FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Of course, the prerequisite for the admission of the application is the general higher education entrance qualification without any additional conditions. The courses are designed in such a way that prior knowledge from advanced courses in physics or mathematics is not necessary (these may make your life a little easier in the first semester, nothing more).

In the two weeks before the start of the lectures, there is also a preliminary course in mathematics and physics, in which the elementary knowledge that is required at the start of the course is repeated. If you are not sure about your previous knowledge, we recommend participating in this preliminary course.

However, it should be noted in this context that you need a certain mathematical talent to study.

The number of places on the Medical Physics (Bachelor) course is limited to 45 per year. In contrast, there is no admission to the physics course (Bachelor).

The allocation of study places is based on the NRW allocation ordinance of May 30, 2005. A location-specific NC will result from the number and quality of the applications. The numerus clausus has been between 1.6 and 2.0 in recent years. However, no value for the numerus clausus in the following years can be derived from this.

Admission to the Master’s course in Medical Physics is based on proof of special suitability in accordance with the aptitude test regulations.

In principle, both are possible. In such a case, you have to catch up on various events.

Exactly which these are depends on your previous knowledge and is determined in each individual case by the examination board. For example, if you have a bachelor's degree in medical physics at HHU and would like to start the physics master’s course, you would have to catch up on the "experimental solid state physics" and "statistical mechanics" courses. To compensate for this, the courses on medical physics of the bachelor's degree course could be recognized as part of a basic module of the master's degree in physics. If you would like to study medical physics with a bachelor's degree in physics, you have typically already heard of the "Solid State Physics" and "Statistical Mechanics" courses. You would be recognized, instead you would have to catch up on the modules "Medicine 1 + 2" and "Medical Physics" of the Bachelor's degree in Medical Physics.

No, but that does not preclude you from working as a medical physicist in a clinic and having contact with patients as part of your work, for example when planning and performing radiation therapy.

Typical fields of activity are ... in clinics:

Further development and application of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities such as magnetic resonance tomography, radiation therapy, PET, image processing or laser medicine, to name just a few.

... in the industry:

In application-oriented research and development, e.g. Use of plasmas in medicine, instruments for minimally invasive surgery, increasing the resolution of all types of tomographs, etc. Like., But also in the modeling of medically relevant processes and in image processing.

... in basic research:

e.g. Nanotechnology in medicine, biophysical technology, generally the investigation and modeling of medically relevant processes using physical methods.

Other possible fields of activity:

e.g. Sports biophysics, forensics, aerospace medicine, ...

The majority of medical physicists are currently working in the field of diagnostics and therapy at larger clinics.

If you have applied for the bachelor's degree, you will usually receive an admission notification from the Student Service Center in July if you are admitted. In exceptional cases, there may be a replacement procedure, so that occasional confirmations are sent later, possibly until October. In the event of a rejection, you will not receive a notification.

All applicants for the Master’s degree will receive a notification a maximum of two weeks after the application deadline.

If you would like to study medical physics at Heinrich Heine University and have not received a place, which we very much regret, I offer the following options:

1. You bridge a year sensibly and apply again for the next winter semester, whereby your waiting time is included in the average of the Abitur grades,

2. You take up the admission-free bachelor's degree in physics at HHU Düsseldorf. In the first two semesters, the courses on both courses are identical. If a study place in Medical Physics becomes available in the course of this year, you can apply for a lateral entry in order to continue studying "Medical Physics" without losing any time. If a change is only possible at a later point in time, certain events must be made up for. It should be emphasized, however, that only a few study places in "Medical Physics" are available.

3. You have the opportunity to take up a bachelor's degree in physics and, in this context, attend some elective courses from the "Medical Physics" course, such as the "Introduction to Medical Physics", "Medical Optics" or "Image Processing" .

Finally, after completing the bachelor's degree (physics), there is the possibility of applying for a place in the master’s degree in "Medical Physics".

This is possible both in the Bachelor's and in the Master's degree (in the following, both are combined as the "Medical Physics" degree), provided that

(1.) You have sufficient prior knowledge to start a higher semester

and

(2.) a study place is free this semester.

The formal process of changing to a higher semester of the "Medical Physics" course is as follows:

1. You present to the chairman of the examination board of the "Medical Physics" course - all certificates from another course that you would like to have recognized. The scope should, if possible, correspond to the medical physics curriculum for the semester to be recognized. You will receive a letter stating which events are recognized and how.

2. You apply to the student office for admission to the "Medical Physics" course in a higher semester and enclose your performance records and the letter of recognition from the chairman of the examination board. The application deadline for this is September 15 for the winter semester and March 15 for the summer semester.

3. Firstly, based on the documents submitted, the student secretariat will check in which semester you could be admitted to the "Medical Physics" course according to your level of knowledge, provided a place is available. Second, it checks whether a place is available in this restricted admission course in the corresponding semester.

4. You will receive a notification of admission or rejection from the student office.

Further information on such an application can be found at the Student Administration Office.

An aptitude test is required. This means that only applicants are admitted whose bachelor's degree is equivalent in terms of content and requirements to the bachelor's degree in physics at HHU. In addition, the final grade converted to our system must be 3.0 or better.

The application deadline is September 15, 2015. International applicants are recommended to apply by June 15, 2015.

When applying; The requirements for the bachelor's degree in physics at HHU Düsseldorf can be found here.

German language skills are not required.

Proof from the university that the language of instruction is English is sufficient. However, it may be necessary to submit a language certificate (TOEFL, IELTS) to the embassy in order to be granted a visa.

Within the framework of our specialty areas (quantum optics, solid state physics, plasma physics and soft matter) it is possible to establish a focus. The master's is always a master's in physics and courses from different areas must always be chosen.

Two areas of focus must be chosen. Each focus includes a theoretical and an experimental module from the same subject. A separate exam must be passed in each module.

No. 

No.

Courses can be attended in the HISLSF. An individual timetable can also be created there. Other useful websites are the ILIAS and the Studierendenportal.