Diagnostic Radiography

BSc (Honours)

UndergraduateDiagnostic radiography

Work alongside experienced practitioners, learning how to become a professional radiographer and a valued member of the healthcare profession – able to deliver high-quality patient-centred care.

Everything you need to know…
  • What is the fee?

    International/EU: £18,655 per year

  • How long will I study?

    3 Years

  • What are the admission requirements?

    128 UCAS Points

  • When do I start?

    2024.September

Course summary
Work alongside experienced practitioners, learning how to become a professional radiographer and a valued member of the healthcare profession – able to deliver high-quality patient-centred care.
Explore the intricacies of anatomy and physiology of the human body firsthand.
Use cutting-edge techniques to produce images of the body to diagnose diseases.
Prepare for the profession, ready to use and engage in groundbreaking research.
Master imaging techniques for musculoskeletal and soft tissue systems.

This challenging and inspiring course provides the foundational knowledge and skills you’ll need to safely operate a variety of diagnostic imaging equipment. As part of a multidisciplinary team, you'll ensure patients receive high standards of care. After graduating you'll be eligible to apply for registration as a diagnostic radiographer with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

If you don't meet the entry requirements for this course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation course.
How you learn

Theory will prepare you for practice learning experiences are designed to help you not only to apply theory to practice, but to develop critical and ethical approaches to your practice in order to become life-long, competent professionals. You are required to attend the practice learning experiences provided on the course to achieve the course practice learning outcomes.

You’ll undertake a range of practice learning experiences, helping you to build your skills, confidence, creativity, resilience, integrity and curiosity. This will take place in different practice learning environments, reflecting the range of ways in which services are currently delivered. This might include simulated learning and virtual placements alongside real world experience of services delivered face to face to service users. 

The university will ensure that the practice learning element of your course will be compliant with the requirements of the Professional and Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) governing your chosen profession. This is so that by the end of your course, you will have been provided with the opportunity to demonstrate attainment of the requirements to register as a professional with your chosen profession.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

Diagnostic radiographers are an integral part of a multiprofessional team.

On this course, you'll find out about the teamwork and understanding required to provide excellent care throughout the patient journey.

You’ll learn from other students and practitioners across a range of healthcare professions. These include therapeutic radiographers, nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists, social workers, operation department practitioners and occupational therapists. 

This distinctive curriculum enhances your employability skills, helping to challenge and develop you in becoming a vital allied health professional in an ever changing workplace.

You'll study academic modules, while gaining placement experience in range of practice settings.

You learn through

  • lectures
  • guest speakers
  • seminars
  • group work
  • practical activities
  • simulation in imaging, ward and theatre suites
  • image interpretation activities
Future career

This course prepares you for a career in

  • diagnostic radiography

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

  •  NHS trusts and private hospitals across the country and abroad
Equipment and facilities

Our on-campus teaching is conducted in and around clinical and ward settings. You’ll have access to all the equipment and furniture found in a contemporary hospital clinical space. 

On this course you work with: 

  • A fully equipped digital X-ray suite
  • Mobile X-ray units
  • An operating theatre C-arm
  • Dental imaging equipment
  • Virtual reality imaging and PACs software
  • A wide and diverse range of imaging phantoms and life-like patient models

We have invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.

 

Entry requirements

UCAS points

128

From A levels including at least 40 points from either Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics or BTEC National Extended Diploma in Applied Science, Health Science or Health Studies. Health and Social Care is not accepted as a relevant subject but can count towards the points. We do not accept AS Levels or general studies.

For example:

  • ABB at A Level including relevant subject(s)
  • DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject
  • A combination of qualifications including relevant subject(s)

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

Or

  • Approved Access to HE Diploma in health studies, health science, nursing or another science-based course. Normally we require 15 of the level 3 credits to be graded at distinction level with 12 of these distinctions from science units.
  • If you are in the process of completing the FdSc Professional Practice in Health and Social Care at one of our partner colleges and are looking to progress your career as a registered professional, we would welcome an application from you. Please note the different application routes below:
    • Completing the level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Professional Practice in Health and Social Care means you can apply via UCAS to be considered for entry at Year 1 of your chosen professional degree
    • Completing the full two year FdSc to level 5 means you can apply to be considered for entry in to Year 2 of this professional degree. This is a direct application process in accordance with the partnership arrangement between Sheffield Hallam University and your college, not via UCAS. Please note that places to commence this course in Year 2 are limited.

