Master of Science in Medical Physics
<p>The Master of Science in Medical Physics is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in medical physics, radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, and radiation safety. The programme combines physics theory with medical applications, radiation dosimetry, and healthcare technology.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 202,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 404,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 319,500 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of N/A (Postgraduate) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 2 years, full-time, part-time, evening, weekend, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 1 institution.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Core areas include radiation physics, medical imaging physics, radiation therapy physics, radiation dosimetry, radiation protection and safety, nuclear medicine physics, radiobiology, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory work, clinical attachment, and research.
The programme is offered by the Technical University of Kenya and Chuka University. Both are public institutions offering the programme over two years through full-time and part-time modes, with Chuka offering day, evening, and weekend options.
Students develop competencies in medical physics, radiation dosimetry, imaging physics, therapy physics, radiation safety, and biomedical research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, clinical attachment, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for clinical, research, and regulatory roles in healthcare.
TUK charges approximately KES 202,000/year under Group II (Pure and Applied Science), while Chuka University charges approximately KES 130,000/year (tuition only). Entry requires at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree in Physics, Medical Physics, or a related field from a recognised institution.
Graduates pursue careers as medical physicists, radiation safety officers, diagnostic imaging physicists, radiation therapy physicists, nuclear medicine physicists, and lecturers in medical physics across hospitals, cancer treatment centres, regulatory bodies, research institutions, and universities.
Skills Required
- Radiation Physics and Dosimetry
- Medical Imaging Physics (X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)
- Radiation Therapy Physics and Treatment Planning
- Radiation Protection and Safety Management
- Nuclear Medicine Physics
- Radiobiology and Radiation Effects
- Quality Assurance in Medical Imaging and Therapy
- Research Methods in Medical Physics
- Regulatory Compliance and Radiation Safety Standards
- Academic Writing and Thesis Research
Key Subjects
- Radiation Physics
- Medical Imaging Physics
- Radiation Therapy Physics
- Radiation Dosimetry
- Radiation Protection and Safety
- Nuclear Medicine Physics
- Radiobiology
- Quality Assurance in Medical Physics
- Research Methods in Medical Physics
- Thesis Research
Certifications
- RPB Kenya Professional Certification
- AAPM Professional Membership
Specializations
Diagnostic Imaging Physics
Focuses on diagnostic imaging physics, covering X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, quality, and managing imaging physics.
Radiation Therapy Physics
Examines radiation therapy physics, covering dosimetry, treatment planning, linear accelerators, and managing therapy physics.
Nuclear Medicine Physics
Covers nuclear medicine physics, covering radiopharmaceuticals, imaging, dosimetry, safety, and managing nuclear medicine physics.
Radiation Protection and Safety
Focuses on radiation protection, covering safety, regulations, monitoring, shielding, and managing radiation safety programmes.
Radiation Dosimetry
Examines radiation dosimetry, covering measurement, calculation, calibration, standards, and managing radiation dosimetry.
Radiobiology
Covers radiobiology, covering effects, cells, tissues, repair, and managing radiation biology research.
What you study
10 subjects- Radiation Physics
- Medical Imaging Physics
- Radiation Therapy Physics
- Radiation Dosimetry
- Radiation Protection and Safety
- Nuclear Medicine Physics
- Radiobiology
- Quality Assurance in Medical Physics
- Research Methods in Medical Physics
- Thesis Research
Modules
12 in the programmeRadiation Physics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines interactions, attenuation, scattering, absorption, and managing radiation physics.
Medical Imaging Physics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, quality, and managing imaging physics.
Radiation Therapy Physics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines dosimetry, treatment planning, linear accelerators, brachytherapy, and managing therapy physics.
Research Methods in Medical Physics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethics, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Radiation Dosimetry
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines measurement, calculation, calibration, standards, and managing radiation dosimetry.
Radiation Protection and Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers safety, regulations, monitoring, shielding, and managing radiation safety programmes.
Nuclear Medicine Physics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines radiopharmaceuticals, imaging, dosimetry, safety, and managing nuclear medicine physics.
Radiobiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers effects, cells, tissues, repair, and managing radiation biology research.
Quality Assurance in Medical Physics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines QA, QC, testing, calibration, standards, and managing quality assurance in imaging and therapy.
Advanced Treatment Planning and Dosimetry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers advanced planning, IMRT, VMAT, stereotactic, dosimetry, and managing advanced therapy techniques.
Clinical Attachment and Practicum
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Provides hands-on clinical experience in hospital radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging departments, covering clinical practice, safety, and patient care.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a medical physics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and physics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Specialisations
Diagnostic Imaging Physics
Focuses on diagnostic imaging physics, covering X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, quality, and managing imaging physics.
Radiation Therapy Physics
Examines radiation therapy physics, covering dosimetry, treatment planning, linear accelerators, and managing therapy physics.
Nuclear Medicine Physics
Covers nuclear medicine physics, covering radiopharmaceuticals, imaging, dosimetry, safety, and managing nuclear medicine physics.
Radiation Protection and Safety
Focuses on radiation protection, covering safety, regulations, monitoring, shielding, and managing radiation safety programmes.
Radiation Dosimetry
Examines radiation dosimetry, covering measurement, calculation, calibration, standards, and managing radiation dosimetry.
Radiobiology
Covers radiobiology, covering effects, cells, tissues, repair, and managing radiation biology research.
