Sponsored by Duke Kunshan University  

While many students aspire to become doctors, very few are aware of the growing field of medical physics, where experts predict 12,000 jobs will need to be filled in China alone in the next decade.  

To find out more about careers in medical physics, we asked Professor David Huang from Duke Kunshan University to shed light on this little-known field and find out who might be the right candidate for the job.  

What is medical physics?

As its name suggests, medical physics is a hybrid of physics and medicine. Medical physicists apply their knowledge of physics, biology, engineering and computer techniques to disease diagnosis and, in particular, cancer treatment. Collaborating with physicians and other medical professionals on diagnosis and treatment, medical physicists are in charge of:

• Quality assurance
• Designing a cancer treatment plan for radiotherapy
• Developing the best techniques to produce high-quality imaging with the lowest radiation dose
• Monitoring radiation safety for patients, staffs and general public

They also conduct research and teaching.  

How is it different than medicine?

Medicine and medical physics often overlap. For example, in radiotherapy, the radiation oncologist is the person involved in prescribing radiation doses and defining tumors, but the medical physicist is the one designing the treatment plan based on the doctor’s treatment goal to make sure the highest dose goes to the tumor and the lowest dose goes to the surrounding tissues.

Doctors and medical physicists work together very closely to discuss treatment options and techniques and agree on a treatment plan, but medical physicists will always be the ones monitoring dose-delivery accuracy and radiation safety.  

So, when dealing with an individual patient, the radiation oncologist will look at the patient’s scans and decide on the course of action and the areas that will be treated, including the areas surrounding the tumor to be avoided. The medical physicist will then be the person responsible for making sure that the prescription is carried out in the best, safest, most efficient way possible.

Loosely speaking, the radiation oncologist writes the prescription and the medical physicist ensures that the patient actually gets what has been prescribed.  

The two roles undergo different training paths because they involve different areas of knowledge. This is why, if you’re thinking of going into medical physics, your best bet is to do a master of science in medical physics.  

How much will I earn?

If you’re weighing the pros and cons of a career in medical physics, it’s worth keeping in mind that, like physicians, medical physicists enjoy comfortable six-figure salaries and a very positive job outlook. Also, you can work in industry as a researcher, application specialist, sales support or engineer.

How do I know medical physics is right for me?  

Some people are better suited to careers in medical physics than others. As well as a very good understanding of radiation physics and the different ways in which radiation is used in the medical arena, you should have a genuine desire to work in a clinic and help patients. Interpersonal skills are absolutely crucial as medical physicists interact with patients, and you’ll need to feel comfortable working as part of a large team of radiation oncologists, therapists, nurses and dosimetrists.  

Duke Kunshan University offers a two-year MSc in Medical Physics run jointly with Duke University in North Carolina in the US. Students spend their first year in China on Duke Kunshan University’s campus in the Jiangsu province, and a summer session plus the first semester of their second year on the Duke University campus in Durham, North Carolina.  

The MSc features seminar courses, elective courses, field-trips and practicums (both in China and in the US) to expose you to a clinical environment and build experience. There’s also a strong research thesis component to train you to identify and resolve problems in a clinical environment.  

It’s no secret that Australia provides the best of the best: amazing beaches, coastal views, national parks, and superb weather. Well, the country also provides some pretty epic camping spots to pitch a tent, meaning you can enjoy and appreciate the country’s outdoor spaces even more.

From campsites in the outback that will make you feel like you’re on another planet, to beachside spots with white sandy beaches and blinding turquoise waters—there are so many amazing places to spend some time getting back to nature. Some campsites are free, while some you need to book well in advance due to popularity. Either way, you will be sure to have an epic camping experience pretty much anywhere you go in Australia. (Hopefully you can handle creepy crawlies and kangaroos paying a visit to your campsite!)

1. Coffs Harbour, New South Wales

Keen for a camping spot with coastal views overlooking the picturesque Horseshoe Bay? Well, look no further. The Horseshoe Bay Caravan Park is one of Australia’s top coastal campground, surrounded by beaches, forests, and of course, the ocean. It’s a bit of a hike from Sydney, being a five-hour drive, but the way there offers amazing road trip stopovers that will become a trip in itself.

