Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £10,620 for the course
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How long will I study?
2 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2025
Course summary
- Examine the processes underlying the development of malignancy.
- Develop applied research techniques using state-of-the-art lab facilities.
- Design, execute and interpret practical work within the field of neoplastic transformation, diagnosis and treatment.
- Build confidence in presenting your work to academic and professional audiences.
This course provides a stimulating, challenging and enjoyable experience of studying cancer biology with practical applications in the forefront of the cancer field. Led by research active cancer biologists, you will develop an understanding of the pathogenesis of malignant transformation from a cellular to whole system level, discussing methods for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
Your lecturer's view
At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.
Cancer biology plays a pivotal and essential role in healthcare. This course is designed in response to the demand across industries for highly skilled researchers.
The component subjects are at the forefront of modern science and attract leading-edge research activity. The programme aims to explore normal and pathological cell processes, relating these to clinical features, diagnostic procedures and responses to therapy in neoplastic disease. You can customise your learning by selecting a speciality from translational research, genomics and proteomics and current laboratory applications.
You learn through
- lectures, seminars and workshops
- scientific writing
- research
- oral presentations
- data handling
- lab sessions
- virtual learning
- independent research project
Course leaders and tutors
Sarah Haywood-Small
Senior LecturerSarah received a BSc (Hons) in Biological Chemistry from Leicester University and a PhD in Cancer Studies from Sheffield University. After completing postdoctoral re … Read more
Applied learning
Live projects
You will have the opportunity to conduct an 8-week investigative research project within the cancer biology field. This will be aligned with the current research interests of an academic member of staff within the Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre. The project will include a critical review of the literature relevant to your research project, the development of a project proposal, the development of research methods and the analysis, presentation and interpretation of experimental data.
Practical skills are developed throughout the course and you gain experience in molecular biology and other related techniques such as genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics. All practical classes are led by academic staff whose research incorporates the latest research techniques. Research skills and statistical analysis are developed throughout the programme and applied to relevant cancer-based problems and case studies.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- research in healthcare, pharmaceuticals or biotechnology
- academic research
- medical sales
- scientific writing
- consultancy
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- NHS
- Public Health England
- Novartis
- ThermoFisher Scientific
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- industry-standard instrumentation
- a mass spectrometry unit
- cell culture and tissue engineering facilities
- multicoloured flow cytometry
- a state-of-the-art microscopy suite
360 tour - biosciences and chemistry facilities
Entry requirements
All students
A 2:1 in a relevant Honours degree is normally accepted as the entry requirement for the course. Applicants with a 2:2 are also actively encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants with alternative qualifications with academic attainment or skills in subjects which are directly relevant to the course will also be considered.
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent.
Additional information for EU/International students
This course is not open to international students who require a Tier 4 (General) student visa to study in the UK. If you are an international applicant but do not require a Tier 4 (General) student visa, email our Admissions Team to find out whether you’re eligible to apply.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Advanced Laboratory And Research Practice
Applied Laboratory Practice
Cellular And Molecular Basis Of Cancer
Hallmarks Of Cancer
Research Project
Therapeutic Targeting In Cancer
Elective modules
Cell And Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Genomics And Proteomics
Translational Research
Final year
Compulsory modules
Advanced Laboratory And Research Practice
Applied Laboratory Practice
Cellular And Molecular Basis Of Cancer
Hallmarks Of Cancer
Research Project
Therapeutic Targeting In Cancer
Elective modules
Cell And Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Genomics And Proteomics
Translational Research
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting distance learning study in 2025/26 is £10,620 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time. Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2025/26 is £5,310 per year.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Biosciences and Chemistry (PDF, 133.1KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
Learn more about your department
Biosciences and Chemistry Facilities Tour
Take a look around the biosciences and chemistry facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with senior lecturer and recruitment lead Dr Susan Campbell.