A day as a student
A typical day during the MSc in Medical Physics programme combines lectures, laboratory work, clinical attachment, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover radiation physics, medical imaging physics, radiation therapy physics, dosimetry, and radiation safety. Radiation physics sessions examine interactions, attenuation, scattering, absorption, and managing radiation physics. Medical imaging physics sessions cover X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, quality, and managing imaging physics. Radiation therapy physics sessions cover dosimetry, treatment planning, linear accelerators, brachytherapy, and managing therapy physics. Radiation dosimetry sessions cover measurement, calculation, calibration, standards, and managing radiation dosimetry. Radiation protection sessions cover safety, regulations, monitoring, shielding, and managing radiation safety programmes. Nuclear medicine physics sessions cover radiopharmaceuticals, imaging, dosimetry, safety, and managing nuclear medicine physics. Radiobiology sessions cover effects, cells, tissues, repair, and managing radiation biology research. Laboratory work provides hands-on experience with radiation measurement, dosimetry, imaging quality assurance, and safety procedures. Clinical attachment provides practical experience in hospital radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging departments. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current issues in medical physics. Guest lectures from experienced medical physicists, radiologists, and radiation oncologists provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a medical physics topic.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Programme offered at two public universities (TUK and Chuka) providing options for students. | No private university confirmed offering this programme. |
| Chuka University offers competitive fees at approximately KES 130,000/year (tuition only). | Programme requires a Bachelor's degree in Physics or related field, limiting access for non-physics graduates. |
| High demand for medical physicists with Kenya's growing cancer treatment and diagnostic imaging infrastructure. | Specialised field with relatively small cohorts and limited programme availability. |
| Graduates are eligible for RPB Kenya professional certification and AAPM professional membership. | Clinical attachment requires access to hospital radiation facilities, which may be limited. |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 349 health sciences coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
TUK Grp II ~202k/yr (eafinder). Chuka 130k/yr (fee PDF). USIU & KeMU unverified for this course.
HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TUK and Chuka University may offer scholarships for eligible students. IAEA may offer research grants for medical physics research. Some hospitals, regulatory bodies, and international organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
TUK Scholarship
IAEA Research Grant
Scholarships
3 recordedHELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
TUK Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 202,000Kenyan
Technical University of Kenya offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
IAEA Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
IAEA may offer research grants for medical physics research and training.
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
TUK requires at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree in a relevant field, or Lower Second Class with at least two years of relevant experience or a Postgraduate Diploma. Chuka University accepts Lower Second Class with at least two years of relevant work experience or research. Contact the universities for specific admission requirements.
When it next starts
Taught at 1 institutionIncluding Technical University of Kenya.
Including Technical University of Kenya.
Including Technical University of Kenya.
How you are assessed
4 componentsCoursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, clinical attachment reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering radiation physics, imaging physics, therapy physics, dosimetry, and radiation safety.
Clinical and Laboratory Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through clinical attachment, laboratory work, dosimetry exercises, QA testing, and demonstrating medical physics skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a medical physics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and physics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Accreditation
Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE and regulated by the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) Kenya. Technical University of Kenya and Chuka University (both public) offer MSc in Medical Physics. The programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in medical physics. Graduates are eligible for RPB Kenya professional certification and AAPM professional membership.
The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and regulated by the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) Kenya. Technical University of Kenya and Chuka University (both public) offer MSc in Medical Physics. The programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in medical physics. Graduates are eligible for RPB Kenya professional certification and AAPM professional membership.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
6 rolesMedical Physicist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages medical physics services, overseeing dosimetry, QA, safety, and managing medical physics in hospitals.
Radiation Safety Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages radiation safety programmes, overseeing safety, monitoring, compliance, and managing radiation protection.
Diagnostic Imaging Physicist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages imaging physics, overseeing QA, optimisation, safety, and managing diagnostic imaging physics.
Radiation Therapy Physicist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages therapy physics, overseeing treatment planning, dosimetry, QA, and managing radiation therapy physics.
Nuclear Medicine Physicist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages nuclear medicine physics, overseeing dosimetry, imaging, safety, and managing nuclear medicine physics.
Medical Physics Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches medical physics at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as medical physicists, radiation safety officers, diagnostic imaging physicists, radiation therapy physicists, nuclear medicine physicists, and lecturers in medical physics across hospitals, cancer treatment centres, regulatory bodies, research institutions, and universities.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Cloud Security EngineerTechnology14Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- Industrial Robotics ProgrammerTechnology14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
Tools you will learn
Treatment Planning Systems (TPS)
SoftwarePrimary
Treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, covering planning, dosimetry, optimisation, and managing radiation therapy treatment planning.
MATLAB
Software
MATLAB for data analysis and computational physics, covering modelling, analysis, simulation, and managing computational medical physics.
Dosimetry Equipment
Equipment
Dosimetry equipment for radiation measurement and calibration, covering measurement, calibration, QA, and managing radiation dosimetry.
Python
Software
Python for data analysis and scripting in medical physics, covering data, analysis, scripting, and managing computational tasks.
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Medical physics is just about operating X-ray machines.
Medical physics covers comprehensive radiation therapy, imaging, dosimetry, nuclear medicine, and safety beyond just operating X-ray machines.
This programme is only for physicists.
Medical physics skills are valuable for radiographers, radiation oncologists, engineers, and health professionals beyond just physicists.
Radiation therapy physics is just about giving radiation.
Radiation therapy physics covers comprehensive treatment planning, dosimetry, quality assurance, and patient safety beyond just giving radiation.
Radiation protection is just about wearing badges.
Radiation protection covers comprehensive safety programmes, regulations, monitoring, shielding, and risk management beyond just wearing badges.
Medical physics careers are limited in Kenya.
Kenya's growing cancer treatment infrastructure and diagnostic imaging sector create demand for medical physics professionals.
Nuclear medicine is just about radioactive drugs.
Nuclear medicine physics covers comprehensive radiopharmaceuticals, imaging, dosimetry, safety, and therapy beyond just radioactive drugs.