2. Millaa Millaa, Queensland

I’m sure you have seen a photo of the famous Millaa Millaa falls once or twice. To say it’s a tropical paradise is an understatement, surrounded by lush rainforest and Queensland’s highest mountain, Mt Bartle Frere, at an elevation of 1,611 metres (5,285 ft).

3. Margaret River, Western Australia

Margaret River has it all—amazing beaches, world-renowned surfing, wineries, and cafés. Only a three-hour drive from Perth, there are a ton of campsites to choose from. The sunsets over the ocean are something special, and the temperatures in the winter don’t often drop below five degrees, making it the perfect camping spot year-round.

4. Kalbarri, Western Australia

Kalbarri National Park is a must-do when you are exploring the west coast, with river gorges, scenic hikes, and famous red and white striped rock formations for miles. If you go in the right season, the wildflowers will be in a bloom, creating a magical pop of color in the national park as far as the eye can see.

5. Daintree National Park, Queensland

Part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area, this national park is a haven for endless rainforest, beautiful beaches, and diverse wildlife. The Noah Beach camping site is situated 50m from the shore, beneath the mossy trees—this isn’t your typical camping experience.

6. Blue Mountains, New South Wales

Located just two hours from Sydney, the Ingar Campground in the Blue Mountains is completely free on a first come first serve basis. If you’re going during the winter months, making sure to dress warm as the mountain temperature is definitely not your typical Aussie weather.

7. Flinders Ranges, South Australia

If you want a true outback experience, or perhaps an experience that feels as though you are on Mars, then look no further.  A five-hour drive from Adelaide, grab a site at Wilpena Pound Campground and explore the 540 million-year-old landscape. I suggest you go in the winter months, since the summer can bring unbearable temperatures.

8. Jervis Bay, New South Wales

If you’re after blinding white sandy beaches and the world’s clearest water, then Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay is the place for you. The summer months bring amazing sunny days and hot temperatures, while the winter months offer views of humpback whales migrating north.

9. Grampians National Park, Victoria

Situated off the coast of the Great Ocean Road, this national park offers stunning mountain views, with endless nature walks in the area to explore all that this place has to offer. If you are really feeling adventurous, there are overnight hikes that take you to some pretty spectacular camping spots nestled on mountain peaks.

10. Esperance, Western Australia

Esperance, a small town on the south coast of Western Australia, is truly what makes the west coast so special. Sparkling waters and white sand stretch for miles, surrounded by amazing bushwalks and coastal views. Lucky Bay, 40 minutes from Esperance, is an amazing ocean-side spot to pitch a tent.

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The Australian east coast trip from Sydney to Cairns is one which everyone should do in their lifetime. It’s a backpacker’s dream—stunning beaches, great nightlife, amazing island-hopping trips, and an awesome travelers’ atmosphere. From scuba-diving, skydiving, waterfall-hunting, beach lounging, surfing, hiking, and so much more—the east coast is a haven for both adventure enthusiasts as well as the more relaxed traveler.

Everyone you meet up the coast is in good spirits and there's an amazingly positive atmosphere. I recommend you spend at least a month on this trip, although some people spend several months exploring the coast because it’s so easy to arrive at a destination and not want to leave right away. Either way, I guarantee you’ll be comparing every travel experience to this one forever.

Explore the amazing city of Sydney

Your epic road trip begins in the bustling, energetic city of Sydney. This city truly has so much to offer, from amazing restaurants, museums, iconic landmarks, stunning beaches, and an overall epic laidback, yet busy atmosphere. Obvious activities include a visit to the Opera House, a ferry ride through the harbor over to Manly Beach, a beach session on the famous Bondi Beach, and if you are brave enough, a treacherous climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This city has a charm to it like no other, and I guarantee you won’t want to leave!

