Master of Science by Coursework in Radiation Biology

Differences from 2020/21 to 2023/24

  • 1. The Medical Sciences Board shall elect for the supervision of the course an Organising Committee, which shall have the power to arrange lectures and other instruction.

  • 2. The Organising Committee shall assign a project supervisor for each candidate.

  • 3.  Each candidate shall follow a course of study in Radiation Biology for at least three terms and for a substantial part of the three subsequent vacations, as determined by the course timetable.

  • 4. CandidatesEach shallcandidate will be examinedrequired into pass all of the following waysassessment components:

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        (i) Each candidate must pass aA qualifying examination at the end of Michaelmas Term. The examination shall be on modules 1-64 in the Schedule.  
        (ii) A short essay submitted at the end of Michaelmas Term, selected from a choice of essay titles based on modules 1-4 in the Schedule. 
        (iii) An extended essay submitted in Hilary Term, selected from a choice of essay titles based on modules 5-10 in the Schedule. 
        (iv) A written examination in Trinity Term. The examination shall be on modules 5-12 in the Schedule.  
        (v) An original research project of approximately five months. Candidates will be examined on their project in three ways: 
            a. Submission to the examiners of a research dissertation based on the research project.  
            b. Presentation to the examiners and assessors on the research project. 
            c. Examination viva voce by the examiners. 

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    • 5. Candidates must pass each component in order to pass the examination overall. 
    • 6. Candidates who fail theany qualifying examination shall be permitted to re-take it on one further occasion only in Week 0 of Hilary Term.

    • (ii) Each candidate will be required to submit to the examiners an assignment of 3,000 words (excluding figures and figure legends, tables and bibliography) by uploading it to the Assignments Section of the MSc in Radiation Biology WebLearn site by noon, Friday of Week 7 of Hilary Term. A choice of assignment titles will be provided to students by Week 8 of Michaelmas Term. Candidates must pass this assignment in order to proceed with the course. Those who fail the assignmentcomponent shall be permitted to re-take it on one further occasion only. The assignment should be re-submitted by noon, Friday of Week 8 of Trinity Term. The assignment will account for 15 per cent of the final marks.  

    • (iii)7. EachCandidates candidatewho must passfail a three-hour written examination at the end of Hilary Term (normally in Week 9). The examination shall becomponent on the modulessecond setattempt outwill inbe deemed to have failed the Schedule.requirements In order to proceed withof the course,MSc candidatesand whowill fail the examination shallnot be permitted to re-take itcontinue on one further occasion only in Week 0 of Trinity Term. The examination will account for 25 per cent of the final markscourse.  

    • (iv) Each candidate shall undertake an original laboratory research project of approximately six months8. CandidatesThe essays and dissertation will be examineduploaded onto theirthe projectUniversity inapproved threeassessment ways:

      • a.platform, Eachdetails candidateof which will be requirednotified to submitstudents toby the examinersCourse three copies of a typewritten or printed research dissertation of not more than 10Administrator,000 words (excluding figures and figure legends, tables, bibliography and appendices) based on the research project. The dissertation must be submitted by a datedates to be specified by the Organising Committee and whichpublished will be outlined onin the MScCourse Radiation Biology WebLearn site not later than the start of Michaelmas Term of the academic year in which the examination is takenHandbook.

      • b9. Each candidate will be expected to give a presentation to the examiners and assessors on his or her research project after submission of the dissertation.

      • c. Each candidate will be examined viva voce by the examiners.

      (v) The dissertation, presentation and viva voce will be given a single grade and account for 60 per cent of the final marks. Candidates must pass this component and those who fail this component once shall be permitted to re-take it on one further occasion with submission, presentation and viva voce only at the times these elements are examined during the following academic year.

  • 5. The required written submissions must be sent to the Chair of Examiners, M.Sc. in Radiation Biology, c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford.

  • 6. The examiners shall retain one copy of each dissertation of each successful candidate for deposit in the Radcliffe Science Library.

Schedule

The modules for study will be:

    1. Physics and Chemistry of Radiation Action

       
    2. Molecular Radiation Biology

       
    3. Cellular Radiation Biology

       
    4. Normal Tissue and Applied Radiation Biology

       
    5. Whole Body Exposure and Carcinogenesis

       
    6. Radiation Epidemiology

       
    7. Imaging Technologies

       
    8. Tumour Microenvironment

       
    9. Applications of Radiation Therapy

       
    10. Translational Radiation Biology

       
    11. Clinical Radiation Biology 
    12. Radiation Protection