Student and tutor module reviews

Great Course! I have a background in medical imaging but radiotherapy I had very little knowledge of.

For people thinking of doing it, it would be fair to say that my previous experience gave me little advantage over someone with a non-imaging background that may be considering this course. It was 90% new stuff to me!

Radiobiology and radiotherapy theory was absolutely fascinating, the explanation of radiotherapy and treatment techniques again grabbed ones attention and a final overview of future applications such as proton therapy were not just interesting but gave hope in the future treatment of cancer.

I do not think that I would agree that you would need S809, Imaging in Medicine, beforehand. I am doing this now and it pales in comparison to S819. Do not get me wrong, the course S809 is good but S819 I found like a great novel. I could not put it down.

If you have a passing or deep interest in Radiotherapy and cancer this course is a must.

From a professional viewpoint if you are a medical imaging specialist this course gives an excellent view and understanding if the radiotherapy side of the profession. It can only help to give you a more balanced outlook and is recognised for CPD. It also facilitates you better to empathise with patients that may be in the early stages of cancer diagnosis and may want reassurance in an informed and professional manner.

Seriously a great course!

John Joseph O'Connell

Course starting: January 2007

Review posted: March 2008

My comments below of the topics covered in the course are purely my personal opinion.

This new course (for 2007) does more than ample justice to its title by providing an excellent balance between the underlying physics, radiation biology and clinical application of radiotherapy (RT). The course successfully reflects the current status and emphasis of routine RT, i.e., on external beam X-ray RT and its associated physics, radiation biology and technology. But it also gives the necessary exposure to research and clinical developments, either directly through the course materials or by reference to electronic journals. The examinable end-of-course oral presentation (see below) requires that a topic should to be taken beyond the core studies given in the course materials.

The course introduces the topics at a level which does not assume employment or training in medical physics, but to students who have a scientific education at honours level, such as me. However, a significant number of S819 students in 2007 appear to be employed in medical physics professions. I have previously studied S809. This course is not a formal pre-requisite, but it was a logical starting point, since medical imaging and RT are partly based on common physics (e.g., interaction of ionising radiation with matter). Some quantitative concepts must, of course, be learnt but the mathematics employed was not beyond GCE A.L. Descriptions of RT equipment were focussed on the underlying physics and current technology in typical routine operations, but advanced physical and RT engineering electronics is outside the scope of the course.

The course was personally very enjoyable especially with the infectious enthusiasm of the Course Team.

Robin Christopher Cripps

Course starting: January 2007

Review posted: January 2008

I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Although challenging it was very interesting and really well put together. Assignments required some research over and above that presented in the text but was not too daunting. Electronic submission of assignments worked well and I found the online conference was a great help and lessened the feeling of studying in isolation. Tutor support was excellent.

I had mixed feelings regarding the presentation at the end of the course. I loved the research and preparation involved but admit to being nervous about giving a presentation. In spite of this, although I don't work in the field of radiotherapy, I managed to obtain a distinction. Overall I would heartily recommend S819.

Course starting: January 2007

Review posted: December 2007