BSc (Hons) Cancer Sciences Bachelor's degree at the University of Nottingham
BSc (Hons) Cancer Sciences at University of Nottingham. Cancer Sciences at the University of Nottingham is built around a clinically-grounded, research-extensive curriculum that sets out to explain cancer from the molecule to the clinic.
About this course
This internationally supported and research-extensive course is designed to give you clinical understanding of the causes of cancer, the molecular basis of new and established cancer treatments, as well as its translation into therapeutics and drug development. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Cancer Sciences is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Nottingham. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Medicine and dentistry graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 94% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £37,000. (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)
Stronger evidence Published sample: 115. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 100% (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 one 6 modules
- Human Cellular and Molecular BiologyCore
Module details
Explore cellular and molecular biology including structure and function of cells and their organelles, proteins and enzymes, DNA, transcription, translation, gene organisation and regulation, metabolism of macromolecules and cell membrane architecture. Practical classes complement theoretical content.
- Human Physiology and AnatomyCore
Module details
Overview of the structure and function of the major systems of the human body in health and disease. Comprehensive introduction to human anatomy and physiology. Practical classes apply learning to dynamic processes of key body systems.
- Genetics, Molecular Evolution and DiversityCore
Module details
Explore principles of genetics, molecular evolution, and diversity including inheritance, gene structure and function, molecular mechanisms of genetic variation, molecular evolutionary processes, forces shaping genetic diversity, and diversity of life from microorganisms to eukaryotes.
- Causes and Consequences of CancerCore
Module details
Build foundational knowledge of causes of cancer, cancer diagnosis and treatment, and epidemiology of cancer. Examine what happens when someone gets cancer, from detection through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship.
- Hallmarks of CancerCore
Module details
Study of the ten fundamental processes that make cancers form, grow, invade and spread.
- Introduction to Human Nutrition and MetabolismOptional
Module details
Explore how the human body processes nutrients it needs to function. Understanding of obtaining, digesting, absorbing and metabolising macronutrients and micronutrients, interaction of nutrition and energy metabolism, impact on energy balance, body weight regulation, body composition, and tissue-specific regulation of macronutrient metabolism.
Year two 6 modules
- Angiogenesis and Tumour-Host InteractionsCore
Module details
Angiogenesis and formation of new blood vessels, how blood supply and immune system interact when there is a tumour present. Neo-angiogenesis in tumour biology and approaches used to target this process. How cancers interact with their host, co-opt and corrupt normal cell processes, and evade detection by the immune system.
- Cancer Cell Genetics: How and Why Cancer Cells are Different from Normal CellsCore
Module details
Genetic polymorphisms and genome-wide association studies, chemical, viral, and radiation induced DNA damage and tumourigenesis, cancer cell genomics and the 100,000 genome project, cancer cell transcriptomics and epigenomics, precision medicine in cancer treatment.
- Colorectal Cancer and Ovarian CancerCore
Module details
How cancers become genetically unstable so that they can spread around the body (metastasize), using bowel and ovarian cancer as examples.
- Epidemiology of Cancer and Population GeneticsCore
Module details
Ways to study incidence of cancer in specific populations and areas, how to determine causes and risk factors associated with cancer. Global cancer burden and regional variations in cancer incidence and risk factors. Methods used to address cancer prevention and importance of public health policy in cancer prevention.
- Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer and Prostate CancerCore
Module details
Three of the most common cancers. Tobacco-induced mutations in the lung and the role of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Growth factor signalling in breast cancer, treatment and evolution of drug resistance. Importance of hormones, role of oestrogen and use of anti-oestrogens. Comparison of breast cancer and prostate cancer.
- Patient-centred Library Project (cause, diagnosis and treatments)Core
Module details
Find out what happens to someone when they get cancer, the journey they go through, and what doctors, nurses, scientists and other health care professionals do to treat the patient.
Year three 7 modules
- Patient PortfolioCore
Module details
In-depth look at the patient's journey with cancer from discovery to treatment, recovery and/or palliative care. Through in-depth case study, build knowledge of skills needed to diagnose and identify treatment options. See importance of clinical trials and evidence-based medicine.
- Practical ProjectCore
Module details
Hands-on experience of research in cancer sciences and develops practical skills required to conduct a research project. Design, plan, and perform a research project under guidance of academic supervisor. Read and critically analyse scientific literature, collect, analyse, and interpret data of many different types, write a dissertation based on reading and data collected/analysed, produce a poster summarising results and present in conference-type setting.
- Cancer Biology and Molecular TherapeuticsOptional
Module details
Analyse cancer biology in the context of molecular therapeutics. Examine emerging research in solid tumours and blood cancers including DNA repair, cell cycle control, growth factor signaling, hypoxia, apoptotic and autophagic mechanisms, epigenetic mechanisms, cancer stem cell properties, bioelectrical signalling. Therapeutics currently used in clinic and novel therapeutics being developed pre-clinically.
