfactory academic and research progress in consultation with the student’s Supervisory Committee. The Supervisor must inform the student in writing at least six months prior to the end-date of the student's stipend (copied to the IOP office). Termination of funding for other justifiable reasons must be approved by a majority of the IOP Executive Committee.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Options

Graduates have a wide range of options from working in government institutions to academia to biotechnology and bio-pharm companies. Those looking to further their academic career have entered medical school or are pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Canada and abroad.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Oncology (MSc). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates & Times

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Aparicio, Samuel (Breast cancer, genome sequencing )
• Bally, Marcel Bertran (Pancreas centre)
• Baumbusch, Jennifer (long-term residential care, family caregiving, Intellectual Disability, nursing care of older adults )
• Benard, Francois (Medical isotopes Radioisotopes Nuclear Medicine Cancer Imaging Molecular imaging of cancer Radionuclide therapy, Cancer division, radiology, pancreas centre)
• Bennewith, Kevin (Oncology; Molecular Pathology & Cell Biology; Cancer research; Solid tumour microenvironment; Hypoxia; Metastasis research; Pre-metastatic niche; Targeting hypoxic tumour cells in therapy; Radiation biology)
• Brooks-Wilson, Angela (Bioinformatics; Clinical oncology; Genetic medicine; Genomics; cancer families; cancer genetics; genetic susceptibility; human genetics; longevity; Super seniors)
• Brown, Carolyn Janet (Bioinformatics; Clinical oncology; Genetic medicine; Genomics; Health counselling; Applied Genetics; Chromosomes: Structure / Organization; DNA methylation; Epigenetic control of gene expression; Gene Regulation and Expression; Genes escaping X-chromosome inactivation; Long non-coding RNAs; X-chromosome inactivation; XIST RNA)
• Campbell, Kristin (Clinical oncology; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation medicine; Biomarkers; Breast Cancer; Exercise Physiology; oncology; physical function; Physiology; Quality of Life and Aging; rehabilitation)
• Cherkasov, Artem (Drug design; Bioinformatics, Molecular modeling; Proteomics; Artificial intelligence; Antibiotics )
• Collins, Colin (translational genomics where mathematics, genomics, computer science, and clinical science converge in diagnostics and therapeutics)
• Cox, Michael (genetic testing, experiences of hereditary risk, social and ethical implications of genetics, interpersonal and family communication, qualitative research, narrative and story, Prostate cancer)
• Daugaard, Mads (Cancer progression and metastasis; Mechanisms of carcinogenesis; Cancer Diagnosis and Detection; Cancer biology; Cancer diagnostics; Cancer therapy; Cell Signaling and Cancer; Cell Therapy of Cancer; Chemotherapy; DNA damage response pathways; glycobiology; Immunotherapy; Radiotherapy; Cell stress and Cancer; Cell stress signalling in cancer)
• Dedhar, Shoukat (molecular biology, molecular biology as it relates to disease; developing new theraputics for cancer; how brain cells (neurons)make connections, therapeutics for cancer; molecular genetics and cancer; medical research, cancer, inflammatory diseases, cariovascular diseases, Cellular proteins, extracellular martrix, integrins, signal transduction, calreticulin, protein kinase, gene expression, cell differentiation)
• Dong, Xuesen (Cancer progression and metastasis; Gene and molecular therapy; Prostate Cancer; RNA splicing and Gene Regulation; Drug development; Hormone Dependent Cancers; Endocrine Regulation; Premature Labour)
• Drew, Yvette
• Evgin, Laura
• Garnis, Catherine (Cancer biology; Tumor progression; Oral premalignant lesions; Head and neck cancer; RNA biology, microRNAs; Alternative splicing; Biomarkers)
• Gleave, Martin (Infectious diseases, interdisciplinary oncology, prostate)
• Haase, Kristen (Nursing, n.e.c.; oncology; Older Adults; Geriatric oncology; Health systems research; Mixed Methods Research; Qualitative research; Self-management; E-health)
• Hieter, Philip (Molecular biology of eukaryotic chromosome transmission )
• Hirst, Martin (Bioinformatics; Clinical oncology; Genomics; Immunology; Microbiology; Carcinogenesis; Cellular Differentiation; Epigenomics; Leukemia; Molecular Genetics)
• Holt, Robert (Immunogenetics, Metagenomics - Infectious agents in Cancer, Cancer Genomes, Neurobiology, DNA Sequencing)
• Howard, Fuchsia (health service needs of vulnerable, high-risk survivors of acute life-threatening illness, specifically, cancer survivors and survivors of critical illnesses; hereditary cancer prevention and risk management and psychosocial and ethnocultural factors that shape health and illness experiences)
• Huntsman, David (hereditary cancer, molecular pathology, cancer biomarkers, Pancreas centre)
• Jiang, Xiaoyan (Cancer drug development and therapeutics)

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Extracellular vesicles from lung adenocarcinoma cells induce activation of different CAF subtypes
• Glut1 as a driver of improved adoptive T cell therapy
• Demographic, health history, and lifestyle factors in association with biomarkers of colorectal cancer prognosis : a pilot study
• Development of bispecific prostate-specific membrane antigen/fibroblast activation protein (PSMA/FAP) - targeting radiotracers for prostate cancer imaging
• The impact of clinical audit and feedback on radiotherapy prescribing practices : a randomized controlled trial
• Investigation of skin dynamic response after precise multiphoton-thermolysis using non-invasive multimodality microscopy and imaging-guided micro-Raman spectroscopy
• Development and evaluation of radioimaging agents targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen
• Evaluation of circulating miRNA signatures as a blood test for the early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• Using radioimmunoconjugates to target quiescent tumour cells via cancer stem cell and hypoxia-induced markers : an approach against metastatic disease and therapeutic resistance
• Investigation into the early pathogenesis of lynch syndrome associated endometrial cancer
• Development of a CARS-based multimodal microscopy system for biological tissue imaging
• Reactivation of fetal miRNAs and restoration of fetal isomiR patterns in lung adenocarcinoma

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD)

Further Information

Specialization.

