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Applied Cancer Practice - BSc [Top-up] / Module Level 6 / Module Level 7 / MSc / PgCert / PgDip

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The Applied Cancer Practice Course is aimed at post qualification healthcare professionals working with people effected by cancer. It is designed to be aligned to the national ACCEND (Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development) framework to meet the educational needs of the modern cancer healthcare workforce. It is flexible, practice-led, responsive and aims to foster excellence....

  • Level Top-Up Pathways
  • Study mode Part Time
  • Award BSc [Top-up] / Module Level 6 / Module Level 7 / MSc / PgCert / PgDip
  • Start date September 2025, January 2026, April 2026
  • Fees View course fees

This course is:

Open to International Students

Overview

The Applied Cancer Practice Course is aimed at post qualification healthcare professionals working with people effected by cancer. It is designed to be aligned to the national ACCEND (Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development) framework to meet the educational needs of the modern cancer healthcare workforce. It is flexible, practice-led, responsive and aims to foster excellence.

The course will develop you as a knowledgeable, critical thinking, proactive, professional cancer practitioner who is fit to meet the changing demands of the cancer workforce.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

We recognise that training needs vary according to your role and previous training, so have developed a range of exit awards and specialist options so that you can find the qualification which best meets your needs – whether you want to complete a single module or a full pathway to achieve an undergraduate BSc award or postgraduate PG Cert/PG Dip/MSc award.  

The Applied Cancer Practice Course offers the following exit awards:

  • Module only Level 6/Module only Level 7
  • BSc Applied Cancer Practice (Cancer)
  • BSc Applied Cancer Practice (Haematological Cancer)
  • BSc Applied Cancer Practice (Cancer & Haematological cancer)
  • BSc Applied Cancer Practice (Acute Oncology)
  • BSc Applied Cancer Practice (Acute Oncology and Cancer)
  • BSc Applied Cancer Practice (Acute Oncology and Haematological Cancer
  • MSc/PGCert/PGDip Applied Cancer Practice (Cancer) 
  • MSc/PGCert/PGDip Applied Cancer Practice (Haematological Cancer)
  • MSc/PGCert/PGDip MSc Applied Cancer Practice (Cancer & Haematological Cancer)
  • MSc/PGCert/PGDip Applied Cancer Practice (Acute Oncology)
  • MSc/PGCert/PGDip Applied Cancer Practice (Cancer & Acute Oncology)
  • MSc/PGCert/PGDip Applied Cancer Practice (Haematological Cancer & Acute Oncology)
  • MSc/PGCert/PGDip Applied Cancer Practice (Cancer, Haematological Cancer & Acute Oncology)

For help in deciding which modules to study or your outcome award please contact the course team on appliedcancerpractice@bcu.ac.uk or our Professional Navigators on navigator@bcu.ac.uk  

Why Choose Us?

  • The range of module and award options mean that you can build the course to suit your needs – from a single module to a full MSc in a particular specialism.
  • The course is taught online, meaning you can fit it around other commitments.
  • Clinically focused content.
  • Support from staff to facilitate your development as a learner.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.

Award: BSc [Top-up]

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £860 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: BSc [Top-up]

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: BSc [Top-up]

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: Module Level 6

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 1 Year
  • £860 per 20 credit module

Award: Module Level 6

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: Module Level 6

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: Module Level 7

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 1 Year
  • £860 per 20 credit module

Award: Module Level 7

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: Module Level 7

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: MSc

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £860 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits
  • Year 2 - 60 credits
  • Year 3 - 60 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: MSc

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: MSc

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: PgCert

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £860 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: PgCert

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: PgCert

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: PgDip

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £860 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits
  • Year 2 - 60 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

Award: PgDip

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: PgDip

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.

Award: BSc [Top-up]

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 2 Years
  • TBC

Award: BSc [Top-up]

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: BSc [Top-up]

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: Module Level 6

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 1 Year
  • TBC

Award: Module Level 6

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: Module Level 6

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: Module Level 7

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 1 Year
  • TBC

Award: Module Level 7

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: Module Level 7

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: MSc

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 3 Years
  • TBC

Award: MSc

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: MSc

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: PgCert

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 1 Year
  • TBC

Award: PgCert

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: PgCert

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: PgDip

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 2 Years
  • TBC

Award: PgDip

Starting: Jan 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Award: PgDip

Starting: Apr 2026

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Access to computer equipment 

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms. 

Printing 

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment. 

Field trips 

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees. 

Access to Microsoft Office 365 

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation. 

Key software 

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research. 

Excess printing (optional) 

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet. 

Personal stationery and study materials (optional) 

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. 

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Entry Requirements

All students must meet any entry requirements set out in the University's published academic regulations at the time of entry onto the course. 

All students must be currently working with people affected by cancer and have a minimum of six months post-qualification experience with this patient group. 

