MSc Cancer Therapeutics
|
Awards: |
Pg Certificate/Pg Diploma/MSc in Cancer Therapeutics |
Overview
Thie MSc in Cancer Therapeutics is designed to provide you with a clear understanding of the scientific principles underlying the practice of cancer therapeutics and the development, evaluation and implementation of new treatments. By the end of the course, you will be equipped with a thorough knowledge of cancer biology and pathology, research methodologies, drug development, and regulatory issues.
You will be provided with a firm grounding in the use and evaluation of cancer therapies, which will enhance your career prospects in many areas of laboratory research, early phase clinical trials and clinical drug development in the cancer setting. The course will also provide proven theoretical and practical skills suitable for entry to a PhD degree programme.
Teaching Methods
Modules will comprise of the following:
- Seminars/lectures
- Practical classes in our dedicated teaching laboratory in pairs or small groups, where you will receive hands-on training for specific methods
- Demonstrations – these will take place in Institute laboratories or the classroom to teach specific technologies (expression array technology) or methods (array data analysis)
- Student poster and oral presentations on specific topics.
Research Opportunities
While completing your MSc in Cancer Therapeutics, you will have the chance to contribute directly to the research process, most notably through experience of a laboratory project placement. By undertaking this course you will be contributing to the growing need for scientists and clinicians to identify and promote the practical uses of molecular advances in pathology in the clinical environment.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on written assignments, presentations, continuous assessments, written or MCQ examinations, and a full lab-project write-up.
For more details download our MSc Cancer Therapeutics brochure.
Course Structure
| Semester 1: |
September - December | Exams: January |
| Semester 2: | January - March | Exams: April |
| Semester 3: | May-July | Exams: August |
These are guidelines only - timetable and academic calendar will be provided at the start of term.
| Sem. | Module Names | Type | Unit Value | Module Leaders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Cancer Biology |
Compulsory |
1 | Dr Richard Grose |
| 1 |
Research Skills & Sciences |
Compulsory |
2 | |
| 1 |
Cancer Pharmacology |
Compulsory |
1 | |
| 2 |
Site Specific Tumour Treatment |
Compulsory |
0.5 | Dr Thomas Powles |
| 2 |
Ablative Therapies |
Compulsory |
0.5 | Prof Amen Sibtain |
| 2 |
Biological Therapies |
Compulsory |
1 | |
| 2 |
Drug Development |
Compulsory |
0.5 | |
| 3 |
Dissertation |
Core | 4 | Dr Simon Joel |
|
Total Core/Compulsory |
10.5 | |||
| 1 | Pathology of Cancer | Elective | 0.5 | Prof Loiuse Jones |
| 2 |
Imaging |
Elective | 0.5 | Dr Anju Sahdev |
| 2 |
Genomic Approaches to Human Diseases |
Elective |
0.5 |
Dr Tatjana Crnogorac-Jurcevic |
| 2 |
Cancer Prevention & Screening |
Elective |
0.5 |
Prof Peter Sasneini and Prof Stephen Duffy |
| 2 |
Paediatric & Adolescent Oncology |
Elective |
0.5 |
Dr Tony Ford |
|
Total Electives |
1.5 | |||
|
TOTAL |
12 |
Each unit will have approximately 30 hours of contact time and will require 120 hours of self study.
For more details download our MSc Cancer Therapeutics brochure.
Course Options
There are various study options available for the MSc Cancer Therapeutics:
| Mode | Duration | Intake | Course Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Time | 1 year | September | A3T3 |
| Part Time | 2 years | September | A3T4 |
| Full Time - Distance Learning | 1 year | September | A3T5 |
| Part Time - Distance Learning | 2 years | September | A3T6 |
Distance learning option available for both full and part time students, delivered via our web based learning system known as Blackboard’. This system has lectures online in video and audio format and the capacity for posters and oral presentations to be conducted through Skype. By offering these different course structures we aim to provide flexibility to suit your study needs.
Award Options
The standard programme of study is the full MSc in Cancer Therapeutics, we also offer other postgraduate awards.
| Award | Units Required | Comprised of |
|---|---|---|
| MSc |
12 units | 8 taught units and lab project |
| Pg Diploma | 8 units | 8 taught units or 4 taught units and a lab project |
| Pg Certificate | 4 units | 4 taught units |
You can also enrol onto individual modules (see programme structure) for non award bearing learning. Please contact the Teaching Centre for more information.
