Overview
Cancer care is changing. New treatments, new technologies and new models of care are transforming the way cancer is prevented, diagnosed, treated and supported.
Our Masters in Advancing Future Cancer Care is a new postgraduate programme being developed by The Christie Institute for Cancer Education for healthcare professionals who want to deepen their specialist knowledge, strengthen their practice and help shape the future of cancer care.
This programme will offer flexible postgraduate study options, with pathways leading towards PGCert, PGDip and Masters level study.
At a glance
The programme will combine flexible online learning with applied, work-based learning. Learners will explore core themes in cancer care, communication, leadership, supportive oncology, prevention, screening, early diagnosis and real-world outcomes, before progressing into 1 of 3 specialist strands.
The Masters is being developed around 3 specialist pathways:
Precision Oncology
Advanced Cancer Surgery and Interventional Care
Primary and Community Care Oncology
Each pathway is designed to help you to apply advanced knowledge to real clinical practice, with opportunities to connect learning to your own role, setting and professional ambitions.
Not a generic cancer programme
The programme is designed for professionals who want to learn from specialist expertise, engage with the future direction of cancer care and apply their learning in ways that make a difference to patients, teams and services.
Developed by The Christie Institute for Cancer Education, part of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, one of Europe’s largest specialist cancer centres, this programme is routed in expertise and has been born from our desire to improve patient care through education.
Through flexible learning, expert teaching by Christie clinicians and applied assessment, learners will be supported to build confidence in complex cancer care, develop their professional practice and contribute to better outcomes across local, national and international settings.
Who should join this programme?
This postgraduate suite is designed not just to support healthcare professionals working across cancer care, but also those with a keen interest in developing their knowledge of cancer and its treatments.
You may be a:
Doctor seeking a full Masters level qualification in advanced cancer care
International doctors looking for specialist cancer education in advanced surgery, precision oncology or primary care oncology
Advanced Clinical Practitioner working in nursing, allied health, pharmacy or ambulance services
Specialist nurse or allied health professional seeking a UK postgraduate qualification
Pharmacist, radiographer or other professional working in cancer services
Primary care professional with an interest in cancer prevention, diagnosis, survivorship and community-based care
The programme has been built to give a rounded education suitable for many healthcare professionals with the ability to tailor assessments and placements to suit your role.
The programme may also appeal to learners who want to begin with a shorter postgraduate route, such as a PGCert or PGDip, before progressing further.
Programme breakdown
The Masters will run over 3 years part-time and year one will ensure each learners receives an advance foundation of knowledge from which to begin on their specialist pathway. Years 2 and 3 will see you specialise in a specialist pathway.
Year 1: Build the knowledge to understand cancer care. Develop the skills to help change it.
New treatments, technologies and models of care are transforming what is possible for patients. But delivering better cancer care takes more than clinical knowledge alone.
It takes professionals who can evaluate evidence, use data to inform decisions, communicate effectively, lead change, support people throughout their cancer experience and understand how prevention and earlier diagnosis can improve outcomes.
That is where your first year of Advancing Future Cancer Care begins. Year 1 is a shared foundation of 4 compulsory modules.
Year 1 overview: Your foundation for the future of cancer care
Year 1 provides a broad foundation across some of the most important issues influencing cancer care today.
You will study 4 compulsory 15-credit modules, giving a total of 60 credits. 4 modules with one purpose: to help you make a difference to cancer care.
Together, the modules explore:
Evidence and real-world outcomes
Communication and leadership
Supportive oncology
Prevention, screening and early detection
Learning is designed to connect with professional practice, helping you consider how new knowledge and ideas can be applied within your own role and working environment.
Year 1 modules
Turn evidence into better decisions.
Healthcare generates more information than ever before. The challenge is knowing how to interpret it and how to use it to improve care.
This 15-credit module will explore how evidence, data and real-world outcomes can inform decision-making in cancer care. Don't just understand the evidence. Learn how to use it to influence cancer care.
