Physics with Medical Physics

This course focuses on the physics that keeps us alive: from the fluid mechanics that keeps the blood flowing in our veins, to the forces acting on our bones and tissues. You’ll also learn about medical techniques and technologies, such as radiotherapy, ultrasound scanning and MRI machines.

Are you interested in the physics that keeps us alive? Learn about the fluid mechanics of blood flowing in our veins, the forces acting on our bones, the physics of human life itself.

In your Physics with Medical Physics BSc at Sheffield, you’ll learn about the techniques and technologies developed by physicists and used in the NHS, such as radiotherapy, ultrasound scanning and MRI machines.

At the start of your course, you’ll cover the essential physics behind everything else you’ll study: heat, motion, electricity, magnetism and quantum mechanics. And we’ll help you see the human body as a physical machine, and how electronics can be used to model biological systems.

From lectures to practical work in our modern labs, we’ll make abstract topics come to life in the real world.

Essential physics and medical physics will intertwine in the second year, with modules on the tissues of the human body, medical imaging and biomedical instrumentation. In programming classes you can learn skills that are key to medical physics and valuable in many graduate careers, from data science to computer game design.

In the third year, you’ll learn how computational techniques are used to examine medical problems and simulate natural systems. And because curiosity is what powers discovery, we’ll encourage you to dive into optional modules like quantum mechanics and dark matter.

Why study this course?

• No. 1 physics department in the UK - 100% of our research and impact was rated world-leading or internationally excellent by REF 2021.

• Student life - because you’ll be taught across two departments, you’ll have double the options when it comes to your social life. In maths you’ll be able to join pizza socials, the SUMS society ball or football club, or attend film screenings. In physics you might choose to join the Sheffield Space Initiative, and design a Mars rover or launch a rocket.

• Incredible research opportunity - carry out a hands-on research project in the field of medical physics, addressing a current medical or clinical need.

• Accredited by the Institute of Physics (IOP) - our courses meet the educational requirement for you to become a Chartered Physicist.

• Follow your ambition - you have the options to complete a research project, industrial group project, Quantum Information Lab, or Physics Education and Outreach project – giving you hands-on experience wherever your career aspirations lie.