phd in medical physics in canada

• Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics (PhD)
• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Canadian Immigration Updates

Review details about the recently announced changes to study and work permits that apply to master’s and doctoral degree students. Read more

Go to programs search

Medical physicists are health care professionals with specialized training in the medical applications of physics. Their work often involves the use of x-rays and accelerated charged particles, radioactive substances, ultrasound, magnetic and electric fields, infra-red and ultraviolet light, heat and lasers in diagnosis and therapy. Most medical physicists work in hospital diagnostic imaging departments, cancer treatment facilities, or hospital-based research establishments. Others work in universities, government, and industry.

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Medical Physics program will:

• understand the physics of medical imaging and radiation oncology;
• achieve independence in original medical physics research;
• work effectively in clinical and research environments that include oncologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, cardiologists, neuroscientists, radiation therapy professionals and biomedical engineers;
• be prepared for positions at medical physics research institutions as well as healthcare institutions.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

The Medical Physics program has many positive aspects, including the location, and the collaboration with BC Cancer and the wonderful medical physics team there.

Aria Malhotra

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

September 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, deadline explanations.

Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.

Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.

Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

• Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

• 8 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 8 students was $9,907.
• 4 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 4 students was $9,742.
• 2 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 2 students was $2,188.
• 11 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 11 students was $8,462.
• 6 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 6 students was $19,094.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

Career options.

Graduates will be equipped to pursue careers in hospitals, specialized areas of medicine (e.g. cancer treatment and research and brain research), government, industry and other medical research environments. Their work is interdisciplinary in nature and in many cases, translates to innovative solutions to real world medical problems relating to diagnosis and treatment of many disease types from cancer to brain and cardiac research.

Many of our medical physics faculty hold associate or adjunct professor status in the Department of Physics and Astronomy but have primary appointments in Departments of the Faculty of Medicine (Radiology, Surgery, Oncology) or work at the BC Cancer Agency Treatment or Research Centres.

In BC alone, population growth and replacement of retirements requires about 5 new radiotherapy physicists each year.  Growing demand for advanced medical imaging (CT, MRI, PET) creates a similar requirement for imaging physicists. 

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Upcoming doctoral exams, friday, 6 december 2024 - 9:00am - room 200.

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Ford, Nancy (Medical physics; Medical biotechnology diagnostics (including biosensors); Dental materials and equipment; micro-computed tomography; physiological gating; contrast agents; models of respiratory disease; image-based measurements; dental imaging; x-ray imaging)
• Kolind, Shannon (Medical physics; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; brain; Imaging; MRI; medical physics; multiple sclerosis; myelin; Neurological Disease; spinal cord)
• Laule, Cornelia (Medical physics; Neurosciences, biological and chemical aspects; Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects; Pathology (except oral pathology); Auto-Immune Diseases; Axons; brain; Central Nervous System Inflammatory Diseases; Cerebral Atrophy; Histology; image analysis; Imaging; Inflammation; magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; multiple sclerosis; myelin; Nervous System Development; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurological diseases; Neuronal Systems; pain; Pathology; Schizophrenia; Spinal Cord Diseases; spinal cord; Spinal cord injury)
• Rahmim, Arman (Clinical oncology; Medical physics; Physical sciences; Image Reconstruction; Machine learning and radiomics; medical physics; Molecular imaging; Quantitative Imaging; Theranostics)
• Rauscher, Alexander (Other physical sciences; Medical and biomedical engineering; magnetic resonance imaging; physics; quantitative susceptibility mapping; myelin water imaging; brain; maschine learning)
• Reinsberg, Stefan (Medical physics, MRIs )
• Sossi, Vesna (Medical Imaging, Brain imaging )
• Zeng, Haishan (Family practice, dermatology)

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

• Dosimetry and biodistribution of actinium radiopharmaceuticals for targeted alpha therapy
• Cardiac radiosurgery motion management – investigation of regional myocardial motion and cardiac gating
• Markerless dynamic tumor tracking using diaphragm as a soft-tissue anatomical surrogate for liver tumors

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Science in Medical Physics (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD)
• Master of Applied Science in Engineering Physics (MASc)
• Master of Science in Astronomy (MSc)
• Master of Science in Physics (MSc)

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

Further information, specialization.

Required core courses of the Medical Physics program include Quantum Mechanics I (PHYS 500), Radiotherapy Physics I (PHYS 534), Radiotherapy Physics II (PHYS 535), Advanced Radiation Biophysics (PHYS 536), Radiation Dosimetry (PHYS 539), Image Reconstruction (PHYS 540), and Anatomy, Physiology and Statistics for Medical Physicists (PHYS 545) and Clinical Experience in Medical Physics (PHYS 546). There is one elective which should be chosen from Nuclear Medicine (PHYS 541), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PHYS 542), and Biomedical Optics (PHYS 543).

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

I attended UBC for my BSc and found the physics department to be very efficient and supportive. I had also recently returned from a long internship abroad and wanted to stay closer to home (and its mountains!) for a little bit longer.

Luke Polson

When applying to PhD programs, I knew that I wanted to engage in research that applied artificial intelligence in the medical imaging world. It was while exploring various options that I discovered my (now) current research group, Qurit, here at UBC. Their strong presence in the world of nuclear...

Experience the colours of Vancouver

Great academic programs, great location: the distinct seasons and mild climate are among the reasons why graduate students choose to study here -- from the autumn leaves to cherry blossoms, witness the many colours Vancouver has to offer.

• Why Grad School at UBC?
• Application & Admission
• Info Sessions
• Research Projects
• Indigenous Students
• International Students
• Tuition, Fees & Cost of Living
• Newly Admitted
• Student Status & Classification
• Student Responsibilities
• Managing your Program
• Health, Wellbeing and Safety
• Professional Development
• Dissertation & Thesis Preparation
• Final Doctoral Exam
• Final Dissertation & Thesis Submission
• Life in Vancouver
• Vancouver Campus
• Graduate Student Spaces
• Graduate Life Centre
• Life as a Grad Student
• Graduate Student Ambassadors
• Meet our Students
• Award Opportunities
• Award Guidelines
• Minimum Funding Policy for PhD Students
• Killam Awards & Fellowships
• Dean's Message
• Leadership Team
• Strategic Plan & Priorities
• Vision & Mission
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Initiatives, Plans & Reports
• Graduate Education Analysis & Research
• Media Enquiries
• Newsletters
• Giving to Graduate Studies

Strategic Priorities

• Strategic Plan 2019-2024
• Improving Student Funding
• Promoting Excellence in Graduate Programs
• Enhancing Graduate Supervision
• Advancing Indigenous Inclusion
• Supporting Student Development and Success
• Reimagining Graduate Education
• Enriching the Student Experience

Initiatives

• Public Scholars Initiative
• 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)
• PhD Career Outcomes

• Campus Maps
• Campus Tours
• People Directory
• New Students
• Current Students
• Faculty and Staff
• Brightspace
• Get help with your login
• International Students
• Faculty & Staff

Medical Physics (PhD)

Gain the skills, knowledge, and research background to become an innovator in medical physics.

