Duration: 3 terms
Form of education: Full-time
Starts: winter semester

Programme chair: Assoc. Prof. PhD Krasimir Mitev
Tel: (+359 2) 8161 292, (+359) 889714226
E-mail: kmitev@phys.uni-sofia.bg

Curriculum (eng)

Учебен план (bg)

Graduates of this program receive professional qualification “Master of Science in Medical Physics”.

Admission requirements

Applicants to the MSc program are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in Physics, Engineering, Mathematics or other natural sciences from an accredited university. The minimum undergraduate coursework must include at least 400 hours in basic undergraduate mathematics courses and at least 700 hours in basic undergraduate physics courses. The basic undergraduate mathematics courses include: Linear Algebra and Analytic Geometry, Calculus, Multivariate Calculus, Vector and tensor calculus, Ordinary differential equations, Partial differential equations, Probability and Statistical Methods or their equivalent. The basic physics courses include: Mechanics, Molecular Physics, Optics, Electricity and magnetism, Atomic physics, Nuclear Physics, Mechanics laboratory, Molecular physics laboratory, Optics laboratory, Electricity and magnetism laboratory, Atomic physics laboratory, Nuclear physics laboratory, Thermodynamics, Quantum mechanics or their equivalent. Some facility in computer programming and electronic instrumentation is recommended. Chemistry and an introductory course in biology are advantageous.

Applicants with deficiencies in their undergraduate curriculum may be accepted or conditionally accepted into the program at the discretion of the Head of the Program. Students accepted on a conditional basis may be required to take additional classes to address coursework deficiencies.

An English language level B2 is required for admission in the program.

1. Educational goals

The Medical Physics Master's program is designed for professionals with a bachelor's degree in Physics. It aims to prepare highly qualified specialists in the field of the Medical physics.

The Medical Physics is a branch of Applied Physics which is pursued by medical physicists. It is a scientific discipline which applies physical principles, phenomena and methods in the prevention, diagnosis and therapy with a specific goal of improving human health and well-being.

The Master of Science in Medical Physics is a person with a university degree in physics, which works with medical professionals in hospitals, laboratories, universities or research institutes on the application of physical methods for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.

2. Description

During the course of the Master’s program, the students acquire knowledge in the following areas:

+ Radiation Physics, Atomic and nuclear physics, radiation detection and measurement;

+ Radiation therapy physics, Radiation treatment planning;

+ Physics of Medical imaging (IMR, US, CT, Nuclear medicine), Medical imaging fundamentals

+ Dosimetry and Radiation Protection, Environmental radioactivity;

+ Detectors of ionizing radiation, Monte Carlo simulation of radiation transport;

+ Biophysics modelling of bimolecular interactions, materials for biomedical applications;

+ Statistical data processing in medical-biological research;

The Master of Science in Medical physics acquires basic skills in order to be able to:

- Use his knowledge on physics, anatomy, physiology and biophysics to apply physical principles and methods in medical diagnostics and treatment activities;

- Applies his knowledge on radiation physics, radiation therapy physics, radiation dosimetry and radiation protection in the clinical practice in nuclear medicine and radiotherapy departments.

- Advice on measures for radiation protection, risk assessment and environmental radioactivity.

Graduation of the students from the Master's program

The Master of Science in Medical physics program has a total duration of year and a half or 3 semesters. The graduation requires a successful completion of the exams specified in the curriculum of the program, which provides in total 75 ECTS-credits, and a successful thesis defence. The thesis defence is after the end of the last (third) semester and provides 15 ECTS-credits.

3. Professional Qualifications

The Master of Science in Medical Physics has the competences to:

+ Apply basic physical principles and method in medical diagnosis and treatment, based on his knowledge on anatomy, physiology and the biophysics of human body.

+ Apply his expertise on radiation detection and measurement, the basic dosimetry principles for measurement of the quantities of practical interested in the field of medical physics. Participate in the process of the radiation treatment planning and quality control procedures in radiotherapy;

+ Apply his knowledge on the basic imaging technologies in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine and participate in the quality control procedures of the equipment;

+ Applies the basic radiation protection principles to ensure radiation safety of the patient and the personnel, as well as for the protection of the environment;

+Applies the scientific method and innovational approaches in solving practical problems.

4. Professional Realization

The master of scince in Medical Physics can work as a medical physicist in hospitals, as a specialist in State Ministries and State enterprises, medical diagnostic centers, cancer centers, environmental laboratories, companies for medical devices and equipment, research institutes and universities.

The master of science in Medical Physics may persue a career in a number of sub-fields (specialities) such as: Radiation Oncology Physics, Medical Imaging Physics, Nuclear Medicine Physics, Medical Health Physics (Radiation Protection in Medicine), Non-ionizing Medical Radiation Physics, and Physiological Measurement. They may also pursue a career in neighbouring fields such as Biophysics, Biological Physics, and Health Physics.

The educational profile of the Master of Science in Medical physics program allows him to pursue a career in:

+ Radiotherapy physics;

+ Imaging diagnostics (X-ray, radionuclide, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, CT, including quality control of medical equipment);

+ Nuclear Medicine (PET, SPECT, PET/CT, SPECT/CT, multimodality systems);

+ Radiation protection, мeasurement of ionizing radiation, radioactivity measurements in nuclear industry;

+ Expert assessment of imaging equipment and other medical equipment. Measurement of physical anthropogenic factors;

+ Environmental control and assessment of the environmental impact of various physical factors.

Since 2022, the Master of Science in medical physics can occupy the profession Physicist – Medical Physics according to the Bulgarian National classification of occupations and positions.