Diagnostic Radiography: Pre-Registration (MSc)

• This is one of a very small number of MSc Pre-Registration courses in Diagnostic Radiography in the UK, and currently the only one in the region
• Study a course approved by the Health and Care Professions Council, meaning you'll be eligable to apply for registration as a Diagnostic Radiographer as soon as you graduate, as long as you meet the HCPC’s requirements.
• Develop as a competent, reflective practitioner who is capable of working both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Enhance your critical thinking, enquiry and research skills using state of the art facilities, including our Clinical Skills Suite which contains a purpose-built Diagnostic imaging suite to match the equipment you'll use in your career
• Engage with an enthusiastic, experienced teaching team who use a variety of learning approaches to help you develop your professional and academic skills
• Explore your passion in a variety of work placement opportunities including large teaching hospitals which offer a wide range of imaging modalities, to smaller community hospitals offering more locally based care

This course provides you with all the knowledge and practical experience you’ll need to become a qualified Diagnostic Radiographer. In addition to developing the necessary technical and professional skills required for safe and effective clinical practice, you will develop a deep and critical understanding of the profession, vital for shaping the future of radiography.

This course is an accelerated programme of study, delivered over two full calendar years (September - September). Due to the accelerated nature of the course, you will only have three weeks annual leave over the summer period (two weeks in June and one week at the end of the August); this means that you will spend the majority of the summer period in clinical placement, developing the required practical skills.

Experienced teaching team

Diagnostic Radiographers work with other health care professionals to help diagnose and treat patients using methods such as x-rays, CT and ultrasound. The teaching team are qualified health care professionals, having worked in clinical or community settings. Many team members continue to practice clinically on a part time basis ensuring teaching remains current.

Professional placements

During your studies you will have the opportunity to spend time on clinical placement, allowing you to further develop your skillset as a health care professional. You will be able to work in a variety of placements from large teaching hospitals to community hospital departments. You will benefit from the wide range of experience this brings such as understanding how different imaging departments work, the types of work undertaken when in practice and the variations in imaging equipment provision. This experience, combined with your academic study, will equip you with all the qualities an employer is looking for in today’s health care professional.

State of the art facilities

You'll make use of technology both at the university and on clinical placement so some general computer awareness would be an advantage.

Our Skeletal Radiographic Technique Instructional Video was shortlisted as a finalist in the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) 2011 Epigeum Award for the Most Effective Use of Video.

During the second year of your studies, you will undertake an Independent Scholarship module. This will provide you with the opportunity to study an aspect of Diagnostic Radiography in more depth and further develop your critical thinking, independent enquiry and research skills.

Work placements

Clinical placements are an integral part of your studies. Placements are organised in blocks throughout the duration of your studies, with a significant amount of your experience being gained during the summer months towards the end of each year of study.

How you'll be assessed

Many of your assessments are focused on real world scenarios to help you develop skills that you can take into your career. You’ll be assessed on placement by the Radiographers you work with and you’ll gain experience in presenting to an audience through presentations and posters.

Careers

When you graduate you will be able to apply for registration with the UK Health and Care Professions Council as a Diagnostic Radiographer and work in the rapidly expanding field of medical imaging, as long as you meet the HCPC’s requirements.

The employment prospects for our Diagnostic Radiography students are excellent. In 2016, the majority of graduates from our BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography gained employment as Radiographers, with many being offered jobs by their placement hospital.

Once you have successfully completed your studies and worked as a Radiographer, the skills you have learnt on this course will put you in a great position to develop your career further in areas such as advanced practice, leadership and research. The University of Derby offer a range of CPD opportunities and Master’s level modules to support your career development.

Visit the Diagnostic Radiography: Pre-Registration (MSc) page on the University of Derby website for more details!