Cancer MPhil, PhD, MD

Overview

Our staff and postgraduate students work in the Faculty of Medical Sciences or the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. The Newcastle University Centre for Cancer operates right across the cancer research pathway with strengths ranging from cell biology and clinical trials to healthcare research and cancer research training, including:

• cancer discovery bioscience
• translational cancer research
• population-based cancer research

We're a major training base for the next generation of cancer researchers. Our Centre covers many areas of cancer research, including:

• childhood cancers
• drug discovery and therapeutics
• clinical trials, biomarkers and pharmacology

We offer approximately 15 MD, PhD and integrated MRes/PhD studentships each year. This includes the Newcastle Cancer Centre training programme. Projects in all research areas are available to fully-funded international students.

Members of our postgraduate community come from a variety of subject backgrounds. This includes:

• biological and biomedical sciences
• chemistry
• genetics
• pharmacy
• medicine
• dentistry
• veterinary medicine

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

If you’re studying an accredited degree and thinking about working in Europe after you graduate, the best place to find current information is the UK Government’s guidance on recognition of UK professional qualifications in EU member states. This official resource explains whether your profession is regulated in another country, what steps you need to take, and which organisation you should contact. 

What you'll learn

Exploratory biology, target and biomarker discovery

Molecular genetic and mechanistic studies identify critical molecular changes in cancer. It identifies the relevance to disease development and progression. We use these biomarkers and targets for therapeutic intervention. We use a wide range of techniques, including:

• contemporary 'omics
• bioinformatics, AI and machine learning
• molecular biology
• biochemistry
• cell biology and immunology
• disease modelling and single cell biology

Studies focus on:

• haematological malignancies (leukaemia and lymphoma)
• paediatric and adult solid tumours (prostate, colorectal, bladder and liver and brain cancers)

Critical molecular defects

We exploit critical molecular defects as biomarkers to enhance:

• disease detection and diagnosis
• prediction of disease course
• sensitivity to specific drugs
• therapeutic monitoring

We play leading roles in molecular diagnostics, biomarker assessment and therapeutic monitoring. This is for national and international clinical trials.

Drug development

The use of rational drug design helps achieve the exploitation of novel targets. Approaches include:

• structure-based design
• medium-throughout screening
• target molecule synthesis
• candidate drug assessment in cell-free and whole-cell target-based assays

Clinical trials

We undertake clinical trials (Phase I/II/III) are undertaken in both adults and children. Our trials have a strong hypothesis-testing translational research component. These are delivered through our leading roles in:

• national or international research networks (eg CR–UK, Children's Cancer)
• Leukaemia Group, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer)
• collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry

Population - Based Cancer Research

We aim to understand and improve the whole cancer patient journey. We're working across:

• adult and childhood cancers
• risk factors
• screening
• early diagnosis
• treatment utilisation
• survivorship

We explore this through:

• working with patients, patient groups and charities
• using NHS and international data to identify trends in diagnosis and survival and highlighting inequalities
• using qualitative research methods to understand patient, carer and healthcare professional experiences
• designing, developing and evaluating interventions for within the NHS (Theoretically and co-design driven)

Within this area we are a multi-disciplinary team coming from a range of backgrounds:

• statistics
• epidemiology
• health psychology
• sport and exercise science
• nutrition
• speech and language
• medicine and health services research

We are one of the few academic centres in the UK able to undertake this specialist cancer research. We achieve this through:

• our expert staff
• state of the art facilities
• close working relationships with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors
• clinical trials networks

How you'll learn

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Thesis
• Viva

Additional assessment information

We offer a wide range of projects for the thesis. These will be provided by our academics. You can also propose your own topic.

Postgraduate research student support

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• wellbeing
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Your development

Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact
• Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements
• Your programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the FMS researcher development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) / Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA)

Being part of a CDT or DTP/DLA has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

• Discovery Medicine North - MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership
  
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Molecular Sciences for Medicine (MoSMed)
• Newcastle Liverpool Durham BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership

Your future

Our Careers Service

Our expert Careers Service is here to help you take the next steps in your professional life. We will support you while you’re studying with us and for up to three years after you graduate.

You will have access to expert one-to-one advice and guidance through our campus careers centre and online, along with digital resources, workshops, networking opportunities, and careers and recruitment events.

We’ve been awarded 5 QS Stars for Student Employability (2025). Many of our degrees are shaped by strong links with national and international businesses. We are committed to helping you access real-world experience opportunities and develop key skills through paid work placements and internships.

Visit our Careers Service website

Facilities

Our staff and postgraduate students work in:

• the Northern Institute for Cancer Research (NICR)
• the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (medicinal chemistry students).

Our laboratories contain a full range of contemporary equipment used in:

• genomic
• bioinformatic
• proteomic
• synthetic chemistry
• pharmacology
• clinical research facilities

You'll work in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. This is part of our city-centre campus.

The Faculty is also home to:

• dentistry
• medicine
• psychology
• pharmacy

It is on the same site as Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary hospital. We are one of the largest integrated teaching/hospital complexes in the country.

Our facilities include:

• individual research laboratories where students carry out their projects
• a dedicated medical library with a wide range of specialist books and journals
• hi-tech computer clusters and study spaces
• dedicated facilities for a range of key bioscience applications. This includes flow cytometry, bioinformatics, imaging, genomics and proteomics

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

Why is this fee shown as a range?

We are unable to give an exact fee, this is why the fee is shown as a range. This fee range takes into account your research topic and resource requirements.

Your research topic is unique so it will have unique resource requirements. Resources could include specialist equipment, such as laboratory/workshop access, or technical staff.

If your research involves accessing specialist resources then you're likely to pay a higher fee. You'll discuss the exact nature of your research project with your supervisor(s). You'll find out the fee in your offer letter.

PGR Home fee note

Home fees for research degree students

For 2025-26 entry, we've aligned our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).  For 2026-27 entry, we will again be aligning our standard Home research fees with UKRI. They will announce their fees in Spring 2026.

 

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding and scholarships

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

How to apply

Open days and events

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events