Surgery and Oncology PhD / MPhil / MD
The University has invested over £20million in cancer research which has been used for the creation of several new posts in the Department, and in the establishment of the University of Liverpool Cancer Research Centre (ULCRC) building.
Why study with us?
359
postgraduate research students.
309
academic members of staff.
Overview
Scientific research in the Department is performed in an environment that has a wealth of clinical expertise and research which ensures that basic scientific research is always performed with insights of relevance to patients provided by leading clinical teams.
The Department plays a leading role in the Cancer Research UK Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre and runs the Liverpool Tissue Bank.
Our commitment to cancer research has resulted in the launch of Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre – an organisation that brings together scientists, clinicians and local stakeholders to lead and deliver cancer research of the highest quality and importance.
Cancer medicine research is aimed at developing discoveries that can ultimately be translated into patient benefits. Scientific research in the Department is performed in an environment that has a wealth of clinical expertise and research which ensures that basic scientific research is always performed with insights of relevance to patients provided by leading clinical teams and an awareness of detailed clinical issues.
Our research interests
- Clinical studies conducted with the intent to advance therapies to the clinic or develop principles for application of therapeutics to human disease
- Non-human or non-clinical studies conducted with the intent to advance therapies to the clinic or develop principles for application of therapeutics to human disease
- Investigations in humans which define the biology of disease and provide the scientific foundation for the development of new or improved therapies for human disease
- Any clinical trial of a therapy that was initiated based on the above
- The biology-chemistry “bridge”.
Research themes
Our research themes include the fundamental studies of cancer cells and the molecular biology of cancer as well as Translational research and tumour specific research in many areas including:
- Pancreatic cancer
- Haemato-Oncology
- Head and Neck cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Lung cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Gastro-oesophageal cancer
- Urological cancer (including Renal Cancer)
- Breast cancer.
Training
PhD students can take taught modules - on either a formal basis with exams taken and a record of completion generated or less formally. Commonly, students use the opportunity to upskill in areas like bioinformatics and statistics, but modules on defined areas of biology are also available. A wide variety of further development opportunities are available from the PGR Development Hub.
Facilities
The Institutes research infrastructure is designed to give researchers access to world class facilities in the best possible environment.
Our facilities give us the ability to drive biomedical research from patient samples to the laboratory bench and vice versa from newly generated drug compounds into clinical trials. The departments of the institute have the following facilities and resources:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Centre for Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics
- Centre for Drug Safety Science
- Health Data Science Network
- Centre for Preclinical Imaging
- Clinical Trials Research Centre
- Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Research Centre
- Liverpool Bio-Innovation Hub (LBIH) Biobank
- Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit
- MRC North West Hub for Trials Methodology Research
- North West Cancer Research Centre – University of Liverpool
- Pancreas Biomedical Research Unit
- UK Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre for Children
- Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine.
The Institute of Translational Medicine is equipped with a wide range of the latest microscopy capabilities for modern biomedical research. Our imaging platforms enable continuous correlative imaging studies from nanometer resolution through to whole animal imaging. We provide support ranging from initial project discussion and planning through to training, application of techniques and assistance with data interpretation.
Study options and fees
The fees below reflect one year of study. Fees stated are for academic year 2025/26.
| MPhil / PhD / MD | Duration | UK students | International Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | 2-4 years | £5,006 |
|
| Part time | 4-6 years | £2,503 |
|
The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.
* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.
Entry requirements
Applicants for postgraduate research study at Liverpool are normally expected to hold a UK first degree with a First Class or Upper Second Class degree classification, or a Second Class degree plus a Master’s degree. Equivalent international qualifications are also accepted, and their equivalence will be evaluated on the basis of the information provided by the National Academic Recognition and Information Centre (NARIC) as well as internal guidance based on our experience of a qualification’s suitability as a preparation for our programmes.
English language requirements
| IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT | Overall 6.5 no band below 5.5 |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT requirement | Minimum 88 overall with L 17 W 17 R 17 and S 19 |
| C1 Advanced CAE requirement | Overall 176 with no less than 162 in any paper |
| PTE Academic requirement | 61 with minimum scores of 59 in each component |
| Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II) | ISE II with an overall pass with merit in components |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a First Language | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Proficiency) | Overall 176 with 162 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 176 with 162 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 176 with 162 in components |
How to apply
Research degree applications can be made online. You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.
Applications are open all year round.
More about applying for research degrees
Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal
Find a supervisor
View supervisors in this area
Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us
- ISMIB PGR Administrator
- Email: ismibpgradmin@liverpool.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)151 794 5455
Related studentships: self-funded and funded PhD projects
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We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.