Master of Applied Science (Medical Physics)

This course deals with well-established and emerging areas of medical and health physics including clinical measurement, computing, health physics, instrumentation, medical electronics, medical imaging, physiological monitoring, physics of radiotherapy, radiobiology, and radiological imaging sciences. The coursework also contains an introduction to the clinical sciences. 

The course will equip you with advanced critical knowledge and specialised technical skills grounded in the latest research in medical physics. As a graduate, you will have the skills to critically assess knowledge and offer innovative solutions to complex problems. You will have experience engaging in a critical evaluation of contemporary research and methodologies within medical physics and the ability to apply investigative research methods to uncover new findings.  

Communication and collaboration are vital aspects of this course. You will be able to confidently design and implement effective strategies for conveying complex information and ideas to diverse audiences. This involves engaging professionally and effectively with peers, stakeholders, and the broader community. You will learn to collaborate effectively with others to achieve shared goals and will develop self-management skills essential for successfully completing complex projects. 

This degree is divided into two stages, including:

• stage one, which is equivalent to the QUT Graduate Diploma in Applied Science, includes advanced lectures, seminars, reading courses, and independent study.
• stage two, which is the master component of the course, where students engage in a program of supervised research and investigation. This research can be conducted at QUT or at a suitable external institution.  

Students have the option to graduate with a Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics after successfully completing stage one, or they may choose to advance to stage two.

Flexible delivery

The course offers 1.5 years of full-time study or 3 years of part-time study. Students may exit with a Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (Medical Physics) after successfully completing Stage 1 (coursework). The project phase (Stage 2) can be undertaken externally while the student is back in the workforce, offering flexibility.

Careers and outcomes

As a medical physicist, you will leverage your knowledge in physics, biology, engineering, and computer technology to aid in diagnosing diseases, particularly cancer. Your duties may include establishing and overseeing computerised systems for data collection and analysis, adjusting medical images using software, and monitoring radiation levels.

Graduates can seek employment in hospitals, health departments, tertiary institutions and medical instrumentation companies. Depending on the field of employment, graduates may be known as medical physicists, health physicists or bioengineers.

As a professional medical or health physicist, your day-to-day tasks may include:

• Applying electronic tools and medical software, ultrasonics, radiation and computers to clinical and environmental problems.
• Monitoring the environment to maintain acceptable workplace and community standards.
• Applying fundamental physical research in development programs.
• Being responsible for calibration, care and maintenance of instruments and apparatus.

Professional recognition

The Master of Applied Science (Medical Physics) has been accredited by the Australasian College of Physical Sciences and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM).  

Graduates will receive exemptions from the academic requirements of the ACPSEM Training, Education, and Accreditation Program (TEAP) for Medical Physicists. Graduates of the Master of Applied Science (Medical Physics) will receive full exemption, while those completing the Graduate Diploma will receive exemption from the coursework component.  

The TEAP is a five-year registrar training program that leads to accreditation as a Medical Physicist. For further details, please visit www.acpsem.org.au.