Hybrid Courses in the Field of Particle Therapy

News

PLEASE NOTE: The course in 2026 is fully booked. Registration is closed as there are no more free places. The next course is scheduled for Oct./Nov. 2027. Thank you.

Please feel free to contact us by email at spezialkurs.partikeltherapie(at)dkfz-heidelberg.de if you have any further questions or would like to be added to our mailing list.

Overview

You can book the following course types

Course type 1a: Hybrid Specialized Course Particle Therapy for Physicians (24 Teaching Units (TUs))
Course type 1b: Hybrid Specialized Course Radiation Protection Particle Therapy (ST5) for Medical Physics Experts (MPEs; 18 TUs)
Course type 2a: Hybrid Teaching Course Particle Therapy, including Specialized Course for Physicians (40 TUs)
Course type 2b: Hybrid Teaching Course Particle Therapy, including Specialized Course for MPEs (33 TUs)
Course type 3: Hybrid Teaching Course Particle Therapy (37 TUs)

All courses are designed as flexible as possible to fit into the professional's busy schedule. As one of the largest radiation therapy centers in Europe, the unique Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT) with its isocentric gantry as well as many years of experience in online-enhanced teaching, Heidelberg is an excellent place for further education of physicians and physicists, and young scientists.

Please feel free to download our flyer here to share with your colleagues:

Download: Flyer 2026 (PDF)

Course Details, Programs, Dates and Target Groups

Please note: Students as well as international colleagues without German language proficiency compared to level B2/C1 can only book course type 3. This course type is completely taught in English.

Details Course Types 1a and 1b

Details Course Types 2a and 2b

Details Course Type 3

Online Phase, Online Sessions and Online Test

A laptop is open on a wooden desk, next to a glass of water and a notebook with a pen. The setting suggests a workspace, suitable for study or reflection. This image accompanies content related to hybrid training in particle therapy.

All courses start with an online phase of 6 weeks. It is designed to be as flexible as possible in order to take into account the professional's busy schedule. During this period, participants get access to the virtual learning platform “Moodle” which provides all learning materials such as recorded video lectures and lecture notes as PDFs.

In addition, there are three assignments for participants of course types 2a, 2b, and 3, that need to be solved in small groups during the online phase. During the Online Sessions the results of these three assignments will be discussed with our teachers and the whole group. To work on the group assignments, further online rooms and tools will be provided to participants for individual use.

The online phase of all course types are concluded by the mandatory online test about all topics of the online phase. Please note the following:

For course types 1 and 2: 70% of the points need to be reached to successfully pass the online test and to be accepted for the hybrid attendance phase. If a participant reaches less than 70%, but more than 50%, a short online oral interview on Zoom will be arranged individually with the course leaders prior to the hybrid attendance phase.
For course type 3: 50% of the points need to be reached to successfully pass the online test.

Please also download and read our technical requirements to attend our hybrid courses:

Download: Technical Requirements (PDF)

Hybrid Attendance Phase in Heidelberg and ID Check

Ein helles, modernes Foyer mit großen Fenstern. Links stehen mehrere mit weißen Tüchern bedeckte Stehtische. In der Mitte und rechts sind Pflanzen, die dem Raum eine grüne Note verleihen. Der Eingang ist gut sichtbar. Der Raum wirkt einladend und luftig. — Entrance of DKFZ Communication Center

The hybrid attendance phase takes place simultaneously on Zoom and on site in Heidelberg. Participants decide while booking if they would like to attend online on Zoom or on-site in Heidelberg. The venue at DKFZ is provided with excellent video and audio equipment to ensure interactive and high-quality lectures and sessions. Each on-site participant has their own microphone in the seminar room to broadcast questions to all online participants.

Prior to the first session on Zoom or on-site in Heidelberg, there will be the so-called Online ID Check or On-site Registration (either with your ID card or your passport) with the course coordinators (date and time see programs). More information about this procedure will be announced in advance on Moodle. Each participant has to do the ID Check only once.

Snacks and beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks) during the coffee breaks in Heidelberg (see programs) are included in the registration fee.

Venue

A modern building of the DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center) is depicted, featuring a glass entrance and surrounded by greenery. The image captures a clear blue sky and a paved area with benches, creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. — Main Entrance of DKFZ, Communication Center on the left-hand side

The attendance phase in Heidelberg is hosted as a hybrid event and thus, all sessions are available on Zoom to those who attend online only.

The address of the venue is:

German Cancer Research Center
Communication Center, Seminar room K1/K2 (1st floor)
Im Neuenheimer Feld 280
DE-69120 Heidelberg

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/Pyq26ZDENVaXyGqX6

How to get there: https://www.dkfz.de/en/about-us/who-we-are/your-way-to-us

Course Completion and Certificates

Please note and download the following hints for the respective course types. In both files the mandatory exam for course types 1 and 2 as well as the mandatory second online test of course type 3 are explained. The defined conditions must be met in order to receive the corresponding certificates.

