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Diagnostic Radiography

BSc (Hons)

Typical offer for 2025
Duration
UCAS code

Suitable for applications.

Overview

Diagnostic Radiography (or Medical Imaging) is the practice of using various forms of radiation to produce high-quality images which aid in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of injury or disease.

It is a technology-dependent discipline, which has patient care as its main concern.

Historically, radiographers primarily used X-rays. With advances in technology, radiography also embraces techniques such as computed tomography (CT scanning), ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine.

During your course you will have the opportunity to participate in all of these techniques, and you may then decide to specialise in one or more of them when you are qualified.

Professional accreditation

This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the statutory regulatory body for allied health professionals.

By the end of your studies you will meet the professional educational standards which confers eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC.

The course is also approved by the Society of Radiographers, and during your course of study you will be able to join the Society as a student member.

Health and Care Professions Council logo

Entry requirements

Typical offer - 128 UCAS tariff points.

As well as meeting the entry requirements below, all applicants need to be able to demonstrate that they have researched diagnostic radiography as a career and are aware of the scope and diversity of the profession. Applicants are advised to spend a minimum of one day in a radiography department to help them in making an informed career choice.

Values

Students are expected to reflect the values as outlined by the University of Bradford and the NHS Constitution in both academic and practice settings.

These include working together, showing respect and maintaining dignity for service users, carers and colleagues, working inclusively so that everyone counts; showing commitment to your work and consistently offering a high quality of care.

These values also include being compassionate, demonstrating empathy and working to improve the health and wellbeing of others.

We are seeking students who can develop their communication skills, their competence in this field and show commitment to upholding these values during their education and into their future careers.

A levels

ABB, to include at least one in Science, Maths or a Technology-related subject (Sociology and Psychology are not considered Sciences).

Please note that where a science A level is taken, the University will require applicants to pass the practical element (for A levels awarded from August 2017 onwards).

T levels

Distinction - Overall Grading Distinction with subject specific requirement in Health or Healthcare Science.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM. Health or Science subject required.

Applicants on Access Programmes

128 UCAS tariff points from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Health Professions or Science.

International Baccalaureate Requirements

128 UCAS tariff points to include 3 HL subjects to include 1 HL in Maths or a Science subject. Plus HL 3 or SL 4 in Maths, Science and English Language and Literature A or English B.

Plus minimum of

GCSEs with grade C or grade 4, to include English Language, Mathematics, and a science. Level 2 equivalencies are accepted.

Those applying with an Access course are only required to have GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or grade 4. Level 2 equivalences are accepted in place of GCSE English Language and Mathematics.

Additional entry requirements

As part of the selection process, we interview short-listed candidates prior to making offers.

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening, a second reference and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

The occupational health screening

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening. This will involve completing an on-line occupational health questionnaire and attendance if required at a medical appointment.

Students on health care programmes must be able to meet the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency (2013). Occupational health screening and assessment will consider the students’ health and wellbeing and their fitness to study and practice. Progress on the course is dependent on your continued fitness.

This screening process complies with Public Health England requirements for protection of the public and students and staff working in health and social care.

All offers of places are made subject to satisfactory health clearance and an agreement to undergo appropriate blood tests and immunisations.

The University is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities to enable them to fulfil the required competencies of the programme. Candidates who are concerned about health issues are strongly advised to contact us prior to applying.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

All places are also offered subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (previously known as CRB check) disclosure. This is due to the fact that you may be required to work with children or vulnerable adults on your clinical placement, and will need to demonstrate that you can safely work with these groups upon HCPC registration.

Applicants with criminal convictions

Once you accept your offer, you will be asked to declare any criminal convictions you hold (including spent convictions). Having a criminal conviction does not mean that you cannot enrol on the course, you will need to go through a criminal convictions panel process.

English language requirements

Minimum IELTS 7.0 with no subtest less than 6.5.

If you do not meet the IELTS requirement, and you have a UKVI approved IELTS, you can take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course. See the Language Centre for more details. For further information on English Language requirements please see the dedicated international entry requirements page.

Transferring from another university

Applications to transfer to year 2 or 3 will not be considered for this programme.

What you will study

All module information is for 2023 entry, and is subject to change.

Placement Year

Clinical Education

The clinical element of the programme has been designed with imaging service providers to reflect the modern 24/7 nature of health care and give you the best possible clinical education.

Clinical learning and assessment is structured to support, complement and combine with the learning undertaken in all the modules studied throughout the three years of the programme. This will ensure you develop the underpinning knowledge, skills and critical thinking to inform your clinical practice.