Other equivalent qualifications are considered individually. Graduate applicants would need a 2.2 in a relevant science degree with honours or a 2.2 in any degree with honours plus an A level in a science subject with a minimum of 40 UCAS tariff points.

And

GCSE's in

  • Science at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
  • Maths at grade D or 4 or equivalents**
  • English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents***

*GCSE Science equivalents

  • OCR Science level 2
  • Science units gained on a level 3 BTEC or OCR National Diploma or Extended Diploma qualification
  • Science credits gained on Access to Higher Education Diplomas (at least 12 credits at level 2 or 6 credits gained at level 3)
  • Science equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk

**GCSE Math's equivalents

  • Level 2 Key Skills/ Application of Number/ Grade D at GSCE Maths/ Level 2 Maths credits from an Access course
  • Maths quivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk

***GCSE English equivalents

  • Level 2 Literacy
  • Level 2 Key Skills

IELTS

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English. Please note that the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) require IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5 for registration.

Helping your application succeed

Experience

Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care.  It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.

Reference

You must provide a reference from a current or recent employer or educational institution with your UCAS application.

Interview

If your application is shortlisted you will be required to complete an additional task before being considered to attend an interview. This task is to produce and submit a 2 minute (maximum) video answering the following questions:

'Tell us what you know about Diagnostic Radiography and why do you want to join this profession?'

View our interview guidance to ensure you understand the interviews process and how you can prepare for this.

Course enrolment - professional requirements

Before enrolling you must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission declaration form provided during the admissions process:

  • unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
  • involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
  • involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
  • enrolment on a health or social work professional course at another University

In addition

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check

  • you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
  • you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the application process
  • if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
  • where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Professional Issues Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.

Occupational Health Screening

You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.

Immunisations

You must undertake a programme of immunisations as required by the Department of Health and meet the immunisation and immunity requirements of placement providers. This will be provided by the University free of charge. Please obtain details of your immunisation history from your doctor so you can submit this during your Occupational Health Screening.

Pre-course Day

After completing the above professional checks, if you reside in the UK it is important for you to make every reasonable attempt to attend a Pre-Course Day event to undertake the next stage of the professional requirements for your course. The pre-course day is also a good opportunity to meet fellow applicants on the health & social care courses who will be starting their studies at the same time as you, as well as some current students and teaching staff. We will look forward to welcoming you on the day.

Other professional suitability information

Your full enrolment on your course will be confirmed when the Professional Issues Team have verified that your Enhanced DBS Disclosure (and overseas criminal record check where relevant) indicates that you are suitable to work with vulnerable groups including children and clearance from your health screening has been received. 

If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please tell the Professional Issues team immediately by calling 0114 225 5637 or emailing HWB-Professional-Issues@shu.ac.uk.

Disability support

We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions, learning difficulty or disability you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and take part without disadvantage both in University and on placement.

You can contact our disability coordinator on 0114 225 2588 to explore any issues you may have, or you can contact our university disabled student support team on 0114 225 3964 (voice and Minicom).

The Disability Disclosure booklet provides information for students on health and social care courses and will help you understand the importance of disclosing your disability at the earliest possible stage. This is so you can be assessed for the support you may require to succeed on the course.

Open day

Our online open days give you an opportunity to chat live to our teaching staff and current students. You can explore the campus and view our facilities virtually as well as asking any questions you may have. To book your place at one of our online open days please follow this link: University open days.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Modules

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Year 1
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Collaboration For Individual And Community Wellbeing

20

Practical

Developing Radiographic Practice

40

Coursework

Part 1 Placement

   

Introduction To Diagnostic Imaging

40

Practical

Personal And Professional Development

20

Coursework

 

 

Year 2
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Assessing And Addressing Complexity In Practice

20

Practical

Contemporary Imaging Practice

40

Coursework

Contemporary Imaging Practice 2

40

Practical

Drad Practice Placement 2

 

 

Evidence And Enquiry For Practice

20

Coursework

 

Final Year
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Complexity & Leadership In Professional Practice

20

Coursework

Drad Practice Placement 3

   

The Advancing Professional

40

Coursework

The Autonomous Radiography Practitioner

40

Practical

The Radiography Revolution

20

Coursework