Master of Medical Physics
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years -
Location
Melbourne city -
Fees
Next intake
February Entry score
IELTS 6.5
Duration
Full-time 2 years Location
Melbourne city
Overview
Your career as a medical physicist
Medical physicists oversee the safe use of radiation and other physical phenomena for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other disease.
What you will study
You will study a range of physical science topics with specific applications in medicine such as radiotherapy and imaging.
A strong emphasis will be placed on the protection of workers, patients and staff from harmful effects of radiation.
Details
You will develop specialist knowledge and skills in the field of medical physics. This includes quantitative measurement and evaluation of radiation exposure for its safe use by staff for the benefit of patients.
Medical physicists are employed clinically in the fields of:
- radiotherapy
- medical imaging
- nuclear medicine
- associated research and regulatory activities of non-hospital institutions
You will develop the skills to critically evaluate and optimise the performance of medical equipment and procedures.
You will use your problem-solving abilities to analyse outputs, diagnose problems and provide quality assurance for patient treatments.
With initiative and a high degree of independence, you’ll be instrumental in the evaluation and implementation of new technologies and in the translation of research into professional practice.
You’ll become an important advisor to a team of professionals including oncologists, radiologists, therapists, technologists, and biomedical engineers.
Your learning experiences will contain a broad mix of study modes including lectures, seminars, workshops and practical classes, using face-to-face, online and other flexible delivery mechanisms.
Site visits to external facilities and lectures by guest presenters from industry will enhance your learning opportunities.
Approximately three-quarters of the program consists of specialisation courses and one quarter of the courses focus on your research project which is assessed partially via a submitted thesis.
Through the completion of a research project, which may be in collaboration with an external institution, you’ll apply your specialised expertise to design and conduct research that addresses practical challenges facing scientists in this field.
Inside the course experience
Meet the staff who are leaders in the field, and the students who are the next generation of medical physicists.
The Master of Medical Physics at RMIT is closely linked with all major hospitals in Melbourne through teaching and research collaborations.
Other organisations, such as radiation protection authorities and research facilities, are also closely connected employers of our graduates.
Courses taught in the program have been developed in consultation with practising professionals in the fields of radiotherapy, oncology, medical imaging, nuclear medicine, and radiation protection.
Work-integrated learning is embedded into the program through the research project.
You will either identify a research project from a workplace scenario you have encountered or will be selecting a topic your academic supervisors or industry collaborators have proposed in relation to their research activities or clinical responsibilities.
Your research project will have an industry consultant as a co-supervisor who will jointly assess the research project outcomes with the academic supervisor.
Your industry-integrated project will enable you to experience a workplace setting firsthand and build valuable contacts with potential future employers.
The Master of Medical Physics consists of 192 credit points. After completing 96 credit points of study approved by the program manager, you may exit with a graduate diploma.
There are opportunities to apply for Credit Transfer for some courses on the MC215 Program if you have already completed the same or similar course in an undergraduate Physics degree or a Science degree with a Physics major. There are no elective courses on the MC215 Program at present.
Approximately 75 per cent (144 credit points) of the program consists of coursework components. The remaining 25 per cent (48 credit points) consists of a research project.
The research project is conducted over two semesters to build and develop close partnerships with industry collaborators.
The research project will be assessed partially via a submitted thesis, as well as by oral presentation, and Project Planning documents.
In your final year, you'll be assisted by an industry consultant as a co-supervisor and complete a research project relevant to an industry or clinical setting.
The following is an example of courses offered:
- Radiotherapy Physics and Modelling
- Medical Imaging Physics
- Advanced Medical Imaging
- Introduction to Human Biosciences
- Radiation Physics and Radiation Protection
- Radiobiology for Medical Physicists
- Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Radiotherapy Treatment Planning
- Research Methods
- Research Project
You'll study courses that provide understanding of advanced physics topics such as: radiation, quantum physics, and nuclear physics, as well as radiobiology and basic human biology, structure and function.
The technical aspects of medical physics will be covered in courses concerning medical imaging, radiotherapy and radiation transport modelling.
