PMCAPHIM - MSc Cancer Immunotherapy

The MSc course is designed to be fully inclusive, engaging with the sociocultural diversity of our students and ensuring that all aspects of teaching, learning and assessment allows for the promotion of different learning styles and an understanding of the multi-disciplinary areas of the Biosciences (Biomedical Science and Immunotherapy). Students will develop knowledge and skills which will empower them to be autonomous professional practitioners and be inclusive in their own careers and practice. The course will foster high level reasoning skills and promote lifelong learning and continuous professional development (CPD). Our graduates will go out into the world as confident, values driven and successful individuals, who as critical thinkers and problem solvers and are able to make a positive contribution to society.

Teaching and learning activities are integrated with assessment processes in line with the School learning and teaching strategy and the Education for Social Justice Framework (ESJF). Our inclusive assessment is cognisant of the student voice and reflective of different student learning styles. A Blended approach is utilised, with the methods used accommodating different learning styles and enable students to shine. Active learning techniques are used. There is an emphasis placed on self-directed and problem-based learning within a lecture/tutorial/ practical framework and materials delivered via the VLE allowing students to be actively involved in the learning process, and encouraged to recognise and develop their own learning style. The Course learning materials are responsive to student diversity, accessibility and designed to support different learning styles. Students will explore case studies to promote critical reasoning within a professional context.

The Holloway campus library offers specialised group study areas as well as access to a comprehensive range of textbooks, journals and online learning resources. There are also open areas on the ground floor of the Tower building. These areas all have access to IT facilities with several terminals at each one.

Practical skills are an essential part of the MSc course and students have access to the unparalleled facilities in the Science Centre Laboratory. Practical classes are designed to reinforce the knowledge from the lectures and tutorials. The course aims to promote a good knowledge-skills balance enhancing the professional practice of the students. The science centre also provides an excellent facility to carry out the final research project. MSc project assessment will culminate in the presentation of a dissertation and a viva exam, which also explores knowledge and understanding.

The Postgraduate taught Cancer Immunotherapy programme aims to:

i. provide a programme of advanced study for graduates that will equip them for future careers in the area of Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomedical Science;

ii. foster a comprehensive and critical understanding of the existing state of knowledge in the fields of cancer, traditional cancer therapies and cancer immunotherapy;

iii. enhance intellectual and practical skills necessary for the collection, analysis, interpretation and understanding of scientific data, culminating in an independent research project;

iv. provide practical opportunities in a multidisciplinary environment;

v. enable students to become effective learners/practitioners by developing a variety of personal skills and capabilities;

In addition to the general programme aims above, the individual modules provide CPD opportunities for extending knowledge, updating skills, or gaining new skills in specialist areas at postgraduate level.

By the end of the course students should be able to demonstrate:

1. knowledge and understanding of Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomedical Science consistent with consolidation of advances in the subject within an existing knowledge framework;
2. knowledge and understanding of technical developments, their advantages, limitations and implications and how research impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of disease (with particular emphasis on laboratory diagnostics and monitoring)
3. cognitive (thinking) skills by assimilating information and developing ideas on issues, methodologies or pathogenic processes and by explaining how a working hypothesis may be devised and tested within the constraints of a biomedical context and by critically evaluating material on a complex Cancer Immunotherapy topic in order to present a balanced review
4. effective communication verbally, in writing, and by electronic means;
5. the ability to implement an advanced information search and extract relevant information and the capacity for rational and balanced debate of complex biomedical issues including ethical issues as well as individual initiative, organisation and the capacity for independent learning and effective teamworking
6. increased awareness of how changes in knowledge and technology may impact on professional practice in the subject area and require adaptability
7. practical skills, through experience of advanced or novel practical methodologies and through the application of knowledge to practical problems, including test selection and the design of appropriate experimental protocols with due regard to safety and quality control issues; through experience of IT software and data bases e.g. in bioinformatics, epidemiology and in searching the Cancer Immunotherapy literature and application of statistical analyses where appropriate;
8. Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible professionals in their discipline

Although there are no QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) benchmark statements for Cancer Immunotherapy at Postgraduate level, course outcomes are in line with Generic QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) guidelines on Masters level qualifications.

Assessment and feedback are key means through which to engage students in processes that support their development, success and employability, while connecting with their own identities, experiences and cultural capital. The assessment strategy is aligned with that of the School and the ESJF and is cognisant of the student voice and reflective of different student learning styles.

Students are assessed through a variety of methods including problem solving exercises, in-class test, data analysis, practical reports, case studies, oral presentations, online in-person exams, oral examination and dissertation. The choice of assessment instrument chosen to test the specified learning outcomes and to support students’ different learning styles. Assessment is part of the learning process and confirms the outcomes of the learning process. It also provides formative feedback on curriculum design and delivery and, via the on-going iterative process of module monitoring, makes a significant contribution to the continued development and improvement of the courses that links in with the School learning and teaching strategy. In light of this a variety of assessment methods will be used (see syllabi) including unseen written examinations, individual and group assignments. Practical skills are summatively assessed through coursework assignments, including those in the project module. Data handling skills are summatively assessed by practical reports, problem solving exercises, oral presentations and examinations.

Students choose 1 or 2 modules each semester from the Course Structure.

BM7P05 cannot be taken until all other modules completed.

PT students take BM7001 in their 1st year

PGDip award cannot include BM7P05

Many students will have undertaken the process of PDP during their undergraduate career or in the workplace. At Masters level, PDP is designed to build on and enhance the skills which the student have developed during their undergraduate level studies or work experience and help them to critically review their learning experiences, set future personal and academic goals and evaluate their progress towards these goals.
PDP is designed to assist students develop as independent learners, identify their strengths and weaknesses not only whilst studying at MSc level, but will be of benefit throughout their future career.

During the induction phase of the programme students will be introduced to structured reflection on their development of Postgraduate Skills which constitute much as the substance of personal development planning. Progress with Postgraduate Skills will be articulated to students as the programme progresses through feedback from tutors and peers enabling them to reflect on their progress based on the evidence available. Other activities outside of the academic aspect of university life will also contribute to aspects of Postgraduate Skills. Students will be encouraged to develop their personal portfolio to critically review their learning experiences, set their future personal and academic goals and evaluate their progress towards these goals.

FHEQ level descriptors and characteristics

In line with the Graduate Success Plan (GSP), Careers, employability and enterprise information and guidance is given to students in a timely manner, to facilitate students taking maximum advantage of extra-curricular opportunities and help to develop, student self-awareness, self-belief and confidence to achieve realistic career goals.
The resources of the Careers Service are available to all Students, who, as Postgraduates, may already be pursuing defined career goals. This course allows students to be considered for promotion at work. The course develops professional skills which enhance employability.

As a graduate of this course, you’ll be well prepared to work for companies that are developing cancer immunotherapies. Such companies include global biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibbs, MERCK, AstraZeneca and Roche. There are also an an ever-growing number of start-up companies that are tackling cancer, including Vyriad, UNUM Therapeutics and Alpine Immune Sciences.

You’ll also have ample opportunity for future postgraduate study within the School of Human Sciences and the Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Centre at the MPhil/PhD level, as well as research opportunities with partners within the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

You will be required to have:

• at least a lower second (2.2) UK first degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject, for example pharmacology, biomedical science, biological science or medical genetics (these will be considered on an individual basis)