Head to Coffs Harbour

The first leg of the trip up to Byron Bay includes a number of beaches, national parks, breweries, quaint towns with cute cafés, and some epic spots to spend the night. The total drive time is nearly nine hours, however I guarantee you’ll want to stretch it out for a few days. Central Coast, Newcastle, Por Macquarie, Yamba, and Coffs Harbour are some notable spots that should be on the list. Coffs Harbour, a few hours from Byron Bay, is the perfect spot to spend a night before making the drive up there.

Chill out in Byron Bay

Byron Bay is a favorite with many visitors, and once you visit you will understand why. It’s a hippie, surf enthusiast haven with phenomenal aesthetically-pleasing restaurants, amazing shopping, stunning beaches, musicians busking in the streets on the daily, and overall the most chill vibes imaginable. You have to catch both a sunrise and a sunset up at the lighthouse before you leave… if you ever do. It’s no surprise that the motto of the town is ‘Cheer up. Slow down. Chill out’. No one that visits this spot ever wants to leave, so I would block out a generous amount of time here.

Explore the Gold Coast

There are so many cool spots along the Gold Coast worth exploring. Surfers Paradise, while a little touristy, is a great place to experience some nightlife and a surf on the famous Surfers Paradise Beach with skyscrapers draping behind. However, the best beaches are the ones on the outskirts of the city—Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta. Make sure to catch a sunset at Burleigh—they are truly epic!

Catch some waves in Noosa

Noosa, just a few hours north of the Gold Coast, is a quaint surf town which is known as the more relaxed, less busy version of Byron Bay. It’s another epic spot to learn how to surf, as well as a prime location for amazing coastal hikes through Noosa National Park, which offers plenty of beach pit stops along the way for a swim.

Four-wheel driving on Fraser Island

The next spot on the trip is Fraser Island, which is well worth the five-hour drive from Noosa. There are both one and three-day trips available to experience the island, where you will have the opportunity to take part in the popular Australian pastime of ‘4WDing’ (four-wheel driving) along the beach. I recommend you book a few days on the island though, as the starry nights are out of this world and there are so many amazing lakes to explore inland. Lake Mackenzie, a favorite of many, has a seemingly fake blue color, unlike any lake you will ever see.

Sail the Whitsunday Islands

Snorkeling and island hopping by day… boat parties and star filled skies by night. I guarantee that sailing the Whitsunday Islands will be the highlight of your east coast trip. There are a ton of trip options available, from day trips to overnight ones, which will take you to all the amazing sights these islands have to offer. This is also the spot to see the famous Whitehaven Beach, which has to be seen to be believed.  

Drive around Magnetic Island

Get ready for a day of driving alongside the coast with the top down on your car, hopping from beach to beach. I know, life is tough. An island full of waterfalls, rainforest, and beaches—you will definitely not have a bad time visiting Magnetic Island. It’s not uncommon to spot koalas nestled in the trees and kangaroos hopping alongside the road, so keep your eyes peeled!

Explore the aquatic life in Cairns

Sadly your journey comes to an end here, however there’s still plenty of adventure and excitement to be had. Cairns is home to the iconic Great Barrier Reef, where you can scuba dive to experience the amazing aquatic life. It’s also home to Daintree Rainforest, the oldest surviving tropical rainforest in the world, offering some spectacular waterfalls, beaches, and unique wildlife.

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北欧以其风格、高生活水平和世界级的高等教育而闻名。因此，北欧国家（丹麦、芬兰、冰岛、挪威和瑞典）成为出国留学的主要目的地也就不足为奇了。

虽然大多数北欧国家的高等教育直到几年前都是免费的，但学费正在逐步引入。目前，只有挪威和冰岛仍然对所有人免收学费。因此，世界上这一地区对国际奖学金的需求越来越大，甚至那些希望在冰岛或挪威学习的学生也能获得资金，以支付生活费用和其他费用。

北欧五国渴望吸引来自世界各地的优秀学生，每个国家都为国际学生提供各种奖学金机会。请继续阅读在丹麦、芬兰、冰岛、挪威和瑞典学习的国际奖学金概要。

丹麦

丹麦的大学为丹麦学生、欧盟/欧洲经济区公民和交换学生提供免费的学费。来自欧盟/欧洲经济区以外的国际学生需要缴纳学费，并需要在获得居留证或丹麦大学课程名额之前出示资金证明。下面列出了一些在丹麦学习的热门奖学金机会。

