Medical Physics (Taught)

The aim of this programme is to provide an understanding of the application of physics and technology to a range of disciplines within medical physics at a level appropriate for a professional physicist and to equip you for employment in a clinical environment.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

The key strength of this programme is that you will be primarily taught by medical physicists working and undertaking research in the NHS in Glasgow. We also draw on expert resources within the wider university for detailed content on anatomy and statistics.

You will take part in practical sessions throughout the year in NHS facilities. In many cases, students will also undertake their substantive research project in an NHS department, and can be confident their work has direct clinical application and will impact and improve patient care.

The NHS Department of Clinical Physics and Bioengineering in Glasgow (DCPB) is one of the largest in the UK, with a presence in 11 hospitals across the city. We support and deliver services to the 1.2m people in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde catchment area, as well as providing a range of national services for the whole of Scotland.

DCPB is at the forefront of developments in the field. As well as capabilities in the core areas of medical physics and clinical engineering (Diagnostic Radiology, Radiation Protection, Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, Technology Management), we have additional expertise in morespecialised disciplines such as: Informatics; Medical device design and development; MRI; Ophthalmology; Radioisotope production; Urology; Radionuclide therapies;

The department has access to:

• 24 MRI scanners including systems at 1.5, 3 and 7 Tesla

• cyclotron and radionuclide production facilities

• Its own radioisotope dispensary

• 8 x SPECT-CT systems

• 2 x PET-CT systems

• 13 Linacs including the latest adaptive radiotherapy systems

• State of the art CT and interventional radiology systems

This programme is accredited with the Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), the UK professional body for medical physicists.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

You will undertake 7 core taught courses across semester 1 and 2. Teaching will be delivered via a mixture of in-person lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical sessions in NHS facilities. Over the summer, you will then have the opportunity to put the knowledge and understanding you’ve developed into practice in a substantive research project. Working with researchers in either an NHS or University research environment, you’ll get hands-on experience and contribute to solving a current problem in the field.

Core Courses
Body Systems Measurement and Imaging
Evidence-Based Biomedical Research Methods and Statistics
Programming Skills for the Clinical Scientist
Radiotherapy Physics
Research Dissertation in Medical Physics
Scientific management
The Physics of Medical Imaging 1
The Physics of Medical Imaging 2

CAREER PROSPECTS

‌85% of the taught programme is delivered by medical physicists working in the NHS, and students therefore have an ideal opportunity to learn about NHS careers.

In addition, we provide dedicated careers sessions in semesters 1 and 2 where you’ll have the opportunity to network with and learn from medical physicists working in the NHS, academia and industry who have taken different routes into the field.

Graduates of this programme have gone onto a variety of roles including:

• Trainee Clinical Scientist

• Doctoral candidates

• Medical physicist (overseas)

• Data analyst

• Industry professionals