Why choose this program?

Our PhD students are encouraged to be innovators, beginning with their thesis research. For your doctoral thesis, you can undertake research in therapeutic medical physics, medical imaging, or a variety of multi-disciplinary topics.

Accreditation

Dalhousie’s doctoral program in Medical Physics is CAMPEP  (Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Programs) accredited.

When you graduate with your PhD in Medical Physics, you will be well positioned to compete for residency training programs and career opportunities that can include and combine clinical support, research, academics, and administration.

Completing this program opens doors to a number of career opportunities. Ready to explore your professional options for after graduation? We're here to help. 

Admission requirements

You'll need to meet the  Faculty of Graduate Studies minimum requirements  as well as any program-specific admissions requirements before you can apply.

Financial information

At Dalhousie, we want our students to focus on their studies, rather than worry about their personal finances. We offer competitive tuition rates and funding programs to support graduate students in almost all of our degree programs.

Program options

Thesis : Pursue independent and original research guided by a supervisor to develop and defend your thesis. 

Standard program duration:

5 years or longer

Enrolment options:

Delivery format:.

All graduate programs at Dalhousie are collaboratively delivered by a home Faculty and the  Faculty of Graduate Studies .

Contact an admissions advisor

GRADUATE COORDINATOR

Email:  [email protected]

Phone:  902-494-1456

I'm ready to apply!

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this page, in the event of a discrepancy,  Dalhousie's Academic Calendars  are the official reference.

The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More

Faculty of Science

What are you looking for.

• Digital viewbook
• Undergraduate admissions
• Graduate admissions
• Extended Education
• Indigenous students
• Financial Aid and Awards
• Apply to UM
• Experiential Learning
• Faculties, colleges and schools
• Academic Calendar
• Registrar's Office
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Extended Education programs
• Opportunities and support
• Research Chairs
• Centres and institutes
• Partnerships and Innovation
• Awards and recognition
• International Centre
• ResearchLIFE
• Academic supports
• Career Services
• Get involved
• Student health and wellness
• Military Support Office
• Respectful conduct
• Student services at Bannatyne campus
• Accessibility for students
• Indigenous community
• Arts and Culture
• Sport and Recreation
• Administration
• Our campuses
• The UM brand
• Facts and figures

University of Manitoba

University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, R3T 2N2

Medical Physics

The multidisciplinary Medical Physics research programs are primarily focused on addressing problems in Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Oncology. Exciting and award-winning research is being carried out in such diverse areas as breast imaging using MR, microwaves and x-ray scattering, portal image dosimetry and treatment verification, image processing, radiation therapy treatment delivery optimization, spectroscopic MRI, stereotactic radiosurgery and the modelling, simulation and analysis of radiation transport.

On this page

Faculty in medical physics, adjunct faculty in medical physics.

• Program info

Program statistics

Boyd McCurdy Associate Professor [email protected] 204-474-6206

Stephen Pistorius Professor, Associate Head, Director of Medical Physics Program 205 Allen Building [email protected] 204-474-6205

Jessica Rodgers Assistant Professor 516 Allen Building [email protected]

Jorge Alpuche Aviles Adjunct Professor, CancerCare Manitoba [email protected]

Sajjad Aftabi Clinical Adjunct Professor, CancerCare Manitoba [email protected]

Idris Elbarkri Adjunct Professor, CancerCare Manitoba [email protected]

Andrew Goertzen Coordinator PET CT Program, Radiology [email protected]

Harry Ingleby Adjunct Professor, CancerCare Manitoba [email protected]

Melanie Martin Adjunct Professor, University of Winnipeg [email protected]

Bryan McIntosh Clinical Adjunct Professor, CancerCare Manitoba  [email protected]

Daniel Rickey Adjunct Professor, CancerCare Manitoba [email protected]

Ryan Rivest Adjunct Professor, CancerCare Manitoba  [email protected]

Eric Van Uyten Adjunct Professor, CancerCare Manitoba  [email protected]

Sankaranarayanan Venkataraman Adjunct Professor, CancerCare Manitoba  [email protected]

Niranjan Venugopal Adjunct Professor, Physics and Astronomy Program Director, Medical Physics Residency [email protected]

Program information

Who are medical physicists.

Medical physicists are scientists with graduate training (MSc or PhD) specializing in the application of Physics in medicine, particularly in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies and in protecting patients, staff and the public from radiation hazards. Their work involves the application of their knowledge of radioactivity, x-rays, ultrasound and electromagnetic fields and frequently includes problem-solving, modeling and simulation.

What do medical physicists do?

Medical physicists work in clinical, academic and industrial settings. Clinical medical physicists typically work in hospitals and cancer centers in diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy, verifying that equipment is functioning correctly and helping to deliver optimal patient care. They work closely with physicians, technologists and other clinical staff to ensure that therapeutic and diagnostic equipment is used safely and effectively. Some medical physicists work in universities, where they develop new technology or solve fundamental physics problems that can lead to new imaging techniques or treatments, as well as teaching courses aimed at helping students learn what they need to enter the field. Many clinical medical physicists have academic affiliations at universities where they train new staff (including physicians, technologists and prospective physicists) and mentor students conducting research. Finally, medical physicists are employed in the industry where they assist engineering teams in developing and refining new hardware or provide scientific and technical support to end-users of medical imaging and therapy technology.

What is radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation in the treatment of cancer. This includes external beam therapy with radiation beams that pass through the patient and brachytherapy, where radioactive sources are placed inside the patient directly near a tumour site. Based out of CancerCare Manitoba, our Radiation Therapy Physics faculty have roles in treatment planning and radiotherapy machine, testing, calibration and troubleshooting.

What is diagnostic imaging?

Diagnostic imaging physicists are involved in the use of x-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance and nuclear medicine for imaging patients. The roles of a medical physicist in diagnostic imaging include consulting before equipment purchases, testing systems to ensure that they are operating within acceptable limits before and after installation and helping clinical staff optimize their imaging techniques.

How do I become a medical physicist?

Typically, the first step in becoming a medical physicist is to earn a Bachelor of Science (honours) degree in Physics. After obtaining a BSc, a graduate degree (MSc or PhD) in Medical Physics provides the training needed to be ready to work in the field. The University of Manitoba offers a research (thesis) based MSc and a CAMPEP ( Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs ), accredited PhD degree. Medical Physics students planning careers in academia or clinical medical physics generally complete a CAMPEP accredited PhD degree to be competitive in the job market. During a graduate degree, students are supported through an award or grant. After completing a PhD, students who wish to go into clinical practice will typically complete a two-year training program (residency) in medical physics, during which the resident rotates through clinical postings. Once the residency is completed, eligible clinical physicists can write a certification examination from the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM).

Graduates who wish to work in academia typically complete a post-doctoral fellowship (1-3 years) before obtaining an academic position at a university. There they can build or become part of a research program with funding from agencies such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), or the Canadian Cancer Society.

