Medical Physics FAQ

The cost of the program varies based on several factors. Please use the tuition and fees calculator to obtain a personalized quote. For more information, please see Student Financial Services.

As a rule, assistantships, grants, scholarships, and fellowships are not available to students in master's degree programs, including the medical physics program. That said, Columbia’s Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing seeks to ensure that all academically qualified students have enough financial support to enable them to work toward their degree.

Part-time employment is one form of support. Each year a second year student is invited by the medical physics faculty to serve as a grader and/or recitation leader for select first-year courses. Second year students may also be hired by individual instructors to assist with on-going research. In addition, there are part-time employment opportunities (non-work study positions) available at the University, although part-time work that provides some experience in medical physics is usually difficult to find. Of necessity, students who accept full-time positions on- or off-campus drop down to part-time student status. International students may work on campus up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and full-time during vacations.

If you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident you may be eligible to receive Federal Student Loans. In order to determine your eligibility, you must file a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). You may complete the application online by visiting www.fafsa.ed.gov; for a paper copy, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing. International students can apply for private student loans with a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

For further information regarding loan and payment options, please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing by telephone at 212-854-3711, by email at [email protected], or by mail at Columbia University Office of Financial Aid, 407 Lerner Hall, MC 2802, New York, NY 10027.

A bachelor's degree (BS or BA) in physics, applied physics, or one of the physical sciences, including physics courses at least equivalent to a minor and mathematics through Ordinary Differential Equations, as well as a working knowledge of computer programming and basic probability and statistics*, is required for admission. In addition, because of possible ABR review requirements, we strongly recommend that applicants have taken at least one biological science course.

An applicant who was not an undergraduate physics major or who does not have an advanced degree in physics, must have taken physics training at least equivalent to an undergraduate minor in physics. This training must include at least three upper level physics courses.

To be competitive, applicants should have taken physics courses at least through Classical Mechanics, Modern Physics, Atomic Physics, Electricity and Magnetism, and Quantum Mechanics. If these courses are taken after completion of the undergraduate degree, they must be taken at an accredited four-year college.

* Statistics: at least one course such as Intro to Probability and Statistics or documented equivalent experience. Computer: at least one course that includes a programming component, or documented equivalent experience.

GRE: While the GRE general test is not required for admission to the MS Program, a good score on the physics subject test can help your application and is recommended. We are looking for GRE quantitative scores at 159 (750 previous scoring system) and above. Columbia’s GRE institutional code is 2111; a department code is not needed. GRE scores are valid for five years.

GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. We look at all grades, but more closely at physics and math grades; we are looking for well-prepared applicants with a strong background in physics and math.

Language requirement: Applicants who earned their undergraduate degree in a country in which English is not the official and spoken language must take either the TOEFL or the IELTS test. Only one test is required. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years. For more information, please see: Graduate Engineering: Standardized Test Scores. Because of the critical importance of communication skills for medical physicists, MS degree candidates in the Medical Physics Program must demonstrate proficiency in English (speaking, reading, writing, and oral comprehension). The medical physics faculty may make enrollment in English language courses a condition for admission to the Program and/or may subsequently recommend that an admitted student enroll in English language courses based on an assessment of the student’s English language skills in the classroom. Applicants are reminded that to be competitive when they apply for professional positions and/or residencies after graduation, they must be able to demonstrate proficiency in English. Thus, if remediation is needed, applicants will be urged to take steps to improve their English language skills as soon as possible.

Other requirements: three letters of recommendation from professors and/or professionals in the field, a personal statement that addresses interests, career goals, preparation, and relevant experience (volunteer and/or paid, clinical and/or research), a resumé or Curriculum Vitae, a non-refundable application fee, and an official provisional transcript. An official transcript showing conferral of the bachelor’s degree is required before matriculation. While an interview is not required for admission, applicants may be contacted by telephone.

Deadline: February 15 is the priority deadline for submission of applications and all supporting documents for MS programs for the following Fall term. Applications received by June 30 are considered on a space-available basis. Since admission is competitive, no decisions are made until we receive and review all applications for a given year that are submitted by February 15. This procedure precludes our granting conditional admission in advance. For more information, see: https://gradengineering.columbia.edu/graduate-admissions/application-requirements.

We will be happy to arrange for you to visit the facilities and to meet with current students as well as one or more faculty members. Please contact the Medical Physics Program Coordinator by email [email protected] or telephone 212-851-4266.

For more information, see Graduate Engineering: Visit Us.

Although Master degree students at Columbia are not eligible for transfer credits, up to 6 points of the 36-point Medical Physics MS Program may be waived based on prior equivalent academic work.

