BSc (Hons) Cancer Biomedicine Bachelor's degree at UCL
BSc (Hons) Cancer Biomedicine at UCL. Rather than covering biomedical science broadly, this degree sits its students inside the specifics of tumour biology, giving them a grounding that speaks directly to those wanting to work in oncology-related research or clinical science.
About this course
Undergraduate Degrees | Study at UCL Skip to main content Highlights ExtendED Learning Develop your skills ExtendED Learning Push your thinking, grow your networks and sharpen your skills through hands-on learning opportunities between 18 May - 12 June. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Cancer Biomedicine is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at UCL, based in London. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Medicine and dentistry graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 75% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £37,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Medicine & Dentistry, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 95; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 8 modules
- Cancer Medicine in SocietyCompulsory
- Foundations in Human Physiology and Cellular BiologyCompulsory
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory Function in Health and DiseaseCompulsory
- The Gut, Liver and Drug MetabolismCompulsory
- Kidneys, Hormones and Fluid BalanceCompulsory
- Infection, Inflammation and RepairCompulsory
- Data Interpretation and Evaluation of ScienceCompulsory
- Musculoskeletal Systems in Health and DiseaseCompulsory
Year 2 18 modules
- Cancer Biology and TherapeuticsCompulsory
- Clinical Cancer: from epidemiology to diagnosis to treatmentCompulsory
- Molecular Basis of DiseaseCompulsory
- Techniques in Molecular Medicine: A Practical ApproachCompulsory
- Introduction to Clinical TrialsCompulsory
- Pathogens and CancerCompulsory
- Science and EthicsOptional
- Engaging the Public with ScienceOptional
- ImmunologyOptional
- The Nervous System and Neurological DiseasesOptional
- Pharmacology and Drug ActionOptional
- Introduction to Applied GenomicsOptional
- Growth and DevelopmentOptional
- Nutrition and Cancer RiskOptional
- Physics of the Human BodyOptional
- Statistics for Medical ScientistsOptional
- Applied Tissue EngineeringOptional
- Radiation Cancer BiologyOptional
Year 3 10 modules
- Cancer Biomedicine Research ProjectCompulsory
- Precision Cancer MedicineCompulsory
- Cancer Clinical Trials - UndergraduateCompulsory
- Research Methods From Bench to BedsideCompulsory
- Stem Cell TherapiesOptional
- Paediatric and Young Adult Cancer: Basic Research and Clinical ApplicationsOptional
- Nutrition and Cancer TreatmentsOptional
- Governing Emerging TechnologiesOptional
- Nanotechnology in MedicineOptional
- The Biomedical EntrepreneurOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course structure moves through several stages of learning. Early on, students work through core theory, the fundamental biology, chemistry and physiology that underpin any understanding of disease processes, with particular attention to how normal cells and tissues can go wrong. Alongside this sits research & methods, where students learn the practical and analytical tools scientists use to investigate cancer, from laboratory techniques to data interpretation. As the degree progresses, teaching shifts towards applied practice, translating theoretical and methodological knowledge into the kinds of problems researchers and clinicians actually face. Students can then explore specialist options such as areas of cancer biology, therapeutics or related biomedical topics that allow them to follow their own interests within the wider subject. A significant part of the later years is the independent project, where students design and carry out their own piece of research, working closely with academic supervisors and taking ownership of a question from start to finish. Running throughout is attention to professional skills, communication, teamwork and the kind of scientific literacy that matters whether a graduate heads into a laboratory, a hospital setting, or further academic study.
Who it's for
This course suits people who find themselves genuinely curious about disease at a cellular and molecular level, the kind of student who wants to know not just what cancer is, but why it behaves the way it does, and what current research is doing about it. It works well for those who enjoy the discipline of laboratory work as much as the theory behind it, and who are comfortable with the idea that a science degree involves sustained, sometimes slow, investigative effort rather than quick answers. Studying this subject will feel demanding in places, dense reading, technical vocabulary, long stretches in labs or with data, but also purposeful, since so much of what's covered connects directly to real diseases affecting real people. It suits students who can see themselves working towards research, clinical science, or further postgraduate study in medicine or biomedical fields, and who value precision and evidence over speculation. A degree of resilience helps too, since cancer biology is a subject where progress in the field is often incremental, and students studying it should be prepared to sit with complexity rather than expect neat resolutions.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Medicine & Dentistry courses, 89% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 75% of those working graduates in roles classed as highly skilled work or further study. These figures reflect the national picture for the subject area rather than outcomes specific to this course, but they give a useful sense of the field's overall employment landscape. National graduate earnings data (Graduate Outcomes/LEO) show a range rather than a guarantee: starting salaries around £27,000–£32,000 fifteen months after graduating, moving to roughly £24,650–£34,800 after three years, and £29,325–£41,400 after five years. These figures span all graduates in the subject area nationally and will vary depending on the specific role, sector and individual circumstances, they are not a promised outcome of studying at any particular university. Around 90% of students nationally continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed their studies, which offers some context on retention within this type of course.
University & format
UCL is a higher education college and a member of the Russell Group, a grouping of research-intensive universities, based in London. Founded in 1826, it now teaches around 23,250 students and holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. Degrees awarded are nationally recognised, and UCL is a recognised UK degree-awarding body. This particular course (UCAS code B800) runs full-time over three years and is taught in English. Most students accepted onto UCL courses of this kind have historically entered with A-levels or equivalent, around 75% of accepted students in recent years, and the most common UCAS tariff band among entrants has been more than 240 points, though this reflects typical entrant profiles rather than a stated minimum requirement. UCL's funding pages are worth checking for details of any bursaries or scholarships that may be available.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 75% |
| a Baccalaureate | 25% |
| a previous degree | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code B800). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at UCL →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
National funding for this subject
- NHS Learning Support Fund: Eligible nursing, midwifery and allied-health students can receive a non-repayable training grant. Official guidance
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Medicine & Dentistry graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £37,500 | £33,000 – £44,500 | 95 |
| 3 years after | £48,000 | £40,000 – £52,500 | 405 |
| 5 years after | £52,000 | £45,500 – £60,500 | 565 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 95; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in medicine & dentistry · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Medicine & Dentistry nationally
National figures for Medicine & Dentistry graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 95; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Medicine & Dentistry courses at the same study level.
Compared with 804 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Business, Research and Administrative ProfessionalsSOC 2020 243 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £48,746
- Architects, Chartered Architectural Technologists, Planning Officers, Surveyors and Construction ProfessionalsSOC 2020 245 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £45,972
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 30; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Medicine & Dentistry graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Medicine & Dentistry graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- The NHS
- Private practice
- Research & academia
- Public health
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Medicine & Dentistry graduates.
Medicine-Focused Veterinary Surgeon | Patient Care LeaderMedivet & PartnersMedicine Service Delivery Manager - Operations ImprovementNHSMedicine Occupational Therapist - StaffordshirePulse HealthcarePart-Time Palliative Medicine Consultant | 1-in-5 On-CallEvora Hospice (formerly Southern Area Hospice Services)Consultant Medicine - ElderlyPertemps Medical ProfessionalsSpecialty Doctor in Acute MedicineTriple West MedicalIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £37,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 86.1% · in work or study 90% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University College London
Medicine and dentistry across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around London
12,829 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Medicine & Dentistry right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to UCL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by UCL; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check UCL’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with UCL and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at UCL
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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