Medical Physics MSc - 2023/4
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 7
Final award and programme/pathway title
MSc Medical Physics
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| PGDip | Medical Physics |
| PGCert | Radiation Physics |
Professional recognition
Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM).
Accredited by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM).
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | PCK61001 | 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits |
| Part-time | PCK61002 | 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Other internal and / or external reference points
N/A
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences - Mathematics & Physics
Programme Leader
PANI Silvia (Maths & Phys)
Date of production/revision of spec
26/09/2024
Educational aims of the programme
- The programme integrates the acquisition of core scientific knowledge with the development of key practical skills with a focus on professional career development within medical physics and related industries.
- The principle educational aims and outcomes of learning are to provide participants with advanced knowledge, practical skills and understanding applied to medical physics, radiation detection instrumentation, radiation and environmental practice in an industrial or medical context.
- This is achieved by the development of the participants' understanding of the underlying science and technology and by the participants gaining an understanding of the legal basis, practical implementation and organisational basis of medical physics and radiation measurement.
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Knowledge of physics, technology and processes in the subject of the course and the ability to apply these in the context of the course. | K | PGCert | |
| Ability to research problems involving innovative practical or theoretical work. | K | MSc | |
| Ability to formulate ideas and response to problems, refine or expand knowledge in response to specific ideas or problems and communicate these ideas and responses. | K | PGDip | |
| Ability to evaluate/argue alternative solutions and strategies independently and assess/report on own/others work with justification. | K | PGCert | |
| The ability to plan and execute, under supervision, an experiment or theoretical investigation, analyse critically the results and draw valid conclusions. | C | PGCert | |
| The capability to evaluate the level of uncertainty in their results, understand the significance of error analysis and be able to compare their theoretical (experimental) results with expected experimental (theoretical) outcomes, or with published data. | C | PGCert | |
| The ability to evaluate the significance of their results in this context. | C | PGCert | |
| The ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences. | C | PGCert | |
| Technical mastery of the scientific and technical information presented and the ability to interpret this in the professional context. | P | PGCert | |
| Ability to plan projects and research methods in the subject of the course. | P | PGCert | |
| Ability to promote the scientific and legal basis of the field through peer and public communication. | P | PGCert | |
| Awareness of public concern and ethical issues in radiation and environmental protection and in medical research. | P | PGCert | |
| Ability to formulate solutions in dialogue with peers, mentors and others. | P | PGCert | |
| Identify, assess and resolve problems arising from material in lectures and during experimental/research activities | T | PGCert | |
| Make effective use of resources and interaction with others to enhance and motivate self-study | T | PGCert | |
| Make use of sources of material for development of learning and research; such as journals, books and the internet | T | PGCert | |
| Take responsibility for personal and professional development | T | PGCert | |
| Be self-reliant | T | PGCert | |
| Responsibility for personal and professional development. | T | PGCert | |
| A systematic understanding of Medical Physics in an academic and professional context, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the state of the art. | K | MSc | |
| A comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to research projects in Medical Physics. | K | MSc | |
| An essential understanding of Medical Physics in an academic and professional context, and a basic awareness of current problems and/or new insights. | K | PGDip | |
| An essential understanding of techniques applicable to project work in Medical Physics. | K | PGDip | |
| A systematic understanding of Medical Physics in an academic and professional context together with a critical awareness of current problems and / or new insights. | K | PGCert | |
| A practical understanding of radiation-based, experiments. | K | PGCert | |
| An awareness of the issues related to safety in the Medical Physics context. | K | PGCert | |
| The ability to plan and execute under supervision, an experiment or investigation, analyse critically the results and draw valid conclusions. Students should be able to evaluate the level of uncertainty in their results, understand the significance of error analysis and be able to compare these results with expected outcomes, theoretical predictions or with published data. They should be able to evaluate the significance of their results in this context. | C | MSc | |
