This programme allows qualified assistant practitioners working in the field of medical imaging to progress their existing qualification to a full BSc Honours Degree in Diagnostic Radiography. They will then be eligible to apply to the HCPC to enter their register as a Diagnostic Radiographer. It is intended for assistant practitioners who have already achieved a relevant foundation degree and have completed an AP radiographer bridging course.
The applicant must be working in a medical imaging department with the full support of their employer to undertake this course.
Graduate destinations
Graduates are eligible to apply to the HCPC to register as a Diagnostic Radiographer on successful completion of the programme. Other career avenues may include research, teaching, working with medical imaging equipment manufacturers or healthcare management.
Course outline
Course summary
Students will continue to work as an employee at their place of work while undertaking this programme, with time being allocated by their employer to allow them to meet necessary academic and clinical competencies. This includes a minimum of 20% 'off-the-job' training time to cover both university study time and clinical skills outside of the student's usual scope of practice.
Modules
Year One
The Diagnostic Radiography (Top-Up) will allow students to gain the remaining knowledge and skills required to apply for registration with the HCPC as a diagnostic radiographer. It is planned to take place over a minimum of 12 months starting in February 2022 and includes the following modules:
Applying Research to Enhance Professional Practice - Evaluate the current state of knowledge or belief about a topic related to medical imaging.
Focussed Radiological Practice 1 (Theory) - Understand Advanced Practice within radiology and the generic skills and knowledge required for this role.
Focussed Radiological Practice 2 (Work Based) - Gain clinical skills and experience to enable safe and effective practice within a defined advanced area of radiology/medical imaging.
Image Evaluation - Attain the underpinning knowledge and skills required to undertake image evaluation and interpretation (consistent with first post competence) applied specifically to a given imaging modality.
Applied Clinical Radiography - Secure the knowledge, skills and competencies to apply for registration to the HCPC as a Diagnostic Radiographer and work as an effective professional practitioner within a variety of clinical settings.
Preparation for Professional Practice - The radiographer in the wider context of healthcare - Examine aspects of health care, the radiographer’s role in this and how it impacts on the quality of healthcare patients receive.
Programme Specification
Programme specification (PDF)
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Full details are available in the programme specification.
Timetables
The teaching timetable should be available from the end of August. Access to the timetable is through the Student Hub – you will be able to access the Student Hub after you have completed online registration. The teaching day is 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; please keep your other commitments open until confirmation of your teaching timetable, and bear in mind that many courses will offer placements or fieldwork which sometimes extends into the evenings and weekends.
Entry requirements
Have a question about our entry requirements?
Entry Requirements
APs applying for this course will need the relevant qualification required to work as an Assistant Practitioner (normally an FdSc), and relevant work-based experience in an imaging department of 2 years minimum. They will also need to study the Radiographer AP Bridging course prior to this Top-up element which enables them to meet the knowledge, skills and behaviours required. Exceptions to this will be considered on a one to one basis for example, an AP who has completed 2 years (240 credits) of a BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography degree may be able to join directly onto the Top-Up course if they meet all the required entry criteria and in line with the University’s APL process.
Students will also be required to have a grade C/4 (or equivalent eg. functional skills level 2) in Maths and English.
For information about Medical Clearance and vaccination requirements (including Covid-19 Vaccines) click here.
Application information
Please see the Programme specification
The cost of this course will be £9250.
Student finance
We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.
Student FinanceAdditional Costs
There will be some additional costs associated with the course including stationery, textbooks, field trips and membership fees although some of these features are optional.
Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.
Resources and facilities
We have exceptional university-based clinical facilities on each of our campuses, designed to provide students with a range of clinical skills.
The University has a good selection of Radiography and wider health-oriented books you can access, a large number of which can be downloaded as e-Books.
The University has an excellent library search engine, OneSearch, where books, e-books and e-journals can be searched for and downloaded to help your development. The University also has an array of lecturing facilities ranging from standard classrooms and lecture theatres to computer-based facilities. You will have access to a huge resource of library and IT facilities whilst studying at the University of Cumbria.