Interdisciplinary Oncology offers advanced study and research in a variety of fields relating to oncology. The focus on interdisciplinarity is accomplished through a breadth of coverage in the following disciplines: molecular and cellular biology, genetics, biophysics, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical sciences, radiological sciences, immunology, socio-behavioural studies, and epidemiology.

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• Postgraduate study
• Taught degree programmes A‑Z
• Cancer Research & Precision Oncology

Postgraduate taught  

Cancer Research & Precision Oncology MSc

Watch the latest Ask Your Academic webinar to find our more about this programme. Watch now .

With a 'bench to bedside' approach, this programme enables graduates to work within a multidisciplinary environment of world-leading scientists and cancer-specialists addressing the latest challenges in cancer research. 

• Academic contact: [email protected] 
• Teaching start: September
• Glasgow: Garscube campus and Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus
• MSc: 12 months full-time

Why this programme

• Train to break down barriers currently preventing discoveries at the bench from being translated into treatments at the bedside.   
• Learn to communicate effectively in a multidisciplinary environment, critically evaluate a wide range of scientific data and research strategies.
• Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting, in part, the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).

Career prospects

Whether you aim to pursue a PhD or further medical studies, seek a career in the health services sector, life sciences, biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries, this Masters in Cancer Research & Precision Oncology will prepare you.

The knowledge and transferable skills developed in this programme will be suitable for:

• those contemplating a PhD or further medical studies
• anyone wishing to work in the health services sector
• students interested in working within life sciences, biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries, including contract research organisations (CROs).

This programme is designed for:

• healthcare professionals
• scientists working in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries
• students with undergraduate degrees in the life sciences

Related job positions include:

• haematology doctor (NHS)
• medical laboratory scientist
• microbiologist
• scientific officer
• scientific publishing assistant

Some graduates also went on to study for PhDs in cancer sciences, medicine, precision medicine.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2024-25

• Full-time fee: £11130

International & EU

• Full-time fee: £30240

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of  £2000 within four weeks  of an offer being made.

Deposits: terms & conditions

This programme requires some students to pay a deposit to secure their place.

If you are an international student, we will only issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) once the deposit has been paid.

Your offer letter will state:

• how to pay the deposit payment
• the deadline for paying the deposit

The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% handling fee will be deducted.

Deposits will be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

• Where the University is unable to offer you a place.
• Where the applicant has personal circumstances such as illness, bereavement or other family situations that has prevented them coming to the UK. Medical or other proof may be requested.
• Applicant can prove that they have applied for a visa to attend the University of Glasgow, but the VISA has been refused. The applicant must have shown 'real intent' to study at the University of Glasgow but has been unable to obtain their visa.
• Applicant does not meet his / her conditions of offer: this may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide a language test which was taken after the date that the deposit was paid).

Deposits will not be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

• Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and credit it against the applicant’s account for securing their place for the following year of entry.

Refund requests must be made within 30 days of the programme start date stated on your offer letter.

Requests made after this date will be subject to discretion.

• Find out more about Deposits

Additional fees

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
• Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

• GREAT Scholarship for Science and Technology 2024- India

In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, University of Glasgow is offering a scholarship to students in India applying for postgraduate courses in Science and Technology.

The scholarship offers financial support of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK.

• Southeast Asia Distinction Award

The University of Glasgow is excited to announce the new Southeast Asia Distinction Award for highly qualified students from this region. This scholarship is available to students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme on any eligible degree programme for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.

• GREAT Scholarships 2024- Greece, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey

In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, University of Glasgow is offering 4 scholarships to students in Greece, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey applying for postgraduate courses in any subject (excluding MBA and MSc by Research courses). All eligible courses can be viewed under the 'eligible programmes' tab on this webpage. 

The scholarship offers financial support of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

• Banco de Mexico

The Mexican National Bank (Banco de Mexico) provides special loans for students who wish to undertake a programme of postgraduate study. The University of Glasgow in partnership with Bank of Mexico FIDERH is offering a fee discount to holders of a Bank of Mexico FIDERH loan. See the FIDERH website for further information.

• PGT Excellence Scholarship

The University of Glasgow has a total of 20 PGT Excellence Scholarships available to UK students entering any of the University’s Colleges.

• Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans

Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans are EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms. They’re designed to help prospective students finance their Master’s courses in an Erasmus+ Programme country while leaving as little of a lasting economic footprint as possible.

The scheme is designed to provide postgraduate students with the means to pay their tuition and living expenses – thereby allowing individuals to focus on their degree instead of managing their bank balance. The programme aims to be as inclusive as possible, working under the following guidelines:

• No need for collateral from students or parents - ensuring equality of access
• Favourable, better-than-market interest rates
• Pay-back terms that allow graduates up to two years to find work before beginning repayment.

Please visit the  Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans website  for more information.

• Climate Leadership Scholarships

Cop26 was held in Glasgow from 31 st October – 12 th November 2021 and the University of Glasgow recognises the importance of universities in tackling the climate emergency. Glasgow is part of the newly formed  Cop26 Universities Network , a growing group of over 80 universities working together to promote a zero-carbon future. Alongside vital research being carried out by our academics, Glasgow recognises that urgent action is needed on our campuses, and we aim to be carbon neutral by 2030.  We believe that the climate emergency can only be addressed by implementing long-term sustainability policies and our Green Glasgow strategy details our action plan for the next decade.