You will explore:
Critical thinking
Managing data and statistics
Trials using real-world data
Applying learning to your own professional practice
Assessment is expected to include engagement with learning activity throughout the module alongside a case-based presentation drawing on your own practice.
Communicate when it matters. Lead when change is needed.
Cancer care depends on people, and effective communication can influence experiences, decisions, teams and outcomes.
This 15-credit module explores communication and leadership across clinical and professional settings. Develop the confidence to communicate effectively and contribute to positive change in cancer care.
You will consider how to communicate complex information, manage challenging situations, work effectively with others and influence change across healthcare systems.
You will explore:
Clinical and social communication
Effective and efficient conversations
Communicating information clearly
Managing challenging situations
Managing emotional reactions
Non-verbal communication
Communication in different contexts, including online consultations
Leadership in healthcare
Culturally inclusive leadership
Getting the best from individuals and teams
System leadership
Influencing change
Communication within multidisciplinary teams
Assessment is expected to include a case-based presentation demonstrating the use of effective communication and leadership within your own professional practice.
See the person, not only the cancer.
Cancer and its treatment can affect every aspect of a person’s life.
Supportive oncology considers the wider physical, psychological and practical needs of people living with and beyond cancer.
This 15-credit module will explore how healthcare professionals can provide more holistic support across the cancer pathway. Build the knowledge to support the whole person throughout their experience of cancer.
You will explore:
The principles of supportive oncology
Frailty and cancer
Psychological impact and support
Managing cancer alongside co-morbidities
Nutrition and cancer
Pain and symptom management
Supporting families
Survivorship
Assessment is expected to include a case-based presentation exploring supportive care within your own professional practice.
Improve outcomes before treatment even begins.
Preventing cancer where possible and finding cancer earlier remain important opportunities to improve patient outcomes.
This 15-credit module will explore prevention, screening and the principles of early cancer detection, including some of the barriers that can prevent people from accessing screening or receiving an earlier diagnosis. Understand how prevention, screening and earlier detection can change the cancer pathway.
You will explore:
Prevention and lifestyle medicine
Screening in multicultural societies
Core principles of early detection
Barriers to spotting cancer earlier
Recognising cancer earlier in practice
Learning may include webinars, asynchronous activity and relevant GatewayC learning. Assessment is expected to include engagement with learning activity alongside a case-based presentation drawing on your own professional practice.
How you will learn
Learning connected to real practice
Postgraduate education should do more than test what you remember. It should help you think differently about your practice.
The programme is being developed around a mix of:
asynchronous and distance learning
recorded teaching and case-based learning
reviews and discussion of key literature
synchronous group learning
tutor-led seminars and supervision
authentic, work-centred assessment
Assessment may include approaches such as case reports, presentations, posters, group exercises and improvement-focused work.
Learn it. Apply it. Take it back into practice.
Designed around professional practice
Designed to fit alongside your career
Advancing Future Cancer Care is being developed as a part-time postgraduate programme for healthcare professionals in the UK and internationally.
The wider programme proposal combines flexible distance learning with opportunities for portfolio and work-based learning.
This means learners can continue developing professionally while connecting their studies to real challenges and opportunities within cancer care.
Register your interest in the course now.
What happens after year 1?
Build your foundation. Then develop your specialist expertise.
Year 1 gives learners a shared foundation across cancer care. The wider programme is being developed around 3 specialist areas of study.
Overview
The future of cancer treatment is increasingly personalised. The Precision Oncology strand will explore the advances shaping modern cancer care, including systemic anti-cancer therapies, radiotherapy, genomic medicine, targeted treatments, immunotherapy, clinical trials, toxicity management and value-based decision-making.
Who is this pathway for
This strand is designed for professionals who want to understand how innovation is changing cancer treatment and how precision approaches can be applied safely, effectively and equitably in practice.
This pathway may be particularly relevant for medical and clinical oncologists, advanced clinical practitioners, oncology nurses, pharmacists, radiographers and international healthcare professionals working in specialist cancer care.
