M2 Medical Physics

In recognition of the strong potential for research and development in biomedical disciplines - particularly basic and clinical research into cancer and diabetes - in the Lille area (Physics and Biology Departments, IBL, IRI, IEMN, Institut Pasteur, SIRIC OncoLille, Canceropole, Eurasanté), the Medical Physics course is aimed at candidates with a general bachelor's degree in Physics, Physico-Chemistry, Materials Science or similar. It may also be open to students from Biology and Life Sciences bachelor's degrees, or to students with a Biomedical Engineering background, with a sound level of basic mathematics and physics.

This course enables physics students to acquire additional training in medical applications, while pursuing high-level theoretical studies in physics, and experiments in laboratories of excellence, at the interface between physics, nanosciences and life sciences. Since 2010, the French Ministry of Health has included this program on the list of schools giving access to the Diplôme de qualification en physique radiologique et médicale (DQPRM) competition at Saclay.

Skills acquired on completion of the Master's degree

Our graduates master the basic and advanced concepts, as well as practical methods, of radiation physics, physical dosimetry, nuclear medicine, radiation protection and medical imaging. They are trained to deal with ethical issues, safety and the handling of sensitive data, and process quality in the life sciences.

The Lille Medical Physics program is one of the M2 programs accredited by the French Ministry of Health for direct access to the INSTN Saclay DQPRM competitive examination (bac+7), for which it provides students with all the knowledge they need to prepare.

The hospital/professional internship provides advanced training in the world of biomedical instrumentation companies.

Alternatively, the "research" courses+internship provide in-depth training in theoretical and experimental biophysics, with a view to progressing towards a thesis (bac+8) or technical jobs (bac+5) in public or private sector laboratories.

Program

This program is a continuation of the Master 1 Physics program at the University of Lille, while remaining open to other candidates.

In Master 1, students must validate 60 ECTS from among the compulsory and optional courses on offer, with the following details:  

  • Semester 1: All courses are compulsory.  
  • Semester 2: Compulsory courses and specialization in nuclear physics

MASTER 2 - Semester 3

  • Physics of ionizing radiation
  • Radiation dosimetry  
  • Biomedical imaging techniques  
  • Biophysics of ionizing radiation
  • Modeling for radiophysics
  • Professional project

MASTER 2 - Semester 4

  • Hospital or company internship from February 1 to June 30

Job placement statistics after the Medical Physics course show that the most frequent job opportunities are in the following fields:  

  • After the DQPRM competitive examination and training (bac+7) at INSTN, medical physicist in hospital radiotherapy departments.  
  • Expert in medical imaging, radiodiagnostics, nuclear medicine (bac+5), methods, study and research engineer in radiation protection.
  • Product or project manager in the biomedical industry.  
  • After a short course to qualify as a non-university PCR, expert in dosimetry and radioactive risk in the company.   After a thesis (bac+8), careers in research and higher education.

Graduates can also pursue a doctoral thesis (bac+8) in biophysics and/or medical physics.
Statistics show that around 20% of graduates go on to a thesis (even after passing the DQPRM competitive examination), and around 15% complete their training with another Master 2 in disciplines at the interface between physics and biology/imaging/computing, etc.

Admission & Scholarships

For M1 students

Admission to the first year of the Master's program is subject to an examination of the candidate's file, in accordance with the following procedures:

Recommended degree:

  • Physics  
  • Physics, chemistry

File review criteria:

  • A detailed record of the curriculum followed by the candidate, enabling an assessment of the objectives and skills covered by previous training.  
  • A detailed record of the applicant's course of study, including an assessment of the objectives and skills covered by previous training.  
  • Proof of mastery of previous training (transcripts)  
  • Proof of motivation (letter of motivation)  
  • Provide proof of employment or internship

Capacity: 80 places for the specialization

Selection process: Application

National recruitment procedure and timetable via www.monmaster.gouv.fr

  1. Submission of applications from 03/22 to 04/18 inclusive  
  2. Examination of applications from 24/04 to 16/06  
  3. Transmission of admission proposals to candidates and candidate responses: from 06/23 to 07/21.

For M2 students

The course is also open to candidates from other French or foreign universities, with an M1 in Physics or Chemistry, or who have already completed an M2 in Science or Engineering. Admission to the M2 in Medical Physics will be possible after examination of the application and a possible oral interview.

Opening dates of the different ecandidat application sessions :

  • M2 Medical Physics from 03/05 to 14/06/2023
  • M2 Medical Physics 2nd campaign from 28/08 to 11/09/2023