Course overview
- Description
This course provides physical scientists the relevant knowledge and appropriate problem-solving skills suitable for entry into an accredited medical physics training program in radiation oncology, nuclear medicine or diagnostic imaging. A research topic in medical physics examined by dissertation contains 25 per cent of the course. The remaining 75 per cent includes required units in anatomy and biology for medical physicists, radiation biology and protection, radiotherapy physics, radiation physics and dosimetry, medical imaging physics, and a combination of level 4/5 optional units and conversion units if required.
- Course title
- Master of Medical Physics (coursework and dissertation)
- Award abbreviation
- MSc
- Course code
- 73660
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework and dissertation
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- Physics, Mathematics and Computing
- CRICOS code
- 111847G
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Credit points required
- 96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising 72 points of taught units and 24 points of admission credit, as recognised and granted by the School
- Maximum course duration
- 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising up to 96 points of taught study (see Rule 5 for further information)
- Time limit
- 5 years
- Delivery mode
- Multi-mode
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Pejman Rowshan Farzad
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- T2
- Trimester 2
- T3
- Trimester 3
- N/A
- not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Take all units (54 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | ANHB5451 | Anatomy and Biology for Medical Physicists | This unit is taught online | |
| S1 | PHYS5401 | Medical Imaging Physics |
| 2 - 4 hours per week plus one hour of practicals per week |
| S2 | PHYS5402 | Radiation Biology and Protection |
| 2 - 3 hours per week plus an extra hour of practicals in some weeks |
| S2 | PHYS5403 | Radiotherapy Physics |
| 2 - 3 hours per week plus an extra hour of practicals in some weeks. |
| S1 | PHYS5404 | Radiation Physics and Dosimetry |
| 2 - 3 hours per week plus an extra hour of practicals in some weeks |
| S1, S2 | PHYS5406 | Medical Physics Dissertation Part 1 |
| 2 hours per week for 12 weeks. Students regularly meet with project supervisors during the semester to discuss their progress, contents of their research proposal, and literature review. In addition, students attend weekly research group meetings to provide updates and discuss their research progress with academics and other students. |
| S1, S2 | PHYS5407 | Medical Physics Dissertation Part 2 |
| 2 hours per week for 12 weeks. Students regularly meet with project supervisors during the semester to discuss their research progress. In addition, students attend weekly research group meetings to give presentations, provide updates, and discuss their research progress with academics and other students. |
| S1, S2 | PHYS5408 | Medical Physics Dissertation Part 3 |
| 2 hours per week for 12 weeks. Students regularly meet with project supervisors during the semester to discuss their research progress. In addition, students attend weekly research group meetings to give presentations, provide updates, and discuss their research progress with academics and other students. |
| S1, S2 | PHYS5409 | Medical Physics Dissertation Part 4 |
| 2 hours per week for 12 weeks. Students regularly meet with project supervisors during the semester to discuss their progress. In addition, students attend weekly research group meetings to provide updates and discuss their research progress with academics and other students. |
Optional units: Take unit(s) to the value between 18 to 42 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | CITS4402 | Computer Vision |
| |
| S2 | CITS4403 | Computational Modelling |
| |
| S1 | CITS5508 | Machine Learning |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; labs: 2 hours per week for 11 weeks from week 2 |
| S2 | GENG4405 | Numerical Methods and Modelling |
| lectures: 3 hours per week; practical classes: 2 hours per week; computer class: 1 hour per week |
| S1, S2 | GENG5507 | Risk, Reliability and Safety | lectures: 2 hour per week; practical classes: 1 hour per week; workshops: 3 hours per week | |
| S1, S2, T2, T3 | PHYS5512 | Physics Reading Unit |
| Weekly discussion sessions |
| S2 | PHYS5513 | Computational Statistics for Physics |
| |
| S1, S2 | PUBH4401 | Biostatistics I |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week |
| S2 | PUBH5769 | Biostatistics II |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week |
| S1, S2 | SCIE4403 | Ethical Conduct and Communication in Science | Weekly face-to-face OR online workshops. This unit runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2, and can be taken in either semester. | |
| S1 | SHPC4001 | Computational Methods for Physics |
| Lectures: 3 x 45 minutes per week; Practical Classes: 1 x 45 minutes per week |
Students who have not completed a major in Physics from this University, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by the School, may be required to complete conversion units up to the value of 24 points from this group.