Please state the name of the specialist route you wish to apply for in the Personal Statement section of the application form. If you need help deciding which route is most appropriate for you, please contact appliedcancerpractice@bcu.ac.uk to discuss this with our course team.

International

If currently working and living within the UK, entry requirements are the same as home students.

IELTs of 6 with no element below 5.5 IELTs of 6 with no element below 5.5

Access

UK Degree or equivalent, appropriate for level 7 study.

Please read the 'Online application and enrolment process' and 'Method of payment' information below before making your application.

If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our pdf application form instead.

Online application and enrolment process

  1. Complete an online application form via the link. The form requires you to submit a completed authorised funding form which must be uploaded with the application. Alternatively, you can download a hard copy application form.
  2. When your submitted application form has been processed and approved, details of the module and enrolment details will be sent to the email address stated on your application form.
  3. You will be sent an email asking you to complete your online pre-enrolment. This must be completed before you enrol.
  4. Without proof of funding, you will not be able to complete your enrolment/receive online pre-enrolment email.  The funding form must be received within four weeks of the enrolment date; otherwise you will be withdrawn from the course.

Please submit your application as early as possible. We aim to give you a decision within two weeks of receiving your application. Please note that NHS Trust application deadlines may differ from our own and you should check with your NHS Trust training/education contact for confirmation of their deadlines.

Please ensure that you include full details of your qualifications and relevant work experience as part of your application.

Method of payment

The method of payment of your course fees will differ depending on whether you are a self-funding, sponsored or contracted/commissioned applicant. Definitions are provided below and you must choose the appropriate Apply online application button. If you are unsure which funding method applies to you please consult your training/education contact in your NHS Trust prior to applying:

1) Self-funding

You are paying for the course and responsible for the fees.

Select 'Self Funded' when making your application.

2) Sponsored

Course fees are paid directly by the employer/NHS Trust which means we invoice your employer/NHS Trust to obtain payment.

To apply for this course you must download and complete the CPD Sponsorship Agreement Form, and submit it with your application. The upload facility is available in Section 3 of the application form: Fees and Sponsorship.

Select 'NHS Funded' when making your application.

Download Financial Support Form Instructions

3) Contracted/Commissioned

The NHS Trust agrees with HE West Midlands for your course fees to be paid directly to the University from funds managed by HE West Midlands for pre-agreed programmes.

To apply for this course you must obtain a contracted/commissioned financial support form from your Trust contact and upload the completed form and submit it with your application. The upload facility is available in Section 3 of the application form: Fees and Sponsorship.

Select 'NHS Funded' when making your application.

Course in Depth

Module

BSc Top up/PGCert

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 60 credits): 

PGDip

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules totalling) 120 credits: 

MSc

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules totalling 180 credits: 

This course focuses on the relationship between theory and practice, highlighting the importance of the links between relevant, contemporary evidence-based theory and practice in the delivery of high quality healthcare.

We use a range of teaching and learning approaches, including asynchronous and synchronous learning, lectures, simulation, case studies, group work, discussions, quizzes and workshops.

International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Facilities & Staff

 

Our Facilities

Our Nursing and Midwifery courses are based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.

We’ve spent £41million expanding our facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice.

In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that you learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. Alongside physical spaces such as a mock operating theatre and wards, we also make use of online and virtual technology, such as our virtual ward and virtual case creator.

See more of our skills facilities at City South

Centre for Skills and Simulation

The Centre for Skills and Simulation offers a range of different spaces which replicate situations that you will encounter in practice. These include hospital wards, an operating theatre and a home environment room.

Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. The hospital wards can be adapted from low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.

The home environment room is the perfect space for teaching communications skills and allows us to simulate a community setting for our students. It is particularly useful for mental health nurses, learning disability nurses and midwives.

Simulation Manikins

We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and simulation babies (SIM babies) which are anatomically correct manikins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills. The manikins contain software which replicates real symptoms, and can manipulate indicators such as blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM man can even ‘talk’ to the students as they are treating him, to add another dimension to learning.

Computer Facilities

The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.

Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:

  • Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
  • Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Research and statistical software
  • Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home

Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.

In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.

Our staff

Emma Thoms

Senior Lecturer, Applied Cancer Practice Course Lead

Emma is a Registered Adult Nurse with 20 years experience working within haematology and oncology. During her time in practice, she gained experience in systemic anti-cancer treatment, later assuming the role of Lead SACT Nurse. Emma has also led and managed a SACT day unit alongside what was a newly established Acute Oncology Service.

More about Emma

Alison Simons

Senior Lecturer of Nursing & Midwifery

Alison was a cancer nurse for 18 years looking after patients with a variety of cancer and receiving a variety of treatments. She was the junior sister of a mixed oncology ward within a large teaching hospital. Alison then went on to become a professional development sister responsible for the educational needs of 200 oncology and haematology...

More about Alison

Enquiries

Choosing the right pathway

For help in deciding which modules to study or the right outcome award to suit your needs, please contact the course team on appliedcancerpractice@bcu.ac.uk.