Masters cancer biology UCL or ICL

The Imperial course is a research masters, while the UCL course is a typical taught masters. This should be enough of a difference to decide between them; do you want to spend 12 months doing research in a lab full time, or do you want to be attending lectures, doing homework, sitting exams, while doing a shorter research project?

They're equivalent in all other respects as far as "prestige", academic quality in that area of study, etc go.

I second what @artful_lounger said. I also want to add that if you're thinking of going into a PhD, then a research Master's course will definitely be better preparation and also increase the value of your PhD applications.

Hi! I have noticed the difference and I’m determining which one would be better received not only for other potential PhD opportunities but be well received in the states. I know somewhat that in the “science” realm where you get your masters and PhD doesn’t really matter like in would in accounting or what not but it’s still an important thing to consider. I don’t believe you sit for exams for MSc, anyways for this program. I need to really dissect them closer I suppose tomorrow.

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/module-catalogue/modules/basic-biology-and-cancer-genetics/CINS0001

As you can see, the core module for the UCL course at least is mostly exam; this is typical of undergraduate programmes in the UK (most modules in an undergrad degree here will be 70-100% result from the final exam), and not uncommon for taught masters (although sometimes masters modules will have more "coursework" elements).

Since PhD programmes in the US "include" the taught masters elements, you might be able to skip over some of these requirements in a US programme after doing a taught masters here; this is not guaranteed though. Having experience of doing full time research work in a lab is still useful in terms of US PhDs as elsewhere, as that's what you'll eventually be doing in a PhD programme.

Outside of that, for potentially wanting to work in some kind of lab in industry after the course (which is unlikely without a PhD anyway), they probably won't be differentiated between, but the MRes might be more helpful background as you'll be more used to working in a lab environment (as opposed to just sometimes doing a lab experiment as a "student").

Hi all I’m an international student from the states and I got accepted to both icl and ucl to do a masters in cancer bio (mre & MSc, respectively).
I like both programs and at this point I’m at a loss to which school would be better. Any advice?
In terms to cost, both are costing an arm and a leg. However, ucl is around 10k cheaper but at this point that is not a lot.
So I’m open to both schools and hoped any of you had some sound opinions or thoughts.

Thanks a ton.