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Physics and Engineering in Medicine MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Combining physics and engineering expertise with clinical science, the skills you’ll learn with this interdisciplinary master’s will transform the future of healthcare. Join us here at UCL Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, and choose your own path with this flexible MSc.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£18,400
£9,200
Pathways include:
Radiation Physics (TMSRPHSING10)
Biomedical Engineering and Medical Imaging (TMSMPHSBMI10)
Medical Image Computing (TMSPHYSMIC10)
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
£18,250
Pathways include:
Radiation Physics (TMSRPHSING10)
Biomedical Engineering and Medical Imaging (TMSMPHSBMI10)
Medical Image Computing (TMSPHYSMIC10)
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 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. Applicants with a lower than upper-second class degree may be invited for a short online interview with programme tutors as part of their application process.

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


Advances in physics and engineering are transforming human health, delivering new technologies and positive outcomes across a wide range of medical fields including radiotherapy and medical imaging.

With this Master’s, you can play a part in the future of healthcare, immersing yourself in the theoretical and practical physics underpinning modern medicine, and applying your knowledge to help progress new medical technologies.

You’ll cover a broad and extensive range of medical physics disciplines and activities, and select optional modules to match your interests in topics such as cancer therapy, medical device enterprise, human-machine interfaces and computing in medicine.

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 teaching hospitals.

You’ll also choose a pathway that leads directly to your academic and career goals – either the IPEM-accredited radiation physics pathway, the non-accredited radiation physics pathway, or the biomedical engineering and medical imaging pathway.

Who this course is for

The programme is particularly suitable for you if you have a first degree in physics or engineering, and you have an interest in developing an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving in healthcare. 

It is ideal for those seeking employment as clinical or biomedical engineers in hospital, industry or university environments.

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:

  • Join 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.
  • 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, as well as the biomedical engineering facilities at the Royal Free Hospital and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore.
  • Learn from and work alongside research staff in a supportive and inclusive research environment, with regular opportunities for networking and professional development.
  • Develop your skills alongside renowned academics across UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering. UCL ranks 9th globally (QS World University Rankings 2025).
  • Enjoy opportunities to work collaboratively with the NHS, through our partnership with the UCLH NHS Trust, assisting health professionals to find important uses for new technologies.  
  • 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: Monitoring brain changes to diagnose dementia

Our research has pioneered important improvements to brain volume measurement techniques, to make processes more efficient and robust

The foundation of your career

As a postgraduate student here at UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, you’ll develop a robust set of valuable, cross-disciplinary skills and knowledge you’ll be able to deploy in a wide variety of industry and healthcare environments.

Working alongside world-leading scientists, engineers and health professionals, you’ll also learn project management, communication and teamworking skills, making you an asset to any organisation.

The skills I learned on the MSc – logical thinking, how to structure a problem to reach the desired outcome, and how to frame complex answers in a coherent, accessible way – have been invaluable in consulting, where you are often dealing with a multitude of ambiguous problems on behalf of your clients.

Headshot of Ryan Lamb on a blue background

Ryan Lamb

MSc Physics and Engineering in Medicine

Read more student testimonials

Employability

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 and positions that contribute to emerging technologies such as the use of AI in healthcare. 

Your expertise will be relevant in both private and public healthcare. Many graduates of this Master’s go onto technical or strategic roles in hospitals either overseas or here in the UK. 

Alternatively, you could explore research and development roles in industry settings, designing and implementing new technologies within multinational medical device companies or med-tech start-ups.

Graduates of this course have gone onto work with a wide range of employers in hospitals around the world, major industry companies such as Elekta, Siemens, Nikon and prestigious University research departments. 

The IPEM Accredited Radiation Physics pathway of the MSc is a recognised part of the NHS Clinical Scientist “Route 2” training. This pathway is for students who wish to become a professional medical physicist or clinical scientist/engineer. Many graduates take this career path after or even during their studies for part-time students.

