PhD Cancer and Genomic Sciences

Our Cancer and Genomics PhD/MSc by Research in the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences will provide you with the skills needed to contribute to research in the areas of cell and molecular biology, immunology and virology.

Our extensive research programme brings together scientists and clinicians to define basic mechanisms of cell and molecular biology, and then determine how the normal programme of cell growth and differentiation is usurped in cancer.

You will work amongst the very best researchers to produce original and distinctive globally leading research, with the ultimate goal to design and rigorously assess new and proven cancer treatments. In so doing, you will play a significant role in accelerating the ultimate control of cancer.

Our PhD/MSc by Research program is intended for students who wish to obtain high quality research training that will enable them to conduct independent investigative research.

By studying in the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences you will be joining over 100 postgraduate research students covering a wide range of topics including:

• translational and fundamental aspects of cancer
• cancer biology
• genomics
• epigenomics
• genome biology
• genetics of rare diseases

You will work closely with your supervisory team who will help you clarify your project and support your development. Your thesis will represent an original contribution to knowledge and demonstrate independent judgement.

Employability

The University of Birmingham is the The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year for Graduate Employment 2016. This coveted accolade places Birmingham as the UK’s number one university for securing a graduate-level job. We have a global reputation for producing sought after graduates and are:

• 4th for employability in the Guardian University Guide 2017.
• the 11th most targeted university by leading employers in the 2016 High Fliers Graduate Market report.
• ranked as 65th in the world for employer reputation by QS World University rankings.
• listed as 12th in the UK in The Global Employability University Ranking 2016. The rankings illustrate the top 150 universities most frequently selected by global employers.

In the College of Medical and Dental Sciences our average Graduate Employability rate is 97% since 2012. A high proportion of our postgraduate research students go onto roles such as Postdoctoral Researcher, Teaching Fellow, Research Fellow within the University and local NHS hospitals as well as moving into pharmaceutical and research and development sectors.