Diagnostic Radiography

Year 1

You’ll study applied radiographic anatomy and pathology and as well as professional identity, ethics and values and radiographic practice. Interprofessional learning with other healthcare professions is experienced before the clinical education placement when you’ll integrate academic theory and personal reflection to clinical practice. Research is threaded throughout all four stages of the course.

Year 2

You will further develop knowledge of the application of technologies, and develop skills in self-appraisal, the measurement of outcome, and evidence-based practice.

You will undertake an eight-week clinical placement. In addition to interprofessional learning you’ll refine reflective practice skills and consider values within health care.

Year 3

You’ll take increasing responsibility for individual learning and decision-making, increasing your competence in clinical practice. You’ll learn highly specialist advanced practice roles in radiography and the professional, medico-legal and ethical implications of such developments. You’ll undertake an elective placement and interprofessional practice placement as well as multi-professional study of research and investigative methods.

Year 4

Your research project and interprofessional learning will develop your skills in research, leadership, management, partnership working, service redesign and quality improvement; and prepare you for future career progression. The clinical education presents similar scenarios to those encountered by a newly-qualified Radiographers, to promote a seamless transition to working life.

Learning Methods

Each year of the course comprises two terms and consists of academic and/or practice placement modules. Academic modules are studied within RGU and include lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, group work and practical sessions, including simulation in the X-Ray Suite and Clinical Skills Centre. Academic modules may be delivered to course specific disciplinary groups or in a multi-professional manner alongside students from other healthcare disciplines, preparing you for practice in the wider healthcare environment.  Practice placement modules are delivered in a wide range of Radiography settings in NHS and private facilities across the North and East of Scotland.

Activity Summary

• Lectures - 35 students per group, 10 hours per week
• Tutorial - 35 students per group, 4 hours per week
• Project Supervision - 4-6 students per group
• Independent Study - 500 hours per term
• Placement / Work Based Learning - 35 students per group, 185 hours per term

How long is a MDRad Diagnostic Radiography course?

A Diagnostic Radiography degree can be successfully completed in 4 years, in which the opportunity to receive the necessary skills are obtained.

Independent Study

In addition to face-to-face lectures and tutorials you will spend approximately 20 hours per week outside of class working on your own, doing prescribed reading, preparing answers to tutorial assignments and researching and writing course reports.

Staff Delivering on this Course

All members of the academic staff team are qualified Diagnostic Radiographers registered with the regulatory body, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).  In addition they are all members of the professional body, the Society and College of Radiographers (SCOR) and have all completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Learning and Teaching. Academic staff members possess both subject-matter expertise and the relevant clinical experience. In addition, external input from experienced clinical practitioners ensures currency and relevance of content.

Assessment

Typically students are assessed each year:

Year 1

• 2 written exams, typically for 1.5 - 2 hours
• 1 written assignment, including essay
• 1 report
• 2 portfolios
• 2 practical skills assessments
• 1 clinical placement

Year 2

• 2 written exams, typically for 1.5 - 2 hours
• 2 written assignments, including essay
• 1 report
• 1 oral assessment
• 3 practical skills assessments
• 1 clinical placement

Year 3

• 2 written exams
• 2 written assignments, including essays
• 1 report
• 2 oral assessments
• 2 clinical placements

Year 4

• 1 written exams
• 2 written assignments, including essays
• 1 dissertation
• 3 oral assessments
• 2 clinical placements

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Placements

We arrange for all students to rotate around a range of placements, giving you experience of the spectrum of radiography roles. Past placements have been in major regional centres, district general hospitals, community hospitals and remote hospitals and extend across Grampian, Highland, Tayside, Perthshire, Fife, Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles and other locations.

You will also be required to organise an elective placement which offers a global element to your training. In addition to hospital based practice education, you will undertake a unique specialist contemporary practice placement in a care home/community hospital setting to focus on the development of patient care skills.​

• Year 1 Semester 2: Four week placement (150 hours)
• Year 2 Semester 2: Eight week placement (300 hours)
• Year 3 Semester 1: Eight week placement (300 hours), Semester 2: Four week placement (150 hours)
• Year 4 Semester 1: Six week placement (225 hours), Semester 2: Four week placement (150 hours)

Job Prospects

As a Diagnostic Radiographer you will use sophisticated X-ray technology and a range of specialist imaging modalities to help in the detection, monitoring and treatment of a patient’s illness. You will work in a wide-range of areas from paediatrics to the elderly, and A&E to surgery to make a difference to patients’ lives. Increasingly, the radiography role is extending to include prescribing medications, image interpretation and patient treatment.

