Program Overview

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Transformative Oncology

Overview

Our transformative oncology course brings together the excellence and global approach of The University of Manchester, The Manchester Cancer Research Centre and The Christie Hospital, among other organisations, to empower you to take the next step in your career – and transform clinical outcomes for patients with cancer.

Key Features

• Build a global network
• Learn on the job
• Practise new skills

Delivered in Collaboration with the Manchester Cancer Research Centre

• Draw on the strengths of world-leading specialist oncology researchers, scientists and clinicians in this varied clinical cancer research course.
• Develop skills from a multi-disciplinary team, linked to The Christie Hospital and other leading cancer organisations.
• The Division of Cancer Sciences is home to world experts in radiotherapy, early detection of cancer and personalised medicine.
• Build diverse, global relationships and open doors to the future.

Key Information

• Delivery: 100% online courses developed to fit around your lifestyle and circumstances.
• Duration: 1-3 years to complete the PGCert, 2-4 years to complete a PGDip and up to 3-5 years to complete the MSc.
• Enrolment dates: September 2025
• Workload: Approx 15-20 hours per week
• Course director: Dr Suzanne Johnson

Fees and Funding

• MSc: £16,500
• PGDip: £11,000
• PGCert: £5,500
• Course fee discounts are available.
• Payment by instalments is available.

Entry Requirements

• We require an honours degree (minimum Upper Second) or overseas equivalent in:
  • medical
  • dentistry
  • subject allied to medicine such as biosciences, nursing or pharmacy
• with sufficient evidence of the relevant units taken.

Course Units

• Cancer is an Individualised Disease (15 credits)
  • Appreciate the underlying complexity of the human genome and how it can impact treatment success.
  • Explore the implications of underlying health issues on choosing the correct cancer therapy and predicting outcome.
  • Explore the influence of underlying molecular characteristics and lifestyle choices on treatment options.
• Understanding the Challenges of Tumour Biology (15 credits)
  • Gain critical insights into diverse tumour types and how tissue, stage and cell of origin can affect both detection and treatment success.
  • Appreciate the impact and effect of toxicity resulting from different therapeutic strategies and combinations.
  • Consider the differences in the biological understanding and detection of rarer cancer types and non-palpable tumours.
• Established and Experimental Therapeutics (15 credits)
  • Gain a valuable understanding of the relationship between the immune system, prognosis and treatment outcomes.
  • Evaluate the principles and applications of targeted therapies in cancer treatment.
  • Consider how existing drugs might be repurposed for the effective treatment of cancer.
• The Branches of Oncology (15 credits)
  • Learn the key approaches to non-surgical management of malignant disease (curative and palliative).
  • Explore the essential balance between radiotherapy and systemic therapies.
  • Learn about innovations in surgical oncology from prehabilitation to robotics to artificial intelligence.
• The Science of Radiotherapy (15 credits)
  • Learn critical insights into the technical principles underlying radiotherapy.
  • Understand the rationale underpinning current radiotherapy technologies, scheduling and delivery to limit toxicity.
  • Explore the technical and operational requirements of imaging in radiotherapy.
• Delivering the Best Cancer Care (15 credits)
  • Appreciate the importance of patient involvement throughout a cancer journey.
  • Explore the approaches to achieve effective treatment delivery and response.
  • Learn the key principles for an effective multidisciplinary team.
• Strategies for Early Detection (15 credits)
  • Gain critical insights into the key considerations when establishing cancer screening programmes for early detection.
  • Understand how molecular imaging techniques can directly improve quantitative measurements of physiological functions and assessment of molecular pathways in cancer.
  • Learn how imaging biomarkers can enable more rapid and precise diagnosis and inform decision making in drug development programmes.
• Principles of Personalised Medicine (15 credits)
  • Explore the key concepts of personalised medicine: more precise diagnosis, prognosis and prevention.
  • Learn how identifying distinct mechanisms of disease or treatment response in a population can improve individual outcomes.
  • Understand the basic mechanisms of drug resistance and how it can affect treatment planning.
• Experimental Cancer Medicine (15 credits)
  • Develop an overview of the stages of clinical drug development in oncology
  • Gain an understanding of key concepts in first in human trial design
  • Understand the phases of preclinical drug development and how the data informs first in human trial design
• Understanding Advanced Therapies in the Cancer Setting (15 credits)
  • Gain critical insights into tumour biology and the microenvironment and their impact on Advanced Therapy development
  • Learn about viral and non-viral vectors and their production and use in cell and gene therapy manufacturing
  • Appreciate the challenges of clinical deployment and management of an Advanced Therapy
• Final Project (60 credits)
  • Practise or Lab-based Research Project aligned with a chosen theme (60 credits)
  • or
  • Research Skills in Practise (60 credits)

Course Structure

Taught from a progressive, patient-focussed and research-guided perspective, Transformative Oncology aims to equip you with the skills to effectively transform clinical outcomes for patients with cancer. The course is designed to reflect the changing needs of healthcare and appeal to a global audience consisting of clinicians, registered nurses, radiographers and other allied health professionals who wish to upskill and specialise in the field of oncology.

Teaching and Learning

You will be provided with a comprehensive set of course materials at the beginning of each course unit from the institution teaching the unit. These interactive, specially designed materials provide an introduction to the issues and skills central to each unit and direct you to other study components such as further reading.

Each unit is supported by a virtual learning environment (VLE) where you can access all course materials, online reading lists, podcasts, and the University's extensive online library.

Admissions Information

From your initial expression of interest right through to graduation, you’ll receive all the support you need. We can support you with enrolment and subject assistance, administrative logistics and fee options, online learning skills, workload management and special circumstances including a possible professional entry route.

Scholarships and Bursaries

• Postgraduate loans (UK/EU)
• Manchester Master's Bursary (UK)
• Equity and Merit Scholarships
• Funding for students with disabilities

Fees and Funding

Total course tuition fees for September 2025 are:

• MSc: £16,500
• PGDip: £11,000
• PGCert: £5,500

Additional Cost Information

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.