“Master of Medical Physics and Physics of Living Systems” Starts in October

The program addresses students who want not only to learn how to apply physical methods in clinical practice but also to explore the fundamental physical principles of living systems. Students immerse themselves in topics such as the biophysics of cells and tissues and become acquainted with novel tools for medical diagnostics and therapy as well as biomolecular modeling and machine learning methods.

Students can choose between two specialization tracks: “Medical Physics” prepares them for a career as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in hospitals or for a position in the healthcare sector and related research. “Physics of Living Systems” concentrates on understanding biological processes through the lens of physics. Students acquire advanced skills in areas such as neuroinformatics and biochemistry, as well as learning modern bioscientific methods.

“With the ‘M.Sc. in Medical Physics and Physics of Living Systems’, we have created a degree program that goes far beyond traditional medical physics,” says program director Professor Matthias Schneider from the Department of Physics at TU Dortmund University. “Our main aim was to address a far broader group of students who want to understand the physical principles of life and in this way make an active contribution to shaping medicine in the future. We are bridging the gap between basic research and clinical innovation.”

Wide-ranging career prospects

Many different career paths await graduates, for example in leading clinics or medical centers (e.g. in radiotherapy or medical imaging), in the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry (e.g. in the development of innovative devices and methods), in basic biophysics research to unravel biological processes at the physical level, or in leading-edge international research in fields such as neurophysics or systems biology. TU Dortmund University’s close links with its partners in the University Alliance Ruhr (University of Duisburg-Essen and Ruhr University Bochum), numerous clinics in the region (e.g. University Hospital Essen and Klinikum Dortmund) and prominent international partners such as Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University in the USA open up many opportunities in research and practice for students. Furthermore, the Master’s program is designed to facilitate a quick transition to a doctoral degree.

Enrollment for the start of the program in the 2025/26 winter semester is possible until 10 October 2025. It is open to anyone holding a Bachelor’s degree in physics, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering or a related subject and with English language skills at level B2 or higher. Students who have completed their Bachelor’s degree in Germany may enroll via the campus portal. International students who are EU citizens or students who have earned their Bachelor’s degree in an EU member state should submit their applications to the International Office. Students who are not EU citizens and hold a Bachelor’s degree from a non-EU country must submit their applications via uni-assist, the service point for international student applications. This will be possible again for the 2026 summer semester.

Further information