Medical Science (Oncology)

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK 2:1 Honours Degree.

The undergraduate degree must be in a subject relevant or related to the proposed MPhil research project.

Months of entry

January, April, October

Course content

The MPhil course lasts for 12 months, during which time the student is expected to complete a research project and produce a written thesis of up to 20,000 words. The student will then undergo an oral examination based on both their thesis and a broader knowledge of their chosen area of research. Students are provided with information which clearly sets out what is expected of them during their period of research in order to obtain their degree.

Each student is assigned a principal supervisor who oversees their research project and an adviser who provides additional support. Our graduate student administrator acts as the first point of contact for any student with a query or difficulty that is not directly related to their scientific work. All student matters in the department are overseen by our Director of Graduate Education and the Cancer Biology Graduate Education Committee.

Most research training is provided within the structure of the student’s research group and informal opportunities to develop research skills are available through mentoring by other members of staff and fellow students. All students are encouraged to attend scientific meetings, seminars and graduate courses relevant to their area of interest. They are also expected to participate in journal clubs and lab meetings and to take advantage of the numerous and varied opportunities including transferable skills training offered by the University.

The MPhil course is designed to produce graduates with rigorous research and analytical skills, who are exceptionally well equipped to go on to doctoral study, postgraduate research, or employment in industry and the public service.

The course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:

• to give students with relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.