In recognition of the vital need for action to combat the climate emergency the University of Glasgow is excited to launch our Climate Leadership Scholarships. We have 20 scholarships available to UK students entering any of our Colleges on a PGT programme which engages with the climate emergency.

As a world-changing research-led University we are committed to supporting the next generation of researchers working across disciplines to address the climate emergency.

• DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant

The University of Glasgow will offer a full tuition waiver to those students that successfully apply and are nominated by DAAD to the University. DAAD offers a monthly stipend of EUR 1,100 (for the academic year 2024/2025) and travel bursary of EUR 250.00 as well as health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage in addition to the full tuition fee waiver from the University of Glasgow.

Wichtige Hinweise zu DAAD-Stipendien - DAAD (general info on DAAD tuition fee reimbursement)

Current list of tuition reduction / waiving offers (not including U Glasgow yet) : Stipendien für ein Masterstudium im Ausland - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst

• Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Scholarships are the UK government's global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The scholarships are awarded to outstanding scholars with leadership potential. Awards are typically for a one year Master’s degree at universities across the UK. There are over 50,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who together comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.

For further information, please refer to the  Chevening website .

• Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia

The University of Glasgow offer discounts to all successful Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia (Colfuturo) scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

• Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Schemes

Commonwealth Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are offered to citizens from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The majority of Scholarships are funded by the UK  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO ),  with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth.

• Vice Chancellor EU Award

The University of Glasgow continues to be committed to ensuring a strong relationship with our existing and future EU students, and supporting EU talent to make their home at the University of Glasgow.  

We appreciate the challenging financial implications that have arisen for our European applicants, and are therefore delighted to offer the Vice Chancellor EU Award to highly qualified new incoming EU students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.  This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

Applicants that graduated from the University of Glasgow or completed a Study Abroad year, Exchange programme or International Summer School at the University of Glasgow, are eligible for the Alumni discount and this can be combined with the Vice Chancellor EU Award.

• EU Welcome Award

We appreciate the challenging financial implications that have arisen for our European applicants, and are therefore delighted to offer the EU Welcome Award to new incoming EU students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a £5,000 tuition fee discount.  This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

Applicants that graduated from the University of Glasgow or completed a Study Abroad year, Exchange programme or International Summer School at the University of Glasgow, are eligible for the Alumni discount and this can be combined with the EU Welcome Award.

• University of Glasgow African Excellence Award

The University of Glasgow African Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers.  We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.  

The University is offering up to 15 scholarships for International students from Africa, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.  

• Emerging Asia Award

The University of Glasgow is proud to introduce an exciting new award designed to support students from a selection of underrepresented 'frontier and developing' Asian countries . 

The University of Glasgow is offering 8 scholarships for highly qualified international students from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Students must be starting a one-year postgraduate taught masters programme, in any discipline, for the academic session 2024/25. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver with stipend for one year that can not be combined with any other scholarships. 

• University of Glasgow African Partners Award

The University of Glasgow African Partners Awards aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers.  We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.  The scholarship is exclusively for students, alumni and staff of the University partners across Africa:  African Partners List 2024 .

The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for International students from Africa, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2023/24.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.  

Applicants much hold an offer of a place for a postgraduate taught one year Masters programme for September 2024 intake (offer is not needed to apply but applicants will require an offer to be considered for interview, and should take programme application timelines into consideration as detailed on programme webpages)

• University of Glasgow Caribbean Partners Award

The University of Glasgow Caribbean Partners Awards aims to support high achieving students from our partner The University of the West Indies in their journey to become Future World Changers.  We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.  The scholarship is exclusively for students, alumni and staff of The University of the West Indies.  

The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for students, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.  

Those who apply must hold an offer of a place for a postgraduate taught one year Masters programme for September 2024 intake (offer is not needed to apply but applicants will require an offer to be considered for interview, and should take programme application timelines into consideration as detailed on programme webpages);

• University of Glasgow International Leadership Scholarship

The University of Glasgow has several International Leadership Scholarships available to International students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fees discount.

• University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award

The University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across the Caribbean in their journey to become Future World Changers.  We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.  

The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for International students from the Caribbean, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.  

• CONICyT (La Comsion Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica de Chile)

The University of Glasgow offers a 25% discount to all successful CONICyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

• University of Glasgow Chancellor's Award

The University of Glasgow has 40 Chancellors Award Scholarships available to students from low and middle income countries, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline, in academic session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.

• India Merit Award

The University of Glasgow is proud to announce a new India Merit award for 2024 entry to acknowledge highly qualified Indian postgraduate taught offer holders. The scholarship is awarded as a £5,000 tuition fee discount. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

• University of Glasgow Chancellor's Award (Nigeria)

The University of Glasgow has 10 Chancellors Award Scholarships available to Nigerian students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline in academic session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.

• CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement

CONACYT offers a non-refundable scholarship, a monthly stipend and medical insurance of an approximate total of $20,000 USD (in the case of the UK, no medical insurance grant is given since students are already covered by the National Health System) The University of Glasgow offer a 30% discount to all successful CONACyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

• Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)

Eligible full-time and part-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £7,000 towards their course. Eligible full-time postgraduate students can apply for a living-cost loan of up to £4,500.  

This support extends to online Masters or Postgraduate Diplomas, and not to the online Postgraduate Certificate courses.

For more information visit the SAAS website .

• Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)

If you’re an English student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan. Students from England are able to apply for a non-means tested   Postgraduate Master’s Loan  of up to £11,570   to help with course fees and living costs. You have to  repay your Postgraduate Master’s Loan  at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

If you’re studying by distance learning, you can also apply.

• Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students

If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.

* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes

Postgraduate Master's Finance

If you’re starting a full-time or part-time Postgraduate Master’s course (taught or research based) from 1 August 2019, you can apply for Postgraduate Master's Finance and receive up to £17,000 as a combination of grant and loan:

• a maximum grant of £6,885 and loan of £10,115 if your household income is £18,370 and below
• a grant of £1,000 and loan of £16,000 if your household income is not taken into account or is above £59,200.

For more information visit  Student Finance Wales

Postgraduate Doctoral Loan

If you’re starting a full-time or part-time postgraduate Doctoral course (such as a PhD) from 1 August 2019 you can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £25,700.

• Alumni Discount

In response to the current unprecedented economic climate, the University is offering a 20% discount on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni, commencing study in Academic session 2024/25. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, International Summer School programme or the Erasmus Programme at the University of Glasgow. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships.

• Postgraduate Access Scholarship

The University of Glasgow is pleased to be offering Postgraduate Access Scholarships to support Home students who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University. Applications are particularly welcomed from applicants who met any of our widening participation criteria , or equivalent, at undergraduate level. The value of each scholarship is £4,000 and they are for students undertaking a one or two year Taught Masters programme. For two year Taught Masters programmes, the scholarship is available in year one only.

• Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)

If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.

Northern Irish students are able to apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, to help with the costs of funding.

For more information visit  www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/postgraduate  .

• Sanctuary Scholarships

The University of Glasgow is offering up to 20 Sanctuary Scholarships for applicants to the University, who have been forced to travel to the UK for humanitarian reasons and are facing challenges in progressing onto Higher Education. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2024/25. Please note that you must have applied to the University before submitting an application for this scholarship. The scholarship will meet the cost of tuition fees for the duration of your programme, for applicants who are unable to access mainstream funding through Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance . The Sanctuary Scholarship also provides a £5,000 per year stipend, to assist with study costs. In addition, if the eligibility criteria for university accommodation is met, this will also be provided for the duration of your degree, if required. For more information on the accommodation criteria, please see the  Accommodation Services section  on the website.

Undergraduate students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs only, if successful.

Postgraduate Taught Masters students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs and a partial tuition fee waiver, to cover any shortfall not met by your Postgraduate Masters tuition fee loan.

• The Dima Alhaj Scholarship

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship was set up in 2024 in memory of University of Glasgow alumna and World Health Organisation employee Dima Alhaj, who was tragically killed in in Gaza in November 2023.  The Scholarship is open to  a Palestinian National who  is living in, or  has been forced to leave the State of Palestine due to humanitarian reasons.  The chosen applicant may be domiciled in any country but must be a Palestinian National.  The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught applicants to the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2024/25.

• The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Clan Gregor Society is offering an award to new entrants to the University of Glasgow who descend from Clan Gregor. Prospective students will be asked to submit an application highlighting areas of consideration such as academic excellence and financial need. The award is open to both Undergraduate and Postgraduate applicants for 2024 entry.

The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

A 2:1 Honours degree in biochemistry, biotechnology, cell biology, genetics, immunology, molecular biology, medicine or other relevant biological/biomedical science. Professional experience and 2:2 applicants with a strong subject specific expertise will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

An IELTS score of at least 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent qualification) is required for students who do not have English as their first language.

When applying, please include a CV and personal statement that explains how your previous studies provide a suitable background for this programme.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test
• IELTS One Skill Retake accepted.

Common equivalent English language qualifications

Toefl (ibt, mybest or athome).

• 79; with Reading 13; Listening 12; Speaking 18; Writing 21
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

• 59 with minimum 59 in all subtests
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) 

• 176 overall, no subtest less than 169

Oxford English Test

• Oxford ELLT 7
• R&L: OIDI level no less than 6 with Reading: 21-24 Listening: 15-17
• W&S: OIDI level no less than 6.

Trinity College Tests

• Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

• Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

• students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country  and within the last 6 years
• students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country  and within the last 6 years

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

• School of Modern Languages and Cultures: English for Academic Study
• BALEAP guide to accredited courses

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our  enquiry form

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.

• Find out more about entry requirements and other country-specific information
• International student support & visas

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

• A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
• A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
• Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
• One reference letter on headed paper
• Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
• Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
• A copy of the photo page of your passport (Non-EU students only)

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see  how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see  Application System Help .

• Name and Date of birth:  must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
• Contact Details : Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
• Choice of course : Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
• Proposed date of entry:  Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
• Education and Qualifications : Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
• English Language Proficiency : Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
• Employment and Experience : Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference : Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

September 2024, international applicants.

As there is extremely high demand for places on this degree programme, the University has established an application process with application rounds. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants and should support applications being open for the full admission cycle.

Round 1 application dates

1 October 2023 to 1st December 2023 . You will receive our decision on your application by 29 January 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 5 January 2024 .

Round 2 application dates

2 December 2023 to 1 February 2024 . You will receive our decision on your application by 1 April 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 8 March 2024 .

Round 3 application dates

2 February 2024 to 1 April 2024 . You will receive our decision on your application by 20 May 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 3 May 2024 .

Round 4 application dates

2 April 2024 to 15 May 2024 . You will receive our decision on your application by 1 July 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 7 June 2024 .

Round 5 application dates

16 May 2024 to 1 July 2024 . You will receive our decision on your application by 4 August 2024 . Please note highly qualified applicants with, or on course for, a UK 1st or equivalent should expect to receive a decision on their application by 19 July 2024 . 

As we receive a great number of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply once per year.

Home applicants

• 16 August 2024

Applications received after the final deadline may be considered and any offers will be made based on remaining programme capacity.