Placements are, in the main, provided in the imaging departments of NHS hospital Trusts throughout the West Yorkshire area. The University works very closely with its clinical partners to ensure students are well supported in their clinical practice and whilst they are away from the University. Your placement learning will be supervised by qualified HCPC registered Diagnostic Radiographers and other multiprofessional staff who will contribute to your learning and development.

During each academic year you will spend 18 weeks on clinical placement and at the start of each academic year you will receive a unique placement timetable designed to ensure that you gain the required experience to achieve the learning outcomes of the programme and allow you to develop the skills and competencies required of a registered diagnostic radiographer. Clinical placements occur mainly in blocks during each semester, alternating with block weeks at University. This allows you to fully integrate theory and practice.

As your clinical education is planned to ensure you gain the experience appropriate to your studies, you must attend your placement for the full length of time specified on your personal timetable. This equates to 100% attendance and you will be required to make good any missed placement. During your clinical placements you will gain a wide range experience relevant to the your studies in all aspects of imaging practice including CT, MRI, US, interventional, trauma and general radiography.

Learning and assessment

We use a range of learning and teaching activities to give you the knowledge and skills you need to practice competently as a diagnostic radiographer. These include:

  • research informed lectures
  • enquiry based activities
  • practical simulations in the x-ray room
  • using the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) suite to view medical images
  • peer discussions and debates
  • group work and presentations
  • technology assisted learning (such as use of a virtual learning environment, iPads used to support learning and in-class tests, and online wikis and discussion boards)

These are designed to develop your skills as an autonomous learner, an independent and critical thinker, an effective user of interpersonal skills for the benefit of people in your care, and a team-worker.

Academic blocks of university attendance are interspaced with blocks of placement to ensure an integrated approach to theory and practice.

The programme uses diverse assessment methods to allow you to demonstrate the array of knowledge and skills you have acquired. These include assignments, patient case studies, presentations, teaching sessions to peers, research proposals and projects, objective, structured clinical examinations (OSCE), multiple choice questions, patient assessments, clinical assessments, and a professional development portfolio.

A number of platforms are used to support these assessments, including e-portfolios, computer delivered and marked examinations and use of our Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS).

Many modules allow you options in assessment. For example, one of the assessments for the Practicing Radiography in a Diverse Society module allows you to create an e-portfolio demonstrating how you have achieved the learning outcomes. Imaging in Context allows you to choose a patient pathway and write a case study to demonstrate how you have achieved the module learning outcomes.

Throughout the three years of your studies you will complete a Clinical Portfolio indicating that you have achieved required competencies. You can be creative in how you demonstrate that you have achieved these competencies.

Official programme specification

Our facilities

The X-ray suite, with its range of anatomical and imaging phantoms, allows students to practice on equipment similar to that used in most hospital imaging departments.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2025

  • UK: £9,250

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

Graduates have the potential to progress to Advanced and Consultant Practitioner status.

You may choose to specialise in a particular imaging technique such as nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography or ultrasound, or a particular area such as paediatrics, gastrointestinal or vascular and interventional imaging.

You could also join one of the internationally renowned companies in the medical imaging industry, researching, developing and marketing new products.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Study support

Whilst at the University you will have a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) assigned to you who will oversee both your academic and clinical education.  The PAT system ensures that all students have a named academic point of contact and that you are effectively supported throughout your studies.

You will meet regularly with your PAT on a 1-2-1 or small group basis, and they will be able to offer you help and advice on all aspects of the course and support you with both academic and pastoral care. 

Your PAT will visit you whilst on clinical placement and liaise closely with Clinical Supervisors, who are based in the clinical placement sites. The Clinical Supervisors will plan your bespoke clinical timetable and they will support you whilst on placement. The Clinical Supervisors will oversee the supervision and teaching of the HCPC qualified radiographers who you will be working closely with whilst on placement. The Clinical Supervisors are also responsible for providing you with feedback or your progress in clinical practice and assessing your practice development. 

University central services are rich with support teams to assist students with every aspect of their journey through our degree programmes. From our Career and Employability Service, through our strong Students' Union, to our professional and efficient Student Finance team, there are always friendly faces ready to support you and provide you with the answers that you need.

Our Virtual Learning Environment allows students to access resources, participate in group work and submit work from anywhere in the world 24/7.

Research

At the Faculty of Health Studies we focus on research themes that have a direct impact on the quality of care.

Our research is locally and internationally significant, undertaken in collaboration with NHS and other partners.

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.