Physics and Engineering in Medicine by Distance Learning MSc

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

University College London

Program Overview

UCL’s MSc Physics and Engineering in Medicine by Distance Learning gives you a strong foundation in the physics and engineering behind today’s medical technologies — from imaging systems to radiotherapy and medical devices. It’s ideal for students with a physics or engineering background who want to move into healthcare innovation or clinical science.

Curriculum Structure

Early in the year, you build the fundamentals: medical imaging with ionising and non-ionising radiation, the physics of radiation used in diagnosis and treatment, and core anatomy and physiology. You also begin developing computing skills for medical applications and take part in a medical-device enterprise exercise.

As you progress, you choose optional modules depending on your interests — such as MRI, Biomedical Optics, Biomedical Ultrasound, Radiotherapy Physics, or Medical Electronics. These help you specialise while continuing your enterprise module.

Towards the end, you focus on your research project, where you tackle a real medical-physics or biomedical-engineering problem under UCL supervision, gaining practical experience designing or analysing technology for clinical use.

Focus areas: Medical imaging, radiation physics, biomedical engineering, medical device innovation, ultrasound and optics, radiotherapy applications.

Learning outcomes: Strong understanding of medical-physics principles, confidence working with imaging and therapy technologies, ability to analyse and develop medical devices, and readiness for clinical, research, or industry roles.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Accredited by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), supporting pathways toward professional medical-physics or clinical-engineering roles.

Reputation (employability rankings): UCL is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities and is internationally recognised for excellence in medical physics and biomedical engineering.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the real strengths of this MSc is how quickly you start engaging with the tools, technologies, and clinical environments that drive modern medical physics and biomedical engineering. Even though the programme is delivered by distance learning, UCL ensures you gain the same practical insight, exposure to real clinical scenarios, and research-focused training as on-campus students. You learn from experts who work directly with leading hospitals, and your coursework is grounded in the equipment, methods, and problem-solving used in actual medical-technology development.

To show you just how applied the experience is, here’s what you’ll work with and learn through:

Access to teaching and research facilities used for radiotherapy, proton therapy, MRI, X-ray imaging, acoustics, optics, implantable medical electronics, and surgical-robotics support.
A structured group project called the Medical Device Enterprise Scenario, where you and your team simulate the real workflow of developing or evaluating a medical device.
A supervised research project that challenges you to solve a genuine medical-physics or biomedical-engineering problem — designing, testing, analysing, and presenting your results.
Exposure to UCL’s clinical-engineering and medical-physics community, where physicists, engineers, and clinicians collaborate on healthcare innovation.
Academic resources, laboratories, and specialist computing tools that support imaging analysis, device modelling, and applied medical-physics work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this MSc typically move into roles where physics and engineering directly shape patient care and medical innovation. Many go on to become Medical Physicists, Clinical Engineers, R&D Engineers in the med-tech sector, or Research Scientists working in imaging and therapy technologies. Because the programme blends technical depth with clinical relevance, it sets you up for careers that make a real impact in healthcare.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s what UCL supports you with:

Access to UCL Careers, offering tailored guidance, interview coaching, and support in connecting with hospitals, medical-technology companies, and research groups.
A professionally accredited programme that supports future registration pathways for clinical-science or medical-physics roles, which is often required in healthcare settings.
Strong industry and hospital partnerships within UCL’s medical-engineering ecosystem, meaning graduates are well-placed for roles in NHS trusts, private hospitals, imaging companies, and device-development firms.
A reputation that carries long-term value — UCL’s medical physics and biomedical engineering training is known globally, giving graduates flexibility to work across countries and sectors.
Consistently strong graduate outcomes, with many students progressing into clinical roles, med-tech industries, or research posts after completing the programme.

Further Academic Progression:
If you discover a passion for research during your dissertation, you can take the natural next step into a PhD in medical physics, biomedical engineering, imaging science, or related fields. UCL hosts active research groups and close hospital collaborations, giving you a rich environment for doctoral work and future research careers.