Library and e-learning

Perspectives in Oncology

Perspectives in Oncology provides staff and students with a common grounding in basic cancer science, and includes modules in cancer epidemiology, cancer genetics, cell biology, bioinformatics, medical physics, structural biology, cancer treatment, and drug development. Perspectives can be accessed by staff and students at the ICR and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.

Our MPhil and PhD students are expected to complete all of the Perspectives modules by the end of their first year, whilst MSc in Oncology and MD(Res) students are also encouraged to make use of the website.

Skills

The Skills website helps you to develop transferable skills, such as time management, scientific writing, and presentation skills. The website delivers content in small, 'blog-like' posts, which are written by staff and students at the ICR with contributions from guest experts. These posts are delivered to students on a regular basis, providing advice, ideas, and an insight into the experience of colleagues on a variety of career paths. These posts are also delivered when they are most relevant—for example, a student just about to start writing their thesis will see posts about writing, proofreading, and creating scientific illustrations.

Although the Skills website is designed for research degree students, much of the information will prove useful to MSc in Oncology students, particularly those on Part C of the course. For example, it covers topics such as critical reading, organisation and time management, literature searches, presentations, and scientific writing.

Training needs screener

The training needs screener helps you to identify and prioritise your personal development needs, and suggests development activities—the UK Research Councils recommend that students do at least ten days of personal development per year.

Student training tracker

The student training tracker allows you to track your professional development activities and transferable skills.

iProgress

iProgress is an online progression management tool which tracks and follows your work towards the key milestones of your research degree.

Nexus

Nexus is our intranet, and contains a wealth of information about studying at the ICR, including details about student induction, student welfare, the student committee, and the Academic Dean's team.

Canvas

Canvas is a virtual learning environment, which allows MSc students to access lecture materials and assignments. It facilitates study outside of more formal teaching situations, and generally enhances the educational experience.

Features of Canvas include:

• simple and convenient access to course content, including lecture notes and recordings;
• tools to enhance communication with fellow students and with staff while away from the teaching venue; and
• online assessments.

Staff and students can access our journals and databases from anywhere by following the steps below:

• Go to https://journals.icr.ac.uk/
• If outside the ICR network, you will be prompted to enter your ICR username and password
• Users without an ICR account should enter their dedicated EZproxy credentials
• Follow the links to use the library resources.

Please contact the library if you do not have an EZproxy account. 

The ICR Library is at our Sutton site – see contact details section below.

The physical environment provides a pleasant working space, with the opportunity for users to browse the collections and study in a quiet area. Plugs and network ports are provided for laptop use, and wireless access is available.

Once you are a student, you will be able to register with the library and arrange an induction with a librarian. Books can be borrowed for 4 weeks, with self-renewals available up to 6 times. The library also offers training on EndNote, and on how to do literature searches in databases such as Web of Science and PubMed.

There is 24-hour access to the library for registered users. Qualified library staff are available at the library to help with any enquiries Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm.

The book catalogue can be searched online at https://books.icr.ac.uk. Books may be requested or renewed in the following ways:

• On the book catalogue
• By phone or email – see contact details section below
• In person at the library

The library also has a collection of over 300 ebooks which can be accessed at EBook Central. 

Library theses office

View information on doctoral thesis submission (PDF).

Open access

The Library can provide advice and, in some cases, funding to support ICR authors of journal papers to publish their articles in an open access format.

Further information can be obtained by contacting [email protected]. 

MSc library

Taught course students will have access to a small number of core texts in the MSc Library located in the teaching room in the MSc Library located behind the Reception desk in 123 Old Brompton Road. The course team will be on hand to guide you to these resources.

A number of core texts are also held electronically. A list of all MSc e-books and how to access them can be found on Canvas.

Sir John Beckwith Library,
Brookes Lawley Building,
15 Cotswold Road, Sutton,
Surrey, SM2 5NG

Staffed: 9am-4.30pm, Monday – Friday

Phone: 020 8722 4430

Email: [email protected]