- Cancer Immunology and Novel TherapiesOptional
Module details
Thorough grounding in foundations of immunology pertaining to T-cell responses. Essential models of T-cell activation, key lectures on dendritic cells, T-cell responses to infectious (pathogens) and sterile antigens (cancer), immune escape. Cutting edge immunotherapies including immune checkpoint blockade and CAR-T therapies. Teaching team comprises research specialist scientists and consultant oncologists.
- Paediatric CancerOptional
Module details
Spectrum of cancers that occur in childhood and how types and drivers differ to adult cancers. Current treatments and outcomes for range of paediatric cancers. Principles behind chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery in childhood cancer. How improved understanding of underlying biology drives novel treatment strategies. Preclinical approaches to developing novel treatment strategies. Issues with translating findings from laboratory to clinical trials and standard of care. Broader effects of pae
- Tumour MicroenvironmentOptional
Module details
How cancer cell shapes its environment and how environment affects cancer cell, from blood vessel growth and drainage by lymphatics to host cells that interact with cancer cells.
- Advanced Cancer Models and Approaches in Preclinical ResearchOptional
Module details
Advanced methodologies, approaches, and technologies at the forefront of current cancer research including innovative technologies, discovery biology (phenotype analysis) with genetic screening using CRISPR, shRNA, siRNA, transcriptomics (RNA seq, spatial transcriptomics, single cell sequencing), epigenomics (ChIP seq, RIME, proteomics, metabolomics including spatial metabolomics), artificial intelligence/imaging, databases and platforms. In vivo tumour models including transgenesis and in vivo
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 you from foundations through to independent research. Early on, you build core theory in cell and molecular biology, genetics and the underlying science of how cancers develop, alongside training in research and methods so you can read, question and eventually generate scientific evidence yourself. As you progress, applied practice brings this knowledge closer to real clinical and laboratory contexts, looking at how findings on cancer biology feed into diagnosis and treatment. You can then explore specialist options such as the molecular basis of specific cancer types, drug development, or the translation of research into new therapeutics, allowing you to follow the areas that interest you most. The degree culminates in an independent project, where you carry out your own piece of research or investigative work, drawing together everything you've learned. Throughout, professional skills are woven in, preparing you for the practical, communicative and analytical demands of scientific or clinical careers beyond the degree.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who is curious about disease at a molecular level but also wants to see how that knowledge actually changes patient care. If you enjoyed biology and chemistry at school and found yourself wanting to know not just what happens in a cell but why it goes wrong and what can be done about it, this is likely to hold your interest. It asks for patience with detail, reading evidence carefully, understanding mechanisms, and being comfortable with laboratory-based and research methods, alongside a genuine interest in the clinical side of cancer treatment and drug development. Most students accepted onto the course arrive with A-levels or equivalent, typically within the 144–159 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what previous entrants held rather than a fixed requirement. You'll likely enjoy this course if you're someone who wants a demanding, science-heavy degree with a clear sense of purpose, and who can picture themselves eventually working in research, clinical science, or the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector. Studying it will feel rigorous and detailed at times, but consistently connected to a real-world problem you can see the relevance of.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Medicine & Dentistry courses, 89% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 75% of those in work are in highly skilled roles or further study, figures that reflect the national picture for this subject area rather than outcomes specific to this course or university. Around 90% of students nationally continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed their studies, suggesting reasonable persistence once students commit to this field. On earnings, national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data show starting salaries around 15 months after graduation typically ranging from £27,000 to £32,000, rising to between £24,650 and £34,800 after three years, and £29,325 to £41,400 after five years. These figures are national averages across relevant graduates and should be read as context rather than a guarantee of what any individual will earn. Graduates of a cancer sciences degree are typically positioned for further study, research roles, or entry into pharmaceutical, biotechnology or clinical science careers, building on the translational focus of the course.
University & format
The BSc (Hons) Cancer Sciences is a full-time, three-year course delivered in English at the University of Nottingham, a public, research-intensive Russell Group university founded in 1881. The course is identified by UCAS code B131. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships, which are worth checking on its funding pages for current eligibility and amounts. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the university's degrees carry national recognition, and its Russell Group membership signals a research-intensive academic environment underpinning the course.
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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
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 | 95% |
| a Baccalaureate | 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 B131). 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
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Nottingham →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 | £37,000 | £32,000 – £42,000 | 115 |
| 3 years after | £47,000 | £41,500 – £54,500 | 730 |
| 5 years after | £52,000 | £47,000 – £59,000 | 725 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 115. Cohort 2022-23.
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. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 115. Cohort 2022-23. 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.
- Medical PractitionersSOC 2020 221 · 92% of published destinations · ASHE median £71,918
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: 340; response rate: 50%. 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
80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £37,000. 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 8.3 out of 10: NSS 70.3% · in work or study 80% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Nottingham
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 The University of Nottingham
844 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 University of Nottingham from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £37,060 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 University of Nottingham’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 University of Nottingham and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Nottingham
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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