More information about this programme

• Programme aims
• Research projects
• What our students say

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Related links

• About postgraduate study
• How to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
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100 Best colleges for Oncology and Cancer research in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Oncology and Cancer research. A graph of 66.2M citations received by 1.59M academic papers made by 537 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

For Oncology and Cancer research

2. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

3. Johns Hopkins University

4. University of California - San Francisco

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

6. Stanford University

7. University of Pennsylvania

8. Cornell University

9. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

10. University of California - Los Angeles

11. Baylor College of Medicine

12. University of Washington - Seattle

13. Yale University

14. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

15. University of California-San Diego

16. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

17. Washington University in St Louis

18. University of Chicago

19. University of Southern California

20. Northwestern University

21. Ohio State University

22. University of Pittsburgh

23. Columbia University

24. Emory University

25. New York University

26. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

27. University of Wisconsin - Madison

28. University of Alabama at Birmingham

29. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

30. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

31. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

32. Vanderbilt University

33. Case Western Reserve University

34. Wayne State University

35. Oregon Health & Science University

36. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

37. Duke University

38. Boston University

39. Georgetown University

40. University of Miami

41. University of Utah

42. Thomas Jefferson University

43. University of Illinois at Chicago

44. University of Maryland, Baltimore

45. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

46. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

47. University of Arizona

48. University of Virginia

49. University of California - Davis

50. University of Florida

51. University of South Florida

52. Tufts University

53. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

54. University of California - Irvine

55. University of Iowa

56. University of Nebraska Medical Center

57. University of California - Berkeley

58. University of Kentucky

59. Wake Forest University

60. Medical University of South Carolina

61. University of Rochester

62. Medical College of Wisconsin

63. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

64. Brown University

65. Pennsylvania State University

66. University of Louisville

67. Providence College

68. Rockefeller University

69. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

70. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

71. Tulane University of Louisiana

72. Florida College

73. University of Cincinnati

74. Virginia Commonwealth University

75. Dartmouth College

76. University of Texas Medical Branch

77. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

78. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

79. temple university.

80. University of New Mexico

81. Stony Brook University

82. Michigan State University

83. University at Buffalo

84. Augusta University

85. Seattle University

86. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

87. Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope

88. George Washington University

89. University of Missouri - Columbia

90. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

91. New York Medical College

92. Purdue University

93. Princeton University

94. Texas A&M University - College Station

95. University of Texas at Austin

96. University of Vermont

97. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

98. Albany Medical College

99. Texas Tech University

100. Creighton University

The best cities to study Oncology and Cancer research in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge , Houston , Baltimore , and San Francisco .

Medicine subfields in the United States

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

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Discover more about Biosciences at Manchester

MSc Cancer Research and Molecular Biomedicine / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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We require a minimum of an Upper Second class honours degree with an average of at least 65% (or overseas equivalent) in:

• biological sciences
• biomedical sciences

with sufficient evidence of relevant units taken related to cancer.

Please note we are generally unable to consider applicants with a medical (MBChB/MBBS/MD) or pharmacy degree for this programme unless they are able to demonstrate that they have significant laboratory or research experience. If your undergraduate degree is in medicine or pharmacy, please contact us prior to making an application, providing details of your biology related lab skills and experience.

Full entry requirements

Please apply viaour online application form . See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

We also offer the Transformative Oncology course, which is 100% online and part-time. This course is research-led, clinically relevant and medically applicable education for those who want to gain a greater perspective and understanding of the field of oncology to improve outcomes for patients with cancer.

You may also consider the Oncology Research course to develop your skills in cancer research. This MSc develops your understanding of the scientific basis of cancer and its treatments and how to evaluate the potential effectiveness of new treatments.

Course options

Course overview

• Take a research-focused master's course where you will learn through seminars, workshops, small group tutorials and research placements.
• Your research placement will be in the laboratory of a leading cancer scientist where you will perform experiments on a dedicated and original cancer project and develop your skills in relevant lab techniques, data management as well as the various forms of science communication to present your project.
• Study at a university ranked 7th in the UK for Biological Sciences (QS World University Rankings 2024).
• Prepare for a career in the biosciences industry or academic research.

Are you an international student considering a master’s before progressing onto a self-funded PhD? Learn more about applying for our Integrated PhD programme .

Alumni Panel Session on Monday 29 April, 2-3pm. Join our online panel of biosciences graduates and find out about studying master’s at Manchester, and the careers this can lead to. Book your place here . 

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• MSc (full-time) UK students (per annum): £14,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £34,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK students (fees are typically fixed for International students for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees. Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Contact details, courses in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

• Biological Sciences
• Biomedical Sciences
• Cancer Biology
• Molecular Biology

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

London, Bloomsbury

The Cancer MSc reflects the depth and breadth of research interests, from basic science to translational medicine, within the UCL Cancer Institute. The programme, taught by research scientists and academic clinicians, provides students with an in-depth look at the biology behind the disease processes which lead to cancer.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Applications closed

Applications open

• Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university in a relevant discipline such as life sciences or medicine or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This pioneering programme offers a foundation in understanding cancer as a disease process and its associated therapies.

You will learn about the approaches taken to predict, detect, monitor, and treat cancer, alongside the cutting-edge research methods and techniques used to advance our understanding of this disease and design better treatment strategies.

You will experience being fully immersed within a research-intensive environment by completing a 3.5-month research project, where you will learn invaluable research skills. The modules on the programme align with the research strengths of the UCL Cancer Institute, with a continued focus on innovations in translational cancer medicine.

You will emerge with the skills to pursue further a career within cancer research or within an industrial or healthcare setting.

Who this course is for

The programme is designed for those with qualifications in life sciences, scientists, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals including individuals from the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The knowledge and transferable skills developed are suitable for those in an industrial or healthcare setting, and for students contemplating further PhD or medical studies.

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities.

• UCL is one of Europe's largest and most productive centres of biomedical science, with an international reputation for leading basic, translational and clinical cancer research.
• The UCL Cancer Institute brings together scientists from various disciplines to synergise multidisciplinary research into cancer.
• Our expertise includes the molecular pathology of cancer, signalling pathways in cancer, epigenetic changes in cancer, targeted drug design and antibody-directed therapies, stem cell therapy and cancer immunotherapy, and national and international clinical trials in solid tumours and blood cancers.
• Our education team are experienced and equipped with the latest learning innovations and teaching techniques, giving you an unparalleled education.

Making an impact

Case study: Catching and treating more prostate cancers worldwide

Thanks to UCL research, millions of men each year benefit from more accurate diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer with significantly fewer side effects.

The foundation of your career

MSc Cancer graduates have been successful in securing positions within the Cancer Institute, either as research assistants/technicians, PhD students or data managers within the Cancer Clinical Trials Unit.

What's really cool at UCL is the fact that we have every clinician, every researcher that has made a big difference to cancer research at our fingertips. I think this is the best place to study cancer. Georgia Constantinou Cancer, MSc Learn more about Georgia

Employability

You will develop skills including how to critically evaluate scientific literature, experimental planning and design, interpretation of data and results, presentation/public speaking skills, time management, working with a team, working independently, and writing for various audiences.

These knowledge and skills will be suitable for anyone contemplating a PhD or medical studies in cancer or for those interested in careers in an industrial or healthcare setting.

We offer regular research seminars within the Cancer Institute and the Faculty of Medical Sciences where you can meet and hear from expert speakers from academia, industry, and clinics. We encourage students to broaden their skills and expand their networks by attending and participating at advertised conferences.

Teaching and learning

You will develop your knowledge and understanding of cancer through the following:

• small group tutorials
• database mining
• laboratory-based practicals
• clinical trial evaluations
• research training
• assigned reading
• self-learning.

Each taught module is assessed by an unseen written examination, presentation and/or coursework. The research project is assessed by the dissertation and oral presentation.

The MSc Cancer is a full-time degree. Teaching may be scheduled throughout the working week.

During the core and specialist modules, a typical week might involve around 15 hours of lectures and tutorials over three working days. However, this will vary between weeks and between different modules. The remainder of the time is intended for independent study.

During the research project, students will typically attend their research group full-time.

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, full-time nine months) is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, full-time 15 weeks) is offered.

The programme comprises five taught modules (three compulsory, two optional), and the research dissertation. The first term consists of two core modules ('Basic Biology and Cancer Genetics' and 'Cancer Therapeutics') which provide a fundamental understanding of cancer biology and treatment. In the second term, you will take three modules. You will take a research skills module, 'Cancer Research Skills' and have the option to choose between two optional specialist modules. Either 'Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy', which explores the interaction between cancer and the immune system and its potential as a cancer therapy or ‘Cancer Omics and Evolution’ which will introduce you to the realms of cancer omics, exploring large omics datasets and the basic concepts of cancer evolution. Further, will also choose between two optional modules that will broaden your knowledge. 'Behavioural Science in Cancer' considers how patients and the public are influenced by cancer as a disease. 'Cancer Clinical Trials' explores how discoveries from the laboratory are safely and reliably taken forward into clinical testing. In the third term, you will apply your knowledge, technical and analytical skills to investigate a novel research hypothesis in a research project. 

Compulsory modules

Optional modules.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Cancer. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Cancer. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Cancer.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Where you'll study

At the UCL Cancer Institute, you will join a scientific community of over 400 talented scientists. We are dedicated to discovering new techniques in cancer detection and treatment that can make a different to the lives of cancer patients. Our undergraduate, taught masters and PhD programmes reflect the depth and breadth of research expertise within the UCL Cancer Institute. Teaching is predominantly based at the Hampstead and Bloomsbury campuses.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Cancer MSc Q&A

The Cancer MSc reflects the depth and breadth of research interests, from basic science to translational medicine, within the UCL Cancer Institute. The programme provides students with an in-depth look at the biology behind the disease processes which lead to cancer. In this session, Dr Sarah Koushyar will highlight some recent research and outline the structure of the MSc programme. Along with a summary of the programme, there will also be a Q&A at the end. This event is open to all.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis .

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Certain research projects, depending upon the activities involved, may require a Hepatitis B vaccination. The current cost of the vaccine is £50 per dose (£150 total), according to NHS.UK .

Although most of the teaching is conducted in Bloomsbury, you may occasionally need to travel to other sites (e.g. Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead) for some activities. These are usually within London, so additional travel costs should be low. (Single fare information is available at  Transport for London .)

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees .

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

• why you want to study this programme at graduate level
• why you want to study this programme at UCL
• what particularly attracts you to this programme
• how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
• where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Cancer Institute

[email protected]

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students .

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Graduate Coursework

Master of Cancer Sciences

• Arrow-right #1 University in Australia
• Arrow-right #13 University globally
• Course code: MC-CNCRSC

Course overview

With the rising incidence of cancer across the globe, there is a projected shortage of skilled practitioners in the oncology workforce. The Master of Cancer Sciences, Australia’s first cancer-specific, multidisciplinary, and wholly online program, and one of only two such online programs available in the world, has been designed to meet this growing need.

Developed in collaboration with experts from the VCCC Alliance and the University of Melbourne, you will gain an unprecedented breadth of integrated, cutting-edge, specialist cancer knowledge. This program will equip you with skills to produce high-quality research and deliver best practice cancer care to your patients in this rapidly-evolving field.

Who is this course for?

Promoting a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, this program is open to scientists and clinicians from a variety of backgrounds:

• Medical practitioners such as general practitioners, surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and haematologists
• Allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists
• Pharmacists
• Research scientists and Clinical trials professionals
• Industry and pharmaceutical professionals.

International students are welcome to study this course. However, please note that this course is not available to international students who require a student visa to study in Australia as it does not meet the onshore study requirements and it is not registered with CRICOS.