政府奖学金

• Danish Government Scholarships for Foreign Nationals  - 这些奖学金提供给对学习丹麦语言和文化感兴趣的国际交换生。适用于来自巴西、中国、埃及、日本、韩国和俄罗斯的院校的在读交换生。
• Denmark Government Scholarships for non-EU Students - 为优秀的非欧盟国际学生提供由政府资助的在丹麦学习的机会。
• Fulbright Commission Scholarships to Study in Denmark - 为希望在丹麦进行一年学习的美国公民提供赴丹麦留学的奖学金。

大学专项奖学金

• Roskilde University Tuition Fee Waivers and Scholarships - 为来自欧盟/欧洲经济区以外的研究生在丹麦罗斯基勒大学学习提供各种奖学金。
• University of Copenhagen --为欧盟/欧洲经济区以外的研究生在哥本哈根大学学习提供各种奖学金--详情请见本页面。

冰岛

冰岛的学费取决于你想就读的大学是国立还是私立的。国立大学只对所有学生收取象征性的注册费，而私立院校则收取学费，非欧盟学生的学费会更高。例如，雷克雅未克大学的欧盟学生的研究生学费为每学期2,800欧元（约3,066美元），而非欧盟学生的学费为每学期5,500欧元（约6,023美元）。

政府奖学金    

Icelandic Government Scholarships  - 为在冰岛大学攻读冰岛语专业的学生提供的国际奖学金。

大学专项奖学金

• Reykjavik University Scholarships  - 基于成绩的奖学金，颁发给该大学的全日制学生，可选择在冰岛能源学院学习研究生课程。
• University of Iceland Scholarships for Existing Students - 为在冰岛工作、研究或学习的冰岛大学现有学生提供各种奖学金和研究补助。

芬兰

芬兰以前对所有学生都是免费的，不分国籍，现在对学习英语授课课程的非欧盟/欧洲经济区学生收取学费，每年至少1500欧元（约合1642美元）。然而，大多数学生将根据他们的课程支付4,000至20,000欧元（约4,380-21,905美元）。

如果非欧盟/欧洲经济区的学生是博士生或他们的课程是芬兰语或瑞典语，他们仍然可以免费学习，而且有更多的奖学金可以帮助他们资助他们的学习。

政府奖学金

Finnish Government Scholarship Pool  - 政府资助的奖学金，用于在芬兰攻读博士学位的研究生。向来自特定国家的国际学生和研究人员开放。

大学专项奖学金

• University of Helsinki - 赫尔辛基大学为在该校攻读硕士学位的非欧盟/欧洲经济区学生提供奖学金。
• University of Oulu Tuition Fee Waivers for International Students - 为在芬兰奥卢大学学习的国际硕士生提供奖学金。
• University of Turku - 高达30%的学生可以获得奖学金，在图尔库大学攻读硕士学位。

更多关于在芬兰学习的具体大学奖学金，请访问StudyinFinland.fi。

挪威

尽管挪威的所有国立大学都为国内和国际学生提供免费学费，但许多选择在挪威学习的学生将需要获得某种资金来支付高昂的生活费用。以下是一些可用的例子：↳

政府奖学金

• EEA and Norway Grants  - 为来自欧洲经济区内选定国家的学生提供国际奖学金，包括保加利亚、捷克共和国、波兰、葡萄牙和西班牙。
• High North Scholarship  - 由外交部资助，该项目为来自加拿大、美国、日本、韩国和俄罗斯的学生提供奖学金，让他们在挪威北部的特定机构学习。

瑞典

与其他北欧国家类似，在瑞典学习的学费只适用于来自欧盟和欧洲经济区以外的学生。国际学生在学习本科和硕士课程时，每年应支付80,000-190,000瑞典克朗（约8,800-20,940美元），医学和美术科目的学费甚至更高。博士生可能会高兴地注意到，瑞典的博士课程是免费的。为了支付在瑞典学习的任何费用，您可能对以下内容感兴趣。