As Scotland's health service continue to undergo rapid change and modernisation, the philosophies of this course reflect the policy agenda of the The National Delivery Plan for the Allied Health Professions (AHP) in Scotland, 2012 – 2015. Over the last ten years the AHP workforce in Scotland has increased by over 30% which reflects the growing need for professionals with a diverse range of specialist skills who can make a vital contribution as first point of contact practitioners to diagnostics, early rehabilitation and enablement. Diagnostic Radiographers are in greater demand than ever and are often involved with the widest range of patients of any of the healthcare professions.

Is Diagnostic Radiography a good career choice?

The integrated Master of Diagnostic Radiography curriculum will allow you to extend your competence, knowledge and skills beyond those required of an entry-level practitioner. The course facilitates a professional body drive for research-active Radiographers and the integrated Masters course is effectively a stepping stone to meeting the increased research expectations of the professional body. You will have the opportunity to enhance your knowledge in the areas of:

• leadership
• partnership working
• service redesign
• quality improvement
• public health and health promotion
• inter- and multi-professional team working
• population health
• research

All of this enhances your employability and future career progression.

What is needed for a Diagnostic Radiography course?

Standard Entry Requirements

• SQA Higher: BBBC to include English (or a written subject requiring the use of English) and two from Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics.
• GCE A Level: BCC to include two from Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. English at GCSE grade 6/B if not held at A-level.
• Irish Leaving Certificate Higher: H2H3H3H3 to include English (or a written subject requiring the use of English) and two from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.
• IB Diploma: 27 to include Higher Level English (or a written subject requiring the use of English) at Grade 5 and two from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics at Higher Level.

Minimum Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements for widening access applicants are:

• SQA Higher: BCCC to include English or a written subject requiring the use of English and two from Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics.

International Students

International students who do not meet our direct entry requirements for this course can gain additional entry points through our International College at Robert Gordon University.

ICRGU - INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 7.0 overall, with no component lower than 6.5, or an equivalent.

These are the requirements of the HCPC and supersede the standard University English Language requirements.

We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:

Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.

Additional Costs

• You are responsible for the payment of travel and accommodation during practice placements, while sometimes maintaining your accommodation in Aberdeen.  Only eligible students will have these expenses reimbursed by their grant awarding body. If you are in RGU Halls of Residence you may be eligible to reclaim half of the accommodation cost if on practice placement out with the Aberdeen area
• During all practice placements you are required to wear uniform.  This should be the official uniform made available at the beginning of the course. Where uniforms become damaged or for any other reason unsuitable, you are responsible for the cost of replacement
• An initial payment is made for provision of radiation dosimeters and badge holders. X-ray side markers are required for all radiography practice placements. Radiation dosimeter/badge holder is approximately £35 and X-ray side markers are approximately £10
• You are required to maintain student membership of the professional body, the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR), the cost of which is your own responsibility.  Confirmation of membership must be presented to the Course Leader annually. Membership provides you with access to an extensive range of radiography professional material as well as access to CoR student services and professional indemnity insurance for practice placement. SCoR student membership costs approximately £4 per month

Students from out with Scotland (the rest of the UK (RUK) and for any international students) must pay for Protected Vulnerable Groups (PVG) membership - £59 (new member) or £18 (existing member) as well as health checks which are variable depending on needs, but online screening is essential £22.70:

• Online Health Screening - £22.70
• Additional Health Screening - £48.70/£72.20
• Hepatitis  B Vaccination x 3 - £26.60 each
• Hepatitis  B Blood Titre Test - £32.00
• TB Mantoux Test /BCG Vaccination - £33.00/£24.00
• MMR Vaccination x 2 - £22.45 each
• MMR Blood Test - £31.00
• Varicella Blood Test /Vaccination - £21.00/£33.00