Course details

Summary

Medical Physics is concerned with the application of the concepts and methods of physics to the diagnosis and therapy of human disease. Modern medicine relies heavily on physical tools, techniques and principles developed in the physical sciences. The complexity and precision required in the operation of the related diagnostic and therapeutic equipment as well as the quest to improve these tools has led to the subspecialty of Medical Physics. A medical physicist applies scientific knowledge and technological skills to help prevent, diagnose and treat many kinds of diseases and health conditions. They are most often clinical scientists who play a pivotal role in planning and implementing patient treatment programmes. A medical physicist is typically a member of a multi-disciplinary team and may be involved in several activities relating to diagnosis and/or treatment in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine or Radiation Therapy.

The medical physics education programme at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch stems from the concerns of the New Zealand Branch of the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) to recruit and train medical physicists in New Zealand. The programme was accredited in 2003 by the ACPSEM as part of the Training, Education and Accreditation Programme (TEAP) for clinical medical physics registrars. It is the only programme of its kind in New Zealand. Typically half of the students enrolled for an MSc in Medical Physics are registrars. The registrar training takes 5 years and is comprised of a 2 year MSc in Medical Physics [Clinical] and 3 years of clinical on-the-job training in a hospital. A limited number of such registrar positions, funded by the Clinical Training Agency (CTA) of the Ministry of Health, are available at accredited radiation therapy departments in New Zealand.

Qualification structure and duration

Part I of the MSc usually consists of coursework while Part II usually consists of a thesis or dissertation. Coursework must be satisfactorily completed in Part I before the student can proceed to Part II. The requirements vary depending on your choice of subject, as some subjects require only Part II.

Duration

• Part I and Part II must be completed in two years full-time; up to four years part-time.
• Part I must be completed full-time in one year.
• Part II is completed full-time in one to two years or, with the Dean of Science's permission part-time in up to four years.

Further study

Higher level study can be in Mathematics, Statistics, Mathematics and Statistics, Computational and Applied Mathematical Sciences, Economics and Mathematics, Finance and Mathematics, Finance and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy, and Mathematical Physics.

Career opportunities

Postgraduate study can bring many career benefits eg, specialist skills and enhanced knowledge, entry into specific occupations, higher starting salary/progression rates, research capability/achievement and evidence of high academic attainment/self-discipline.

Entry criteria

Candidates must have completed one of the following:

• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Science with Honours*
• Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology with Honours
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science*
• Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Geology
• or any bachelor's degree and a qualifying programme.

* Students who have qualified for a Bachelor of Science with Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in Science in a subject may be admitted to a MSc Part II (by thesis-only) in that subject.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.