政府奖学金

Swedish Institute Scholarships  - 瑞典学院(SI)是一个政府机构，为希望在瑞典学习的国际学生和研究人员提供奖学金机会。资格标准各不相同。

大学专项奖学金

• KTH Royal Institute of Technology  - KTH向硕士生提供学费减免以及学术奖学金。该网站还列出了一些有用的外部奖学金项目。
• Linköping University International Scholarships  - 为在林雪平大学攻读硕士学位的国际学生提供基于成绩的奖学金和学费减免。
• Lund University Global Scholarship  - 2015年，隆德大学为来自欧盟/欧洲经济区以外的国际学生发放了超过1700万瑞典克朗（200万美元）的择优奖学金。适用于本科生或硕士生。
• Malmö University Scholarships - 来自欧盟/欧洲经济区以外的硕士生的国际奖学金以及本科生的优秀奖学金，用于在瑞典马尔默大学学习。
• Stockholm University Scholarships  - 为非欧盟/欧洲经济区学生提供的国际奖学金，仅涵盖学费。
• Umeå University Scholarships for International Students - 为在于默奥大学攻读硕士学位的研究生提供各种奖学金。有些基金是针对特定学科的。
• Uppsala University Scholarships  - 国际学生有各种机会获得资助，在瑞典的乌普萨拉大学学习。

关于更多针对大学的瑞典留学奖学金，请访问StudyinSweden.se。

其他在北欧国家学习的奖学金。

• The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) Fellowships and Grants - 美国公民也可以通过ASF寻求在北欧国家学习的资金。
• Erasmus Mundus --这些奖学金是由欧盟委员会资助的，提供给来自世界各地希望在欧洲国家留学的学生。
• The Nordic Africa Institute  - 为拥有博士学位的非洲学生提供奖学金，让他们在位于瑞典乌普萨拉的研究所参与面向非洲的社会科学研究。

We’re delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s BI Norwegian Business School Scholarship is Italian student Tiziana Fadda.

Tiziana will receive a full tuition waiver to study an MSc in Finance at BI Norwegian Business School.

The scholarship, typically awarded to two winners every year, is offered in partnership between the school and QS. To be eligible, applicants need to have gained admission to study an MSc degree at BI Norwegian Business School, completed the QS Applicant Survey, and attended a QS World Grad School Fair in which BI Norwegian Business School participated.

Tiziana says she was motivated to study a master’s degree as she wants to acquire an in-depth knowledge of finance, having chosen it as her major when studying her bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business at Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli (LUISS).  

The scholarship will enable her to study in Norway without needing to worry about tuition fees. This isn’t her first time studying abroad – she’s previously gone to Texas in the US for the fourth year of high school, and also also studied in the Netherlands in the second year of her bachelor’s degree.

Tiziana says: “I found both these experiences very important for becoming who I am today” and that she wanted to study abroad to feed her curiosity: “I love getting to know different places and people with different cultural backgrounds.

“Moreover, also from an academic point of view, I believe that in Norway I’ll have more opportunities to learn surrounded by a highly innovative environment. Moreover, ever since I visited in 2006, I have been fascinated by this country and its kind people.”

Tiziana first got information on BI Norwegian Business School through her first university, LUISS, which are partner universities, and gained more insight online and through the QS World Grad School Tour. She chose BI as the school boasts highly innovative facilities, a high quality of education and a prestigious reputation.

Tiziana hopes to graduate with all the competences and skills necessary to succeed in the graduate job market, and aims to immediately find a job in the finance sector. Thinking about her plans for the future, she says: “Right now, I think I’d love to work in the brokering field of finance, but my decision is not final yet, since I still have two years to learn and discover new aspects of the subject.”

Advice for other applicants

When we asked what advice she’d give for other applicants looking to find a scholarship, Tiziana said: “I would suggest that they always try to achieve what they desire, so to apply for all the scholarships they are suitable for. Moreover, I believe that the capability of adapting to change and being open-minded are two essential attributes needed to succeed.”