Online course
Transformative Oncology
- Qualification: MSc, PGDip, PGCert
- Duration: 12 - 36 months, depending on the qualification level
- Delivery: 100% online
- Workload: Approx 15-20 hours per week
- Next enrolment: September 2022
- Fees: MSc - £15,000, PGDip - £10,000, PGCert - £5,000

Introduction
Transform clinical outcomes for patients with cancer
In 2020, there were an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases worldwide. There is a global need to better understand the underlying biology of cancer and the diversity of tumours and patients through multidisciplinary, innovative approaches. Adopting a holistic view to develop personalised strategies for cancer treatment is vital.
This pioneering, patient-focussed 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.
Key features
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
This degree is delivered in collaboration with the Manchester Cancer Research Centre

Benefits of our collaborative approach
- Draw on the strengths of world-leading specialist oncology researchers, scientists and clinicians.
- 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
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Delivery
100% online courses developed to fit around your lifestyle and circumstances.
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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.
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Enrolment dates
September 2022
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Apply
Apply here or complete the contact form below and we'll email you with the details about the course.
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Workload
Approx 15-20 hours per week
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Course director
Dr Suzanne Johnson
Fees and funding
There are multiple pathways into the Transformative Oncology course. The course fees are:
MSc - £15,000
PGDip - £10,000
PGCert - £5,000
Fees are paid in instalments throughout the year. Please contact us at studyonline@manchester.ac.uk and we'll provide you with the payment plan.
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.
You will also need to provide:
- Two satisfactory professional or academic references
- A copy of your CV detailing your full work experience
- A personal statement (approx. 500 words) detailing why you're interested in studying on the course.
Contact us today
Course overview
Who this course is for
“Our flagship Master's in Transformative Oncology is unlike other courses. It’s a portal to Manchester’s leading cancer researchers and offers inspirational insights into how research and clinical decision making work synergistically to improve outcomes for cancer patients" - Professor Stephen Taylor, Head of Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester
If you want to reposition yourself as a leader in oncology, but don't want to take time out from your important work to study, this fully online MSc course will allow you to learn flexibly while still working.
Whether trainee doctor, 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.
What you will learn
- Develop new interdisciplinary approaches to expedite the early detection of cancer.
- Learn from world-renowned cancer specialists and researchers, understanding cutting edge technology and embracing diversity to meet whole-population needs.
- Understand the patient pathway to develop personalised strategies for cancer treatment.
- Develop critical insight into the physical principles underpinning radiotherapy, medical imaging for radiotherapy, treatment planning and future developments of radiotherapy.
Where and when you will study
This fully online, part-time MSc means you can study from anywhere in the world and fit it around your day-to-day life. You will be expected to learn while you continue to work, and to use examples from your work throughout your study.
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.
How it will benefit your career
- Build a professional network across the globe and be in 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.
Course units
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Understanding the Challenges of Tumour Biology
- 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.
This unit will provide an appreciation of tumour diversity and intra-tumour heterogeneity. Building on your background knowledge of basic tumour biology, this unit will extend and update your understanding of how the underlying biology of any tumour might impact detection and treatment success. We will introduce the concept of heterogeneity within individual tumours including cellular composition and how this might affect tumour growth and detection. We will differentiate between different tumour types and explore how these present challenges within the clinical setting. You will learn current strategies, methods and approaches used to inform key decision making.
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Cancer is an Individualised Disease
- 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.
This unit will provide an appreciation of the underlying complexity of individual tumours and an understanding that every patients’ cancer experience and treatment journey is different. Through consideration of a patients’ heritage, environmental exposure and the presence of pre-existing illness, you will learn the potential impact on stage at diagnosis and subsequent treatment options.
You will gain critical insights into the importance of treating each cancer case as unique as we build towards precision medicine.
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Established and Experimental Therapeutics
- 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.
This unit will explore the principles which underpin the rapidly expanding field of Immuno-Oncology and other targeted therapies. You will gain a solid understanding from our experts on the methodologies and how cutting-edge, translational research contributes directly to clinical decision making. Through increased understanding of this crucial partnership between research and clinical practise, you will also develop the skills and insights to explore ways to repurpose existing drugs to target new tumour types and learn about novel approaches. You will gain critical insights into the types of targeted therapy and new medical products that use gene therapy, cell therapy and tissue engineering.
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The Branches of Oncology
- 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.
