Masters Degrees (Interventional Radiology)

This course is designed for health professionals who use diagnostic imaging and interventions in their current role, including • diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers • radiation technologists • physiotherapists • nurses • advanced nurse practitioners • junior doctors • dentists • podiatrists.

It is available worldwide as you don't have to attend the university. You complete your learning at a time and place that suits your own personal and employment circumstances.

You learn in a variety of areas and formats, tailoring the content to your individual circumstance and need. There are opportunities to develop your theoretical knowledge in and around diagnostic imaging, or to specialise in a particular area.

Modules relate to diagnostic imaging as well as wider health practice, and take place in a multi-disciplinary and international environment in an online setting. The core topics covered may include

• image interpretation (musculoskeletal, chest, abdominal, CT head)
• cross-sectional imaging (CT / MRI)
• interventional
• research
• education in health care

As this is a distance learning course, you use various online platforms and technologies to support your learning, such as our virtual learning environment (SHUspace) and PebblePad. Learning takes place in various formats including

• online presentations and live collaborative sessions with tutors
• discussion forums with peers and tutors
• imaging case studies
• access to a wide range of online resources and textbooks
• ongoing formative activities (e-tivities)

You are supported by an expert team of academics and tutors, all of whom are experienced registered health professionals. Current clinical practitioners also help develop and deliver resources. The course team has a range of specialist expertise including • image interpretation • cross-sectional imaging • interventional radiology • research • higher education • professional issues • advanced practice.

You have a course leader and a named academic advisor to support your learning. Each module has a module leader to aid you specifically in that area, and we have dedicated student support officers who support all aspects of your time on the course.

This course allows you to apply masters level thinking to your practice and boost your confidence in your judgement. This can enhance your job prospects and career progression wherever you choose to work.

Study individual modules

You can study individual modules from this course and gain academic credit towards a qualification. Visit our continuing professional development website for more information.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited by the Society and College of Radiographers. 

Course structure

The postgraduate certificate (PgCert) is achieved by successfully completing 60 credits. The postgraduate diploma (PgDip) is achieved by successfully completing 120 credits. The masters (MSc) award is achieved by successfully completing 180 credits.

The combination of modules studied on this course is tailored according to your own areas of interest, aims and goals. You discuss your individual study route with the course leader.

Core modules

• Awareness of error in diagnostic imaging (15 credits)
• Research methods for practice (15 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional modules

• Chest radiographic image interpretation (15 credits)
• Appendicular musculoskeletal radiographic image interpretation (15 credits)
• Axial musculoskeletal radiographic image interpretation (15 credits)
• Abdominal imaging (15 credits)
• Cross-sectional imaging (15 credits)
• Computed tomography head image interpretation: acute and emergency care (15 credits)
• Introduction to healthcare education (30 credits)

Assessment

The approach to assessment is varied and we use both formative (not formally marked) and summative (formally marked) assessments in each of the modules. The assessment pattern is designed to encourage your personal, professional, and academic development.Short online formative activities (e-tivities) are used to promote engagement with the distance learning materials, provide support for the final assignment and facilitate online discussion with fellow students on the module. Final summative tasks to assess your completion of the modules are varied but include methods such as

• traditional written coursework assignments
• online computer-based exams
• electronic poster or powerpoint presentations
• research proposals and projects.

Employability

This course is designed to enhance your current practice and role, employability and professional development opportunities. You are able to take advantage of an increasing number of opportunities related to role development and extension, and skills mix across the various healthcare professions using diagnostic imaging.

You may use this course to evidence your CPD and produce a CPD portfolio, or to develop into an area of advanced practice such as image interpretation.

It is designed with health professionals in mind, helping to support career progression and service development.

The course may also allow you to develop your career into academic teaching or research, or offer a route to PhD study.

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This course aims to develop qualified health care professionals to meet the challenge of specialist, advanced and consultant practitioner status in the field of medical imaging within a rapidly evolving health service.