Networking

You'll find various opportunities to build your network throughout this programme:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Benefit from supervision and mentorship from scientists and engineers who collaborate nationally and internationally across clinical, industrial and academic sectors.
  • Network with external partners and explore opportunities to showcase your research 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.

Accreditation

The Physics and Engineering in Medicine MSc provides three pathways, depending on your career objectives. This includes an IPEM-accredited pathway; Radiation Physics (IPEM-accredited pathway).

Through the IPEM-accredited radiation physics pathway, this programme provides students with a route to becoming a professional medical physicist or clinical scientist/engineer.

To become a medical physicist or clinical engineer working in a UK hospital, you’ll need:

  • extensive training
  • vocational experience
  • state registered status.

This requires you to complete an MSc accredited by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM). You’ll then need to undertake further vocational training, working under supervision in a hospital medical physics department (or equivalent). 
Once these conditions are satisfied, you’ll be eligible to register as a Chartered Scientist or a Chartered Engineer (CSci or CEng).

Teaching and learning

As a Physics and Engineering in Medicine MSc student, you must choose from one of three programme pathways, depending on your career objectives.

Pathway One: Radiation Physics (IPEM-accredited)
This pathway is the route for students who wish to become a professional medical physicist or clinical scientist/engineer. See Accreditation information above for more details.

In Terms 1 and 2, you’ll study medical imaging (using ionising and non-ionising radiation), essential physics of ionising radiation used in imaging and treatment, proton and radiotherapy, computing (including computer programming), and basic anatomy and physiology. You’ll also be introduced to aspects of medical device design and entrepreneurship, through a group project.

Early in the programme, you’ll choose a research project, guided and supervised by two members of research staff.

Typically, your research project will involve the development, implementation and testing of a solution to a real-life healthcare problem. You’ll work closely with university research staff from a specific UCL research group, and present your work through reports and presentations.

Pathways two and three: Non-accredited specialist pathways – Radiation Physics (non-accredited) OR Biomedical Engineering and Medical Imaging
These pathways are the routes for students who don’t specifically require IPEM accreditation – either because they’ve already identified a different career path, or would like more flexibility in the modules they choose to study.

In Terms 1 and 2, you’ll study medical imaging and a module covering basic anatomy, physiology and electric safety.

The other compulsory and optional modules you study will depend on your choice of pathway. For example, students on the biomedical engineering and medical imaging pathway will select two optional modules from the list below.

Early in the programme, you’ll choose a research project, guided and supervised by two members of research staff.

Typically, your research project will involve the development, implementation and testing of a solution to a real-life healthcare problem. You’ll work closely with university research staff from a specific UCL research group, and present your work through reports and presentations.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, demonstrations, practicals, assignments and a research project. Lecturers are drawn from UCL and from London teaching hospitals including UCLH, St. Bartholomew's, and the Royal Free Hospital. Assessment is through supervised examination, coursework, the dissertation and an oral examination.

Pathways include:

  • IPEM Accredited Radiation Physics (TMSRPHSINA10)
  • Radiation Physics (TMSRPHSING10)
  • Biomedical Engineering and Medical Imaging (TMSMPHSBMI10)

Compulsory modules for pathways:

  • All Pathways:
    • Medical Imaging with Ionising Radiation
    • Biomedical Ultrasound
    • MRI and Biomedical Optics
    • Clinical Practice
    • Medical Device Enterprise Scenario
    • MSc Research Project
  • IPEM Accredited Radiation Physics pathway:
    • Ionising Radiation Physics: Interactions and Dosimetry
    • Radiotherapy Physics
    • Computing in Medicine
  • Non-Accredited Radiation Physics pathway:
    • Ionising Radiation Physics: Interactions and Dosimetry
    • Radiotherapy Physics
    • + one optional module
  • Biomedical Engineering and Medical Imaging (BEMI) pathway:
    • Medical Electronics and Control
    • + two optional modules

Full-time students on this course can expect approximately 14-18 contact hours per teaching week. The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the terms depending on the module choices of the student

If you study this course full time, you should expect a working schedule of approximately 35-40 hours a week divided between contact hours, self-directed learning, and preparing for assessments.

