Master's Programme in Medical Radiation Physics
The master’s programme in medical physics combines your interest in physics with applications in medicine. You will study how radiation is used within health care to diagnose and treat diseases, and you will undergo practical training at the hospital.
A medical physicist is an expert in diagnostic methods and radiation therapy. Modern healthcare is experiencing rapid technological advances, and there is a need for both a detailed knowledge of basic biological effects and in advanced physical models. As a medical physicist, you can also work in radiation protection or in research and development. With a Master’s degree in Medical Radiation Physics, you are also well prepared for further research studies in Sweden or abroad.
Bridge programme
If you have a strong background in physics, for example a bachelor degree, but lack courses to be eligible for the Master's programme in Medical Radiation Physics, we offer a course package (or bridge programme) that includes all courses to prepare you for the master's programme.
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Programme overview
As the Master’s programme in medical radiation physics is equivalent with the last two years of the professional education to become a medical physicist, all courses are mandatory. In the first year, you will study radiobiology and radiation protection, as well as cover the diagnostic specialties of medical physics including clinical practice in all diagnostic departments at the hospital. The second year is dedicated to radiation therapy (including five weeks of clinical practice) and to the degree project, which is fixed to 30 credits. The topic of the project does not have to have a clinical connection, and many of our graduates go on to work in the industry, at the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, and/or pursue a career in research.
Year 1
TOTAL CREDITS: 60 credits
The Swedish credit system is compatible with the European standard ECTS. 30 ECTS is equivalent to one semester of full time studies.
1st Semester
Image and System Analysis FK7064 9 credits
Basic Radiobiology FK7065 9 credits
Radiation Protection and Environmental Radiology FK8030 7.5 credits
Physics of Diagnostic Radiology FK8031 10.5 credits (start)
2nd Semester
Physics of Diagnostic Radiology FK8031 10.5 credits (cont’d)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging FK8032 10 credits
Physics of Nuclear Medicine FK8037 11 credits
The Professional Role of the Medical Physicist FK8038 3 credits
Year 2
Second year (60 credits)
1st Semester
Radiation Therapy Physics and Biology FK8035 22.5 credits
Clinical Radiotherapy Physics and Biology FK8036 7.5 credits
2nd Semester
Degree Project FK9006 30 credits
Independent project
Examples of recent degree projects
1. Clinical optimization of a regularized reconstruction algorithm in PET. (2018)
2. Risk of second cancer from proton therapy of breast cancer – impact of physiological and radiobiological uncertainties. (2018)
3. Ray Cast/Dose Superposition algorithm for proton grid therapy. (2017) -
How to apply
All our international Master’s programmes start during the autumn semester. The application round normally opens in mid-October the preceding year, with a deadline in January.
Application is done through www.universityadmissions.se
When submitting you application make sure you have uploaded all required documents. Read more here: https://www.universityadmissions.se/documents
We at the Department of Physics do not require any additional documents such as CV, letter of recommendation or motivation letter. You will be contacted by us if we need further documentation. -
Meet us
Watch our Webinar about the Master's Programmes in Medical Radiation Physics. In the Webinar you will learn more about the programme, meet the programme coordinator, mixed with interviews with students and alumni. The Webinar is found on the Stockholm University central web page for Webinars on-demand about our Master’s programmes. It is called "Master's Programmes in Medical Radiation Physics".
Meet our students
Meet former Medical Physics student Apostolos Raptis
Apostolos Raptis began as a master student from Greece in the autumn 2015. He enrolled in the 3rd year of the Medical Physics program and graduated in June 2018. Apostolos now works at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.
Why did you choose Fysikum for you master?
As an international student coming from Greece, I have always had a very good opinion about the research that takes place in Sweden. Fysikum is the most popular university department for medica phyics in Sweden, so the choice was quite easy.
What was your project about?
The masters project that I was assigned to was an investigation of the second primary tumours that can be caused from radiotherapy of breast cancer patients. It was a risk comparison between photon and proton radiotherapy.
What was the best of your experience at Fysikum?
I would say that the clinical courses and the contact that we made with the actual work of a medical physicist has helped me decide which will be the direction that I want to follow regarding my future profession.
How was living in Stockholm for you?
Life in Stockholm can be very challeging for a newcomer. Accomodation is the biggest issue that all the foreigners are facing, so I would definitely list this on the top of the negative aspects of life in Stockholm. On the other hand, Stockholm is a city with rare beauty, amazing nature even in the middle of the city and really good means of transportation.
Would you suggest the Master's programme in Medical Radiation Physics at Fysikum to other students?
The Medical Physics programme is coordinated by scientists that have excelled in their fields, people that want to recruit and train the future generations of Medical Physicists that in turn will ensure high quality treatments and safety for the patients and the public. Therefore, I think it is an exciting experience to be part of a quite special group of physicists that want to contribute to the health system.
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Career opportunities
Today, half of all the cancer patients in the world are treated with radiotherapy, and diagnostic methods based on both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation represent a major cornerstone of modern medicine. There is an increased need of medical physicists with knowledge within physics, medicine and technology. To work as a medical physicist at a Swedish hospital, a license from the National Board of Health and Welfare is required. You can apply for the license after completing the programme.
Working as a medical physicist is an exciting profession where you combine physics with biology and medicine. A medical physicist is the expert in radiation treatment and diagnostic methods with radiation. In addition to direct tasks within the daily work at the hospital with treatments and check-ups of patients, the medical physicist participates in research and development. An important task is to provide education about radiation and radiation safety to other professions, such as doctors and nurses. The more advanced technical equipment and the use of computers within healthcare, implies an increased need of medical physicists.
Except for working at the hospital, a medical physicists can also work at a medical technology company or with radiation safety issues at a nuclear plant, or with the Radiation Safety Authority. After examination, it is also possible to continue with a PhD education.
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Contact
Programme coordinator:
Prof. Iuliana Toma-Dasu
iuliana.livia.dasu@fysik.su.seAcademic advisor at Fysikum:
studievagledare@fysik.su.se