You can further your professional development by taking a PGC in skeletal reporting, CT head reporting, all aspects of Ultrasound, or Mammography. Alternatively you could take a single module in a specific area, including Barium swallow and VF, CTC, cardiac stress testing or HSG - please enquire for other areas. Qualified sonographers can develop niche areas of practice such as vascular and breast imaging. If you want to develop ultrasound competencies in MSK, abdominal, obstetrics and gynaecology scanning then you should follow the MSc in Ultrasound Imaging route.

We have a wide range of options for breast imaging including mammography (equivalent to the College of Radiographers' postgraduate certificate in principles and practice of mammography); mammogram image interpretation; MRI breast reproting; interventional procedures; and breast ultrasound. Pick and choose your preferred options and modules to build a bespoke Masters qualification focused around breast imaging.

Key benefits:

• Our ultrasound modules are fully accredited by the Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE)
• Experienced, enthusiastic and friendly staff committed to supporting you through your study
• Access to our excellent onsite clinical facilities, including ultrasound machines, digital imaging suite and a 16 slice CT scanner.

Visit the website: http://www.salford.ac.uk/pgt-courses/advanced-medical-imaging

Suitable for

This programme will appeal to a variety of health care professionals engaged in current practice including radiographers, radiologists, speech and language therapists. You will need access to a relevant caseload for clinically-related modules.

Programme details

This is a part-time course which enables you to continue working in your clinical placement, so that you gain the necessary practical experience while learning the academic information to develop your skills. It provides a highly flexible approach to developing competence in niche areas of practice.

You have the choice to exit with the following awards:

• Postgraduate Certificate: two (30 credit) modules over one year or 18 months
• Postgraduate Diploma: four (30 credit) modules over two years
• Master of Science: four (30 credit) modules plus the dissertation module (60 credits) over three years

Your module choice will depend on your practice area and the profile of your award which should be discussed with the course team prior to commencement to establish a Negotiated Learning Agreement. This means your course is tailor-made to meet your exact learning requirements.

Students can opt to take a medical imaging specialism pathway in year 1 and 2. Details of these routes can be seen at the bottom of the page.

Format

The course is delivered by:

• Classroom based lectures
• Tutorials
• Seminars and student discussion groups
• Skills lab based practicals
• Self-directed study
• E-based learning
• Work based learning, some modules include visits to Centres of Excellence

Module titles

• Advancing Practice in Medical Imaging
• Screening and Diagnosis
• Publishing and Presenting in Health Care
• Fundamentals of Radiological Reporting
• Radiology Image Interpretation
• Fundamentals of Mammography Practice
• Advanced Technique in Mammography Practice
• Research Methods
• Ultrasound focused areas of practice (vascular and breast)
• Mammography practice
• Reporting (skeletal, breast, CT head)
• GI technique only (barium swallow & VF, CTC)
• GI techniques with reporting, HSG with reporting
• HSG technique only, Breast Intervention, Cardiac stress testing

Assessment

Assessment methods are designed to suit a variety of learning styles and include;

• Assignments
• Viva Voce
• Exams
• Portfolio
• Objective structured assessment
• Poster presentation

The percentage depends on the individual modules.

Career potential

Most students have been seconded from and return to their work in the National Health Service with advanced practitioner status, and a number have gone on to become consultant practitioners. Students will also be supported to apply for Advanced Practitioner Accreditation with the College of Radiographers.

How to apply: http://www.salford.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying

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The Postgraduate certificate (PGCert) in musculoskeletal ultrasound has been developed at the Homerton University’s Sport and Musculoskeletal Medicine Department in collaboration with The University of East London’s (UEL) Professional Health Sciences subject areas within the School of Health, Sports and Bioscience. The objective is to support and formally recognise the professional development of those clinicians working in the field of Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine and to achieve competence in diagnostic and interventional ultrasonography. The PGCert programme allows healthcare professionals to combine learning in the workplace with a recognised postgraduate qualification.

In addition to being validated at The University of East London the PGCert has also been accredited by The Royal College of General Practitioners and The Royal College of Radiologists who have awarded the full programme 60 CPD credits (30 CPD credits per module).

The PGCert is aimed at healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds including, Orthopaedics, Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiology, Rheumatology, Sonography and Sports Medicine.

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