Mechanisms and Therapy in Cancer MSc

Mechanisms and Therapy in Cancer MSc is a pioneering Master’s programme which combines hands-on practical experience with innovative teaching by world-renowned academics. This programme will provide you with advanced knowledge of cancer biology and cancer treatment.

Students will gain a mechanistic understanding of the biology, detection and treatment of cancer, as well as a basic understanding of fundamental biological concepts that underpin this specialist area. You will also learn how to discuss and interpret scientific papers, develop critical thinking and acquire computational skills to analyse large datasets.

You will undertake a research project on a title of your choice within the field. Projects will be supervised by world-leading researchers based in Brunel University’s Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance (cenGEM). You’ll generate, analyse and interpret your own research data, and will actively participate as part of a research team, gaining valuable experience in a research-intensive environment, learning from senior scientists, attending lab meetings and weekly research seminars run by visiting speakers, who are the experts in their field.

In our 'Scientific Communication' module, you’ll learn how to disseminate medical information. Your writing skills will be developed to target a diverse range of audiences, from medical practitioners to the general public. You'll learn to write your research findings in both academic and journalistic styles - skills that will be invaluable in a range of biomedical careers.

Dean’s International Scholarship: This course is eligible for a £2,000 fee waiver, per academic year, subject to availability. This Scholarship is for full-time international students only. Find out more.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship: You may be eligible for a full tuition fee waiver, as well as a range of other financial incentives, on this course. Find out more.

British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM: In partnership with the British Council, we are offering five fully-funded scholarships for female students from the Americas region (eligible countries only). The deadline to apply for this scholarship is 7th April 2023 at 11.59pm. Find out more.

This biomedical sciences postgraduate course has been tailored to provide you with a specialist understanding of the mechanisms and biology of cancer, underpinned by fundamental knowledge in molecular and cell biology, as well as immunology. Particular attention is placed on innovative therapeutic potential, as well as statistics and computational biology.

This course can be studied 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, starting in September.

You will acquire critical skills that are highly valuable in a range of biomedical careers and sought after by employers.

Graduates from this course will be ideally placed to pursue careers in academia, industry or the public sector. Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and, as life expectancy increases, scientists trained in this area are in increasing demand.

If your goal is to pursue a career in scientific research, you can continue with your studies towards a PhD. Alternatively, the specialist topics covered will prepare you to work in biomedical research laboratories, for example as industrial scientists or research assistants, in the fields of cancer biology, molecular biology and medicine.

Furthermore, the focus on core biomedical topics will also open doors to similar careers in other disciplines, for example: immunology, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, as many of the techniques and skills learned will be applicable to these areas.

Students will acquire comprehensive knowledge in bioinformatics and data science, which can lead to careers in data science, data analysis and consulting.

The emphasis on scientific communication will provide graduates with a strong foundation for careers in journalism, scientific writing and publishing.

A 2.2 (or above) UK Honours degree in the field of Biosciences.

Other qualifications including equivalent internationally recognised qualification or relevant experience from health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses, MLSOs) will be assessed on an individual basis and a request for completion of an online biological test in molecular and cell biology may be required.

Applicants with a third class honours degree or other lower qualifications will be considered if supported by science A-levels (or equivalent) and relevant work experience. Such applicants may be required to attend an interview.

• IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
• BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all) 

You'll be asked to produce authentic, self-directed learning presentations and reports that test your analytical and critical skills and replicate ‘real-life’ projects often requested by employers. You will also need to complete a synoptic exam that integrates several subjects to address realistic scenarios with regard to disease (cancer) mechanisms and treatment.

You will write a dissertation exploring in detail a specific subject area within the cancer field. As part of this, you will design your own experiments, use state-of-the-art research methods and carry out critical data analysis in order to write a relevant and original piece of work. All students will receive comprehensive feedback on their work, with special attention being given to areas of improvement and guidance on how to use the feedback in subsequent assessments.