Course summary

The DPhil in Cancer Science (Clinician) is a research course for qualified doctors, offering advanced training in oncology through a three-year lab-based project, seminars, and skills development in cancer biology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. This course is aimed at fully-qualified medical doctors who are, or are eligible to be, registered clinical practitioners with the General Medical Council (GMC). This course is for clinical students who want to undertake advanced study in the field of cancer research. Applications are accepted from qualified doctors at all stages of training, from foundation to higher specialist training (see Entry requirements for further details). As a doctoral student on this course, you will be based in a single research group/laboratory to undertake a research project for three years on a full-time basis. You will be admitted to work under the supervision of a Principal Investigator who is formally appointed as your DPhil supervisor. You will undertake a selected research project from the list advertised in the course's "Clinical/Medical Undergraduates" project booklet. There is no period of rotation between laboratories. All doctoral students develop their skills through a range of research training and skills development in their first year of full-time study, by attending compulsory and optional courses and lectures in laboratory techniques and generic skills, including scientific writing and statistics, while also carrying out your research project. You will be encouraged to attend lectures and seminars related to your programme of research and make the most of the doctoral training and research methods provision available across the University. The aim is to tailor this training to individual needs and bring all students up to an advanced level in background knowledge. Later training is focused on the skills required for a successful career in independent research and for clinicians, to successful re-integration into clinical training.