Medical Physics Program

The MSc by coursework and research report in the field of Medical Physics is taught by the Division of Medical Physics.

Overview

Medical Physics is an exciting field that combines physics and medicine. This degree is taught by the Division of Medical Physics in the School of Clinical Medicine at the Wits Faculty of Health Sciences, but is coordinated by the School of Physics in the Faculty of Science. The rules for the degree, the rules concerning examinations, examiners, awarding of the degree, submission of the research report, etc., fall under the School of Physics.

Three categories of students are targeted for this course:

• Students wishing to pursue a career in Medical Physics or Metrology in the long term, who have a background in pure or applied Physics. To be registered as professional clinical medical physicists, candidates still need to complete an internship in order to fulfill the HPCSA experiential requirements for registration.
• HPCSA-registered Medical Physicists who seek to supplement their knowledge and research ability.
• Supernumerary fellowship students who require specific training in Medical Physics (minimum 2 years full-time).

An MSc by Research is also offered by the Division of Medical Physics to students who have completed the appropriate medical physics coursework.

Curriculum

The following courses are offered over one year in a 2-year cycle commencing February each year:

1. PHYS7057 Medical Physics of Radiation Oncology
2. PHYS7056 Medical Physics of Imaging (Radiology and Nuclear Medicine)
3. PHYS7061 Radiation Protection and Control
4. PHYS7062 Radiobiology for Medical Physicists
5. PHYS7058 Radiation Physics for Medical Physicists
6. PHYS7060 Clinical Dosimetry in Radiotherapy
7. PHYS7052 Advanced Brachytherapy
8. PHYS7054 Dosimetry
9. PHYS7053 Advanced Dosimetry
10. PHYS7063 Accuracy in Radiotherapy Medical Physics
11. PHYS7059 Advanced Radiation Oncology
12. PHYS7055 Dosimetry Standards, Uncertainties and Traceability.

The second year is dedicated to a research report in Dosimetry, Radiotherapy Medical Physics, or Radiation Metrology. Depending on the academic record, a student may be required to read a course in basic Anatomy and Physiology.

A course in Professional Ethics or Research Methodologies or Advanced Research Ethics could also be arranged should there be sufficient interest.

Entry Requirements

• A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics/Medical Physics from Wits or another university.
• A graduate of this or another university who holds a degree in another faculty whose curriculum has ordinarily extended over not less than four academic years of full-time study.

For admission to a Master's degree, the applicant should normally have at least 65% in their honours degree.

Students may be required to undergo oral assessment before acceptance into the programme.

The programme has a limited capacity for admission, and acceptance into it will be contingent upon both academic performance and the results of an oral assessment.

University Application Process

Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once the application is complete in terms of requested documentation, the application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment.

University Fees and Funding

The current average tuition fees are available. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once an application has been submitted, the fees estimator on the student self-service portal can be accessed.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, the University's Postgraduate Funding portal is a database of scholarships, bursaries, and other funding opportunities available to Wits postgraduate students.

Programme Details

• Programme Code: SCA00
• Faculty: Science
• School: Physics
• Qualification: MSc
• Duration: 1-2 years
• Study Mode: Full-time; Part-time
• Closing Date: 30 November
• Course Coordinator: Dr Sonwabile Ngcezu, Head of Division, Medical Physics