| The ability to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline. | C | MSc | |
| The ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences. | C | MSc | |
| The ability to plan and execute under supervision, an experiment or investigation, to analyse the results at an essential level and draw valid conclusions. Students should be able to evaluate the level of uncertainty in their results, understand the significance of error analysis and be able to compare these results with expected outcomes. They should be able to evaluate the significance of their results in this context. | C | PGDip | |
| The ability to rationalise current research at an essential level. | C | PGDip | |
| The ability to deal with complex issues logically. | C | PGDip | |
| Ability to plan and execute under supervision, an experiment and to analyse critically the results and draw valid conclusions from them. Students should be able to evaluate the level of uncertainty in their results, understand the significance of uncertainty analysis and be able to compare these results with expected outcomes, theoretical predictions and/or with published data. Graduates should be able to evaluate the significance of their results in this context. | C | PGCert | |
| The ability to communicate complex scientific ideas, the conclusions of an experiment, investigation or project concisely, accurately and informatively. | P | MSc | |
| The ability to manage their own learning and to make use of appropriate texts, research articles and other primary sources. | P | MSc | |
| Responsibility for personal and professional development. Ability to use external mentors for personal / professional purposes. | P | MSc | |
| The ability to communicate complex scientific ideas, accurately and informatively. | P | PGDip | |
| The ability to make use of appropriate texts, research articles and other primary sources. | P | PGDip | |
| Responsibility for personal and professional development. Ability to use external mentors for personal / professional purposes. | P | PGDip | |
| The ability to communicate complex scientific ideas, accurately and informatively. | P | PGCert | |
| Familiarity with generic issues in management and safety and their application to Medical Physics in a professional context. | K | PGDip, MSc |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7*. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
*some programmes may contain up to 30 credits at FHEQ level 6.
Part-time
This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over two academic years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7
There are no optional modules
PGCert Radiation Physics: 60 taught module credits (Modules PHYM032,
PHYM015 and PHYM054 compulsory) at FHEQ Level 7
PGDip Medical Physics (Modules PHYM032, PHYM015 and PHYM054
compulsory) 120 taught module credits at FHEQ Level 7
MSc (Medical Physics): 180 credits at FHEQ Level 7 and completed the
programme of study
Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHYM015 | RADIATION MEASUREMENT | Compulsory | 15 | 1 |
| PHYM032 | RADIATION PHYSICS | Compulsory | 15 | 1 |
| PHYM041 | EXTENDED GROUP PROJECT | Compulsory | 15 | 2 |
| PHYM043 | DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATIONS OF IONISING RADIATION PHYSICS | Compulsory | 15 | 2 |
| PHYM054 | EXPERIMENTAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR MEDICAL PHYSICS | Compulsory | 15 | 1 |
Module Selection for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
There are no optional modules
PGCert Radiation Physics: 60 taught module credits (Modules PHYM032,
PHYM015 and PHYM054 compulsory) at FHEQ Level 7
PGDip Medical Physics (Modules PHYM032, PHYM015 and PHYM054
compulsory) 120 taught module credits at FHEQ Level 7
MSc (Medical Physics): 180 credits at FHEQ Level 7 and completed the
programme of study
Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
| Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHYM021 | RESEARCH PROJECT AND DISSERTATION | Compulsory | 60 | 2 |
| PHYM042 | THERAPY PHYSICS | Compulsory | 15 | 2 |
| PHYM044 | NON-IONISING RADIATION IMAGING | Compulsory | 15 | 2 |
| PHYM048 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY AND RADIATION BIOLOGY | Compulsory | 15 | 1 |
| PHYM054 | EXPERIMENTAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR MEDICAL PHYSICS | Compulsory | 15 | 1 |
Module Selection for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7
There are no optional modules
PGCert Radiation Physics: 60 taught module credits (Modules PHYM032,
PHYM015 and PHYM054 compulsory) at FHEQ Level 7
PGDip Medical Physics (Modules PHYM032, PHYM015 and PHYM054
compulsory) 120 taught module credits at FHEQ Level 7
MSc (Medical Physics): 180 credits at FHEQ Level 7 and completed the
programme of study
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
| Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | Y | |
| Professional Training Year (PTY) | N | |
| Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | N | |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | N | |
| Dual degree | N |
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.