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Cancer (Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre) PhD, MScR

Awards: PhD, MScR

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Research profile

Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre (ECRC) strives to take a comprehensive approach to cancer research, combining both laboratory-based research and clinical approaches.

Overall the centre studies the genetic and biological basis of cancer and disease pathology, and devises and test new forms of therapy arising from our basic, translational and clinical research programs.

Our ultimate aim is to carry out high quality research into effective cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, as well as the symptoms associated with cancer.

ECRC is part of the Edinburgh Medical School's Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences at the Western General Hospital. This centre, as part of a unit of Hospital-Based Clinical Subjects, was rated 5* in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise.

We have 18 academic staff, 40 research staff, 35 support staff and 22 students.

For information on projects available, please see the Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre webpage:

Funded Projects

There is often funding available for PhD study - see Scholarships and Funding section on this page for more information and links. We rarely have funding available for Masters by Research projects but do welcome applications from those able to self-fund.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
  • Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
PhDCancer (Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre)3 YearsFull-timeTuition fees
PhDCancer (Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre)6 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
MScRCancer (Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre)1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScRCancer (Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre)2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

Scholarships and funding

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money

    • taking out a loan

    • family support

  • personal savings

  • income from work

  • employer sponsorship

  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

Further information

  • Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre
  • Institute of Genetics and Cancer
  • Crewe Road South
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH4 2XU

Application deadlines

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

Before making your application, you must make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss your research proposal. Further information on making a research degree application can be found on the College website:

You will be formally interviewed (in person, by video-conferencing or Skype).

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre
  • Institute of Genetics and Cancer
  • Crewe Road South
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH4 2XU