You’ll also apply your knowledge in courses related to radiation measurement, radiation protection and radiotherapy dosimetry.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Medical Physics | City Campus |
2 years full-time; 4 years part-time
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2 years full-time
|
MC215 | 080227G |
Choose a program structure
Program code: MC215
Career
Qualified medical physicists are highly sought after in Australia and worldwide due to the expansion of radiation oncology and medical imaging facilities and services.
RMIT graduates in the areas of medical physics, radiation and health physics are employed in the fields of:
- radiotherapy
- medical imaging
- nuclear medicine
- radiation protection
- mining and prospecting
- government regulatory agencies
- associated research activities of non-hospital institutions
Our graduates are employed throughout Australia as well as internationally in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Career outlook
Australia is experiencing an expansion of radiation oncology and medical imaging facilities and service.
Growth includes construction of new treatment centres, particularly in regional centres.
The current national workforce demand has been forecast to continue to grow significantly in the next two decades.
A postgraduate qualification such as this is mandatory to become a certified practising medical physicist in Australia.
Similar workforce demand and growth has been experienced worldwide.
This program is accredited by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) who oversee a professional accreditation program that recognises and certifies experienced medical physicists.
To be certified as a professional medical physicist in Australia, you must complete the requirements stipulated by the ACPSEM. These include:
- undergraduate Bachelor of Physics or Bachelor of Science with physics major and strong maths subjects, or ACPSEM approved equivalents
- an ACPSEM accredited postgraduate degree in medical physics (usually masters or higher), or ACPSEM approved equivalents. You must also meet the bachelor degree requirements (above)
- completion of the ACPSEM Training, Education and Accreditation Program (TEAP) while employed as a Medical Physics Registrar at an accredited clinical centre
Admissions
An Australian bachelor degree with a GPA of at least 2.0 out of 4.0 in a physical science, biomedical engineering or equivalent, having substantial physics and mathematics components.
International qualifications are assessed according to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Entry requirements
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 580 (TWE 4.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 92 (with minimum of 20 in all sections)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Exemptions
If you have successfully completed one of the following qualifications majoring in physics you will be eligible for exemptions as follows:
Qualification level |
Exemptions |
Remaining program duration |
Bachelor degree in science with a physics major at AQF Level 7 |
Up to 48 credit points relating to some or all of the following courses:
|
144 credit points (equivalent to three semesters of full-time study) |
Bachelor of Science with a physics major (Honours) |
Up to 72 credit points (subject to the courses completed in the Honours year. |
120 credit points |
Applicants with Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master or PhD qualification majoring in a different discipline may also be eligible for exemption of up to 48 credit points (equivalent to one semester of full-time study).
Upon completion of the following courses totalling 96 credit points you will be eligible to exit the program with the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics.
- Medical Imaging Physics (PHYS2135)
- Human Structure and Function 1 (BIOL2381)
- Radiobiology for Medical Physicists (MEDS2150)
- Radiation Physics and Radiation Protection (PHYS2136)
- Advanced Medical Imaging (PHYS2134)
- Radiotherapy Physics and Modelling (PHYS2139)
- Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Radiotherapy Treatment Planning (MEDS2149)
- Research Methods (BIOL1070)
Upon successful completion of this program you may be eligible to undertake further studies in related programs at RMIT University, including PhD in Physics by research, subject to each program’s entry requirements.
Fees
In 2019, if you are enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958.
The indicative annual tuition fee for full-fee places in 2019 is AU$30,720*.
How much you’ll pay will depend on whether you’re offered a Commonwealth supported place or a full-fee place. Entry for this program is primarily through Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs). Government financial assistance is available to eligible students regardless of the type of place you enrol in.
*Fees shown above apply to 2019 only and are based on an annual full-time study load of 96 credit points unless otherwise noted. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load. Tuition fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
For more information and to learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees see postgraduate study fees.
If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.
In 2019, the annual student contribution amount you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958. As a CSP student, you may be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP loan, which allows you to defer payment of up to 100% of your student contribution.
For further information and to learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees see Fees for Commonwealth supported students.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your FEE-HELP, HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student. The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2019 is $303.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2019 is AU$35,520.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$72,000.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.