Working in the industry requires completing a graduate degree before finding an opportunity with a company that needs the skills that a medical physicist can offer. Medical device manufacturers often look for people with medical physics backgrounds to join their research and development or clinical applications teams, depending on their experience.

Why should I join the Medical Physics residency training program?

CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) operates a clinical residency training program for radiation oncology medical physics. The program has operated continuously for over 20 years and is externally accredited by CAMPEP ( Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs ), with initial accreditation achieved in 2009.

This two-year training program prepares candidates for a clinical medical physics position, providing detailed clinical instruction in rotations covering radiation dosimetry, treatment planning, brachytherapy and radiation protection. Candidates must complete a comprehensive set of skill signoffs in each rotation and numerous oral exams throughout the training program.

Program graduates are well-prepared to work as clinical medical physicists and are also eligible to take the national certification exam offered by the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine.

Learn more about Medical Physics graduate program.

Medical and Health Physics is an exciting and expanding field of physics that applies our fundamental knowledge of physics to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various human conditions. The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manitoba offers training in Medical and Health Physics, leading to an MSc degree or a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, Inc. (CAMPEP) accredited PhD degree. The research-based MSc provides a good entry point for students interested in exploring graduate-level medical physics before going on to the CAMPEP-accredited PhD program. A conversion from the research-based MSc to a CAMPEP accredited PhD is possible for excellent students.

On starting medical physics graduate studies, students are provided with a checklist detailing the items that must be completed to meet the elements required for a CAMPEP-accredited program. The appropriate instructor signs off each completed element on this form. Once all requirements have been met, the form will be reviewed by the Chair of the Examination Subcommittee for completeness and signed off by the Program Director. A certificate of completion will be provided to qualifying students together with their degree certificate only if all of the CAMPEP requirements have been met. Note: The research (thesis) based M.Sc. is designed for students entering the field and does not meet the criteria for CAMPEP accreditation.

Learn more about the available facilities.

The University of Manitoba has a large modern Medical Physics research laboratory in which many medical physics graduate students carry out research. The lab contains breast microwave imaging systems of different designs, Vector Network Analysers, GPU-based computing systems for machine-learning-based research, a low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and clinical ultrasound systems for research and teaching. The Department has access to excellent computing resources, 3D printing capabilities and an environment suited to developing and testing medical devices.

Research is also carried out in collaboration with colleagues in Engineering, Radiology and Radiation Oncology. Through collaboration with faculty at the University of Winnipeg, CancerCare Manitoba and the Department of Radiology on the Bannatyne Campus, students can access clinical equipment that may be used for research. For radiation therapy research, this includes CT simulators, linear accelerators for megavoltage external beam treatment, an orthovoltage unit, a high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatment unit and treatment planning software. Available clinical diagnostic imaging modalities include x-ray, computed tomography (CT), MRI, ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems.

This content is available in  alternate formats  upon request to  [email protected] .

Statistics for Medical Physics program MSc and PhD graduates

• Medical Physics statistics 2010 - 2018 (PDF)
• Medical Physics statistics 2012 - 2020 (PDF)
• Medical Physics statistics 2013 - 2023 (PDF)

You may also be looking for

Physics and astronomy (bsc), physics and astronomy (msc), physics and astronomy (phd), graduate admissions - department specific information.

Graduate Studies

Radiation sciences (medical physics/radiation biology).

Radiation Sciences is broadly interdisciplinary, bridging the fields of medicine, biology, engineering and physical science. It provides scientific method and knowledge to certain industrial sectors, especially the Health Care and Nuclear industries.

Faculty of Science

Program Contact

Degree Options

Radiation sciences (medical physics/radiation biology) (msc).

The program consists of a research thesis-based MSc in three streams, Medical Physics, Radiation Biology and Medical Radiation Sciences. Research is conducted with faculty using McMaster radiation facilities or at area hospitals

Areas of Research

• Brachytherapy radioisotopes, interface dosimetry, imaging dose distributions, neutron micro-dosimetry;
• Nuclear and atomic techniques used for analysis of both trace toxic elements and major components of human body composition;
• Development of novel radiopharmaceuticals and medical use of radioisotopes in diagnosis and therapy;
• Novel methods of imaging bone architecture and joint structure non-invasively;
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
• DNA damage and DNA repair processes in carcinogenesis;
• Adaptive response, genomic instability and bystander effect in radiation risk assessment of human and non-human biota;
• Laser and light propagation in tissue for photodynamic therapy and tissue characterization;
• Skeletal muscle function and the mechanisms of repair/regeneration;
• Radiation ccident dosimetry;
• Advanced methods of optimization for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and gel dosimetry.

Radiation Sciences (Medical Physics/Radiation Biology) (PhD)

The program consists of a research thesis-based PhD in two streams, Medical Physics and Radiation Biology. Research is conducted with faculty using McMaster radiation facilities or at area hospitals

• Radiation occident dosimetry;
• Advanced methods of optimization for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and gel dosimetry

Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) Varied values

Varied values

ACUNS established its scholarship program, the Canadian Northern Studies Trust (CNST) in 1982 to advance knowledge and understanding of Canada’s North. The purpose of the CNST is to develop a cadre of scholars and scientists with northern experience and, at the same time, to enhance the educational opportunities available for northern residents.

For a list of scholarships and funding available, as well as eligibility criteria, award values, application details, and deadlines, visit the ACUNS website.

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements $$

Deadline Date:

September 19, 2024

The CGS-MSFSS supports high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences abroad. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS recipients will contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian and foreign institutions.

Please review eligibility and criteria for more information about this travel award.

If you wish to apply, please contact your department graduate administrator.

Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program

The bi-national program is an educational exchange, with a mandate to enhance mutual understanding between the people of Canada and the people of the United States of America. Available to graduate students, faculty, professionals and independent researchers, successful applicants conduct research, lecture, or enroll in formal academic programs in the United States. Fulbright Canada offers various scholarship awards within this program, with further information on the various award opportunities made available through the Canada-US Fulbright Program website.

For eligibility criteria, award values, application details and deadlines, visit the Fulbright website.

CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral $$$$

October 1, 2024

McMaster internal ResearchNet deadline: Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

Applications are prepared and submitted by students in ResearchNet by the internal deadline set by McMaster. You will not be able to submit your application to ResearchNet until all the required tasks are completed, including the letters from your sponsors.

We encourage you to work closely with your supervisor and department on your application. The application you submit to ResearchNet on October 1 will be the final version that will be sent to CIHR if approved by McMaster.

CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s (CGS-M) $$$

December 2, 2024

The CGS M Awards Program supports students in all research disciplines and is administered jointly by Canada’s three federal granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The selection process and post-award administration are carried out at the university level, under the guidance of the three agencies.

