Cancer Studies - 2012 entry

Course content

This exciting master's course is open to UK, EU and international applicants.

The course will appeal to a wide range of individuals who wish to gain an understanding of cancer and its impact from a range of different perspectives.  This includes:

• social science and humanities graduates
• science graduates who do not wish to pursue a laboratory-based career
• doctors
• nurses
• allied health professionals
• science and medical journalists
• people working for medical charities and in the pharmaceutical industry
• individuals who have been affected by cancer (either themselves or a family member).

The unique features of this course include:

• interdisciplinary, cross-university teaching in epidemiology, public health, applied biology, history, ethics and law
• a range of optional modules to support and complement individual interests and needs
•  links with the local hospitals, Primary Care Trusts, the Oxford Cancer Centre, and the Thames Valley Cancer Network.

This multidisciplinary course aims to equip you with an understanding of the impact of cancer on the individual, family and society, and to apply key theories and concepts to these topics.

The course is modular in structure with four compulsory modules:

• 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.
• 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.
• Applied Cancer Biology offers you and your fellow students, who may come from diverse backgrounds, 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 of the module 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. As the MSc is interdisciplinary, you will have considerable scope for defining your dissertation topic and choosing an appropriate research methods module from the fields of biology, health care, history, sociology, business, education, and law.
• Research Methods (not laboratory-based) is intended to equip you with skills to find, appraise and utilise research, as well as to plan and design a small-scale research study. It will prepare you to define a suitable research question and to use this as a basis for identifying appropriate research methodologies and methods for your dissertation. This module is not laboratory based.

You will also have the opportunity to select an additional two optional modules to suit the individual focus of your studies. Optional Modules (20 M Level credits) you may choose include:

• Evidence-based Practice
• Planning and Managing Clinical Trials
• Leadership in Health and Social Care
• Epidemiology
• Statistical Methods in Medical Research and Epidemiology
• Genome Science
• Molecular Biology
• The Hospital in History
• Product Development in Biotechnology
• Biotechnology and Business
• Independent Study.

The final award depends upon the number of modules you take. A PGCert requires the successful completion of three modules and the PGDip requires the successful completion of six modules. The MSc requires the successful completion of nine modules, which must include an advanced research methods module and a dissertation (triple module).

Please note: as courses are reviewed regularly, the list of modules may vary from that shown here.

Faculty

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Clinical Health Care

Course length

Full-time: MSc: 12 months. For PGDip and PGCert contact the Programme Administrator.
Part-time: MSc: up to 3 years

Teaching location

Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane / Headington Campus, Marston Road / Wheatley Campus

Start date

September 2012
January 2013

UKPASS code

P041894

Entry requirements

• You must normally hold a UK first degree or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution.
• If you do not hold a first degree or equivalent, you will be required to submit an assignment 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.

Go to the main Oxford Brookes website for more information.

Scholarships and funding

A limited number of scholarships are offered by Oxford Brookes University. Applicants who have been offered a full-time place on this master’s course are eligible to apply for the following scholarships:

John Henry Brookes Scholarship

The John Henry Brookes Scholarship is awarded to home/EU and international applicants for academic excellence. Each scholarship will be paid towards the tuition fee for a taught master's degree. The awards do not include a maintenance grant. For further details, visit our school website or email shscspgscholarship@brookes.ac.uk for more details.

Abbey Santander Scholarships

Abbey, part of the Santander Group, will be awarding scholarships to new master's students wishing to study at Oxford Brookes University. The scholarships are awarded to applicants from 11 specific countries. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, see the university website.

For general sources of financial support, see:

• funding for students from the UK and EU
• funding for students from outside the EU

Why Oxford is a great place to study Cancer Studies

As a student in Oxford you'll be at the heart of the UK's most successful economic region and in a centre for leading industries which provides you with a host of learning opportunities.

Because Oxford is one of the world's great academic cities, it is a key centre of debate, with conferences, seminars and forums taking place across education, science, the arts and many other subjects.

In addition to our own excellent libraries and resource centres, our postgraduate students have access to the world-renowned Bodleian Library, the Bodleian Law Library and the Radcliffe Science Library.

Support for students studying Cancer Studies

All our courses adopt a student-centred approach to teaching and learning and are strongly focused on encouraging you to attain your full potential as lifelong learners.

There is a range of support mechanisms for students, such as academic advisers, who will facilitate your academic development, and student support co-ordinators, who provide a drop-in service for queries about any aspect of student life, covering both academic and personal welfare.

The university’s support services include Upgrade, which provides advice on study skills such as planning and writing essays, assignments and dissertations, research, or preparing for an exam. They also give advice on statistics and maths. There is a dedicated Student Disability and Dyslexia Service, which provides support for students with disabilities including sensory and mobility impairments, dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties, mental health problems and medical conditions. Here, staff offer advice and support on a range of issues, including physical access, funding, alternative assessment arrangements and liaison with teaching staff to ensure that they are aware of your requirements.

EU/International Students

As a new EU or international student you will join the Academic and Cultural Orientation Programme, which has been set up to enable you to make a smooth transition into study at the university. Within the sessions, you will explore the culture of the university, which will assist you in developing the appropriate academic skills required for your programme of study. The university also provides a comprehensive range of support networks and services to EU/international students. For more information, go to www.brookes.ac.uk/international/support

How Brookes supports postgraduate students

Supporting your learning

From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.

Personal support services

We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.

Departmental research highlights

Cancer research is a key focus and the department hosts the prestigious HRH Prince Sultan Chair in Cancer Care. This is a very exciting addition to our portfolio, as it enables us to play a leading role in research development and education to improve the experience of patients undergoing cancer treatment and palliative care.

Research excellence

We are very pleased with the results received in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 70% of our research in Allied Health Professions and Studies was rated as being of international significance in the assessment of research, of which 10% was rated as world-leading. The university has been careful to nurture emerging research strengths, and the international standing achieved by subjects allied to health demonstrates significant progress since 2001.

For more details about our research portfolio, go to our website