Overview
Cancer surgery continues to evolve through innovation, technology and multidisciplinary decision-making.
The Advanced Cancer Surgery and Interventional Care strand will explore modern surgical oncology, interventional approaches, robotics, artificial intelligence, surgical decision-making, communication, ergonomics and complex cancer pathways.
Who is this pathway for?
This strand is designed for professionals who want to develop insight into advanced surgical cancer care and learn from specialist practice within a leading cancer centre.
This pathway may be particularly relevant for surgeons, surgical fellows, registrars, international surgical specialists and advanced practitioners working in surgical or interventional cancer care.
Overview
Cancer care increasingly extends beyond the specialist centre. The Primary and Community Care Oncology strand will explore prevention, screening, early diagnosis, cultural competency, investigations in primary care, treatment-related toxicities, late effects, recurrence, palliative care and survivorship.
Who is this pathway for?
This strand is designed for professionals who want to strengthen cancer care across primary, community and integrated settings, supporting earlier diagnosis, better coordination and improved long-term outcomes.
This pathway may be particularly relevant for GPs, primary care physicians, advanced clinical practitioners, community practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals.
Who is the programme for?
Who could Advancing Future Cancer Care be for?
The programme is being developed for healthcare professionals who want to advance their knowledge and practice in cancer care.
Potential learners include:
doctors and physicians
Advanced Clinical Practitioners
nurses and specialist cancer nurses
Allied Health Professionals
pharmacists
professionals working in primary and community care
healthcare professionals based in the UK
international healthcare professionals seeking postgraduate cancer education
Whether you already work exclusively in cancer care or cancer forms part of your wider professional role, this programme is designed to help build a broader understanding of the issues shaping cancer services today and in the future.
Learning designed around practice
The programme is being designed to support flexible study alongside professional practice.
Learners can expect a blend of asynchronous learning, live online discussion, tutor-supported seminars and applied assessment. Depending on the pathway and award route, learners may also have opportunities to undertake portfolio-based work-based learning, observership activity or practice improvement projects.
Assessment will be designed to reflect real professional practice, with examples including case-based presentations, reflective work, improvement projects, posters, presentations and applied portfolio activity.
Entry requirements
Academic entry requirements
A relevant first degree (2:1) with a minimum 5 years work experience
A relevant first degree (2:2) with a minimum 7 years work experience
Equivalent international qualifications
Alternative qualifications will be measured on a case-by-case basis.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 7.5 with no element below or equivalent English language qualification.
Interested in joining the first cohort?
The first cohort of Advancing Future Cancer Care is planned for Spring 2027. Register your interest and you will be among the first to receive further information about:
programme developments
Year 1 entry dates
specialist pathways
online information events
application dates and next steps
Register your interest in the course now.
FAQs
The first cohort is currently planned for spring 2027.
The programme is being developed as part-time/blended learning postgraduate study.
Yes, the programme is being designed for UK and international healthcare professionals. International applicants will need evidence of proficiency in English language equivalent to IELTS 7.5.
No. If you have not decided on a pathway, you can choose to just sign up for year 1. However, places are limited to ensure value on each pathway.
Year 1 is a shared foundation of 4 compulsory modules. Specialist study is planned for year 2 in the programme. Therefore, if you already know which pathway you prefer, you should reserve your place prior to beginning year 1 to ensure you can access your first choice.
Each pathway will have limited places available, so signing up for the complete Masters guarantees your place on your chosen pathway.
Following successful completion of year 1/60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Certificate.
2 years/120 credits PG Diploma and 3 years/180 credits a Masters in advancing future cancer care. This means that you can choose to study for 1 year with 1 year’s funding and then decide to continue upon completion of year 1/60 credits.
The programme includes asynchronous/distance learning alongside synchronous learning and work-centred educational approaches. There will also be an option to complete a 1-month observership at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in year 2.