Medical Engineering and Medical Physics

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Medical Engineering and Medical Physics

The study programme prepares medical physical technology engineers who work in healthcare institutions as equipment operators and managers; in medical equipment distributors and service representative offices; in certification and monitoring institutions; in production, design and research institutions. Medical physical technology engineers know how to design and improve medical equipment, are familiar with their physical and technical principles of operation, production and construction technologies, participate in the selection and installation of equipment and systems used in medicine, organize their regulation, repair, monitoring and testing. Medical physicists working in health care institutions, monitoring and radiation safety institutions are able to plan and monitor radiation technologies, perform patient and staff dosimetry, organize service, monitoring and testing of equipment and systems, provide radiation safety measures.
During studies, students learn fundamental engineering study courses, industry theoretical, information technology and professional specialization study courses, as well as humanitarian and social, economic and management study courses. A 25-week internship is planned during the studies. The structure of the study programme consists of: compulsory study courses, limited optional study courses, which include professional specialization study courses, humanitarian and social study courses, languages. The specialized study courses are grouped into modules, providing students with the opportunity to specialize in the following areas: medical equipment, medical physics and nanomedicine, e-medicine, medical electronics, biomechanics and auxiliary technologies, medical materials, medical engineering business. At the end of the studies, students develop a bachelor thesis and an engineering project, obtaining a professional bachelor degree in medical physics and the engineer qualification of a medical physical technologies.

Short about programme
Department
Faculty of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Programme type and level
Professional Bachelor (First Cycle) Studies
Study field
Mechanics and Metal Processing, Heat Power Engineering, Heat Technology, and Mechanical Engineering
Language
English
Study form
Full-time studies
Venue
Riga

Awarded degree and qualification
Professional bachelor degree in medical physics / medical physical technology engineer
Required previous education
Secondary education
Price per year
€ 4 600 - EU countries
€ 4 600 - Non EU countries
Credit point/ECTS amount
180/270
Duration of studies
Full-time studies - 4.5 years
Intake
Autumn
Aim

To educate and train highly qualified specialists - bachelors in medical physics and medical engineering (in accordance with the professional standard for a medical physical technology engineer) for professional activities in the fields of medical engineering and medical physics possessing professional knowledge of the design of medical equipment, apparatuses and tools, their physical and technical operation principles, their manufacturing technology, application procedures and safety; possessing the practical skills for working with medical equipment – its purchase, installation, use, calibration and quality management, as well as the ability to plan and monitor application of radiation technology, patient and personnel dosimetry; to equip graduates for experimental research work; to train students so that they can continue studies at the master level.

Tasks

The tasks of the study programme:
- to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the completion of professional tasks in accordance with the requirements of the higher engineering education and professional standard for medical physical technology engineer;
- to ensure the acquisition of the skills relevant to the field of medical engineering and medical physics that would allow developing skills in designing of new and improvement of the existing systems, products and technologies, to use the newest achievements of physics in medicine, as well as to train students for creative research and pedagogical activity in medical engineering and medical physics.
- to provide internship opportunities to the students with an aim to apply the acquired knowledge in medical engineering and medical physics;
- to motivate students to analyse the obtained knowledge and experience, and continue gaining them;
- to improve students’ foreign language skills;
- to educate students on professional ethics issues, promote observation of ethical principles;
- to develop student's oral and written professional communication skills in medical engineering and medical physics;
- to develop team-working skills.

Courses
Career

Engineer of medical physical technologies:
- designs and improves medical equipment, apparatus and instruments;
- knows the physical and technical operating principles of equipment, their manufacturing and construction technologies;
- knows how to apply knowledge about the effect of physical fields on biological objects, organize radiation safety measures; participates in the selection, installation, adjustment, repair and use of medical equipment and systems;
- manages and organizes production, promotes the introduction of new technologies;
- performs technical, physical and economic calculations in the field of medical physical technologies;
- optimizes and harmonizes medical physics methods for diagnosis and treatment in cooperation with medical professionals;
- participates in international projects;
- evaluates the impact of the implementation of industry projects on the environment and society; observes professional ethics.

Medical physicist:
- is able to plan and monitor radiation technologies;
- is able to perform patient and staff dosimetry, as well as participate in other engineering activities related to radiological procedures and ionizing radiation;
- participates in the development of the radiation safety and nuclear safety quality assurance program in the medical institution;
- organizes service, monitoring, control and testing of medical equipment and systems.
- manages and organizes production, promotes the introduction of new technologies; performs technical, physical and economic calculations in the field of medical physical technologies; optimizes and harmonizes medical physics methods for diagnosis and treatment in cooperation with medical professionals; participates in international projects;
- evaluates the impact of the implementation of industry projects on the environment and society; observes professional ethics.

Further

It is possible to continue studies in the master study programme "Medical engineering and physics" and in other, in addition, also in academic master study programmes.

Specific conditions

English language proficiency equivalent to at least CEFR B2 level.