Download: Hints for Course Types 1 and 2 (PDF) in German

Download: Hints for Course Type 3 (PDF) in English

Guided Tours at HIT: online or on-site

A panoramic view of a medical treatment room featuring a treatment machine in the center. The walls are white, with overhead lights and screens displaying information. Markings on the floor indicate safe areas. There's an open door to a gantry, suggesting a focus on advanced radiation therapy techniques. — Treatment Room of the Gantry at HIT

As part of the course, participants will have access to a virtual tour of the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT). Participants who will be on site in Heidelberg can register for a guided tour of the HIT, which will be offered after the course. Participation is optional. Registration takes place during the online phase via the Moodle learning platform. For online participants, we also offer a guided virtual tour of the HIT, which takes place directly after the end of the course (see programs).

Course Leaders

Prof. Jäkel and Prof. Debus — Prof. Jäkel (left) and Prof. Debus

Professor Oliver Jäkel, PhD

Head of the Department of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology, DKFZ, Heidelberg
Head of Medical Physics of the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT)

Professor Jürgen Debus, MD, PhD

Medical Director of Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), of the Radiation Oncology and Radiation Therapy Clinic at UKHD as well as of the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT)

Fees and Registration 2026

A close-up of a black computer keyboard with a pen resting on the "Enter" key. The image emphasizes the keyboard's layout and functionality, aligning with the context of technology and education in medical physics and particle therapy.

Course type 1a:

Regular fee: €400
Reduced fee for Heidelberg Members: €290

Course type 1b:

Regular fee: €300
Reduced fee for Heidelberg Members: €250

Course type 2a:

Regular fee: €560
Reduced fee for Heidelberg Members: €450

Course type 2b:

Regular fee: €450
Reduced fee for Heidelberg Members: €390

Please note: only members of the Division of E040 (DKFZ), of the Division of Radiooncology and Radiation Therapy (University Hospital Heidelberg) or of the HIT can register with the reduced fee for course types 1 and 2.

Course type 3:

Regular fee: €490
Students' fee (BSc, MSc or PhD/MD students with enrolment confirmation ("Immatrikulationsbescheinigung")): €150

Course registration for 2026 is possible by Sep. 24, 2026, 12.00 (noon, CEST). As part of the registration process, registrations are reviewed under applicable export control and sanctions regulations where legally required.

We are pleased to waive the participation fee of course type 3 for a limited number of selected participants. More information is available below. You can submit your application from Apr. 27 to Aug. 24, 2026 (see below).

Register here. Registration is closed.

Registration Portal for Free Course Participation for Course 3. The application for free participation is closed.

Contact

Two professionals stand smiling together in a modern indoor setting. They appear to be discussing or collaborating on topics related to particle therapy, reflecting the focus of the surrounding educational content on advancing training in this medical field. — Anna Moshanina and Marcel Schäfer

Please contact us with any questions you may have at spezialkurs.partikeltherapie(at)dkfz.de

Course organization

Anna Moshanina & Marcel Schäfer

German Cancer Research Center
Division of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology
Im Neuenheimer Feld 223
DE-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

Phone: +49 6221 42-3481 (on Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Moshanina) as well as 42-2644 (on Mondays and Thursdays: Schäfer)

Partners

Heidelberg Institute for Radiation Oncology (HIRO)

Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy

Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Centre (HIT)

Heidelberg University, heiSKILLS Centre, Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning

Course Certification

Regional Authority (Regierungspräsidium) Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

The Specialized Course Particle Therapy for Physicians (24 TUs; course type 1a and parts of course type 2a), as well as the one for MPEs (18 TUs; course type 1b and parts of course types 2b), are officially recognized as hybrid courses on November 16th 2023 by the Regional Authority (Regierungspräsidium) Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, based on §51 in combination with §47 para 3 of the "StrlSchV". This recognition is valid in all German Federal States until Nov. 16th 2028.

DGMP (German Society of Medical Physics):

Since the courses have been accepted by the Regional Authority Tübingen, all courses are automatically approved by the DGMP (German Society of Medical Physics) as Education and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Landesärztekammer Baden-Württemberg (LÄK):

The course types 1a and 2a are recognized in 2026 by the Society for Physicians of Baden-Württemberg (Landesärztekammer Baden-Württemberg) with 24 (course type 1a) and 40 (course type 2a) points in category K.

Since the courses 1a and 2a are recognized by the Regional Authority Tübingen, other German societies for physicians (Landesärztekammern) accepts the points by the LÄK Baden-Württemberg.