CSA Group Graduate Scholarship $$

March 31, 2024

The purpose of the CSA Group Graduate Scholarship is to support graduate students in the pursuit of knowledge generation related to standards. Full-time graduate students at the Masters level studying at a publicly funded, accredited Canadian university are eligible to apply.

The research can be conducted in any field (e.g. engineering, social sciences, health sciences) and must include standards as a component of the research. The topic does not need to be related to an area in which CSA Group already has standards. The research may investigate aspects of an existing standard or may explore an area for future standards development.

Dr. J. A. Campbell Young Investigator Award $$

April 30, 2023

The Dr. J. A. Campbell Young Investigator Award of $5,000 for any kind of research into celiac disease and / or gluten sensitivity is available to students and those who have recently completed degrees.

Eligibility criteria, application details and deadlines available on the Canadian Celiac Association website.

E.B. Eastburn Fellowship $$$$

March 3, 2025

Under the terms of a bequest to Hamilton Community Foundation by the late Eugene B. Eastburn, a two-year Fellowship will be awarded for full-time postdoctoral studies in engineering or sciences (Natural or Physical sciences, including Health Sciences).

The fellowship will be awarded for 24 months for a total value of $90,000.

Note: The 2025 competition will be announced in late fall 2024.

Faculty of science graduate scholarship $.

Established in 2019 by a Ph.D. graduate from the Class of ’95. To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to full-time students enrolled in a Master’s of Science or Ph.D. program in the Faculty of Science who demonstrate excellence in academic achievement.

Fulbright Canada Student Awards $ – $$$

November 15, 2023

Traditional Fulbright Canada Student awards are intended for Canadian citizens who are graduate students, prospective graduate students, or promising young professionals who wish to study and/or conduct research in the United States. Awards may be held at any university, research centre, think tank, or government agency in the United States.

For eligibility criteria, award values, application details and deadlines, visit the Fulbright Canada website.

GSA Travel Award $

The GSA Travel Assistance Grants are funded from the proceeds of the Graduate Students Association Development Fund, which receives contributions from graduate students and the University. The GSA Travel Assistance Grants fund is administered through the School of Graduate Studies. The GSA Travel Assistance Grants are designed to enable graduate students to travel to undertake research or present at conferences relevant to their field of study. There are a fluctuating number of awards available each semester.

The successful recipients will be determined randomly by selecting one recipient from each faculty (Health Sciences, Engineering, Science, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Business) and the balance of the awards left in a given period will be randomly selected from a list of the remaining applicants from all faculties combined.

Application dates:

• Fall competition for September to December travel: Opens September 1, 2023 and closes October 2, 2023
• Winter competition for January to April travel: Opens January 2, 2024 and closes February 5, 2024
• Summer competition for May to August travel: Opens May 1, 2024 and closes June 3, 2024

H.G. Hilton Master’s Scholarship $$

The H.G. Hilton Master’s Scholarships were established by the income from a bequest in the estate of Hugh G. Hilton, at one time Chief Executive Officer of Stelco and member of the McMaster Board of Governors support a Master’s scholarship. The scholarship is tenable for one year, and is awarded annually to incoming Canadian citizens, permanent residents or, international students from departments which offer full-time Master’s graduate studies. Priority will be given to students intending research in Canadian industry or industrial problems. Other things being equal, preference will be given to deserving children of employees or former employees of Stelco Ltd.

H.G. Thode Postdoctoral Fellowship $$$$

January 26, 2024

In commemoration of the late Dr. Harry Thode’s achievements as a nuclear scientist and as a visionary university president, McMaster University is pleased to invite applications from outstanding candidates for an endowed postdoctoral fellowship in the general areas of Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Sciences or Nuclear Engineering.

One, two-year award valued at $100,000 each ($50,000 per year).

Harvey E. Longboat Graduate Scholarship $$-$$$

March 14, 2024

The Harvey E. Longboat Graduate Scholarship for First Nation, Inuit, and Métis Students was established in 2009 in honour of Harvey E. Longboat, and in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to McMaster University and to the broader community. The School of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the Indigenous Studies program and the Indigenous Education Council, will award the scholarship annually to a First Nation, Inuit, or Métis student(s) who has demonstrated high academic achievement and exceptional promise.

The scholarship is tenable for one year, although previous award winners may re-apply.

Incoming students are eligible to apply.

Health Research Postdoctoral Opportunities

A comprehensive list of funding sources and agencies for postdoctoral fellows in the Faculty of Health Sciences and those doing health-related research can be found in McMaster’s funding database.. On the site, you will find a variety of filters to help you in your search.

Iranian Student Memorial Scholarship $

Established in honour of McMaster Faculty of Engineering PhD students Iman Aghabali and Mehdi Eshaghian, and a former Faculty of Health Science Post-Doctoral Fellow, who lost their lives on the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight PS752. To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies, on the recommendation of the Associate Deans responsible for graduate studies, to international graduate students from Iran who demonstrate academic excellence.

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowships

February 1, 2024

The JSPS provides opportunities in universities or other research institutions in Japan for:

• Postdoctoral researchers to conduct, under the guidance of their hosts, cooperative research with leading research groups;
• Senior scientists/university professors to participate in cooperative activities with researchers. NSERC cooperates with the JSPS by receiving and processing applications, and by nominating candidates to the JSPS.
• For eligibility criteria, award values, application details and deadlines, visit the NSERC website .

John Charles Polanyi Prize $$$

In honour of the achievement of John Charles Polanyi, recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Government of the Province of Ontario has established a fund to provide annually up to five prizes to outstanding researchers in the early stages of their career who are continuing to postdoctoral studies or have recently started a faculty appointment at an Ontario university.

Lyle Makosky Values and Ethics in Sport Fund $

April 30, 2024

This award is through the True Sport Foundation of Canada. Open to applicants who are

• high-performance athletes enrolled at a Canadian university, community college or other post-secondary educational institution.
• post-secondary students active in sport at a non-high-performance level.
• sport practitioners active/working in sport as an official, administrator or high-performance coach.
• educators working in a sport, sports sciences, sport management/administration or other applicable discipline.

All questions should be directed to the True Sport Foundation of Canada.

Visit their website for all details and contact information.

MacDATA Graduate Fellowship $$

March 15, 2021

The advent of large collection of data and ensuing development in data analysis techniques has made collaboration between data scientists and content experts necessary for cutting-edge research. Furthermore, there is a need for trainees to be exposed to both aspects of such research, namely for data science trainees to learn about real life practical projects and for content expert trainees to gain experience in data analysis and management. The aims of the MacDATA Graduate Fellowship Program are:

• To provide trainees with an opportunity to acquire practical and theoretical skills in data science.
• To facilitate exchange of expertise and knowledge in data science across faculties.

Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships $$-$$$

February 3, 2025

The Mackenzie King Scholarships were established as an independent charitable trust under the will of the late Rt. Hon. William Mackenzie King (1874-1950).

Two classes of Mackenzie King Scholarship are available. Both are to support graduate study by graduates of Canadian universities. Those whose previous degrees are from outside Canada are ineligible to apply, notwithstanding that they seek support for doing graduate studies in Canada.

Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship Program $$

March 31, 2023

Manulife has introduced the first Life Lessons Scholarship Program in Canada, for students who’ve experienced the death of a parent or guardian with little to no life insurance. The Scholarship Program helps combat the financial burden of paying for post-secondary education during an emotional time and recognizes the perseverance that so many youth show in such adversity.

The next application call for this scholarship opens on February 1, 2024. Visit the Manulife website for details on that date.

Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security $$$

February 23, 2024

Four scholarships open to master’s and PhD students who are conducting research on determinants, impacts, and policy or program interventions into food insecurity in Canada.

Visit Maple Leaf Centre for Food Insecurity to learn more and apply.

Questions can be directed to [email protected] .

Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme $$$$

The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) aims to help increase the number of women in the nuclear field, supporting an inclusive workforce of both men and women who contribute to and drive global scientific and technological innovation.

Fields of study

The program supports young women studying in nuclear related fields relevant to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s work to advance the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology such as nuclear engineering, nuclear physics and chemistry, nuclear medicine, isotopic techniques, radiation biology, nuclear safety, nuclear security, non-proliferation and nuclear law.

Visit the IAEA website for all details about this award, as well as additional examples of fields of study.

Mary Buzzell Graduate Scholarship for Resilient Aging $

December 1, 2024

The Mary Buzzell Graduate Scholarship for Resilient Aging will be awarded to an outstanding student enrolled in any Master’s Degree program at McMaster University who is preparing for a career in the multidisciplinary field of Aging. This award is sponsored by Hamilton Aging in Community.

About Mary Buzzell

Mary Buzzell, a McMaster University faculty member in Nursing, was recognized by McMaster with an honorary doctorate as a pioneer in resilient aging, especially through innovative educational and community programs.

McMaster Graduate General Bursary $

What is a bursary.

A bursary is based solely on financial need. In most cases, information from your OSAP application is used to determine your financial need (some students who don’t receive OSAP can still apply for a bursary).

The McMaster Graduate General Bursary Program application opens mid-August in AwardSpring. Funding is paid out in mid-February.

Who can apply?

Graduate students who demonstrate financial need can apply for the McMaster Graduate General Bursary Program.

Please note: The McMaster Graduate General Bursary Program is not open to international students enrolled in graduate studies, MBA, medicine or physician assistant programs.

Bursary eligibility requirements:

• Be enrolled at McMaster
• Submit a completed application by the bursary deadline
• OSAP students who receive an income update request must complete it by the income update deadline
• Continue to demonstrate financial need throughout the study period
• Indigenous students
• students with OSAP government aid restrictions include:
• academic progress restriction
• income verification restriction
• provincial and/or federal default restriction
• credit check restriction
• students with a disability taking a reduced course load
• students with out-of-province student aid
• part-time students
• students receiving social assistance

McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) Postdoctoral Fellowship $$$$

July 15, 2020

Prospective postdoctoral fellows are invited to submit a research plan that focuses on interdisciplinary, impact-driven approaches in the study of optimal aging through one or more of the following research areas:

• the impact of exercise on mobility;
• the interrelationship between psychological function and social function;
• causes and consequences of multimorbidity, frailty, and polypharmacy;
• the role of caregiving, equity, economics and transportation in optimal aging;
• the understanding of the biological mechanisms of diseases of aging;
• evaluating approaches to knowledge translation to improve optimal aging; and
• the use of technology to promote optimal aging and aging in place.

The applicant and principal supervisor are expected to involve at least two other researchers from two different McMaster faculties (outside of the principal supervisor’s faculty) as mentors in the development of an interdisciplinary research plan.

MIRA Graduate Scholarship Program $$$

November 25, 2024

The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) provides funding to support interdisciplinary research on aging led by McMaster researchers from across all six Mac Faculties.

The MIRA Graduate Scholarship Program is open to applicants entering year one of a master’s program and year one or two of a doctoral program.

Applicants are invited to submit a research proposal focusing on interdisciplinary, impact-driving approaches in the study of aging.

Visit the  MIRA website for all details, including how to apply.

• Notice of Intent: November 25, 2024
• Application: December 10, 2024, 4 p.m. ET

MIRA Graduate Student Travel Awards $

March 15, 2020

The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging funds up to 10 graduate student travel awards per year – five in each round – valued at $500 each for students working with MIRA researchers.  Graduate students travelling to an academic conference to present an accepted abstract in aging research are eligible for up to $500 in travel funding.

For details about this and other funding opportunities, visit MIRA .

Deadlines for 2020: March 15 and September 15

Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program

November 13, 2024

The Mitacs-JSPS Summer program is offered in partnership with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and Mitacs. It provides opportunities for full-time graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in Canada to pursue collaborative research in Japan.

Molson C. Cain Graduate Award $

Established in 2018 by the Estate of Molson C. Cain. To provide funding for a research grant for a MSc or PhD student in the Faculty of Science to be used for meetings, publications or equipment in support of their thesis. Funding to be available for the duration of the student’s nominal degree.

MURA Academic Scholarship

Established in 2020 the McMaster University Retirees Association (MURA). To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to a graduate student researching technological advances related to seniors, and who demonstrates academic excellence.

NSERC Doctoral scholarships $$$-$$$$

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral (CGS D) and NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships – Doctoral (PGS D) programs provide financial support to high-calibre scholars who are engaged in eligible doctoral programs in the natural sciences or engineering. This support allows these scholars to fully concentrate on their studies and seek out the best research mentors in their chosen fields. There is a single application and review process for the CGS D and the PGS D programs. The top-ranked applicants are awarded the CGS D (tenable only in Canada) and highly ranked applicants in the next tier are awarded the PGS D (tenable in Canada and abroad).

Both programs are administered through a single application.

NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship $$$$

October 17, 2023

The NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDF) program provides support to a core of the most promising researchers at a pivotal time in their careers. The fellowships are also intended to secure a supply of highly qualified Canadians with leading-edge scientific and research skills for Canadian industry, government and academic institutions.

For eligibility criteria, award values, application details and deadlines, visit the NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship website.

Please note: There is no internal process for this award; applicants should apply directly to the agency.

OGS for Indigenous Graduate Students $$$

Two OGS-I scholarships are awarded to Indigenous graduate students at McMaster University who face significant financial hardship, with particular priority given to women with family responsibilities.

This criteria has been established in consultation with the Indigenous Education Council (IEC) and is adjudicated by a committee chaired through the Indigenous Studies Program.

Ontario Graduate Fellowships $$$

Ontario Graduate Fellowships (OGF) provide funding to full-time students in graduate studies at the masters and doctoral level. It’s a merit-based scholarship for students with an A- or above.

