PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR MEDICAL PHYSICISTS - 2026/7
Module code: PHY3075
Module Overview
The module will give students an understanding of the broader context in which they will operate as medical physicists and of the implications of communicating at the correct level for each type of audience.
It includes two sections that will run in parallel.
One section of the module revolves around the profession of the medical physicist in the context of the NHS, but also in academia and industry, and will include elements of risk assessment, intellectual property protection and research ethics, together with an overview of ionising radiation regulations.
The other section is focused on scientific communication with a research audience, therefore centering on information retrieval and identification of appropriate sources of information, and with the general public.
Module provider
Mathematics & Physics
Module Leader
PANI Silvia (Maths & Phys)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 6
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Workshop Hours: 26
Independent Learning Hours: 113
Lecture Hours: 8
Seminar Hours: 3
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
none
Module content
Indicative content includes:
The profession of the medical physicist
- The NHS
- Research ethics
- Intellectual property protection
- Risk assessment
- Ionising radiation regulations
Communication skills and stakeholder engagement
- Information retrieval
- Journal club
- Science communication
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Research proposal | 40 |
| Coursework | Journal club presentation | 30 |
| Coursework | Science communication | 30 |
Alternative Assessment
n/a
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the medical physics context and of the contribution of different aspects to the research and clinical work environment.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
¿ A ¿research proposal¿ on a given template.
¿ A journal club presentation on a scientific paper.
¿ A science communication exercise.
Formative assessment
Students will be able to test their understanding of the topics during interactive exercises that will be an integral part of the workshops.
Feedback
Students will receive written feedback on their submitted coursework and verbal feedback throughout the module.
Module aims
- Equip the students with a set of skills necessary to work in healthcare, research or industry
- Prepare them as effective communicators to a scientific audience or the general public
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Understand the general context of the environment in which a medical physicist will operate | CP |
| 002 | Understand the principles of research ethics and intellectual property and apply them to a practical context | PT |
| 003 | Communicate effectively to a range of audiences | PT |
| 004 | Research sources of information correctly and select relevant information | KPT |
| 005 | Recognise and minimise the risks associated with experimental work, with particular focus on ionising radiation | KPT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to expose students to the variety of aspects that make up the scenarios in which they will operate as medical physicists.
They will be engaged in academic- or expert-led discussions and group work
The learning and teaching methods include:
¿ Lectures on NHS, on risk assessment and on ionising radiation regulations
¿ Workshops on intellectual property, research ethics, science communication and journal club/information retrieval
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PHY3075
Other information
The Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Digital Capabilities, Employability, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Resourcefulness, Resilience, and Sustainability. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas: Digital Capabilities: Students will engage with scientific publication databases and will learn to distinguish between different sources of information. Employability: The module exposes students to professional skills such as research ethics, intellectual property protection and science communication that will be support them in future careers in healthcare, academia or industry. They will also learn how to carry out risk assessments which are an essential skills for any job involving experimental activities. Global and Cultural Capabilities: Students will learn to engage with different audiences, ranging from academic audiences to the general public. This will give them an understanding of the different levels of communication and of the need to adapt their communication to different audiences and cultures. Resourcefulness and Resilience: The assessments for the module are mostly open-ended activities, which will encourage the students to gain independence.
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 2026/7 academic year.