For the first time, samples of magnesium oxide ceramics were obtained by a method based on irradiation of the oxide powders with a beam of fast electrons. Luminescence centers associated with intrinsic and impurity defects were found in the obtained samples. A comparative analysis of the thermoluminescence (TL) curves and dose dependencies of TL of MgO ceramics obtained by the radiation and thermochemical methods is carried out. The linear dose dependence of the TL peak at 370 K excited by a pulsed electron beam (130 keV, 1.5-30 kGy) is shown to be the main advantage of MgO ceramics for their use in TL dosimetry. Possible reasons for improving the linearity of the dose characteristics of the newly created ceramics in comparison with analogs are discussed. Keywords: magnesium oxide, thermoluminescent dosimetry, dose response, oxygen vacancies, pulsed cathodoluminescence.