Course aims

This course is designed to produce leaders in the fields of cancer care, research, prevention and education. Through this innovative program, you will learn to connect the latest evidence-based theory to practical skills that improve the clinical care of patients with cancer. Students have the unique opportunity to learn from world-leading experts, be at the forefront of cancer research and clinical care and connect with global health professional communities in the field.

The Master of Cancer Sciences is part of a suite of courses, designed for versatility. You can transform a Graduate Certificate into a Master, or start with a Master and exit early with a Specialist Certificate.

• Graduate Certificate in Cancer Sciences
• Specialist Certificate in Cancer Sciences

Related study areas

• Biological sciences
• Biomedical sciences
• Health sciences
• Population and global health

Contact-support How can we help?

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PhD Program

MIT Biological Engineering’s mission is to generate and communicate new knowledge in the application of engineering principles in biological systems and to educate leaders in our discipline. We focus at the interface of engineering and biology on combining quantitative, physical, and integrative engineering principles with modern life sciences research. MIT BE offers a graduate PhD degree, and only accepts PhD applications through the annual Departmental process for admission fall term of the following year.

PhD-level training in BE prepares students to conduct research that will:

• Explain how biological systems function in terms of biological/chemical/physical mechanisms, and how they respond when perturbed by endogenous, environmental, and therapeutic factors
• Engineer innovative technologies based on this understanding and apply technologies to address societal needs across all sectors including, but not limited to, biomedicine
• Establish new biology-based paradigms for solving problems in areas of science and engineering that have not historically been impacted by biological approaches

In addition, PhD-level training in BE prepares students to translate this research for positive impact in the world by developing skills to:

• Explain technical subject matter clearly, accurately, and in a compelling and contextual manner for a range of audiences
• Engage collaboratively in diverse teams to contribute biological engineering expertise needed for multidisciplinary projects
• Exercise intellectual and operational leadership to advance on goals in technically and organizationally complex scenarios
• Exhibit integrity and ethical judgment in the design of research and the application of research results

Degree Requirements

BE PhD students complete two core courses in the first year, supplemented with four additional electives ( Course Requirements ). Individual students pace their own progress through elective coursework in consultation with their academic advisor.

In addition to the course requirements, students present an oral thesis qualifying exam to be completed by the end of the fall term in their third year.

BE PhD students complete research rotations in the fall and winter of their first year and select a BE Faculty member as a research and thesis advisor. Students carry out thesis research with the guidance and support of their advisor and a thesis committee formed by the student. Technical communication is an important part of the BE PhD curriculum. Students gain and practice scientific communication skills through one or more terms of teaching experience at the graduate or undergraduate level and research-focused activities including poster and oral presentations at Departmental events including our retreat, the Bioengineering and Toxicology Seminar (BATS) seminar series, and culminating in delivery of a written PhD thesis and oral defense of their thesis work.

For More Information

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Please contact the BE Graduate Academic Office for additional information regarding BE educational programs.

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame News

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Researchers develop affordable, rapid blood test for brain cancer

Published: August 27, 2024

Author: Brandi Wampler

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have developed a novel, automated device capable of diagnosing glioblastoma, a fast-growing and incurable brain cancer, in less than an hour. The average glioblastoma patient survives 12-18 months after diagnosis.

The crux of the diagnostic is a biochip that uses electrokinetic technology to detect biomarkers, or active Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (EGFRs), which are overexpressed in certain cancers such as glioblastoma and found in extracellular vesicles.

“Extracellular vesicles or exosomes are unique nanoparticles secreted by cells. They are big — 10 to 50 times bigger than a molecule — and they have a weak charge. Our technology was specifically designed for these nanoparticles, using their features to our advantage,” said Hsueh-Chia Chang , the Bayer Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Notre Dame and lead author of the study about the diagnostic published in Communications Biology.

The challenge for researchers was two-fold: to develop a process that could distinguish between active and non-active EGFRs, and create a diagnostic technology that was sensitive yet selective in detecting active EGFRs on extracellular vesicles from blood samples.

To do this, researchers created a biochip that uses an inexpensive, electrokinetic sensor about the size of a ball in a ballpoint pen. Due to the size of the extracellular vesicles, antibodies on the sensor can form multiple bonds to the same extracellular vesicle. This method significantly enhances the sensitivity and selectivity of the diagnostic.

Then synthetic silica nanoparticles “report” the presence of active EGFRs on the captured extracellular vesicles, while bringing a high negative charge. When extracellular vesicles with active EGFRs are present, a voltage shift can be seen, indicating the presence of glioblastoma in the patient.

This charge-sensing strategy minimizes interference common in current sensor technologies that use electrochemical reactions or fluorescence.

“Our electrokinetic sensor allows us to do things other diagnostics cannot,” said Satyajyoti Senapati , a research associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Notre Dame and co-author of the study. “We can directly load blood without any pretreatment to isolate the extracellular vesicles because our sensor is not affected by other particles or molecules. It shows low noise and makes ours more sensitive for disease detection than other technologies.”

In total, the device includes three parts: an automation interface, a prototype of a portable machine that administers materials to run the test and the biochip. Each test requires a new biochip, but the automation interface and prototype are reusable.

Running one test takes under an hour, requiring only 100 microliters of blood. Each biochip costs less than $2 in materials to manufacture.

Although this diagnostic device was developed for glioblastoma, the researchers say it can be adapted for other types of biological nanoparticles. This opens up the possibility for the technology to detect a number of different biomarkers for other diseases. Chang said the team is exploring the technology for diagnosing pancreatic cancer and potentially other disorders such as cardiovascular disease , dementia and epilepsy.

