The Bologna Process highlights, among its most significant commitments, the establishment in all European countries of a postgraduate level of studies in which the programmes leading to the Master’s and Doctoral degrees are jointly and coherently integrated. These studies are aimed at providing students with advanced, specialised training in a specific scientific, technical or artistic field, or at promoting their training in research activities. In addition, collaboration is encouraged between departments within the same university and between Spanish and foreign universities, enabling them to jointly organise postgraduate programmes leading to the award of the same degree or to an official double Master’s and Doctoral degree.

In order to facilitate access to these studies, the University Master’s Degree in Medical Physics has opted for a blended learning model, with online theory and problem-solving classes, and compulsory on-site practical sessions and examinations to be held at the University of Valencia. The distribution of online and face-to-face teaching can be consulted in the master’s timetable section: https://www.uv.es/uvweb/master-fisica-medica/es/programa-del-master/calendario-horarios/-calendario-horarios-del-master/teoria-1286208333347.html

In Spain, as well as in Europe, the field of applications of physics to health sciences—both in terms of the basic functioning of living organisms and in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques—is gaining increasing relevance. In fact, physicists are increasingly required in all areas related to healthcare: related industries, electromedicine services, radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy departments in hospitals, and healthcare administration itself.

Medical Physics is concerned with providing the scientific basis for the use of new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies (conventional, computed and digital radiology, magnetic resonance imaging, tomography, particle accelerators, etc.), establishing criteria for the correct use of physical agents employed in medicine (ionising radiation, microwaves, lasers, etc.), defining criteria for the radiological protection of workers and patients, participating in the design of auxiliary instrumentation, and establishing standards for the measurement of many biological variables.

Fortunately, the use of the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in medicine is widespread within the healthcare system. Almost invariably, the development of these techniques is linked to physics. Thus, medical physicists work in all Spanish hospitals, operating state-of-the-art equipment and ensuring its proper condition and functionality. In addition, the involvement of physicists specialised in medical physics is also required in commercial companies and in all fields that, in one way or another, are related to the use of physics in medicine.

With regard to initiatives in the European Union related to the Master’s Degree in Medical Physics, it can be stated that the process of convergence of studies is being carried out to a greater or lesser extent in all countries, particularly in the Scandinavian countries, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands.

Spain is one of the few European countries that does not have a regulated educational pathway for this discipline. At present, training is carried out within industry itself, in hospitals, or in university departments. This occurs in a very fragmented manner, as there are very few university groups conducting research in this field.

In hospitals, physicists perform specific healthcare-related tasks such as planning radiation treatments, controlling radiology equipment, designing and supervising radiological installations, monitoring staff and radiation-exposed areas, among others. These tasks are regulated by Royal Decree 220/1997 of 14 February, which establishes and regulates the official qualification of Hospital Medical Physics Specialist. This qualification, which authorises clinical practice in hospitals, can only be obtained after passing a national examination overseen by the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, which selects candidates (graduates in Physics or other higher degrees in scientific and technological disciplines) for a three-year consecutive training period in accredited teaching units for Hospital Medical Physics Specialists.

The Master’s Degree in Physics does not qualify graduates to obtain the title of Hospital Medical Physics Specialist, which can only be obtained through the aforementioned pathway. However, it aims to train students in the physical and technological aspects required as a foundation for further specialisation in the field of Medical Physics. The training provided focuses on deepening knowledge of radiation physics (ionising and non-ionising) in its medical applications, enabling graduates from diverse academic backgrounds to be well prepared either to pass the national entrance examination for specialist training or to enter research fields or industrial sectors related to Medical Physics.