Yes. The program facilitates part-time study, especially for working students, by scheduling most classes in the late afternoon or in the evening, although the practicums and the tutorial may require full-day commitment. However, because some required courses must be taken in sequence and are only offered once a year, part-time students may experience scheduling delays.

In general, it is not possible to start the program in the spring semester because most spring courses have fall course prerequisites. While it might be possible for a student with sufficient advanced standing to begin the program in spring, this would be exceptional and is not encouraged.

No. Since admission to the Columbia Master of Science Program in Medical Physics is competitive, decisions are made only after we review all applications for a given year that are submitted by the February 15 priority deadline. This procedure precludes our granting conditional admission in advance.

The School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) does not defer admission. For more information, please see: Graduate Engineering: Application Requirements.

Our Program is designed to provide students with basic experience working within a hospital clinical environment such that they are prepared to begin supervised employment after graduation in any of the four specialty areas of medical physics. We require two semester-long practicums and an intensive two-week tutorial in medical health physics. Practicums are pursued during the summer following the first year of course work and/or during the second fall term. In addition, before graduating, students may register for Supervised Internship, APAM E4999, which provides an opportunity for optional part-time jobs and/or internships in the 3rd semester, and/or optional training in an optional 4th semester before conferral of MS degree. International students may apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

A passing grade on a medical physics comprehensive examination is required for graduation with a Master of Science degree in Medical Physics. This closed-book written exam is offered twice a year, in December and May, following the last semester of studies and consists of 6 questions covering the required course work taken during the program.

The simple answer is "Yes." The track record of our graduates demonstrates our success. 

However, two areas tested on Part 1 of the ABR examination are not addressed explicitly by our Program: statistics and computer programming. Therefore, along with the three advanced physics courses required by the ABR, a working knowledge of computer programming and basic probability and statistics is required for admission. In all other respects, our MS program is designed to provide preparation for the ABR exam.

Part 1 of the ABR certification examinations is offered once a year. New requirements for eligibility to sit for the Part 1 Exam and changes in exam registration and delivery are described below:

• The exam content will not change. The current study guide remains in effect.
• Beginning in 2022, Part 1 Exams will be given only in January. In 2021, there will be an exam in August followed by one in January 2022. The registration period will be adjusted because of the date change and will initially be in July or August.
• Details about exam registration for the January 2022 exam will be posted in 2021.
• Eligibility requirements will change beginning with the 2022 exam:
  • If eligibility is from a graduate or DMP program, the program director must attest that the candidate will have completed the courses covering the core topics as described by CAMPEP by the time of the exam. If this goal is not achieved, the program director must notify the ABR in a timely fashion. Note: Program directors are now required to notify the ABR if a candidate withdraws from the program or is not in good standing.
  • If eligibility is from a certificate program, the candidate must have completed the certificate program and have attained a suitable PhD at the time of registration.
  • If eligibility is from a CAMPEP-accredited residency or a structured mentorship, the requirements will remain the same. A candidate enrolled in the program may register for Part 1.

At present there is no residency program formally linked to Columbia’s Medical Physics MS Program. There is a combined CAMPEP-accredited residence program in Medical Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Columbia University Medical Center and at the Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Cheng-Shie Wuu is the program director. In the Department of Radiology at the Columbia University Medical Center there is a CAMPEP-accredited residency in Diagnostic Imaging Physics. Dr. Sachin Jambawalikar is the program director.

Instruction is provided by senior faculty members who are leaders in their field, affiliated with prestigious institutions such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital. See Medical Physics Faculty for contact information.

• Medical Physics Seminar (APPH E4550): Sharing their research and experience with students, practicing professionals and faculty in the field present selected topics in medical physics. The seminar includes stand-alone talks as well as theme-based series.
• Chats with the faculty: These are intended to give students an opportunity to discuss various topics with the medical physics faculty, including items of Interest to graduating medical physics students, radiation safety, the role of the medical physicist, and the medical physics profession. Students are invited to bring their questions or send them in ahead of time.
• Oral practice: The faculty recognize oral practice as a valuable teaching tool that provides students with a risk-free opportunity to practice speaking, to gain experience thinking on their feet, to answer questions orally, and to receive constructive feedback from the faculty. It provides vital preparation for job interviews and for on-the-job performance in a clinical setting. Oral practice also helps students prepare for the oral component of the comprehensive examination. 1 group and 1 individual sessions are required.
• Research Project (APAM E6650): This elective course provides an opportunity for students to pursue independent specialized research under the tutelage of faculty mentors and affiliated research staff. It is particularly appropriate for students who wish to continue for the PhD.

