Physics with Medical Physics & Bioengineering

Physics underpins many important aspects of medical diagnostics, technology, and treatment. Think of x-rays, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, CT scans, and treatment of tumors with radiation. Physics is crucial to all of these. Medical physicists and bioengineers play a vital, often leading role in medical research teams in developing or applying new medical technology in a hospital or industry environment. This degree was developed in partnership with both the medical device industry and the medical physics and bioengineering community in Ireland and is accredited by the Institute of Physics. Experts deliver a range of specialist modules in the areas of Medical Devices, Bioengineering and Rehabilitation Engineering, Medical Imaging, and Radiotherapy. In the Physics of Medical Devices module, you’ll gain insights into the medical device industry, from the initial concept of a medical device to its manufacture. In the Diagnostic Imaging module, you’ll gain an understanding of the principles of how an image is formed using x-rays or sound waves, and be able to critically assess the important design features in such imaging devices for optimum image quality. In the Bioengineering module, you’ll learn about the design and engineering of artificial limbs and implants, as well as advanced biocompatible materials. There’s a seven-month work placement during Year 3 in either a medical physics & bioengineering department in a hospital, research laboratory, or medical device company. This will give you day-to-day experience as a physicist in medical physics and bioengineering, as well as help you to develop important links for your future career. A wide range of careers is open to physics graduates, many of them using the methodology of physics: technical know-how, logical approach, and problem-solving skills. Graduates work in well-paid physics-based industries such as the critical and growing areas of medical physics, bioengineering, and medical devices, as also the electronics industry, alternative energy development, and telecommunications. Their analytical skills also place physicists in demand in a range of financial, fund management, and research roles, in law, in management consultancy, as weather forecasters, computer programmers, and as physics and science teachers. Typical career opportunities of past graduates are in organizations such as the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, University Hospital Galway, the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Boston Scientific, Hermitage Medical Clinic, beatsmith Games, St. James’s Hospital, Medtronic Vascular, and Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.