Authors:
Dr Elsbeth Nye, ST5 Medical Oncology Registrar, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Richard Heywood, Medical Oncology post CCT, North East / Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust
A selection of courses that may be of interest to trainees are listed below. This list will be updated periodically.
International Courses
| Course Name | Country | Notes |
ESMO Preceptorships
| ESMO Preceptorship Courses | ESMO | Various, including outside Europe | Various topics throughout year. Courses are free, application is moderately competitive (they prioritise oncologists with previous experience in the selected tumour type) and there is usually a travel grant (600 EUR) to cover for flights |
| Masterclass courses | ||
| ESMO Masterclass Courses | ESMO | Various | Courses are free, application is moderately competitive (they prioritise oncologists with previous experience in the selected topic) and there is usually a travel grant (600 EUR) to cover for flights |
| Exam preparation courses | ||
| ESO (European School of Oncology) Multidisciplinary Masterclass in Oncology | ESO | Greece for June 2026 | Not specifically exam prep but useful resources and revision 250 EUR registration fee, including accommodation and some meals but not travel costs |
| ESMO Academy Course | ESMO | Various | Preparation course for ESMO examination or Medical Oncology SCE – 230 EUR registration fee, includes some meals but not accommodation or travel costs |
| Research training | ||
| MCCR Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research | EORTC/ESMO/AACR | Netherlands for June 2026 | For early-career investigators based in Europe (EU and non-EU), Mediterranean or Middle East regions. Application describing own trial proposal; moderately competitive (approx. 2:1); deadline usually end Jan. The workshop itself has a series of lectures on trial methodology and design and small-group interactions with dedicated key opinion leaders (triallists, pharma, statisticians). Participation fee of 2.990 EUR, including accommodation. |
| Peer review training | ||
| Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer Peer Review Mentorship Program | USA; remotely run | One-year programme in which mentees are paired with a reviewer and go through ~4 submissions. Moderately competitive. Free. |
| JCO Journals Editorial Fellowship | USA; remotely run | One-year programme (optional continuation for a second year) participating in editorial calls and being paired to a JCO Journals editor to review a series of manuscripts. Highly competitive. Free. |
UK Oncology courses
| Course Name | Region | Notes |
| Chemotherapy prescribing courses | ||
| Leicester Chemotherapy course | East Midlands | |
| Exeter Prescribing course | South West | Usually in October – organised by Dr Kate Scatchard |
| Kings Health Partners chemotherapy course | Virtual | Understanding and Prescribing Chemotherapy; useful for ST3s, 100% online, approx. 8 hours to complete |
| Basic Sciences courses | ||
| Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre courses | Scotland | Courses in pharmacology, statistics, cancer biology. Acessible to Scottish MO and CO trainees in their ST3 OCS year. Not accessible to non-trainees. |
| Biological Basis of Cancer Therapy (BBCT) at The Christie | North West | 1 year part-time, ~£1000 Designed for Clinical Oncology trainees preparing for FRCR Part 1, but suitable for Medical Oncology ST3s on new curriculum |
| Bristol Basic Sciences course | South West | Course for ST3 trainees, attended by Severn and South Wales trainees |
| Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) MSc in Oncology | London | 1 year part-time, weekly on Thursdays or Fridays, predominantly in person in London, some virtual. £2830 for 1st year of course (PG Cert – may be refunded via study budget in some areas), further £2830 for 2nd year part-time (PGDip, trainee funded). £1920 for dissertation (to obtain MSc; approximately one day a month, trainee funded). ICR Academic trainees have significantly discounted rates. |
| Leicester MSc in Cancer Molecular Biology and Therapeutics | East Midlands | 1 year full-time |
| Newcastle University Oncology (MSc/PGDip) CPD | North East | Modules: 1. Cancer: Cell, Molecular Biology & Genetics; 2. Pharmacology of Chemotherapeutic Agents |
| University of Nottingham Oncology MSc/PGCert | East Midlands | 1 year full-time |
| Study Days | ||
| The Royal Marsden Study Days and Conferences | London | Multiple throughout year |
| The Christie Study Days and Conferences | Manchester/ online | Multiple throughout year |
| SCE preparation courses | ||
| RCPE Edinburgh Oncology Course | Scotland | Joint exam course for Clinical/Medical oncology trainees preparing for FRCR Part 2 / SCE, occurs once every 2 years, usually in March (next due 2027). Fee: £780. |
| See also ESMO Academy | European | ESMO Academy Course | ESMO |
| Communication skills courses | ||
| Christie Maguire Advanced communication skills training | Manchester/ online | Cost £859, 2 day course, 1-2 courses per month (both in person and virtual options available) |
| Christie Maguire ‘Communicating with colleagues’ | Manchester | Cost £245, 1 day course, 02/06/26 and 25/09/26 |
| Advanced Clinical Communication Skills Training | South West | 2 day course run by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, cost £600, contact [email protected] |
| Research training | ||
| Edinburgh Clinical Research Methodology Course (ECRMC) | Scotland | NHS/Academic Rate = £260 |
| Genomics | Cambridge / online | Wellcome Connecting Science Courses and Conferences |
| Master’s in Genomic Medicine – Genomics Education Programme | SGUL, KCL, Imperial, QMUL, Manchester, Cambridge, Exeter, Birmingham | Up to 4 modules (leading to PGCert award) can be funded via NHS Genomics Education programme. Enquire with programme leads if possible to apply to join individual modules at any point of the year, or whether they prefer entry to course in September with students who attend for full MSc. |
| JING: Training the Next Generation event | ECMC | Various | Focussed on early-phase trial proposals. Must be nominated by your local ECMC (Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres) lead to attend. Annual two-day event, free to attend. |
| Leadership and Management courses | ||
| Faculty of Medical Leadership & Management | Various | Partner events and courses |
| Royal College of Physicians Leadership CPD courses | RCP | London/ Liverpool/ online | |
| National new consultants meeting 2026 | RCP | Online | Open to final year trainees i.e. ST6 – 26th March 2026 |
| RCR Management Skills for Oncologists | London | Three-day course in November run by the RCR but open to Medical Oncology Trainees – dates for 2026 TBC |
| General update courses | ||
| RCP Upcoming events and Update in Medicine Series | RCP | Regional events | Not oncology specific but may be of interest |