While the Program does not formally place students after graduation, we facilitate networking, support both employment and residency applications, and bring job opportunities to the attention of students nearing the completion of their program. Students are also encouraged to connect with the APAM Career Services Coordinator.

Our program is designed to provide a level of preparation such that graduates have sufficient basic experience working within a hospital clinical environment to begin supervised professional employment in any of the four primary medical physics fields of radiation oncology, diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and health physics. 

Following graduation, our full-time MS students typically secure employment with a hospital, cancer center, or consulting firm. Given the new requirements for the ABR exam, most are now applying for residency programs. Others continue for the PhD with a specialization in Medical Physics, which is appropriate for students who want to pursue research in an academic or a hospital environment. 

Graduates of the program are currently employed by major hospitals and medical centers in the greater metropolitan area, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and New York University Medical Center.

At Columbia, only the MS Program in Medical Physics is CAMPEP-accredited. This is important because after 2012, only students who graduate from a CAMPEP-accredited program will be allowed to sit for the ABR exam.

Three additional benefits are gained by completing the master's degree program first.

1. The prospective researcher acquires a valuable understanding of the context of his or her research.
2. The prospective student can meet and possibly work with one of several scientists who are actively conducting medical physics research; supervised research projects with faculty members are one way of doing this.
3. Completing the MS program affords one the option of working (full or part-time) in the field while continuing on towards the PhD. Those who may consider a PhD program are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Research Project.

Students who want to pursue doctoral research in medical physics at Columbia must apply for admission to the doctoral program in applied physics in the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics. Please see Doctoral Program for more information. 

Advisors must be identified and financial support must be in place before applications are considered. This precludes admission of students who have not competed our MS program and/or have not had extensive interaction with and a commitment from a thesis sponsor. 

If you apply for the PhD program but would also like to be considered for the stand-alone MS Program, this should be clearly indicated in your personal statement and on the application form.

PhD-level physical scientists are eligible for the MS program, and several have taken advantage of this so far. While designing an appropriate curriculum in such cases may be challenging, the faculty will work with the students on a case-by-case basis to ensure that requirements are satisfied while avoiding duplication.

Another option is our CAMPEP-accredited Certificate of Professional Achievement in Medical Physics which is designed for PhD-level physical scientists who wish to apply for medical physics certification examinations by the American Board of Radiology (ABR). Applicants must have the appropriate background in physics, documented by either a doctorate degree in physics or engineering or other area of physical science with physics education equivalent to a minor in physics (including at least three upper-level undergraduate physics courses or equivalent required for a physics major).

• Summer reading is assigned for the required Fall term course, Dosimetry.
• If you are deficient,the medical physics faculty strongly recommend that you become conversant with programming (e.g. Matlab, Mathematica, C++, Maple, etc.) as well as with fundamentals of probability and statistics during the summer before enrollment.Both subjects are essential for doing research, and experience in research will strongly enhance your chances of obtaining a residency at the end of our program.
• The faculty recommend that you read specific chapters in The Physics of Radiation Therapy by F.M. Khan before the beginning of the Spring term.
• The faculty also recommend that you become familiar with the websites for the following organizations that provide essential information for professionals in medical physics:
  • The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)
  • The Radiological and Medical Physics Society of New York (RAMPS)
  • The Health Physics Society (HPS)
  • The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
  • The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)
  • The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)
  • The American Board of Radiology (ABR).

Master of Science degree candidates in the Columbia Medical Physics Program are required to comply with hospital-mandated medical surveillance, which includes drug screening, in order to be allowed to participate in practicums at the New York Presbyterian Hospital at the Columbia University Medical Center. This is consistent with best practices in U.S. healthcare. Consequently, students who choose a professional path that involves working in a hospital or like facility must fulfill similar surveillance and screening throughout their careers.

A medical surveillance evaluation may consist of a medical and occupational history and necessary blood tests, skin tests, and immunizations, including vaccinations or prophylaxis that provide protection from infectious diseases. Proof of current immunity is required for measles, mumps, rubella, diptheria, pertussis, tetnus, hepatitis B, chicken pox, the flu, and tuberculosis. If available, an up-to-date Immunization Record is helpful.

The Columbia University Medical Center drug screening policy provides an opportunity for early identification and intervention before the consequences of illicit drug abuse adversely impacts a student’s health, professional growth, and patient care. Drug screening requires an annual urine test.

The cost of initial medical surveillance and drug screening is covered by Columbia’s basic student health insurance plan.