Course overview
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A diagnostic radiographer’s work is incredibly diverse, challenging and rewarding. You use the latest medical imaging technology to produce high-quality diagnostic images to support clinical diagnosis and treatment of trauma or disease. You work with other health care professionals to provide imaging and treatment services for patients in busy clinical settings, including accident and emergency, general x-ray and theatre.
As a radiographer, you work in a fast-paced environment where patient interactions are often relatively short compared with other health care settings. Therefore, you need to draw upon your strong interpersonal and communication skills to quickly put patients at ease. You are also responsible for the physical and psychosocial care of the patient and must demonstrate a high level of patient care, empathy and compassion.
This fast-track diagnostic radiography course can lead to registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. High-quality radiographers with leadership and intellectual skills are highly sought by prospective NHS employers to help drive change in service delivery. The course is particularly suited to applicants with a biomedical sciences or anatomy background.
Your practice placements are in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Sunderland, Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, and both North and South Tyneside.
Study this course and you may be eligible for a £5,000 maintenance grant each year from the NHS Business Service Authority. Find out more.
Supporting information for applicants
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
This 35 week module prepares you for your first clinical placement. You gain an understanding of the radiographer’s role and the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the clinical placement.
This 17 week module introduces you to more complex radiographic examinations where you review radiographic images for diagnostic acceptability and abnormality recognition. It introduces you to the applications, indications and contraindications of a range of contrast media and pharmacology used in radiographic examinations and procedures.
Professional Practice and Mastery
Using a problem-based learning approach, you explore professional practice in a radiographic context, and develop a critical and evaluative approach to?ethical and professional issues, recognising how personal perspectives can affect client management.?
Radiographic Anatomy, Physics and Legislation
Gain knowledge of the underlying principles of anatomical and physical sciences, medical imaging practice, ionising radiation regulation, and medical imaging equipment. You also use computer-based simulation software and the clinical skills lab to prepare you for practice.
Year 2 core modules
This module runs for 31 weeks, beginning with a taught element for the first 15 weeks and then your clinical placement. These taught seminars and workshops introduce you to a structured system of assessing radiographs for abnormalities, a structured system of providing a preliminary comment on the radiograph and peripheral intravenous cannulation technique.
Dissertation Preparation for Health Professionals
Develop your skills to design and manage research projects relevant to health professionals. You gain a systematic and critical understanding of different research approaches and designs, building your ability to evaluate evidence. Select, justify and use appropriate data analysis techniques to develop, plan and manage a research project that meets ethical standards.
You undertake a substantive piece of either primary or secondary research developed from the research module in Stage 2. This is primarily an independent piece of research in a related area with guidance from a member of staff or research institute teams.
Preliminary Clinical Evaluation and Enhancing Practice
Develop essential preliminary skills and focus on clinical evaluation of radiographic images of the appendicular skeleton, axial skeleton, chest and abdomen for manifest abnormality.
Specialist Radiographic Imaging
You build on previous learning undertaken in both clinical placement and university. You gain an insight into modern and evolving medical imaging technology.
Many specialist imaging modalities are covered, including computed tomography and ultrasound. The underpinning scientific principles and safety aspects of these modalities are discussed, as well as their use and clinical impact in the care of patients. Learning is enhanced through a series of keynote lectures and seminars.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
On-campus learning is facilitated through lectures, seminars, group work, and problem-based study. The medical imaging team also has access to IT facilities. A proportion of teaching is supported through a computer programme to simulate x-rays, as well as special image retrieval and display systems.
Approximately 50% of your learning is in the clinical environment. During this time, you have some allocated study time, through the University’s virtual learning environment. You get increasingly demanding opportunities to achieve the outcomes of the programme and fulfil the requirements for clinical competence. You also experience a range of imaging strategies in different environments, so as a radiographer you can act as an informed source and an advocate for the patient. The clinical environment provides an experiential learning setting to develop clinical reasoning, problem-solving, and a reflective approach to practice. You are encouraged to apply theoretical knowledge to the practical situation, plan your practice, undertake examination, and reflect on the process and outcome.
How you are assessed
You are assessed through written assignments, presentations, and oral and written examinations. You also produce a written research article as part of your major project work.
Entry requirements
We are unable to reconsider unsuccessful applicants in the same application cycle, however you can reapply in the future and you will be required to meet the criteria as if you were a first time applicant.
Applicants should normally have an honours degree in science (at least 2.2).
Admission to the course is dependent upon completion of the following selection processes:
- academic entry requirements being met
- satisfactory application form
- successful interview
- satisfactory references
- completed work-based risk assessment process
- receipt of a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
During the course and on completion you must declare any convictions, cautions or allegations to the University and relevant professional body prior to application for registration.
Your personal statement is measured against the following criteria:
- demonstration of your insight into the role of the radiographer (regardless of how this has been achieved) and a commitment to the profession
- demonstration of caring for others, for example in a service industry job, care provider, school role, community work
- demonstration of interpersonal skills (communication and collaboration) for example, volunteering, work activities, team sports
- demonstration of personal initiative and commitment - some individual accomplishment at a remarkable level for example part-time work, excellent grades, long-term youth group membership or sport/hobby participation
- demonstration of self-awareness - describe the type of person you are.
To score well at interview you will be measured against the following criteria which has been mapped against the NHS Constitution values:
- working together
- respecting and preserving dignity
- committed to and capable of becoming an autonomous professional radiographer
- caring
- compassionate
- improving and innovating
- non-judgmental, everyone counts
If you are successful in both shortlisting and interview you receive a conditional offer which is subject to the following:
- evidence of achievement of the required academic qualifications
- a successful work based risk assessment which will reflect the HEOPS recommendations - please read here. For more information on all of the HEOPS standards click here
- an enhanced criminal history (DBS) check may be required for certain modules or placements which involve working with children and/or adults at risk. Where an enhanced DBS check is required, applicants will cover the cost of these checks which can only be processed through the University.
- satisfactory references.
Until the above are successfully completed the offer of a place on the course remains conditional.
International applicants
- International applicants must have IELTS 7.0 with a minimal score of 6.5 in all sections or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 100/120 (in conjunction with a Teesside University English language test)* before an unconditional offer is made
- If you are successful at shortlisting you will be invited to attend an interview (which may be in person OR video call) in one of our international offices in either India, Malaysia or China, or through a secure web link (which will be arranged by the University).
- If you can not attend an interview as stated, you will be unable to proceed with your application.
*Students holding TOEFL qualifications at the required grade will be able to combine the qualification with a Teesside University English language test to meet the English language requirement. The English language test will assess listening and speaking competency.
For international enquiries please email internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk
Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credits for previous study or related work experience which can be credited towards the course you want to study. Find out more about RPL.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Employability
Career opportunities
Graduates in diagnostic radiography are a vital part of modern health care and employment opportunities are available in the UK and abroad.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
