FYS4730 – Medical Radiation Physics for Radiotherapy
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course provides an introduction to the physics of ionizing radiation in the treatment of cancer; also the role of radiotherapy in cancer therapy in general and the radiotherapy process is discussed. The physics of radiotherapy comprises an introduction to the interaction between radiation and matter and radiation dosimetry, characteristics of the radiation beam and dose distributions, the physics of therapy machines, treatment techniques, treatment planning, and dose computation, as well as an introduction to clinical radiation biology. Both the physics of external beam therapy and brachytherapy are covered; the treatment where radioactive sources are placed in the patient. The course also comprises a clinical assignment.
Learning outcome
After completing the course, you are able to:
- outline the basic physical properties of ionizing radiation and how they are utilized in radiation therapy.
- describe principles for generating ionizing radiation in radiation therapy.
- explain the practical planning and implementation of radiation therapy.
- describe the radiation response of tumor and normal tissue, and explain this in light of radiation biology and models.
- outline the limitations and uncertainties of radiation therapy.
- explain the principles and the equipment for relevant dose measurements (dosimetry).
- explain the dose calculation models.
- explain radionuclide therapy.
- outline the role of radiation therapy in modern cancer treatment.
Admission to the course
Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with FYS9730 – Medical Radiation Physics for Radiotherapy.
Teaching
The course is taught intensively over 7 weeks. Compulsory lab work is also part of the course.
This course has a mandatory clinical assignment that must be approved before you can take the final exam.
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Examination
- Final oral exam (right after 7 weeks of lectures) which counts 100 % towards the final grade.
This course has a mandatory clinical assignment that must be approved before you can take the final exam.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: FYS9730 – Medical Radiation Physics for Radiotherapy
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed exam at the beginning of the next semester.
New examinations are offered at the beginning of the next semester for students who do not successfully complete the exam during the previous semester.
We do not offer a re-scheduled exam for students who withdraw during the exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.