Note: Students who do not require 24 points of conversion may substitute conversion units with optional units up to the value of 24 points.
Conversion
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | CITS1401 | Computational Thinking with Python | Lectures: 2-hours per week; Labs: 2-hours per week; WorkshopS: 1-hour per week | |
| S1, S2 | CITS2401 | Computer Analysis and Visualisation | lectures: 2 hours per week; labs: 3 hours per week; workshop: 1 hour per week | |
| S2 | CITS2402 | Introduction to Data Science | lectures: 2 x 1 hour per week; laboratory: 1 x 2 hours per week. | |
| S1 | MATH2501 | Advanced Mathematical Methods | lectures: 2 hours per week; practical classes: 1 hour per week | |
| S2 | MATH3023 | Advanced Mathematics Applications | Lectures: 3-hours per week; Practical Classes: 2-hours per week | |
| S1, S2 | PACM1100 | Professional and Academic Communications |
| |
| S1 | PHYS2001 | Quantum Physics and Electromagnetism | labs: 6 x 3 hours; lectures: average 3 hours per week; practical classes: 1 hour per week | |
| S2 | PHYS2002 | Many Particle Systems | Lectures: average 3 hours per week; Practical Classes: 1 hour per week; Project/Laboratory Work: 18 hours per semester (6 x 3 hours) | |
| S1 | PHYS2003 | Physics for Electrical Engineers |
| Lectures: 3-hours per week; Laboratory: 6 x 3 hours; Practical Classes: 1-hour per week |
| S1 | PHYS3001 | Quantum Mechanics |
| Lectures: average 3-hours per week; Practical Classes/Consultation: 1-hour per week; Project/Lab Work: 24-hours per semester |
| S2 | PHYS3002 | Electrodynamics and Relativity | Lectures: average 3-hours per week; Workshops: 12-hours per semester; Project/Laboratory Work: 24-hours per semester | |
| S1 | PHYS3003 | Astrophysics and Space Science | Practical Classes: 2-hours per week; Project/Lab Work: 3-hours per week | |
| S1 | PHYS3005 | Quantum Computation | ||
| S2 | PHYS3011 | Mathematical Physics | Lectures: average 3-hours per week; Practical Classes: 1-hour per week; Project/Lab Work: 24-hours per semester | |
| S2 | PHYS3012 | Topics in Contemporary Physics |
| Lectures: average 3-hours per week; Practical Classes: 1-hour per week; Project/Lab work: 24-hours per semester |
| N/A | PHYS3101 | Quantum Fields and Quantum Optics |
| Lectures: average 3-hours per week; Practical Classes: 1-hour per week |
| S1, S2 | STAT1400 | Statistics for Science | Lectures: 3-hours per week; Laboratories: 2-hours per week |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—A relevant bachelor's degree with a major in physics, mathematics or engineering and with an average Maths and Physics mark of at least 65 per cent, or equivalent as recognised by the School.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6. This course does not form part of an articulated sequence.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points (maximum value) which include conversion units to a value of 24 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
(3) Students who have completed a major in Physics from this University, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by the School are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).
Additional rules
Substitution
14. The School, on the recommendation of the course coordinator, may permit a student to substitute for unit(s) of equivalent value at Level 4 or higher offered in this University or in any comparable course in another recognised institution.
Research extenssion
15. With course coordinator's special approval, students may be allowed to extend their research units from 24 points to 36 points.