MSc Medical Imaging Science / Course details

Our MSc in Medical Imaging Science covers a multidisciplinary topic of central importance in diagnosis, treatment monitoring and patient management.

Imaging is also a key tool in medical research and it is becoming increasingly possible to relate imaging studies to genetic traits in individuals and populations. Novel imaging biomarkers of disease can enable more rapid and precise diagnosis and inform decision making in drug development programmes.

As medical imaging involves knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, technology and computation, our course is suitable if you want to expand your horizons in these disciplines.

You will cover the basic science and technology behind the principal imaging modalities currently used in medicine and medical research, as well as advanced imaging methods, clinical and research applications, imaging biomarkers and computational methods.

You will learn how advanced imaging techniques are applied in medical research and drug development with an emphasis on magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. You will also receive training in computational and quantitative methods of image analysis or in the interpretation of clinical images from different imaging modalities.

This course comprises both a taught component and a research project, giving you the skills and knowledge required to pursue a career in an image-related field in clinical medicine, medical research, and scientific research or development.

Duration

MSc: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

PGDip: 9 months full-time, 21 month part-time

PGCert: 6 months full-time, 18 months part-time

We aim to provide you with:

• a systematic understanding of the scientific basis of the major medical imaging modalities;
• a broad understanding of the principal clinical applications of medical imaging and its role in diagnosis, monitoring and therapy;
• an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of medical imaging for deriving quantitative anatomical and physiological data;
• knowledge of how advanced imaging techniques are applied in medical research and drug discovery;
• the experience to plan, implement and complete a research project;
• generic transferrable skills required in a multidisciplinary scientific or clinical research environment;
• practical skills required for a career in an imaging-related field in clinical practice, medical research, and scientific research or technological development.

Excellent facilities

Benefit from research-dedicated preclinical and clinical imaging facilities on university campus and at several hospital sites, including a PET-MR scanner suite at St Mary's Hospital.

Learn from experts

Manchester has an imaging and image computing research group with a strong international reputation. Our research groups and facilities are staffed by scientists conducting research in novel imaging and image analysis methods, and clinicians who apply these methods in clinical practice.

Multidisciplinary learning

Study alongside physicists, engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, chemists, biologists and clinicians working in hospitals and research-dedicated imaging facilities.

As this course aims to produce graduates equipped to pursue either clinically or technically-focused careers in imaging, it is important to provide an adequate knowledge base. For this reason, much of the teaching takes the form of in-class lectures.

However, in most course units, this is supplemented by group discussions and practical exercises. Other than the introductory units, most course units provide you with an understanding of research methods by requiring submission of a critical review of appropriate research literature or clinical material, either as a report or presentation.

Where appropriate, practical imaging exercises are provided, requiring you to cooperate in acquiring images and analysing results. Please note that this course does not provide clinical training to work directly with patients.

All units require a considerable component of independent research and study.

Assessment will occur in a variety of forms.

Summative assessment takes the form of written assignments, oral presentations, quizzes and examinations.

Written assignments and presentations, as well as contributing to summative assessment, have a formative role in providing feedback, particularly in the early stages of the course units.

Quizzes provide a useful method of regular testing, ensuring that you engage actively with the taught material. As accumulation of a knowledge base is a key aim of the course, examinations form an important element of summative assessment.

In addition, formal assessment of your research and written communication skills is achieved via the dissertation. This is a 10,000 to 15,000-word report, written and organised to appropriate scientific standards, describing the design, execution and results of the research project.

You will benefit from preclinical and clinical research-dedicated imaging facilities on university campus and at several hospital sites, including a PET-MR scanner suite at St Mary's Hospital.

Each student will be assigned a personal academic tutor who can provide advice and assistance throughout the course. During the project, you will be in regular contact with your research supervisor. You will also be able to access a range of library and e-learning facilities throughout the University.