Application deadline

PhD students and students at the Student Research Program at UiT The Arctic University of Norway register for class and exam in Studentweb by September 1st for autumn semester and February 1st for spring semester. 

Other applicants apply for the right to study by June 1st for courses that are taught in the fall semester and December 1st for courses that are taught in the spring semester. Application is sent through SøknadsWeb. Please use the application code "9301 - Singular courses at the PhD level". If granted admission to the course students must register for class and exam in Studentweb by September 1st for autumn semester and February 1st for spring semester. 

Type of course

Admission requirements

PhD students and students at the Student Research Programme, or holders of a Norwegian master´s degree of five years or 3+2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted.  

External PhD students and students at other student research programmes, must upload a document from their university stating that they are registered students. Others need to document that they are qualified.  

Course content

The course is divided into three modules:

Module I: Module I covers the topic molecular genetics of cancer, and discusses the basic molecular mechanisms leading to development of cancer. The main themes are mechanisms for cell-cycle regulation, proliferation, transformation and cell survival. How dysregulation of any of these processes may contribute to cancer development is discussed.

Module II: The topic of Module II is signal transduction and cancer. Here the various intracellular signalling pathways that are found to be dysregulated in cancer are discussed. Among these are the pathways that regulate cell proliferation, cell survival, transformation and differentiation.

Module III: Module III is covering tumor biology. Here the main mechanisms that regulate metastasis, angiogenesis, and apoptosis are described. These processes are fundamental for embryogenesis, but are also central in the establishment and maintenance of cancer cells.

Objectives of the course

After completing the course the students will have the

Knowledge to:

• Explain the central processes within the topic genetics of cancer and understand the basic molecular mechanisms leading to development of cancer. This includes mechanisms for cell-cycle regulation, proliferation, transformation and cell survival.
• Discuss how dysregulation of any of these processes may contribute to cancer development.
• Explain the various intracellular signalling pathways that are found to be dysregulated in cancer, especially pathways that regulate cell proliferation, cell survival, transformation and differentiation.
• Discuss the main mechanisms that regulate metastasis, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in tumor biology.
• Describe central methods applied to investigate cell signalling and tumor biology.

Skills to:

• Justify which signalling pathways are central in the establishment and maintenance of cancer cells.
• Justify how dysregulation of metastasis, angiogenesis and apoptosis may contribute to cancer development.
• Present and critically review high impact research papers within the field of basic and translational cancer research.

Competence to:

• Interpret results from own research and link it scientifically into the context of international basic and translational cancer research.
• Evaluate and implement relevant methods of advanced research in tumor biology and basic cancer research into own project.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Learning methods include lectures, seminars, presentations and self-study. The course consists of approximately 260 hours, including 34 hours of lectures, 16 hours of seminars, 80 hours reading syllabus, and 130 hours of self-tuition (preparation for lectures and exams).

The course is given each autumn.