The Institute of Cancer Research, London

About The Institute of Cancer Research, London

The Institute of Cancer Research combines two roles: it is a cancer-research organization and a regulated postgraduate higher-education institution. Its governing body is its own Board of Trustees, and its legal corporation is a company limited by guarantee and an exempt charity. It is registered with the Office for Students and is also a member institution of the University of London. These arrangements distinguish it from a department or laboratory embedded within another university. ICR began in 1909 as The Cancer Hospital Research Institute. It became legally independent from The Royal Marsden when the NHS was established in 1948, while retaining a close research and clinical partnership with the hospital. It expanded to Sutton in the 1950s and now works across Chelsea and Sutton. The institutional focus remains unusually concentrated: cancer causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, together with postgraduate education for researchers and clinicians. Prospective students should understand that this is not a conventional comprehensive university. ICR does not advertise bachelor’s degree programs, a wide elective curriculum or a large residential campus. Its active degree provision centers on the MSc in Oncology and research degrees including MPhil, PhD and MD(Res). The fit is strongest for applicants seeking an intensive research setting, access to specialist facilities and interaction with scientists or clinicians working directly in cancer research. Applicants looking for broad undergraduate study or a traditional multi-faculty university experience should consider other institutions.

Admissions are program-specific because ICR does not operate a broad undergraduate intake. For MPhil or PhD registration, the published requirements normally include a first-class or upper-second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, a relevant master’s degree, an equivalent overseas qualification, or a relevant MPhil. Applicants must also show research experience relevant to the proposed position. Where English evidence is required, ICR states an IELTS-equivalent standard of 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each component, subject to the alternatives and detailed rules in its admissions policy. PhD studentships are advertised as individual projects or recruitment rounds. Candidates apply through ICR’s online recruitment system, select the appropriate round, supply two references and meet the deadline shown for that project. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview. Deadlines are not uniform, so applicants should not rely on a single institution-wide date. ICR-funded studentships are generally open to all nationalities, although individual external funders may impose eligibility restrictions. The MSc in Oncology uses a separate application process. Doctors normally need a medical degree, at least two years of postgraduate clinical experience and current UK General Medical Council registration. Eligible physician associates have a separate set of academic and professional requirements. The 2026/27 deadlines published by ICR are 16 September 2026 for the autumn intake and 10 February 2027 for the spring intake. Applicants must submit the required forms and supporting documents, including references, degree evidence and a CV. Because the course is part-time and requires an appropriate UK clinical post, overseas applicants should check both eligibility and visa feasibility before applying.

ICR’s academic offering is postgraduate and highly specialized. Science graduates can pursue MPhil and PhD research, while medically qualified applicants may find PhD and MD(Res) routes and clinical research opportunities. Research activity spans areas including cancer biology, therapeutics, genetics and epidemiology, clinical studies, radiotherapy and imaging, structural biology, and cell and molecular biology. Individual PhD projects can also draw on chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering and data analysis where those disciplines address cancer-research questions. The science PhD is normally structured as a four-year research-training program. Students work with a primary and secondary supervisor and undergo formal progression monitoring. ICR describes a six-month review, a substantial first-year upgrade report and oral assessment, subsequent annual reviews, and thesis planning later in the program. Professional development can include statistics, advanced computing, scientific writing, research funding, project management and science communication. Libraries at both principal sites provide electronic resources and dedicated doctoral study space. The MSc in Oncology follows a different model. It is a part-time, modular course for doctors and eligible physician associates working in clinical settings. The postgraduate certificate comprises 60 credits, the diploma 120 credits and the complete MSc 180 credits over three part-time academic years. Parts A and B cover cancer science and clinical oncology through taught modules and assessments; Part C is centered on a research dissertation. For 2026/27, the course expects in-person attendance twice monthly in central London, with approximately half of teaching delivered live online. This structure may suit clinicians balancing study with employment, but it is not a general-entry biomedical master’s degree.

Key Highlights

• Independent, OfS-registered postgraduate institution and University of London member
• Founded in 1909 and legally independent from The Royal Marsden since 1948
• Specializes in cancer research and postgraduate education
• Operates across Chelsea and Sutton in London

Student Life & Environment

Student life at ICR is organized around a relatively small, specialist postgraduate research community rather than a large residential university. The institution has an active Student Committee, and social activities bring together students based at its different sites. Students can also use welfare, disability and academic-support services. As University of London members, they have access to relevant shared services, including professional careers guidance. Facilities differ between Chelsea and Sutton. Both sites provide laboratories, meeting rooms, lecture spaces, libraries and dedicated PhD study areas. Sutton has a free gym and a Sports and Social Club with a bar, squash court and sports hall; some activities may carry a small charge. Chelsea has no dedicated sports facilities, but its central location places students near the amenities of South Kensington and the surrounding area. A free shuttle connects Chelsea and Sutton, while another service links Sutton station with the Sutton site. Housing requires advance planning. ICR provides some accommodation in Tooting, while full-time students may apply to the waiting list for University of London intercollegiate halls. The institution also directs students toward private rentals and shared housing. Availability in halls is not guaranteed, and London living and travel costs should be assessed carefully. Full-time enrolled students may be eligible for the 18+ Student Oyster photocard travel discount.

Location & Surroundings

ICR operates principally at two London locations with distinct settings. Its Chelsea presence includes the Chester Beatty Laboratories on Fulham Road and administrative and teaching facilities near Old Brompton Road. South Kensington and Gloucester Road Underground stations are nearby, giving access to central London, major museums, restaurants and other city amenities. The MSc in Oncology is taught at the Old Brompton Road facility. The Sutton site is in south London, about one mile from Sutton station and close to Belmont station and the North Downs countryside. It houses purpose-built research facilities, including laboratories and resources connected with therapeutics, clinical studies, genetics and epidemiology, molecular pathology, radiotherapy and imaging. The Royal Marsden’s Sutton hospital is nearby, supporting the close relationship between laboratory research and clinical work. Students may be based mainly at one site but need to travel between them for some activities. ICR operates a free shuttle between Chelsea and Sutton and a shuttle between Sutton station and the Sutton campus. Applicants choosing accommodation should therefore consider their primary research site, cross-site commitments and the cost and time of London travel.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026/27, new full-time PhD, MPhil and MD(Res) students are charged £5,238 at the home rate and £31,190 at the overseas rate. Part-time research fees are prorated according to activity. Self-funded research students may also face a project bench fee, but ICR says the amount would be disclosed before an offer. Applicants should budget separately for accommodation, food and travel in London. Funding changes the practical cost for many researchers. ICR states that most science PhD projects are fully funded, covering tuition and project costs and providing a tax-free living stipend. As of the cited 2026 information, the standard ICR-funded stipend is £26,505 per year, while some partnered schemes use different rates or funding conditions. Applicants must read the terms of the specific studentship, particularly where international fee coverage is restricted. For new MSc in Oncology students in 2026/27, the annual fee for Parts A or B is £2,965 for home students and £13,180 for overseas students; Part C costs £2,010 and £3,800 respectively. ICR states that it cannot provide funding assistance to overseas MSc students. Career support is research-focused. Current students can use the University of London Careers Group for individual guidance, CV and interview workshops, webinars and job-search support, with access continuing for up to one year after study. ICR also provides sessions on fellowships, postdoctoral applications, academic interviews and publishing, plus scientific career events and exposure to industry collaborations. These services support academic, clinical, biotechnology and related research paths, but the institution does not publish current program-level salary or placement guarantees.