This unit will provide you with a thorough understanding of how the 3 branches of oncology: Medical, Clinical and Surgical can complement each other to provide the best possible outcome for patients. You will gain critical insights into each specialty and a clear understanding of how each one has a place in the clinical management of cancer, whilst gaining an appreciation of how interpretation, communication and decision making are key skills required to manage each individual cancer case. This enhanced understanding of how these specialties can be synergistically delivered with patient care will broaden your understanding of current practises in a way which can be integrated directly into your practice.
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The Science of Radiotherapy
- 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.
This unit will provide an essential understanding of the physics underlying radiotherapy. You will learn about the key developments and current challenges facing the field and how research in Manchester is leading the way with innovative approaches. Gaining an understanding of the physics underpinning radiotherapy treatments will provide you with a deeper understanding of how complementary techniques such as imaging are changing the way cancer patients are benefitting from radiotherapy. Further, you will gain a greater understanding of methods used to increase accuracy and precision of radiotherapy through robust evaluation.
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Strategies for Early Detection
- 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.
This unit will provide a fundamental understanding of the importance of early detection as a power tool to revolutionise cancer patient outcomes. You will learn about different approaches, benefits and methodologies for population screening programmes to detect precancerous change or early stage disease using case studies from Manchester. The Unit will cover insights into effective risk stratification as well as new and emerging technologies in digital medicine, Imaging tools and smart systems. Throughout the Unit, there will be critical insights into the importance of directed research, patient involvement, public awareness of risk and health data considerations, all of which are essential to ensure the success of early detection strategies.
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Principles of Personalised Medicine
- 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.
This unit focusses on key principles and discoveries which underpin the drive towards personalised medicine. In the technological era, both biological and genetic understanding and technological capability are evolving at a rapid rate. We will cover current approaches to identify treatment-sensitive cancer subtypes, the benefits of accessing and integrating big data to inform new personalised strategies and look at innovative approaches to assess cancer risk in specific populations. We will also explore the essential role of patient and public involvement and reflect on the importance of taking steps to address cancer disparities as we strive for precision medicine for all.
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Delivering the Best Cancer Care
- 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.
The purpose of this final Unit is to reflect back on all the aspects of Transformative Oncology: the tumour biology, research, treatment and innovations you have learned on this programme and begin to consider your practice changing priorities.
Using a patient-centered approach, we will explore the importance of listening to patients, ensuring clear and appropriate communication and the case for shared decision making. You will also learn about the value of multidisciplinary team working and how to establish or improve working practices in your institution to become more inclusive. Ultimately, this Unit will build your skills to enable you to influence and deliver the best possible cancer care.
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Practise-based placement
The final project or practise-based placement must align with a chosen theme (60 credits)
or
Research Skills in Practice (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.
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 of 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.
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 .
For the September 2022 intake, the course starts on 5th September 2022.
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.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
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. We may also consider exceptional applicants with a Lower Second if you have research experience or equivalent professional experience.
Please provide a copy of your CV detailing your full work experience. You will also need to provide a personal statement (approx. 500 words) detailing why you're interested in studying on the course.
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide contact details for two referees, professional and/or academic. The University will contact your referees directly after you submit your application and direct them to complete our online reference form.
AP(E)L will be considered on a case-by-case basis for whole course units and specify the limits for this specific 15 credit structure. Please refer to the University APL regulations here which outline the limits.
English language
International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system. We ask for English language proof if you are from non-majority English speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found here ).
Specifically, we require a minimum of:
- IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (and a minimum of 6 for writing) or equivalent
- TOEFL Internet Based Test 90 overall with 20 in writing
English language test validity
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Please use the online application form to apply.
You'll need to submit:
A completed application form
Personal statement (maximum 500 words) answering the following questions:
- What attracts you to apply to this course?
- What do you hope to gain from this course?
- How will the course help you achieve your future aims and aspirations?
A recent copy of your CV detailing your professional experience
Degree certificate and official transcripts
Evidence of English language (if applicable, see entry requirements above for more information)
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide contact details for two referees, professional and/or academic. The University will contact your referees directly after you submit your application and direct them to complete our online reference form.
If you have any questions regarding the course or application process, please contact us on studyonline@manchester.ac.uk
Scholarships and bursaries
Manchester Master's Bursary (UK)
We're committed to helping students access further education.
Additional cost information
Policy on additional costs
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. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.