Entry Requirements
The programme is open to graduate scientists, nurses, clinicians and other medical professionals working in health care, the pharmaceutical industry or contract research organisations.
Entry to the programme will require a:
- Degree, or degree equivalent qualification, from a recognised academic institution in a relevant subject
or - An appropriate professional qualification or experience.
If English is not your first language, you will be required to meet the following standards in one of these English language examinations:
| Examination | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | TOEFL | IBTOEFL | PTE Academic | |
| Level Required | 7 | 610 | 100 | 68 |
Application:
You will need to provide the following for your online application:
- 2 References- BCI Reference request form
- Copies of transcripts
- Copies of qualifications (where appropriate)
- English language examination results and certificate (if applicable)
- Personal statement
- CV
Applications are accepted all year round, but there are limited places so please apply early to avoid disappointment.
Fees:
For up to date fee information please refer to the QMUL website: For Home/EU here. Overseas students here
Student Profile
Samantha Humphreys
2009-2011, Part-time
Prior to starting the Cancer Therapeutics course I studied Pharmacology at Bristol University and then began working in the Medical Department of a pharmaceutical company. I started the MSc part time in 2009, while continuing my job full time.
I chose this course because oncology is a fascinating and continuously developing field, with a fast pace of therapeutic development. The Barts Cancer Institute was my first choice of places to study because it is a highly regarded institution and part of a well-established medical school.
The Cancer Therapeutics course covers the therapy element of oncology from a variety of angles, while providing the opportunity to learn the core aspects in greater detail.
Due to my academic background, I particularly enjoyed the pharmacology and drug development modules. However, the modules covering the molecular biology of cancer and the more clinical aspects of oncology were also really interesting and gave me insights into areas that I may not have come across otherwise. The content of the lectures has been interesting and well taught and the course provides a rare opportunity to learn from highly regarded scientists and clinicians in the field.
Studying part time is challenging and requires a lot of commitment, however I have valued the opportunity to expand my knowledge and gain this qualification while continuing to develop my career. I found that the structure of the course complemented studying part time. I attended lectures at university one day per week and all other work was completed as coursework in my own time. This allowed me to completely engage with my studies for a full day and get to know other students, while managing the workload alongside my other commitments.
During this course I have learnt a huge amount about oncology and the therapeutic options that are currently available and those in development and research stages. I have also been able to develop other key skills, such as giving presentations and interpreting research papers, which will be useful in many aspects of my job. On completing the MSc I plan to continue developing my career in the pharmaceutical industry and will be looking forward to opportunities allowing me to specialise in oncology.
Find out more about student life at the BCI here.
Graduate Profile
The MSc in Cancer Therapeutics ensures that on completion you will have the relevant theoretical
and practical background, and a broad range of transferable skills that will enable you to be
prepared and competitive in the open market for job and studentship opportunities.
Destinations include:
- PhD
- Research Assistants
- Clinical Trials
- Drug Development
- Medical School
Each year we have retained a proportion of our graduates within the Institute as PhD students,
research assistants or clinical trials coordinators.
Find out more about the type of roles we have in the BCI here.
Profile: Firas Abed
Graduated 2009
The Cancer Therapeutics course offers a portal to the new world of cancer research. Through its diverse modules, the course covers cancer from different angles that may interest students from a variety of different backgrounds. Although there is a heavy focus on research, prior lab experience is not an issue to progress through the course. I did Medicine for my Bachelors Degree and I had next to no experience in the lab.
This has not been a problem, however, owing to the Research Skills Module, which provides a starting point for those with no lab experience and consolidates lab skills for students that already have it.
The course not only introduced me to the available cancer medicines and novel therapies, but also gave me an insight into the steps required to develop new medications and take them to clinical trials in the real world.
Another great thing about the Cancer Therapeutics course is that you get to learn from your mistakes! Marking of all course work is given with professional feedback that I found extremely helpful. This allowed me, with time, to upgrade my skills in scientific writing and presentations – an important goal of the course.
Contacting the tutors and the staff was very easy and you can get an answer for every question you have in a very short time.
Finally, I was lucky enough to practice what I have learned in the course as I joined the Cancer Pharmacology Group here at Barts Cancer Institute. I am using the same skills I acquired during the lab project to trial new cancer medicines.
