Choose by the work
Which medical physics specialism might suit you?
Start with the problems and day-to-day work you would like to learn, not the label that sounds most impressive. The NSHCS currently places four specialties inside Medical Physics: non-ionising imaging, radiation safety and diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy physics and nuclear medicine.
How do the four specialties compare?
The examples below are an orientation, not a complete job description. Curricula, rotations, equipment and clinical work vary by specialty, employer and training post. Use the current NSHCS curriculum and the employer's post information to check what a particular place actually offers.
| Specialty | Typical focus | You may spend time on |
|---|---|---|
| Imaging with Non-Ionising Radiation | MRI, ultrasound and other non-ionising techniques | Image quality, equipment performance, safety, testing and clinical implementation |
| Radiation Safety and Diagnostic Radiology | X-ray and CT imaging plus radiation protection | Dose, optimisation, quality assurance, equipment checks and advice on safe use |
| Radiotherapy Physics | Accurate radiation treatment | Treatment planning, dosimetry, quality assurance and checking safe delivery |
| Nuclear Medicine | Radioactive tracers for imaging and treatment | Measurement, PET/SPECT systems, dosimetry, quality and molecular therapies |
What should you compare?
- The clinical questions and patients the team supports
- The balance of measurement, modelling, coding and communication
- How much work involves ionising or non-ionising radiation
- The equipment and quality systems used each day
- The training locations actually available in a recruitment round
Is diagnostic imaging one STP specialty?
Not under the current taxonomy. Imaging work is split across Imaging with Non-Ionising Radiation and Radiation Safety and Diagnostic Radiology, while Nuclear Medicine also has a substantial imaging component.
Where does Clinical Scientific Computing fit?
It is an adjacent Physical Sciences specialty with useful overlap in data, software and modelling. The NSHCS lists it separately, not inside Medical Physics.
What does an undefined Medical Physics STP post mean?
‘Undefined’ does not mean that the job or training is unplanned. In 2026, these posts began with broad medical-physics rotations and allocated a named specialty later. Allocation could take account of trainee preference, training capacity and workforce need, so a preferred specialty was not guaranteed. Before ranking a post, check which rotations and final specialties that employer offered, when allocation would happen and how the decision would be made. If the official post information does not answer those questions, use the contact named in the advert. Treat this as 2026 context until the 2027 posts are published.
Does an undefined post include MRI?
Possibly, but do not assume that it does. MRI sits within Imaging with Non-Ionising Radiation, and each employer lists the rotations and final specialties it can support. If MRI is important to you, look for it in the employer's official post information or ask the named contact before ranking the post.
How can you test your preference?
Read official specialty descriptions, attend open events where available and compare real job duties. A preference is stronger when it is based on the work rather than one machine or a general interest in healthcare.
Go one level deeper
Compare the clinical work behind the labels.
Start with radiotherapy, nuclear medicine or the two main imaging-related areas.