Course summary

We offer our MPhil degree full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months. This is a research-based degree during which students undertake a research project and produce a thesis. Assessment is by oral examination based on the thesis and a broader knowledge of the chosen area of research. Each student is assigned a principal supervisor who oversees their research project and an adviser who provides additional support. Our postgraduate student administrator acts as the first point of contact for any student with a query or difficulty that is not directly related to their scientific work. All student matters in the department are overseen by our Director of Postgraduate Education and the Cancer Biology Postgraduate Education Committee. Most research training is provided within the structure of the student’s research group and informal opportunities to develop research skills are available through mentoring by other members of staff and fellow students. All students are encouraged to attend scientific meetings, seminars and postgraduate courses relevant to their area of interest. They are also expected to participate in journal clubs and lab meetings and to take advantage of the numerous and varied opportunities including transferable skills training offered by the University. The MPhil course is designed to produce postgraduates with rigorous research and analytical skills, who are exceptionally well equipped to go on to doctoral study, postgraduate research, or employment in industry and the public service. The course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge and aims to provide them with:

• relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and

• the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests