Graduate Program Overview
The University of Alberta Medical Physics Graduate Teaching Program offers both an MSc
in Medical Physics and a PhD degree in Medical Physics. These are research-oriented
degrees examined by defence of a dissertation. Also, see below for a description of the
Certificate Program for individuals with a doctoral degree in a related discipline who
would like to switch into Medical Physics.
The program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs (CAMPEP) since 2002. CAMPEP standards pay special attention to the overall quality of the program (i.e., number and competence
of the teaching staff; teaching loads, breadth and depth of instructional offerings; adequacy of facilities and supporting personnel; aptitude of its students; and performance of its graduates). Benefits for students graduating
from a CAMPEP accredited program include greater access to research funding and a one-year credit towards the clinical experience Medical Physicists need to write their professional certification exams.
The Medical Physics Graduate Program at the University of Alberta is offered exclusively by the Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. New students will register in the
Department of Oncology and the following degrees will be conferred:
- MSc in Medical Physics
- PhD in Medical Physics
The MSc requirements are:
- Eleven didactic courses and 2 laboratory courses are required.
- The student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 throughout the course of the program.
- An MSc thesis focusing on Radiation Oncology Physics or Diagnostic Imaging Physics.
- A final oral defense of the the thesis before an examining committee.
- The MSc program must be completed 4 years from initial registration in the Program.
The first year of an MSc program will be filled with course work. There are 11 didactic courses, 6 courses in the fall semester and 5 in the winter semester. The courses extend into the spring session with 2 laboratory courses.
For a more detailed description of the required courses, see the
Courses web page. At the completion of these courses the student will then undergo research for a MSc thesis.
Each student chooses a research supervisor by June of his/her first year. Each supervisor has his/her own area of research. Research interests of the Division include MR image guided adaptive radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiotherapy,
positron emission tomography, brachytherapy, monte carlo dose calculations, inverse treatment planning, etc. Additional information concerning the research interests of the department can be found in the
Research section of the website. The research interests of individual Faculty can be found in their individual webpage.
By July of their first year, a supervisory committe should be appointed for each student. By the end of the first year of the program and each year thereafter, the supervisory committee must meet with the student and make a formal
recommendation on the candidate's potential for or progress in gradute work. The results of the student's research project must be presented in a thesis and defended in a final oral examination by an examining committee.
The PhD Program
The Ph.D. requirements are:
- Eleven didactic courses and 2 laboratory courses (If not already taken in their MSc) are required.
- Two additional elective courses based on area of research and discussions with the candidate's supervisor and the leader of the Medical Physics program. See the
Courses webpage for more information.
- The student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 throughout the course of the program.
- An oral PhD candidacy examination that covers the research project and medical physics, in general.
- A Ph.D. thesis in Medical Physics. Applications from students with an MSc from other universities or other specialties in physics will be considered for a PhD, with the understanding that they must complete the same course
requirements or get credit if they have taken the equivalent, and then take the 2 additional elective courses as stated in (2) above.
- A final oral defense of the thesis before an examing committee.
- The Ph.D. program must be completed 6 years from initial registration in the Program.
New Medical Physics graduate students begin their studies in September. In their first year, PdD students take the courses required for their doctoral degree. The course load could be as much as 11 didactic courses, 2 elective
courses and 2 laboratory courses or as few as 2 elective courses depending on which courses they have already taken in their MSc degree. See the
Courses webpage for a description of each course.
A student chooses a research supervisor by May of his/her first year. By July of their first year, a supervisory committee should be appointed for each student. By the end of the first year of the program and each year thereafter, the supervisory committee
must meet with the student and make a formal recommendation on the candidate's potential or progress in a PhD program.
When most of the course requirements are completed and the PhD thesis project is well defined, a PhD student must pass an oral candidacy examination in subjects relevant to his/her general field of research.
Each doctoral student must plan and carry out original high quality research leading to an advance in knowledge in the candidate's field of study. The results of this research must be presented in a doctoral thesis that is reviewed and defended in a final
oral examination by an examining committee.
Certificate Program in Medical Physics
The Certificate Program is CAMPEP accredited (2023) and was established to enable individuals
with a doctoral degree in physics or a related discipline to meet the didactic requirements
needed to enter a CAMPEP-accredited residency program.
Students begin their studies in September. The Certificate Program requirements are 11
didactic courses: 6 courses in the fall semester and 5 in the winter semester. The courses
extend into the spring session with 2 laboratory courses. These are the same courses the first
year MSc students take. For a more detailed description of the required courses,
see the Courses webpage.
Students In the certificate program must be self-funded. Scholarships or other funding are not
available for students enrolled in the Certificate Program. This is a course-based program,
and tuition is higher than for students enrolled in the thesis-based MSc program.
Admission and Graduation Statistics
Table 1: Admission metrics for the medical physics graduate program.
Admission Metrics |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
MSc |
PhD |
MSc |
PhD |
MSc |
PhD |
MSc |
PhD |
MSc |
PhD |
MSc |
PhD |
MSc |
PhD |
MSc |
PhD |
Applicants |
7 |
4 |
10 |
2 |
9 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
14 |
9 |
12 |
2 |
13 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
Students Offered Admission |
2 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
Students Graduating |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
*Includes new students and students who completed MSc(Medical Physics) and began PhD(Medical Physics)
Table 2: Post Graduation metrics for the medical physics MSc program.
Post Graduation Metrics |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Students Graduating |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
In Residencies |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
In Advanced Degree Programs |
|
|
1a |
|
1 |
|
1a |
In Industry |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Clinical Positions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Academic Positions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Other Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
aContinued studies: PhD in Medical Physics
Table 3: Post Graduation metrics for the medical physics PhD program.
Post Graduation Metrics |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Students Graduating |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
In Residencies |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
In Advanced Degree Programs |
|
|
|
|
1d |
|
|
In Industry |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
In Clinical Positions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Academic Positions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Other Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
1e |
|
dMD Program
ePostdoctoral fellow
Table 4: Certificate Program Admission and Completion Statistics
Academic Year |
2023 |
2024 |
Applications |
1 |
0 |
Offered Admission |
1 |
0 |
Enrolled in Program |
1 |
0 |
Completed Program |
0 |
1 |
Table 5: Destination After Completing Certificate Program
Year of Graduation |
2024 |
Residency |
1 |
Clinical |
|
Another Degree Program |
|
Industry |
|
Government |
|
Still seeking a Position |
|
Other |
|
These links provide more detailed information about the graduate program:
General information about the graduate studies program can be found at the
University of Alberta's Faculty of Graduate Studies and
Research Website.