NEW MASTER PROGRAM
MEDICAL PHYSICS AND PHYSICS OF LIVING SYSTEMS
FALL 2025/26
Bitte bestätigen Sie die Aktivierung dieses Videos.
Nach der Aktivierung werden Cookies gesetzt und Daten an YouTube (Google) übermittelt.
Zur Datenschutzerklärung von Google
About the Program
The international Master’s program Medical Physics and Physics of Living Systems offers interdisciplinary training at the intersection of physics, biology and medicine. Taught entirely in English, it builds on the established Medical Physics program at TU Dortmund and expands it with a new focus on life sciences.
Students acquire advanced scientific skills and learn to apply physical principles to biomedical challenges – from diagnostics to biotechnology and health technology.
The program offers two specialization tracks:
-
Track A – Medical Physics: Prepares students for a career as a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in hospitals, or for work in the healthcare industry and related research. The track benefits from strong collaborations with clinics and medical research institutions.
-
Track B – Physics of Living Systems: Focuses on applying physics to understand biological systems. Students deepen their knowledge in areas like neuroinformatics, biochemistry, and modern life science methods.
Graduates are well equipped for careers in research, clinics, and industry, or for doctoral studies in physics, life sciences, or engineering.
University Alliance Ruhr
The University Alliance Ruhr (UAR) is a strong partnership between TU Dortmund University (TUDO), Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), and University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE). Together, they form Germany’s largest academic network, with over 120,000 students and nearly 1,300 professors.
Although the Ruhr Area is one of the youngest academic regions in Germany, it is home to the densest higher education landscape in Europe, with 22 universities and colleges in close proximity. The UAR fosters collaborations in research, teaching, and administration, creating a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment ideal for modern science and innovation.
For students of Medical Physics and Physics of Living Systems (MMP-POL), this alliance offers access to a wide range of courses, laboratories, and research groups across the partner universities. The strong ties between physics departments, medical faculties, and life science institutes – as well as joint projects and shared resources – open excellent opportunities for research internships, master's theses and collaborative PhD pathways.
This network also facilitates student mobility between campuses, supported by the NRW-wide semester ticket.
Studying and Living in the Ruhr Area
The Ruhr Area – one of the largest metropolitan regions in Europe – offers an excellent environment for students in the Medical Physics and Physics of Living Systems program.
Good news first: There are no tuition fees at TU Dortmund and the other UAR (University Alliance Ruhr) universities, even for non-EU students. A semester fee of around €320 covers administrative costs and includes a semester ticket, giving students free access to public transport across all of North Rhine-Westphalia. This makes commuting between cities like Dortmund, Bochum, and Essen fast and convenient – attending courses at different locations on the same day is no problem.
Students also benefit from affordable health insurance plans, low cost of living, and reasonably priced accommodation. The student unions support you in finding a place to stay, either in student dormitories or on the private housing market.
In addition, the Ruhr Area offers everything needed to enjoy student life: a vibrant cultural scene, music and art events, sports facilities, green spaces, and diverse job opportunities.
Whether you prefer urban life or quiet parks, cutting-edge research or intercultural exchange.
Highlights
Our Master's program provides you with comprehensive knowledge at the intersection of physics and medicine. You'll dive deep into the applied and theoretical aspects of modern health sciences. This includes a broad spectrum from biophysical basic research to the latest developments in clinical practice. You'll learn to apply scientific findings from physics to complex biological and medical challenges, developing innovative solutions for the healthcare of tomorrow.
Become an expert in the technologies revolutionizing medicine. Throughout your studies, you'll learn how novel physical principles and highly developed devices are utilized for medical diagnostics. Whether it's imaging techniques like MRI, CT, PET, or innovative ultrasound methods, you'll gain the knowledge to not only understand these technologies but also to further develop them and optimize their application. This also includes data analysis and interpretation to enable more precise and efficient diagnoses.
Be fascinated by the fundamental physical laws governing living systems. Our program encourages you to look beyond mere applications and explore the profound questions of biophysics. How does communication at the cellular level work? What role do physical processes play in the development and spread of diseases? You'll investigate how principles like momentum conservation or thermodynamics influence the formation of cells, tissues, and organs, and how this understanding can lead to new approaches in medicine.
Benefit from the combined excellence of our research groups! Here, you'll be supervised by over 20 experienced Principal Investigators (PIs) – professors who are at the forefront of their respective research fields. This direct collaboration offers you unique opportunities for projects, theses, and personal exchange. You'll become part of a dynamic scientific environment and learn from leading minds across various areas of physics and medical physics.
Customize your studies according to your interests. The Master's in Medical Physics offers you a large and flexible pool of elective options for lectures and research projects. You can set focus areas that align with your career goals, whether in medical imaging, radiation therapy, biophysics, or other specialized fields. This variety allows you to deepen your theoretical knowledge and gain valuable practical experience in current research topics.
Your path to research doesn't have to be long. Our Master's program is optimally designed to facilitate a fast transition to a PhD. You can complete your doctoral studies in just 3 years after your Master's degree, setting you on an efficient path to your academic or industry research career. This streamlined approach allows you to quickly contribute to cutting-edge research and make a significant impact.
FACTS, DATES & PROCEDURES
• two year program in english
• no tuition
• inexpenisve housing
• two year program
• part of largest university alliance (120.000 students)
REQUIREMENTS
• 3 year bachelor in Physics, Biomed Eng, Mech Eng and alike
• fluent in english (B2)
APPLY HERE
MORE INFORMATION
Description of the Program
- 120 Credit Points in 4 Semesters
- 1st and 2nd semester main course work
- 3rd Semester start of research period
- 4th Semester Master Thesis
Further details can be found on the webpages about the course structure, detailed description of the modules and examination regulations.