The M.Sc., Medical Physics Programme in the Department of Physics was started in the academic year 2002 - 2003. In 2006-2007, Department of medical Physics was created now this department is a constituent of the School of Physical Sciences.

It is a four semester, two years, self supporting post graduate programme offered by Department of Physics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. The Programme is conducted in collaboration with G. Kuppusamy Naidu Memorial Hospital, Coimbatore.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Bharathiar University and GKNM Hospital in November 2002 for three years and later it was renewed in 2006 for further three years. A Committee called Joint Programme Committee consisting of members including the Vice Chancellor of Bharathiar University as Chairman, and the Dean, GKNM Hospital as Co - Chairman, members, from BU and GKNM Hospital was constituted to monitor the programme.

The approval of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre was obtained in 2004, after a team of two scientists from AERB Mumbai visited the department and GKNM Hospital in November 2004. The AERB approved the programme for RSO level - III Certificate. On satisfaction by AERB, under instructions the Radiological Physics and Advisory Division of BARC is offering pre orientation training to our students for RSO certificate and conducting written and Viva - Voce exams for RSO Level III certificate.

The first semester and few papers in other semesters are handled (taught) in the Department of Physics, Bharathiar University. The remaining, II,III & IV semester classes and practicals are conducted in the Hospital.

The students have to obtain Radiological safety officer level - III certificate for employment opportunity in hospitals as Radiation Safety Officer as well as Medical Physicists. The training and examination for this RSO - level III Certificate is offered by the Radiological Physics and Advisory division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.

Training:
Our students undergo different training programmes during the course period.

After the completion of their I year, our students are sent to different hospitals in India like,
1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
2. Regional Cancer Center, Trivandrum,
3. Curie Center of Oncology, Bangalore
4. Kidwai Memorial Hospital of Oncology, Bangalore
5. Bangalore Institute of Oncology
for one month training. During this period our students are trained in Treatment time calculations, Quality assurance test for tele therapy machines, Output calibration of photons and electrons, output calibration of HDR source, radiation protection, CT and MRI fusion etc.,

During the fourth semester they have to complete a project for which again our students go to different hospitals. Also during this period, our students attend a two week pre orientation programme on the title of Radiation Safety and protection is conducted by Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. After the completion of this programme they are entitled to appear for the Radiation Safety Officer Certificate (Level-III) conducted by the same division and approved by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. So far three batches have completed this exam. The fourth batch appeared in this year. Out of 36 students appeared 30 students cleared the RSO - Level III exam.

Employment:
There is demand for M.Sc., (Medical Physics) along with RSO certificate - candidates in Hospitals having radiation oncology department, and in Medical equipments manufacturing industries. All our students who completed their M.Sc., (Medical Physics) Programme were employed as Medical Physicists and Radiation Safety Officer with a salary ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 25,000. Some of our students are now working in recognised hospitals like
1. Sanjay Gandhi Medical Hospital
2. G. Kuppusamy Naidu Memorial Hospital
3. Kamatchi Memorial Hospital
4. Regional Cancer Center, Trivandrum
5. Curie Center of Oncology

Still there is a good demand in India and abroad. Few students are working in medical equipment manufacturing industries like Nucletron. Some of our students have gone USA for doing MS and Ph.D. programmes. More and more hospitals having oncology department are in need of Medical Physicists.

Academic Sharing:
It has been agreed in the first meeting between BU and GKNM Hospital that all pure physics related papers will be taught at Department of Physics, Bharathiar University and Medical Physics oriented subjects will be taught at GKNM Hospital. From the beginning, full first semester theory papers except one Medical related paper and first semester practicals are conducted in Department of Physics, Bharathiar University. All the further three Semesters (except few Physics related papers or part of the papers) and practicals are conducted in the Hospital.

Eligibility for admission:-
Minimum qualification B.Sc., in Science with Physics as one of the subjects B.Sc., Physics allied / ancillary Maths and Chemistry (or) triple major with Physics, Maths, Chemistry.
B.Sc., Applied Science with Physics, Maths, Chemistry.

Foreign Student:
One foreign student (Nepal) has joined in M.Sc., Medical Physics course during the academic year 2006 - 2007.

Address :
Department of Medical Physics
Bharathiar university
Coimbatore - 641 046
Tamil Nadu. India.