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

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) is offered.

Modules

As a full-time student, your programme structure comprises of the following:
IPEM Accredited Radiation Physics 

  • Four compulsory modules in Term 1
  • Three compulsory modules in Term 2
  • MPHY0033 Medical Device Enterprise Scenario taken in Terms 1 and 2
  • MPHY0035 Research Project in Terms 1 to 3

Radiation Physics 

  • Four compulsory modules in Term 1
  • Three compulsory modules in Term 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0033 Medical Device Enterprise Scenario is taken in terms 1 and 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0035 Research Project is taken in Terms 1 to 3
  • One optional module is taken in either Term 1 or Term 2

Biomedical Engineering and Medical Imaging 

  • Two compulsory modules in Term 1
  • Three compulsory modules in Term 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0033 Medical Device Enterprise Scenario taken in Terms 1 and 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0035 Research Project in Terms 1 to 3
  • Two optional modules taken in either Term 1 or Term 2 

Below are the recommended module selections for students studying part-time over 2 years:

IPEM Accredited Radiation Physics (part-time)
Year 1:

  • Two compulsory modules in Term 1
  • Two compulsory modules in Term 2

Year 2

  • Two compulsory modules in Term 1
  • One compulsory module in Term 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0033 Medical Device Enterprise Scenario taken in Terms 1 and 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0035 Research Project in Terms 1 to 3

Radiation Physics (part-time)
Year 1:

  • Two compulsory modules in Term 1
  • Two compulsory modules in Term 2

Year 2

  • One compulsory module in Term 1
  • One optional module in Term 1
  • One compulsory module in Term 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0033 Medical Device Enterprise Scenario taken in Terms 1 and 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0035 Research Project in Terms 1 to 3

Biomedical Engineering and Medical Imaging (part-time)
Year 1

  • One compulsory module in Term 1
  • One optional module in Term 1
  • Two compulsory modules in Term 2

Year 2

  • One compulsory module in Term 1
  • One compulsory module in Term 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0033 Medical Device Enterprise Scenario taken in Terms 1 and 2
  • Compulsory module MPHY0035 Research Project in Terms 1 to 3
  • One optional module in either Term 1 or Term 2

The flexible route is designed to suit your needs or available study time. 

You would expect to complete your studies in 2-4 years, with a 5th year as a contingency (you must complete your studies within 5 years). 

The number of modules studied each year varies depending on student preference. The teaching team will be able to advise you on a suitable study plan.

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 complete 180 credits (120 taught course credits and 60 credit research project) for the MSc, or 120 credits (120 taught course credits) for the Postgraduate Diploma. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Physics and Engineering in Medicine. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Physics and Engineering in Medicine. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

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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.

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Where can a UCL Engineering degree take you? Join us for a panel and Q&A event with UCL Engineering alumni. You'll learn what you can expect from postgraduate study at UCL Engineering and get application advice from previous students! This is an opportunity for all applicants to hear personal experiences of studying with us, but may be most relevant to those applying from the USA, Latin and South America.

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Revolutionise the future of healthcare with a postgraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics. Join our online Q&A’s to explore our cutting-edge programmes in AI, Robotics, Radiation Therapy, and Medical Imaging! You’ll have the opportunity to meet the programme team and ask questions about our postgraduate degrees, future career opportunities for MPBE graduates and what it’s like to be part of our fantastic UCL community.

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

Pathways include:
Radiation Physics (TMSRPHSING10)
Biomedical Engineering and Medical Imaging (TMSMPHSBMI10)
Medical Image Computing (TMSPHYSMIC10)

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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

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.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Physics and Engineering in Medicine at graduate level
  • why you want to study Physics and Engineering in Medicine at UCL
  • whether you have relevant industrial or workplace experience
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally after 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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