How Oxford’s MSc in Medical Physics with Radiobiology Shaped My Career Path

The MSc in Medical Physics with Radiobiology at the University of Oxford’s Department of Oncology welcomes students looking to kickstart a career in medical physics research, clinical practice, or related industry positions.  The one-year, full time programme covers a broad range of topics, including the underpinning physics of radiation action, how ionising and non-ionising radiation are used in clinical practice, and research approaches in the field of medical physics. With its additional focus on the principles of radiobiology at a molecular and cellular level, students gain a thorough grounding in the biological effects of radiation.

Recent graduate George Petkov shares his experience of the MSc Medical Physics with Radiobiology programme and how the wide variety of topics he was exposed to helped to clarify his career aspirations.

How did you hear about the MSc in Medical Physics with Radiobiology course and what made you decide to apply?

I discovered the course through the University of Oxford website. The course was one of the very few medical physics courses offered by prestigious universities. The curriculum listed on the description page made me firmly select it for my MSc application initiative.

What did you enjoy most about the course?

I specifically enjoyed a feature of both the taught and research parts of the course. For the taught component I found the variety of lecturers, even within each module, very useful. Every topic within a module is lectured by a dedicated expert in the corresponding field. Consequently, thorough discussions, provoked by detail-seeking questions, were often held during or after lectures. The narrow expertise of the lecturers also gave interesting insights into the topic-specific research and clinical practices.

For the research component, I enjoyed the freedom given in topic selection and research direction. Personally, I was able to gain a lot of transferable skills and focus on a project that I am particularly interested in. Generally, the research part timeline was well planned.

How has the MSc in Medical Physics with Radiobiology helped you to achieve your career goals?

Right after my Masters, I began working as a Data Analyst Intern at a Medical Technology company based in Switzerland. The course helped me prepare for my career aspirations mostly through its technical, STEM components. The physics, mathematics, and programming involved, especially present in the research component for me, equipped me with additional knowledge. I became more skilled in machine learning, data analysis, high-standard research, algorithm design, and many more. Through the more biological and clinical topics, I discovered for myself that I don’t want to proceed in that direction, which is as equally important as the skills gained.

Would you recommend the course?

I would recommend the course to individuals seeking to gain diverse knowledge of the topics enclosed by medical physics and radiobiology. The course offers a bit of everything (physics, biology, radiology, radiopharmaceuticals, transferable research methods, computational medical physics, etc.) whilst you still get to choose a specific research topic in which you will specialise. Through the various topics covered in the taught component, you can get a clear understanding of what you are interested in. The course is a helpful stepping stone for a career in a clinic, a research facility, or an industry.

Anything else you want to add?

With a unique interdisciplinary approach that combines physics, biology, and clinical application, the course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills crucial for advancing a research or clinical career. The scope of topics covered and the freedom to shape his own research direction enabled George to hone his areas of interest and pursue these in his work.

For more information and application details, please visit the Graduate Admissions webpage.