Medical Physics with Radiobiology (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The MSc in Medical Physics with Radiobiology is a one-year, full-time course, combining physics, radiobiology, and clinical applications. It is accredited by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM).

This course is designed for individuals interested in a careers in medical physics from either a clinical or academic research perspective, or in professions that require a knowledge of medical physics, such as radiation protection.

The main aim of the course is to discuss how ionising and non-ionising radiation are used in clinical practice, both in the context of radiotherapy and medical imaging. This is combined with principles of radiobiology at molecular and cellular level, to give graduates a better understanding of the effects of radiation than is achieved in other medical physics courses.

The course is based on a series of overarching learning outcomes, which you will be able to demonstrate on completion of your studies:

• Explain the underpinning physics which governs the interactions between ionising radiation and biological tissues

• Critically analyse the effects of ionising radiation on DNA and the associated DNA damage response, with respect to their effects on cell survival

• Critically appraise the irradiation response of cells and tissues, including the factors that modify this response, with respect to how this may affect clinical practice

• Critically discuss the implementation of radiation safety precautions, with respect to the mechanism of damage from radiation exposure, and the legislative requirements which govern radiation protection

• Explain the mechanisms of action of a range both ionising and non-ionising radiation imaging technologies, with respect to their clinical use

• Use fundamental physics of radiation action to analyse the effects of clinical radiotherapy technologies and techniques

• Critically evaluate new developments in ionising and non-ionising imaging, and clinical radiotherapy

• Critically appraise the role of simple and advanced analytical techniques within medical physics research

• Explain and evaluate the research approaches used in applied and translational research within the field of medical physics

• Apply the scientific method to address research questions within the field of medical physics

Most students on this course will have a physics undergraduate degree.

Course structure
Prior to the start of Michaelmas term, you will be signed up to two online, self-paced, short courses which cover all of the basic principles of biology and human anatomy that you will need to know to help you with the biology elements of the course. You will need to pass a short online test on these concepts part way through the term.

You will take eight compulsory modules and can expect to receive seven to eight lectures and two to four tutorial or practical classes per module on average. There will also be preparatory reading, independent study tasks, and formative assessments set throughout the course, to be completed in the non-contact hours.

Alongside the module specific tutorials, you will also attend a series of compulsory Directors' Tutorials throughout the year. These cover overarching themes such as critiquing a scientific paper, or presentation skills, and help to prepare you for specific assessment methods, including the dissertation.