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Oxford Brookes University logo

Cancer Studies

Oxford Brookes University
Information last verified July 2026
Tuition GBP 13,500 (Tuition (Full programme)) — International students; GBP 9,000 (Tuition (Full programme)) — EU/EEA students
Degree MSc
Duration 12 months
Delivery On-campus
Location Oxford, United Kingdom
Language English

Program Overview

The Cancer Studies at Oxford Brookes University is a MSc programme in Humanities over 12 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.

Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of humanities. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.

Graduates of the Cancer Studies programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.

Key Program Features

  1. Duration: 12 months
  2. Language of instruction: English
  3. Study mode: On-campus
  4. English requirement: IELTS 6.5
  5. Tuition: GBP 13,500 (Tuition (Full programme)) — International students; GBP 9,000 (Tuition (Full programme)) — EU/EEA students
  6. Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Cancer Studies programme are prepared for diverse careers in humanities:

  1. Researcher / Academic
  2. Cultural Programme Manager
  3. Editor / Writer
  4. Translator / Interpreter
  5. Museum Curator
  6. Communications Specialist

Program Curriculum

Course Structure

  1. social science and humanities graduates
  2. science graduates who do not wish to pursue a laboratory-based career
  3. doctors
  4. nurses
  5. allied health professionals
  6. science and medical journalists
  7. people working for medical charities and in the pharmaceutical industry
  8. individuals who have been affected by cancer (either themselves or a family member).
  9. interdisciplinary, cross-university teaching in epidemiology, public health, applied biology, history, ethics and law
  10. a range of optional modules to support and complement individual interests and needs
  11. links with the local hospital and community trusts and The Oxford Cancer Centre.
  12. Living with Cancer in Contemporary Society provides an insight into how the preoccupations of late modern society shape perceptions and experience of cancer at the social, cultural and individual level. Key themes include heightened perceptions of cancer risk and increasing surveillance, self-monitoring and self-regulation; cancer as a challenge to personal identity; cancer narratives and biographical reconstruction; the cancer journey and survivorship; the good death and the meaning of mortality; and media representations of cancer. You will have the opportunity to interview a cancer survivor, carer or health professional and to engage in debates about contemporary issues in the experience of cancer.
  13. Tackling Cancer: UK and International Perspectives explores the ways in which societies and social institutions have attempted to understand, manage and control cancer. Topics include defining and describing cancer and its distribution in populations; risks, causes and prevention of cancer (individual and environmental approaches); cancer treatments and the organisation of treatment services; ethical and legal issues in cancer care and research; diagnosis and cancer policies. An international and comparative approach will be taken throughout with case studies drawn from different historical periods and cultural traditions. You will have the opportunity to make a field visit relating to cancer treatment and prevention.
  14. Applied Cancer Biology offers you the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of the biology of cancer. It explores the molecular mechanisms of cancer biology, how those mechanisms are manifested as disease, and current applications of cancer biology research. The aim is to enable you to engage in activities where a sound knowledge of cancer biology is required. You will have an opportunity to see how cancer research is conducted in a laboratory.
  15. Research Methods modules are intended to equip you with skills to find, appraise and use research, as well as plan and design a small-scale research study. It will help you define a suitable research question and to use this as a basis for identifying appropriate research methodologies for your dissertation. These modules are not laboratory-based.
  16. Evidence-based Practice
  17. Planning and Managing Clinical Trials
  18. Leadership in Health and Social Care
  19. Epidemiology
  20. Genome Science
  21. Advanced Molecular Techniques
  22. The Hospital in History
  23. Independent Study.

Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

  • You must normally hold a UK honours degree or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution.
  • If you do not hold an honours degree or equivalent, you will be required to submit work which will be taken into account as part of your application.
  • If you have not previously studied Biology above A-level (or equivalent), you will be asked to complete an online study package in Cancer Biology before you take the Applied Cancer Biology module.

You may be eligible for transferred certificated credit, if you can produce transcripts of equivalent study in one or more modular areas. If you wish to transfer credit you will be required to produce transcripts, so are advised to make initial enquiries through the Course Leader.

Note: the University offers a pre-master\'s programme which has been designed to fully prepare you for your future master\'s course if:

  • your undergraduate qualifications do not meet the level required for postgraduate study
  • you wish to take a master\'s in a subject that is different from your undergraduate degree
  • you need to improve your study skills and use of academic English.

English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

Tuition & Financial Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 13,500 (Tuition (Full programme)) — International students; GBP 9,000 (Tuition (Full programme)) — EU/EEA students

Tuition fees: GBP 13,500 (Tuition (Full programme)) — International students; GBP 9,000 (Tuition (Full programme)) — EU/EEA students

IELTS requirement: 6.5

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Contact Oxford Brookes University directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.

About Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes University logo

Oxford Brookes University

Oxford, United Kingdom

Visit the university profile page to learn more about this institution.

University Profile
  • Language English
  • Duration 12 months