Medical physics

Medical physics is engaged in academic research, teaching and clinical physics support services. Medical physics is a branch of applied physics encompassing concepts, principles and methodology of physical sciences to medicine in clinics.

Primarily, medical physics seeks to develop efficient and safe diagnosis and treatment methods for human diseases with highest quality assurance protocols. In Finland, most of medical physicists have the licensed profession of a hospital physicist. Hospital physicist is a necessary expert in medical usage of radiation as required in the statute of the medical usage of radiation. Hospital physicist can also act in radiation protection expert or radiation protection officer professions in the healthcare sector.

It is possible to complete the education of a hospital (medical) physicist profession as a postgraduate professional education at the Faculty of Science. The education consists of

  • theoretical postgraduate education related to the field and a degree of Licentiate of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy,
  • practical training in hospitals,
  • theoretical studies of a radiation safety expert and
  • national hospital (medical) physicist examination.

The theoretical education is provided according to the curricula of the Master’s programme in Materials Research and Doctoral programme in Materials Research and Nanoscience.

The national education committee for hospital physicists coordinating the specialization of hospital physicists is responsible for the education harmonization.

Contact person:

Professor Sauli Savolainen

tel. 040 8321016

e-mail sauli.savolainen[at]helsinki.fi