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Sharpen your skills and be part of the highly scientific and technical field of medical physics. The Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics provides specialist postgraduate training in the application of radiation physics, dosimetry, imaging and radiobiology to cancer diagnosis and treatment, and to radiation detection and protection.
The one-year Graduate Diploma course is designed to meet the growing global demand for graduate physical scientists with the specialised knowledge, skills and expertise to work within a clinical setting in the highly scientific and technical environment of medical physics.
It offers you a wide variety of subjects in radiation physics, nuclear physics, radiation dosimetry, anatomy and biology, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy physics, medical imaging physics, image processing, radiation biology, health physics and research methodology.
This program is offered through the School of Physics, which will give you access to world-class teaching and research facilities. As a student of this program you will benefit from highly experienced teaching and research staff in this discipline area through the Institute of Medical Physics and affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutes.
After completing the Graduate Diploma, you may choose to transfer to the Master of Medical Physics, which is the entry level qualification that medical physicists have as clinical physical scientists.
Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics complete 48 credit points of core units of study. Full time study can normally be completed over the course of 2 semesters, with 4 units taken per semester. Your individual study plan will depend on the availability of units in a given semester.
Degree sample: Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics
Year |
Sem |
Unit of study |
Unit of study |
Unit of study |
Unit of study |
1 |
1 |
PHYS5002 Anatomy and Biol Essentials for Physicists |
PPHYS5029 Nuclear Medicine Physics |
PHYS5011 Nuclear Physics |
PHYS5012 Radiation Physics and Dosimetry |
|
2 |
PHYS5005 Radiotherapy Physics |
PHYS5006 Medical Imaging Physics |
PHYS5018 Health Physics and Radiation Protection |
PHYS5020 Computation and Image Processing |
For admission into this course, you should have a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Engineering with a major in the discipline of physics. As part of the embedded program, upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics with a credit average, students may gain entry to the Master of Medical Physics through an internal "upgrade". There are no Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available in the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics. However, a very limited number of CSP may be available to domestic applicants for the Master of Medical Physics from year to year.
Please note these opportunities may require completion of the Masters course:
There are a number of career pathways in Medical Physics. You could work in one of many different health areas such as being involved with the commissioning, calibration, safe operation and maintenance of systems used for looking at or measuring what is happening in the body eg x-rays, ultrasound, light in various frequencies, laser Doppler blood flow measurement, magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear medicine.
Once you complete your degree you can apply for a training position (TEAP) at a clinical department in Australia or New Zealand as a Registrar in one of the following three speciality areas: nuclear medicine, radiation oncology and diagnostic imaging.
Radiation oncology medical physicists (ROMPs) are medical physicists who create, implement and monitor the procedures which allow the best treatment using radiation.
Diagnostic imaging medical physicists (DIMPs) are involved in numerous modalities for acquiring images of a patient's anatomy or physiology and play an important role in the quality assurance of equipment and ensuring optimum image quality with minimal radiation exposure.
Medical physics graduates may also be employed In the following areas:
Non-Hospital employers:
Health related, non-clinical roles include:
Research:
Medical physicists may undertake higher degree studies through a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) research program.
Indicative Postgraduate Student Contribution Amount
The student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.
Indicative Postgraduate Domestic Tuition Fee
The tuition fee for a domestic postgraduate student is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increase
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the student contribution and/or course fee. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protected clothing and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
Indicative International Tuition Fees for Postgraduate Students
The tuition fee for international postgraduate students is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the tuition fees. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html. In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through a government approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government. Further information is available from https://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/living-costs/health-insurance.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
