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Diagnostic Radiography and Medical Imaging at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

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Course summary

Overview Diagnostic radiographers are a vital part of healthcare teams – they use powerful equipment to take images of inside the body, then interpret these images to diagnose and understand patients' health conditions. This BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography and Medical Imaging degree prepares you for a career identifying illnesses and helping to save lives.

  • Learn how to examine patients safely using X-ray, CT scanning, fluoroscopy, MRI, ultrasound and more
  • Practise your skills under expert supervision in our Centre for Simulation in Health and Care, complete with digital X-ray suite
  • Spend at least 14 weeks each year on clinical placements, working alongside experienced radiographers in real hospitals and NHS Trusts
  • Become eligible to register with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) when you graduate, ready for a career as a Diagnostic Radiographer or to train further and enter advanced practice, research, teaching or health management
Approved by: This course was approved by the College of Radiographers for 5 years from 16 March 2020. It's also approved by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). Careers and opportunities Without diagnostic radiographers it would be harder to diagnose, treat and manage illness and disease. They provide essential services to millions of people every year and are often the first people patients and service users come into contact with during their care. Demand for diagnostic radiographers is rising too. Just before the pandemic, an independent report for NHS England highlighted the need for 3,500 additional radiographers over the next five years, and a 2020 census by The College of Radiographers revealed high vacancy rates in the field. So, with this degree qualification, you can expect a rewarding career and high demand for your skills. What you do with a Diagnostic Radiography and Medical Imaging degree Most of our students quickly secure roles as Diagnostic Radiographers in the NHS. As a newly qualified NHS Diagnostic Radiographer in 2021, you could earn a starting salary of £25,655, moving up to £31,354 (Band 5). With more experience, you could earn up to £39,027 (Band 6), and with a role in management or advanced practice, you could make between £40,057 and £53,219 (Bands 7 to 8a), or more as a consultant. You could also work as a diagnostic radiographer for independent providers, industrial companies and veterinary clinics as you progress your career. With experience and additional training, your skills will also open doors into advanced practice in areas such as:
  • Postgraduate study or research in specialisms such as computed tomography, medical magnetic resonance, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and medical physics
  • Health management through the NHS Graduate Scheme
  • Teaching
Our graduates have gone on to work for these institutions:
  • Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
  • University Hospital Southampton
  • Southampton General Hospital
  • Spire Southampton
  • Western Sussex NHS Hospital Trust
  • Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary
  • St George's NHS Foundation Trust, London
Clinical placements You'll attend clinical placements on this course, supported by clinical mentors and registered healthcare professionals. You'll have 2 or 3 placement blocks in each academic year, each lasting between 6 and 9 weeks. You'll spend at least 14 weeks on placement each year. On placement, you'll take part in all imaging modalities, including conventional imaging and remote imaging, theatre imaging, fluoroscopy, CT, MRI, ultrasound and radionuclide imaging. You'll be supervised by an experienced radiographer at all times to ensure a safe environment and the highest levels of patient care. You'll be looked after by University Link Radiographers, who will monitor your progress, provide expert guidance and support, and oversee all aspects of your placement experience.

Modules

Year 1: Core:

  • Professional Skills for Diagnostic Radiography (20 credits)
  • Radiation Science (20 credits)
  • Radiographic Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology 1 (40 credits)
  • Radiographic Professional Practice 1 (40 credits)
Year 2: Core:
  • Evidence Based Decision Making (Radiography) (20 credits)
  • Leadership in Healthcare (20 credits)
  • Radiographic Anatomy, Physiololgy, and Pathology 2 (20 credits)
  • Radiographic Imaging Modalities (20 credits)
  • Radiographic Professional Practice 2 (40 credits)
Year 3: Core:
  • Enhancing Diagnostic Radiography Professional Practice (40 credits)
  • Image Interpretation (20 credits)
  • Medical Imaging Modalities (20 credits)
  • Project (40 credits)
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through: examinations, coursework, clinical practice. You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all formal assessments so you can improve in the future.


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
BB81
Institution code:
P80
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting the course.

Health checks

Applicants must pass Occupational Health check before starting the course.

Interview

All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview in support of their application. If successful, applicants will be required to declare if they have been subject to any disciplinary procedures of fitness to practice by any other regulator, professional body, employer or educational establishment.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 7.0 with no component score below 6.5.
PTE Academic76An overall score of 76 with a minimum of 65 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)100100 with a minimum of 24 in Reading, 23 in Listening, 25 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 185 with no component score less than 176.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 185 with no component score less than 176.
Trinity ISETrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
90%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £17900 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2025/26): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,430 EU – £1,430 International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Please check the course page on our website for the most up to date fee information. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Diagnostic Radiography and Medical Imaging at University of Portsmouth - UCAS