A postgraduate course.

This course aims to give you an understanding of the application of physics to the techniques of radiotherapy, which plays an important role in the treatment of cancer. The core materials apply the principles of basic physics to radiotherapy in dosimetry, external and internal treatment methods, treatment planning and radiation protection. You’ll study radiobiology and consider the effects of ionising radiation on biological tissues. Finally, you’ll research an area of the subject that particularly interests you, and present a short illustrated talk and an associated review.

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What you will study

Radiotherapy relies heavily on physics: the design of linear accelerators, the use of internal radioactive sources, the measurement of dose and the planning of treatment regimes are all based on physics. Beyond that, the rationale for carrying out radiotherapy is based on the science of radiobiology – the study of the effect of ionising radiation on tissues.

The course aims to:

• introduce higher-level study of radiotherapy physics
• develop the skills appropriate to study at masters level, so that you can both articulate your understanding of radiotherapy and apply the same skills to other areas of study
• develop communication skills using written reports, presentations, and online forums
• develop the use of IT skills in the interpretation and dissemination of scientific information.

By the end of the course you should be able to:

• explain the underlying scientific principles of modern radiotherapy and the mode of operation of the major treatment methods
• have a good understanding of the effects of ionising radiation on tissue and the calculation and measurement of dose
• recognise that the delivery of radiotherapy is subject to ethical, social and financial constraints, and summarise some of these contextual issues
• summarise a research paper
• assess secondary and, in some cases, primary literature in a given area of radiotherapy
• use electronic means of communication and search and retrieve information electronically
• use scientific software to analyse and present data
• plan, prepare and give a PowerPoint presentation, and talk on a relevant subject to a small audience
• be able to respond to further questions and contribute to a discussion in that area.

Vocational relevance

The course will be of particular interest to those working in the field of radiotherapy. It will also be accessible to those with no prior knowledge of the field but with a background in science.

Entry

Before registering for this course we strongly advise you to look at Is S819 the right module for you?

To register for any of our masters-level science courses you must normally hold a UK honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in science or a science-related subject. If you have other study or experience that you believe equips you to study at postgraduate level you can still apply, but must supply evidence of that study or experience. Your case will be referred to our MSc in Science Admissions Panel. For further advice, email the postgraduate science team.

Depending on your qualifications or particular area of expertise, some background reading may be necessary prior to the start, or during the early part of the course. Please contact the postgraduate science team for advice.

You will need good computing skills (e.g. able to search the Web, use email, use word processing packages and take part in online forums) You should also be able to carry out mathematical manipulations (e.g. algebraic rearrangement of equations, use exponentials and logs).

All teaching is in English and your proficiency in the English language should be adequate for the level of study you wish to take. We strongly recommend that students have achieved an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least 7. To assess your English language skills in relation to your proposed studies you can visit the IELTS website.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Outside the UK

If you are outside the UK you can choose to replace attendance at UK-based assessment events with equivalent live alternatives. These will use the Open University’s conferencing software for which you will require a combined headphone/microphone headset.

Qualifications

S819 is a compulsory module in our:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Physics (E36)
• MSc in Medical Physics (F50)

S819 is an optional module in our:

• MSc in Professional Science (F60)
• MSc in Science (F12)

Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability

The course depends heavily on reading and writing text on computer screens, and much of the material is presented online and on DVD-ROM. There are also audio and video materials on the DVD-ROM. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet. If you have seriously impaired sight or manual dexterity you may find using the web and course-related software challenging. You can obtain more information and advice from the MSc in Science Programme Office.

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader, and scientific language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Your course requires you to access literature resources electronically. If you use a screen reader to access material on screen, you should check that it is compatible with the Open Library's electronic databases and resources before you start the course.

Study materials

What's included

Course books, other printed materials, audio and visual materials (on DVD-ROM), online forums, website, treatment planning software.

Computing requirements

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course. It includes online activities – you can access using a web browser – and some course software provided on disk.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer running Windows since 2007 you should have no problems completing the computer-based activities.
• A netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device is not suitable for this course – check our Technical requirements section.
• If you have an Apple Mac or Linux computer – please note that you can only use it for this course by running Windows on it using Boot Camp or a similar dual-boot system.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Electronic communication will be used extensively, including for assignment submission. Tutorials will take place online during your study, these are optional but strongly recommended. If you are resident in the UK you are required to attend the conference day, in late September or early October, to present a short talk. The conference day will be held in Milton Keynes. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

Two written end-of-module assignments (submitted online using the eTMA system) together with a short presentation (to be given at the second day school) take the place of the end-of-module examination.

Future availability

The details given here are for the final course start in January 2013. 

How to register

We regret that we are currently unable to accept registrations for this course. Where the course is to be presented again in the future, relevant registration information will be displayed on this page as soon as it becomes available.

Student Reviews

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.

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