“Our technique is not specific to glioblastoma, but it was particularly appropriate to start with it because of how deadly it is and the lack of early screening tests available,” Chang said. “Our hope is that if early detection is more feasible, then there is an increased chance of survival.”

Blood samples for testing the device were provided by the Centre for Research in Brain Cancer at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia.

In addition to Chang and Senapati, other collaborators include former postdocs at Notre Dame Nalin Maniya and Sonu Kumar; Jeffrey Franklin, James Higginbotham and Robert Coffey from Vanderbilt University; and Andrew Scott and Hui Gan from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health Common Fund.

Chang and Senapati are affiliated with Notre Dame’s Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health , the Harper Cancer Research Institute and NDnano .

Contact: Brandi Wampler, associate director of media relations, 574-631-2632, [email protected]

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Marine Sciences

Master of science (ms) in oceanography.

Develop your research and inquiry skills for a career in marine sciences or to pursue advanced graduate studies.

Admissions Requirements

Resources for Graduate Students

Program Details

The Master of Science (MS) in Oceanography is offered as a research-oriented Plan A (thesis) program and as a course-based Plan B program. While many students go onto advanced graduate studies, others pursue careers with state and federal agencies, educational institutions, and environmental consulting firms.

We offer graduate courses in several specialties, including:

• Biological oceanography .
• Physical oceanography .
• Chemical/geological oceanography .

Nearly all students accepted into our program receive a graduate assistantship , which includes a tuition waiver, stipend , and optional medical benefits. Find more information on our Financial Aid page. Students not supported on graduate assistantships are accepted with other funding sources (e.g., NSF-GFRP and GI Bill).

Application Deadlines

Fall semester.

Priority deadline: Jan. 5 . Applications accepted through July.

Spring Semester

Priority deadline: Oct. 1

Apply to UConn

Degree Requirements

Master of science (ms) in oceanography - plan a.

This program requires 21 credits of advanced coursework, including at least 12 credits of graduate MARN coursework, nine GRAD 5950 credits, and completion of a research project, the results of which are reported in a thesis. Most master’s students are in the Plan A program.

Master of Science (MS) in Oceanography - Plan B

This program requires 30 credits of advanced coursework, including at least 12 credits of graduate MARN coursework, and a final examination. No research project is required.

4+1 BS/MS Program

UConn students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marine sciences can apply to use up to 12 credits of graduate coursework taken as an undergraduate towards both their BS and MS. For students in the accelerated program, the MS degree (Plan B) can be earned in a single year after finishing the BS. Find more information on the program page .

Our academic program is developed around a two-tiered structure:

• Four courses (MARN 5010 Biological Oceanography, MARN 5030 Chemical Oceanography, MARN 5050 Marine Geology, and MARN 5065 Physical Oceanography) are designed to provide a core understanding of the basic sub-disciplines of oceanography.
• A series of more specialized courses are offered to meet the student's individual needs and goals.

We recommend that all students in our program take the core courses, since the field is multidisciplinary and requires a broad knowledge of oceanography.

Graduate Course Catalog

While it is recommended that students directly contact our faculty to identify a potential major advisor, the following contact information can be used for general questions about graduate studies:

860-405-9152 [email protected]

• News & Publications

New Study Supports Annual Breast Cancer Screening for Women Over 40

Margarita Zuley, professor of radiology, Division of Breast Imaging, School of Medicine and chief of Breast Imaging at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

Women diagnosed with breast cancer who had regular screening mammograms every year were less likely to have late-stage cancer and had higher overall survival than those who received screening every other year or less often, according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology .

“Only about 65% of women over age 40 are screened for breast cancer, and only about half of those women are getting annual screening — in part because of conflicting guidelines about recommended screening intervals,” said lead author Margarita Zuley, professor of radiology, Division of Breast Imaging, School of Medicine and chief of Breast Imaging at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. “Our study shows that there is a significant benefit for annual screening over biennial screening, including in premenopausal women.”

While many clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of mammography screening for breast cancer, guidelines differ on how often women should be screened. The American College of Radiology and several other organizations advise annual screening after age 40. In contrast, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends biennial screening from age 40.

Because the U.S. does not have a national breast cancer registry, Zuley and her team recently developed a large institutional database to better understand real-world outcomes for breast cancer patients.

To gain more evidence on optimal mammography screening intervals, the researchers used this database to compare 8,145 breast cancer patients who had at least one mammogram on record prior to diagnosis. The screening interval was considered annual if the time between mammograms was less than 15 months, biennial if between 15 and 27 months and intermittent if greater than 27 months.

The percentage of late-stage cancers—TNM stage IIB or worse—was 9%, 14% and 19% for annual, biennial and intermittent screening groups, respectively. Biennial and intermittent groups had substantially worse overall survival than the annual group.

“The percentage of late-stage cancers increased significantly with increased screening intervals,” said Zuley. “Annual mammograms are crucial for early detection of breast cancer, which increases the likelihood of survival, decreases harms to patients because treatment may not need to be as intense, makes recovery easier and can lower the cost of care.”

One concern with more frequent mammograms is the increased risk of false positives, leading to unnecessary biopsies and anxiety.

“We recognize that there are potential harms associated with calling women back for additional screening, but I don’t think that these harms outweigh the risk of missing cancers and women dying as a result,” said Zuley. “We’re also working on testing screening tools that have lower false positives than mammography and pushing on every front to identify the most cost-effective and accurate way of taking care of our patients.”

Other authors on the study were Andriy Bandos, PhD, Durwin Logue, Rohit Bhargava, MD, Priscilla McAuliffe, MD, Ph.D., Adam Brufsky, MD, PhD, and Robert M. Nishikawa, PhD, all of Pitt and UPMC; and Stephen Duffy, PhD, of Queen Mary University of London.

This research was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute (P30CA047904).

Credit: UPMC