Value: $12,000 ($4,000 per term)

Duration: 1 year

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) $$$

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and The Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) programs provide funding to full-time students at the master’s and doctoral levels. They are merit-based scholarships for students with an A- or above average.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship – International $$$

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship for International Students is by nomination only. Applicants to this award must contact their department for application instructions

Rainbow Fund $

To be granted to graduate students enrolled in any program who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ students and demonstrate financial need.

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty of the Future Value varies

Value varies

This fellow is awarded to female students who are citizens of a developing country or emerging economy. Applicants should be preparing for doctoral or postdoctoral research in the in the physical sciences, engineering, technology and related disciplines.

Deadline is usually during the Fall months. For all details – eligibility, value, deadlines, etc. – go to the Schlumberger Foundation website.

Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada Graduate Student Award of Merit $$

At least three awards, each in the amount of $4000, will be awarded annually to the women graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the university or general community while maintaining exemplary academic records.

Women registered in master’s or PhD programs within a designated region. Regions and number of awards rotate each year. SWAAC has designated Ontario as the region for this 2023 competition. There are five awards available for this competition. Each university may nominate one person for the award.

Read about McMaster PhD student Liza-Anastasia DiCecco, who received the 2023 SWAAC Award of Merit .

The Barkleys of Avonmore Scholarship $

The Barkley’s of Avonmore Scholarship was established in 1977 through the generosity of Fred Barkley to assist a student from a developing country to pursue advanced studies at McMaster University.  Each year the Dean of Graduate Studies will identify a worthy graduate student from one of the developing countries to receive the award.

The Cecil and Yvette Yip Graduate Bursaries $$

The Cecil and Yvette Yip Graduate Bursaries were established in 2003 by Dr. Cecil Yip (Class of 1959) and Mrs. Yvette Yip to recognize and encourage graduate students whose innovative work in the physical sciences and engineering crosses formal disciplinary boundaries. Preference will be given to students in any graduate program in the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Engineering, whose thesis research demonstrates excellence in integrating engineering science within the study of biology. The students must also demonstrate financial need to be eligible. A variable number of bursaries are to be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies.

The CHEPA Doctoral Research Scholarship $

Established in 2022 by David Feeny and George Torrance, founding members of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA). To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to doctoral students enrolled in any program, who are conducting research under the supervision of faculty members belonging to CHEPA and who demonstrate academic and research excellence. The scholarship will support PhD students who have successfully completed their comprehensive examinations. Preference will be given to students with research interests that include health-related quality of life, health technology assessment, health economics, health services research, health policy or determinants of health.

The Dr. Colin Webber Graduate Scholarship $$

Established in 2013 to honour the memory of Dr. Colin Webber, McMaster University professor, physicist, radiation safety expert, teacher, mentor, and leader in the field of bone research. To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to master’s or doctoral students. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate interest in bone research.

Value: Minimum $1,600

The Edna Howard Bursary $

Established in 2022 by the family of Edna Howard, this bursary honours the support Edna offered graduate students through her work as a cook at The Phoenix Bar and Grill, owned and operated by the Graduate Students Association. Her food warmed the hearts of the McMaster campus community for many years until her retirement. To be granted by the School of Graduate Studies to full-time students in any program who demonstrate financial need.

The Graduate Students Association Bursary $

The Graduate Students Association Bursary was established in 1999 by the Graduate Students Association at McMaster University under the McMaster Student Opportunity Fund initiative. To be granted to a full-time or part-time graduate student in one of the following faculties: Engineering, Health Sciences, and Humanities, Science, Social Sciences, or the PhD program in Business. The bursary will be awarded annually by the School of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Graduate Students Association.

The H. Vincent Elliott Memorial Travel Bursary $

The H.Vincent Elliott Memorial Travel Bursary was established in 2010 by Dr. Susan J.Elliott (MA `97 and PhD`92), esteemed former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, professor of Geography and Earth Sciences, and senior research fellow at the United Nations Institute on Water (UNU-IWEH), Environment and Health, in memory of her father, H.Vincent Elliott. To be granted by the School of Graduate Studies on the recommendation on the program director of ‘Water Without Borders’ to students registered in a Master’s or PhD program will be given to students in financial need.

The Howard P. Whidden Graduate Scholarship $$

The Howard P. Whidden Graduate Scholarship was established in 1987, and is open to non-Canadian students from countries of the British Commonwealth. This prestigious award is open to students who qualify for admission into any graduate program that extends to the doctorate, although the student’s initial registration may be at the Master’s level. The award is once renewable contingent upon satisfactory academic performance. It will be awarded at the discretion of the School of Graduate Studies.

The James F. Harvey and Helen S. Harvey Travel Scholarships $

Established in 1995 with funds from the estate of Helen S. Harvey.  James F. Harvey was a member of the first McMaster graduating class in Hamilton in 1935.  This travel scholarship will enable students to engage in research requiring travel.  To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence.

The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport Bursary $

The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport Bursary was established in 1997 by The John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport. To be granted to graduate students in the faculties of Business, Engineering, Science or Social Science who demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to graduate students who are conducting research related to commercial transportation issues and policy, specifically the role of transportation in stimulating regional economic development and trade.

The Lambda Scholarship Foundation Canada Graduate Award

Established in 2022 by the Lambda Scholarship Foundation Canada. To be awarded by the School of Graduate Studies to a graduate student who is currently enrolled in their first year of any program who identifies as a member of the queer, trans community and is Black, racialized, or Indigenous.

The Lorne F. Lambier, Q.C., Scholarship $

The Lorne F. Lambier, QC Scholarship was established in 1984. The scholarship is tenable for one year. The scholarship is awarded annually to current Canadian citizens, permanent residents or international students registered in a master’s or doctoral graduate program in Faculties of Health Science and Science whose research is directed toward the understanding and/or cure of cancer.

The Mary and Harold Waterman Graduate Science Bursary $

Established in 2019 by Mary (Class of ’48) and Dr. Harold Waterman (Class of ’48 & ’49). To be granted to a graduate student enrolled in the Faculty of Science who demonstrates financial need.

The Myra Baillie Academic Grant $

Established in 2005 by the Surgical Associates in memory of Myra Baillie. To be granted to a graduate student in any degree program who attains and “A” average and demonstrates financial need. Preference will be given to a female graduate student.

Award Value: 2 awards of $1,000 each

The Richard Fuller Memorial Scholarships for Science $$$

The Richard Fuller Memorial Scholarships for Science were established in 1991 with funds from the estate of Henrietta Osborne. The scholarships are renewable up to three years, provided performance in graduate studies is maintained at a high academic level. These scholarships will be awarded annually to incoming or, current Canadian citizens, permanent residents or, international students registered in a master’s and doctoral graduate programs in the Faculty of Science demonstrating high academic achievement.

The School of Graduate Studies Grant in Aid for Research Travel $-$$

March 8, 2024

The SGS Grant is intended to be a grant in aid of research; students should not expect the grants to cover the full cost of travel or field work.

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Grant is not intended for conference or course work travel .

It is not meant to replace sources of funding already available from the tri-agencies (CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC), other external granting sources, or internal scholarships and bursaries.

