Radiography

Radiography is the skilled application of controlled amounts of radiation in order to gain a medically useful result, either as an aid to diagnosis or as treatment for specific diseases. Radiography is a caring profession which also calls for considerable technological expertise. The profession has two branches, Diagnostic Radiography and Therapeutic Radiography.

Radiography is a core component of the NHS and is one of the most rapidly changing allied health professions. It is widely accepted that radiography will remain an essential component of health care for many years to come and that the demand for radiographers will continue for the foreseeable future. Pre-registration ‘fast-track’ programmes have been developed for graduates wishing to enter into these rewarding careers.

Recent modernisation within the NHS has raised the profile and extended the scope of practice for allied health professionals. Radiographers, as one of the fifteen registered allied health professions groups, are now required to build and extend their scope of professional expertise within a multiprofessional setting. Radiographers are required to engage in lifelong learning to support service delivery in response to the healthcare needs of today and for the future. Post-registration modules and courses have been designed with this in mind.

Why QMU?

QMU provides a wide range of academic expertise and facilities as well as a stimulating student environment. Radiography undergraduate courses have been delivered at QMU since 1993 and postgraduate courses since 2006. Radiography staff have strong links with employers, are active in clinical research and play a significant role in the development of the professions of diagnostic and therapeutic radiography.

Industry links

Diagnostic radiography students at QMU have access to facilities within the clinical departments of Lothian, Borders, Forth Valley and Fife Health Trusts whilst Therapeutic Radiography students have access to Cancer Centres in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Glasgow, thus reinforcing the collaborative ventures between QMU and Health Care Providers. Students enrolled onto pre-registration courses leading to qualification in Diagnostic Radiography or Therapeutic Radiography will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC) on successful completion. This is required for employment within the National Health Service (NHS).

Our approach to learning and teaching

Students will bring with them an extensive range of skills and experiences and so a number of different approaches will be used to facilitate learning. The teaching and learning strategies are designed to enable independent progress within a supportive framework. The student is placed at the centre of the learning process and is expected to take overall responsibility for her/his learning. These strategies will emphasise the development of critical, innovative and creative ways of thinking. A holistic approach to problem-solving will be adopted by encouraging interchange between students. This will acknowledge, and seek to focus and extend, the experience and understanding brought by mature experienced learners to postgraduate education.

To ensure that current issues are analysed and debated, relevant personnel and specialist lecturers bring academic knowledge, research and professional expertise to the delivery of modules. By sharing in this breadth of expertise, students will be able to enhance their status as reflective practitioners and to develop their personal, academic and professional skills to masters level.

Facilities

Subject specific facilities for diagnostic radiographers include:

■ clinical room with Siemens diagnostic X-ray unit

■ Fuji Computed Radiography (CR) system

■ high-resolution digital workstations

■ darkroom / viewing room

■ ultrasound equipment

Subject specific facilities for therapeutic radiographers include:

■ clinical room with training radiotherapy treatment simulator

■ computerised 3D treatment planning workstations

■ mould-making facilities.

Career prospects and guideline salaries

Radiography is a fast-moving and continually changing profession, and long-term career prospects include management, research, clinical work and teaching. During the course of education, training and clinical practice, radiographers develop a wide range of transferable skills including: pyscho-social; organisational; managerial; technical and scientific. This ensures individuals are prepared for work in any situation that best suits their skills and interests. This can extend to general management at all levels within and outside the NHS, in industry and in higher education.

Our courses:

»MSc Diagnostic Radiography (Pre-Registration)*

»MSc Mammography

»MSc Radiotherapy (Post-Registration)

»PgDip/ MSc Radiotherapy and Oncology

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