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Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering MRes

London, Bloomsbury

Prepare for your medical physics PhD with this intensive one-year research Master’s. You’ll harness physics and engineering principles and methodology, assist transformative medical research and help introduce new technologies in healthcare.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£18,400
£9,200
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
£18,250
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper-second class UK Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or other closely related discipline. Workplace knowledge and expertise are also considered.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2
Overall score of 7.0 and a minimum of 6.5 in each component.

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance. This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


This flexible, multidisciplinary, and research-focused Master’s is the ideal programme if you’re looking to explore experiential learning toward a research career in physics and engineering in medicine.

You’ll build your research skills, working with the guidance of leading academics to complete an independent MRes research project (that’s weighted twice as heavily as the equivalent project on an MSc programme).

This programme is highly adaptable, with a wide range of optional modules to meet your intended specialism – you can also choose a related module from across the UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences.

UCL is ranked 2nd highest in the UK for research power (REF 2021). This programme comes with access to world-class workshop, laboratory, teaching, and clinical facilities across both the university and affiliated hospitals.

Who this course is for

This programme is ideal for you if you want to study for a standalone MRes in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering or if you are planning to progress to a Doctoral Training Programme.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This degree offers you the following benefits and opportunities:

  • Shape your studies to match your research project and interests.
  • Access world-class facilities, fully equipped for radiotherapy, proton therapy, magnetic resonance imaging, optics, acoustics, x-ray imaging, electrical implant development and robotic surgery interventions.
  • Hone your research skills alongside renowned academics across UCL’s Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering. UCL ranks 9th globally (QS World University Rankings 2025).
  • Get a detailed insight into the latest research taking place globally in this field.
  • Be part of a world-leading hub for interdisciplinary research and collaborations between computer scientists, physicists, mechanical engineers, biomedical scientists and medical practitioners across UCL and its affiliated teaching hospitals.
  • Study in the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2024). UCL’s Bloomsbury campus is in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme
Making an impact
UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Case study: A brighter future for the world's poorest children

The BRIGHT Project is providing the first ever brain imaging of infants in Africa.

The foundation of your career

By the end of this Master’s, you’ll be well placed to pursue diverse careers and opportunities – from doctoral research to roles in industry, including MedTech companies, and positions that contribute to emerging technologies such as the use of AI and machine learning in healthcare. 

Our postgraduate alumni have obtained employment with a wide range of employers in hospitals around the world, and major industry companies such as Elekta, Siemens, Nikon and started research careers at prestigious universities.

Employability

This MRes is an excellent starting point for further doctoral studies and a career in research, as you’ll be learning from world-leading UCL researchers at the forefront of healthcare innovations.

Should you pursue further doctoral studies with the department, you’ll also get opportunities to work closely with the NHS, through our partnership with the UCLH NHS Trust and other affiliated hospitals, assisting health professionals to find important uses for new technologies.

Networking

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your MRes.

  • Benefit from our national and international collaborations across the clinical, industrial and academic sectors. We have close links with many London hospitals, including University College London Hospital, Great Ormond St Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospital, and Whittington Hospital. We also work with organisations like the National Physical Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Medicine, and Institute of Neurology. A wide range of MedTech companies have spun out of departmental research.
  • Absorb valuable career advice and receive mentoring from scientists and engineers who collaborate nationally and internationally across clinical, industrial and academic sectors.
  • Get involved in our wider network of charities, research councils and international organisations, and support partner projects like our recent infant optical brain imaging work in Africa.
  • Network with external partners and potentially showcase your output at international conferences, private industry events and clinical centres to potential employers.
  • Build your networks further (and socialise) through clubs and societies at UCL, such as the UCL MedTech Society.

Teaching and learning

The MRes is comprised of four taught modules and a research project component. Your time will be split between formal lectures, seminars, laboratories, workshop sessions and independent or group project work.

You’ll be assessed through a series of methods, including exams, coursework, group work, lab sessions and a research project (worth 120 credits).

Each module typically consists of around 36-40 hours of lectures and problem classes over a 10-week term. This equates to around 10 contact hours a week. On top of your timetabled hours, you’ll spend time outside of class reviewing the material and completing coursework. In total, you’ll need to spend approximately 35-40 hours a week on your studies as a full-time student.

You are expected to allocate a significant amount of that time to their research project (an average of up to 16 hours per week for the MRes full-time students). The time allocation to the research project will need to be adjusted between Terms 1 and 2, and the summer term (following the exams) where the expectation is for the students to work exclusively on their research projects.

If you’re studying part-time, you can calculate this study commitment on a pro-rata basis.

Lectures are timetabled between 9am and 6pm, apart from Wednesday afternoon when there aren’t any lectures.

Modules

As a full-time student on this programme, in addition to the compulsory research module, you’ll select three of the optional modules listed below. You’ll also get to choose a fourth postgraduate module from any other department in the UCL Engineering faculty – it's recommended that you choose a module that will assist you in your research project.

As a part-time student, we recommend you undertake the four optional modules in your first year, and then complete the research project module in the second year.

Compulsory modules



Optional modules





















Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MRes in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £18,400 £9,200
Tuition fees (2025/26) £36,500 £18,250

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs associated with this programme.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at graduate level
  • why you want to study Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering

medphys.teaching@ucl.ac.uk

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