It is not intended to fund the research itself, but the travel to do the research.

Application Date

The application will open in Mosaic on January 8, 2024, and close on March 8, 2024.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship-Doctoral $$$$

September 4, 2024

The Vanier CGS program aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students to establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. Vanier Scholars demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health.

It is valued at $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies.

Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, and foreign citizens are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Wilson Leadership Scholar Award $$-$$$

March 28, 2022

The Wilson Leader Scholarship Award for graduate students is different. Valued at $12,000 in direct funding and up to $2,000 for experiential funding, it’s a leadership development and career launcher program that builds on your studies. It involves about 15 hours/month, including time for synchronous group events between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET.

Awarded to up to three graduate students annually.

Yates Scholarship $

The Yates Scholarship Fund (up to $500) was established in 1963 by the bequest of William Henry Yates. This fund support upper-level doctoral students with research activities and conference travel when a paper is being delivered. Applicants must have completed their comprehensive exam.

Related News

{Link Label}

Mcmaster’s dash team to the rescue for data analysis and software help.

It’s time to celebrate our 2024 Vanier Scholars

Nominations open for 25th Annual Graduate Student Recognition Awards

Five grad students receive Wilson Leadership Scholar Award

McMaster ranked #1 for graduate student research intensity

In conversation with mcmaster’s graduate studies librarian, leeanne romane.

Winter term will be online: Provost’s letter

830,000 print books from Library’s collection now digitally available to faculty, students

Tell your research story in the 2020 three minute thesis competition.

• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Environmental Analytics
• Mathematics
• Undergraduate Student Resources

Medical Physics

• Graduate Student Resources
• Graduate Student FAQs
• Contact & People
• News & Events
• BIRS Events
• Undergraduate
• Science Home

Visit the FAQs page for more information and to contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Master of Science (MSc), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Graduate Program Overview

The medical physics graduate program at UBC’s Okanagan campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs ( CAMPEP ). Based in Kelowna, BC, the campus offers tier-one research-based degrees to students in a collegial, close-knit setting.

Our dynamic faculty and students are engaged in a variety of research projects, many in close partnership with the BC Cancer Agency and relevant industry.

Our research-based MSc and PhD degrees in medical physics provide students with theoretical, practical and analytical expertise, as well as experience in the application of scientific results to real-world problems.

The MSc degree is centred on conducting research that addresses current health-care challenges centred primarily around cancer diagnosis and treatment. Graduates of the MSc program are prepared for positions in clinical service and consultation, research and development, teaching or for PhD research.

Program Milestones

• establishing a faculty supervisory committee
• preparing, presenting, and defending a thesis research proposal
• completing thesis research, and writing and defending the work

Coursework & Thesis Requirements

• 33 credits of coursework
• additional coursework may be required, at the discretion of the supervisory committee
• 12-credit MSc thesis (PHYS 549)

Most MSc students complete Teaching Assistantships throughout the duration of their studies.

Exceptional MSc students can transfer to the PhD program after one year if they meet program requirements and are approved by the Graduate Program Advisory Committee.

The PhD degree is centred on conducting original research. Graduates of the PhD program are prepared for careers requiring advanced independent research and teaching in academia, cancer centres, research hospitals, government and industry.

Program milestones

• preparing, presenting, and defending a dissertation research proposal
• passing an oral candidacy examination
• completing dissertation research and writing, and defending the work

Most PhD students complete Teaching Assistantships throughout the duration of their studies.

At the PhD level, courses beyond the MSc are required only at the discretion of the student’s advisory committee.

Research & Supervisors

We invite you to discuss your research interests and career goals with participating faculty and potential supervisors in medical physics, and we are happy to share our excitement about what we study and teach.

Graduate students can pursue these and other faculty research and teaching interests:

• 3-D Radiation dosimetry
• Accelerator physics and dosimetry
• Brachytherapy
• Experimental radiobiology
• High precision radiotherapy
• Medical imaging

Learn more about medical physics research

Graduate student supervisor

Medical Physics Laboratory

The medical physics laboratory is a multi-user facility with research interests in radiation oncology medical physics.  Research programs include understanding normal and tumour tissue response to radiation, determining predictors of radiation sensitivity and injury, and in the development of 3D radiation dosimetry systems.

Computer Aided Convex Analysis Laboratory (CA2 Lab)

CA² Lab is part of the Centre for Optimization, Convex Analysis and Nonsmooth Analysis (COCANA), which performs fundamental research in convex and nonsmooth analysis and transfers the results to industry by solving practical industrial problems with a focus on commercial applications. COCANA researchers are mathematicians, computer scientists and engineers who apply state-of-the-art optimization techniques to solve real-life problems and provide our industrial partners an edge over their competition. We leverage industry-sponsored funding with grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and MITACS, thereby more than doubling our partners’ investment in research. We have many man-years of experience in optimization and operations research applied to engineering and health science and are always looking for new partners.

Optimization, Convex Analysis and Nonsmooth Analysis Collaborative Laboratory (OCANA COLAB)

OCANA CoLab is part of the Centre for Optimization, Convex Analysis and Nonsmooth Analysis (COCANA), which performs fundamental research in convex and nonsmooth analysis and transfers the results to industry by solving practical industrial problems with a focus on commercial applications. COCANA researchers are mathematicians, computer scientists and engineers who apply state-of-the-art optimization techniques to solve real-life problems and provide our industrial partners an edge over their competition. OCANA CoLab allows research collaboration on-site or remotely. We routinely host seminars with researchers participating from the Pacific Northwest and abroad (e.g. Newcastle, Australia).

STORY: Focused research on radiation therapy

Prof. Christina Haston

STORY: Pioneering collaboration with the BC Cancer Agency

Prof. Andrew Jirasek

Students & Theses

Meet our students.

See what our students are up to—find them in our Contact page for their research interests, supervisors, alma maters, and info.

Theses & Dissertations

Search all UBC Okanagan medical physics student publications at cIRcle , the University’s digital repository for research and teaching materials.

Physics is about relationships

Master of Medical Physics student Andrew Ogilvy followed an unorthodox path into cancer radiation therapy.   Read Andrew’s story

Admission Requirements

Admission to UBC graduate programs is competitive. Applicants must meet the following criteria.

MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc) APPLICANTS 

Applicants to the medical physics MSc program are expected to have the academic equivalent of a four-year Honours BSc from UBC in physics or a related field, with a minimum average of B+ (76%) or better in their third- or fourth-year classes.

DOCTORAL APPLICANTS (PhD)

PhD applicants are expected to:

• hold the academic equivalent of a two-year master’s degree from UBC in medical physics or a related field, with a B+ (76%) average or better,
• demonstrate clear evidence of research ability or potential

Your background training must be sufficient for advanced work in your chosen field.  

EXCEPTIONAL CASES

In exceptional cases, applicants who do not meet the requirements stated above, but who have had significant formal training and relevant professional experience, may be granted admission on the recommendation of the Medical Physics Graduate Program Advisory Committee and approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar for full admission and program requirements information. The calendar is a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services and academic policies at the University of British Columbia.

