QUT Master of Applied Science (Medical Physics)

The Masters of Applied Science (Medical Physics) is a postgrad degree which is open to anyone
who has a postgraduate degree in either physics or medical engineering.
It’s a 3 semester long course with a 2 semester full time course work and including a 1 semester
research component.
After you finish there’s lots of opportunities open to you.
You can be a diagnostic imaging medical physicist, radiation oncology medical physics,
or go on and do research.
I’m just about to graduate from my program which means I have just finished the semester
long research project.
The research project involves first picking a topic which is of interest to you,
and then spending the semester in investigating – usually trying to solve a problem.
At the end of it you write a thesis and you also do an oral presentation.
For my research project I picked radiobiology in conjunction with nanotechnology,
and so we investigated using gold nano particles to enhance the radio sensitivity
and treatment outcomes of prostate cancer.
I’ve found that the things we were learning in the course were really relevant for what
was happening in the industry, both Australia wide as well as internationally.
There were lots of opportunities where we had professors visiting internationally as
well as opportunities for students to go and study abroad.
This course is also really practical based, with pracs based in hospitals.
The course is also accredited by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers
in Medicine, which was really important in my decision of choosing QUT.
If you’re interested in studying the course
there’s a lot of funding opportunities available.
I myself got a industry supported scholarship from QLD Health,
and now that I’ve graduated I’ve got a job based at one of the Brisbane hospitals
as a Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist.
I really enjoyed the course over the past 1 and a half years.
I’ve met some really interesting people from all over the world
who’ve come to do the course here.
I’ve also had a lot of opportunities to learn research in a really new and exciting
field, and I’m really looking forward to starting my new job with QLD Health.