University of Manchester - Online and Blended Learning
Transformative Oncology Course
Manchester, United Kingdom
Course
DURATION
36 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
08 Sep 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
22 Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 16,500 / per course *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* GBP 16,500 - MSc | GBP 11,000 - PGDip | GBP 5,500 - PGCert
Key Summary
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.
Whether you are keen to further develop your understanding of the current models you are using in a pre-clinical setting or are looking to move towards discovery, translational or data science or even into a patient-facing role, this programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills to make a difference in the oncology field.
Build a global network
Learn from the leading lights in oncology from across the world.
Learn on the job
Combine your studies with your work and implement change from day one.
Practise new skills
Use state-of-the-art simulations to experience and practise real-world scenarios.
Where and when you will study
Studying part-time alongside your current role will enable you to integrate your learning directly into your practice. Overall, this fully online MSc course provides a holistic and comprehensive understanding of the field of oncology and where it is going.
You can take 1-3 years to complete the PGCert, 2-4 years to complete a PGDip and up to 3-5 years to complete the MSc. You'll learn through a mix of interactive teaching and have plenty of opportunities to work collaboratively with your peers.
Translational cancer research, this course is right for you. This course is designed to provide training and skills to scientists interested in gaining a greater understanding of the clinical implications of cancer treatments and patient experiences and appealing to clinicians who want to develop their understanding of tumour biology and how this translates into successful treatments.
Whether a trainee doctor, a biomedical scientist, a clinical nurse specialist or another clinical care professional, studying this course will empower you to specialise and branch out professionally and upskill, transforming clinical outcomes for patients with cancer in the process. Whichever pathway you choose, studying Transformative Oncology will give you the tools to lead the next wave of cancer specialists and revolutionise the oncology field to effectively transform clinical outcomes for patients with cancer.
- Postgraduate loans (UK/EU) - If you're an English or EU student living in the UK, you may be eligible for a loan.
- Manchester Master's Bursary (UK) - We're committed to helping students access further education.
- Equity and Merit Scholarships - If you're joining us from Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda or Tanzania, you can apply for this scholarship.
- Funding for students with disabilities - If you have a disability, we can help you apply for relevant funding.
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.
The course content is medically applicable, balanced with cutting-edge research, therapeutic strategies and approaches to achieve effective personalised cancer care. The format allows flexibility in learning at a time and pace which suits you. You can choose to take 1-3 years to complete the PGCert, 2-4 years to complete a PGDip and up to 3-5 years to complete the MSc. You’ll learn through a mix of interactive teaching and self-study. There will be plenty of opportunities to work collaboratively with your peers.
Understanding the Challenges of Tumour Biology
Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip, PGCert
- 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.
Cancer is an Individualised Disease
Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip, PGCert
- Appreciate the underlying complexity of the human genome and how it can impact treatment success.
- Explore the implications of underlying health issues in choosing the correct cancer therapy and predicting outcomes.
- Explore the influence of underlying molecular characteristics and lifestyle choices on treatment options.
Established and Experimental Therapeutics
Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip, PGCert
- 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
Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip, PGCert
- 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
Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip
- 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
Mandatory for: MSc, PGDip
- 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
Optional for: MSc, PGDip
- 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
Optional for: MSc, PGDip
- 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
Optional for: MSc, PGDip
- Develop an overview of the stages of clinical drug development in oncology
- Gain an understanding of key concepts 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
Optional for: MSc, PGDip
- 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
- Practise or Lab-based Research Project aligned with a chosen theme or
- Research Skills in Practise
- You will develop a solid understanding of tumour biology and why that is important to understand specific tumour composition to inform treatment strategies.
- You will explore the role of cancer genomics and why the ability to understand genetic diversity is an important breakthrough in the cancer field.
- This course covers the principles and real-world clinical applications of established and innovative treatments but also focuses on how multi-disciplinary team approaches, including patient engagement, can be used to effectively deliver personalised care.
- You will understand the patient's pathway to develop personalised strategies for cancer treatment.
- This course will enable you to develop critical insight into the physical principles underpinning radiotherapy, medical imaging for radiotherapy, treatment planning and future developments of radiotherapy.
- Build a professional network across the globe and be in a prime position to hear about the latest international opportunities.
- Through our highly interactive teaching platform, learn from the experiences of researchers and colleagues in diverse settings and gain a broader perspective.
- Use skills and knowledge acquired through the course in your job from day one to start advancing in your role and beyond.
- Practise applying your skills in real-life scenarios through our simulation platform, and be prepared for a range of situations.
Delivery - 100% online courses developed to fit 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 date - September 2025
Workload - Approximately 15-20 hours per week
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.
Academic teaching start dates:
- September 2026 entry for MSc/PGDip/PGCert - 22 September 2026.
The welcome event and induction take place one week before the academic teaching start date. Our admissions team will confirm your induction date closer to the time.
Please ensure that you complete your registration ahead of your chosen entry date to gain access to the online learning material and library services.