Note: In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct. 

International applicants to the medical physics MSc program are expected to:

• have the academic equivalent of a four-year Honours BSc from UBC in physics or a related field, with a minimum average of B+ (76%) or better in their third- or fourth-year classes
• present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language (please see details below)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

For up to date Engli sh language requirements for admission, please see https://gradstudies.ok.ubc.ca/applying/english-proficiency-requirements

International PhD applicants are expected to:

• demonstrate clear evidence of research ability or potential,

Your background training must be sufficient for advanced work in your chosen field.

Below is a summary of pertinent application and graduation statistics for the Medical Physics program.

* Related fields include but are not limited to academic appointments, industry, and contract work.

Find answers to common questions about applying by visiting the Graduate Student FAQs page .

Tuition & Funding

Tuition amounts presented here are estimates only and all fees are subject to change. For official tuition and fee information, visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar , a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services, and academic policies at the University of British Columbia.

Tuition is paid three times a year, on the first day of each term: Winter Term 1 (September), Winter Term 2 (January), and Summer Term (May).

Funding Opportunities

Graduate students are typically funded through a combination of internal and external funding awards, Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships.

Students are expected whenever possible to apply for relevant scholarships and fellowships. These include, but are not limited to, Canadian Tri-Council scholarships, University Graduate Fellowships, and Graduate Dean’s Entrance Scholarships.

If students wish to hold off-campus (external) employment, they should discuss with their supervisor, particularly if the student is a grant-holder, as restrictions on hours of work may apply.

Graduate Entrance Award

The Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science offers a $15,000 merit-based entrance scholarship to three exceptional individuals entering their first year of thesis-based graduate studies under a supervisor from the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, or an Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies program with a supervisor who is a member of the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science.

All applicants to Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science graduate programs who have submitted an application by January 31 will be automatically considered for the award. No additional application is required. Successful applicants will be notified by March 15.

The Department of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics has funding opportunities and assistantships available for qualified students.

Teaching Assistantships (TA)

Paid TA positions allow graduate students to develop skills in teaching, supervision, facilitation, and student assessment. Teaching assistants may lead seminars, help teach undergraduate courses, or assist in student evaluations and marking.

• MSc students are eligible for paid TA positions for up to two years.
• TA positions usually occur September to April. TA hours and wages are governed by the British Columbia Government Employees Union (BCGEU).

Teaching assistants are mentored by their supervisor and via the Centre for Teaching and Learning . To learn more or apply for a position, see our Careers page.

Research Assistantships (RA)

As paid research assistants, graduate students assist their supervisor or other researchers in conducting high-level research. RAs are typically funded by a supervisor’s external grants, contracts or other sources of funding, and, therefore, are not guaranteed.

Research Assistantships are wholly dependent upon individual research supervisor’s funding. RA positions may take place at any time during the school year and wages and hours will vary. RA positions are not guaranteed. Talk to your potential supervisor about RA opportunities.

The College of Graduate Studies administers merit-based graduate awards at the Okanagan campus. The College manages a number of award competitions each year and administers payment of all internal awards and selected external awards.

External Awards

All prospective graduate students (Domestic and International) should explore and apply for external awards and fellowships, including awards offered by Canada’s three research councils: CIHR , NSERC and SSHRC .

Graduate scholarships and awards may also be available from foundations, private organizations or foreign governments (check with your country’s education authority).

How to Apply

Please note: A named supervisor is not part of the MSc application.

A complete application package will contain:

• Online application and application fee
• Unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended are required for the application package. However, if admitted, the student must submit official transcripts to the College of Graduate Studies
• English language test (for non-native speakers of English)
• CV or resumé
• Three reference forms or letters

Applying takes time. We recommend you start your application two months in advance.

For full consideration students should submit all application materials by the following deadlines:

Apply to UBC today!

Ubc’s okanagan campus.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. In the computer science program at UBC’s Okanagan campus, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally respected university while studying in a close-knit learning community.

DYNAMIC CITY

UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of about 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.

More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the top 10 busiest airports in Canada.

UBC Okanagan is situated within the First Nations territory of the Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.

NATURAL BEAUTY

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.

Check out this 360-degree video: Kelowna From Above .*

* Best viewed using desktop Chrome or Firefox (desktop) or YouTube app (mobile).

CAMPUS HOUSING

Full-time UBC Okanagan students can live in residence, which offers modern living with easy access to academic and personal support. Residences are surrounded by hiking and biking trails, plus panoramic views of the campus and valley.

• Student Residence
• Important Housing Dates

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING

• Living Off Campus Resources
• Kelowna Off Campus Student Housing Facebook group*

* UBC does not verify or endorse information shared on this third-party website, which is offered here as a public resource only.

Join the club: Make friends with similar interests, compare notes, and organize and participate in academic and recreational events in the Quantitative Sciences Course Union .

College of Graduate Studies: CoGS offers orientation events to support you in your first steps as a graduate student at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

Stay active: Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved and play—from workout space in the new Hangar Fitness and Wellness Centre and our 1,561 square-metre gymnasium, to athletic courts, intramurals, fitness classes, and nationally ranked varsity athletics. Have a ball in Sports and Recreation .

Relax: The Graduate Collegium is a gathering place where grad students can hang out, eat lunch, spend time with their fellow students, and attend or host special events. The lounge-style room is open seven days and week and is outfitted with comfortable furniture, kitchen facilities, and individual and group-work spaces.

College of Graduate Studies : Your hub for administrative support and such things as graduate workshops for professional development and for assisting you from the admissions process through to your graduation.

Centre for Scholarly Communication : Supports graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and faculty in disseminating their research. The Library’s CSC provides one-on-one consultations and workshops, including writing support for theses, dissertations, journal articles, and grant proposals.

Centre for Teaching and Learning : Provides support related to teaching, TA training, and use of technology in educational programming.

Learn more about graduate student resources and support.

Careers and Occupations

With a medical physics MSc or PhD degree from the University from the University of British Columbia, graduates are well-positioned to thrive in a variety of occupations, such as:

• Academic physicist
• Clinical medical physicist
• Diagnostic medical physicist
• Imaging specialist
• Industry scientist
• Radiotherapy physicist

Career Services

Map out your future and prepare to hit the ground running with resources and services provided by the Advising & Involvement Centre .

Tell your story with resumé and cover-letter strategies, and search Work Study jobs for experience relevant to your degree and career goals. You can also book an appointment to meet one-on-one with our career advisor.

alumni UBC is a member-driven association that offers a variety of lifetime programming and communications to enrich the lives of UBC graduates.

The ‘Your Next Step’ program offers webinars, speaker series and professional development sessions. It is designed to provide advice, tips and resources in areas of career development to graduates for life after university.

Realize the promise of a global community with shared ambition for a better world and an exceptional UBC.