Diagnostic Radiography (Pre-Registration)

• 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 (HCPC), meaning you'll be eligible 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
• Enhance your employability and career prospects, building on the skill and knowledge of your undergraduate degree
• Join the programme with a science or health care related degree at 2:1 or above (other entry requirements apply)

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 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.

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. Placement hours are subject to change. 

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.

We have invested in exceptional learning facilities to give you the best possible preparation for practice. In our purpose built Diagnostic Imaging Suite you'll become familiar with the up-to-the-minute technology used by radiographers. With the help of £250,000 funding from the Health Education East Midlands, the suite has been upgraded to feature the very latest in x-ray, diagnostic radiography and ultrasound. You will also have access to a theatre image intensifier and a mobile x-ray machine. You can take a virtual tour of our Diagnostic Imaging Suite.

An exciting addition is our state-of-the-art Immersive Interactive Simulation Suite which offers a simulated environment where you can practise your skills in a safe but realistic setting. The first university facility of its kind outside London, the suite replicates the atmosphere, sights and sounds of, for instance, a busy A&E ward so you can gain a greater understanding of clinical decision-making in action. 

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.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

You will learn through group activities, lectures, practical work, seminars and simulation. To help you prepare for placement you’ll have access to online recordings of radiographic technique projections, which helps you develop your skills in positioning a patient for an X-ray.

Have a look at the specialist facilities you’ll use throughout the course.

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. Placement hours are subject to change.

Who will teach you

• Kat Chalmers
• Carol Early
• Sue Errett
• Jane Gooch
• Claire Norman
• Veena Patel
• Claire Richards
• David Stuart
• Claire Tucker
• Nichola Tucker
• Richard Tucker
• Julie De Witt
• Kirsty Wood

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.

You will need to hold a science or healthcare-related degree at 2:1 or above. If your degree is over five years old, then we would normally expect evidence of successful study at level 6 or above in the past two years.

You must also have five GSCE passes at grade C or above, including maths and English language. If your first degree is not in a pure science (biology, chemistry or physics), or you do not have a pure science A level at grade B or above, then you must have at least one pure science at GCSE, grade C or above.

You must also have undertaken some recent work experience in a Radiography department.

We will also consider all information included in your application and from your interview. We'll also want to see that you are enthusiastic and motivated to undertake this course and train to be a Radiographer.

Interview information

General entry requirements

When you apply for this course you should make sure that you consider the following areas in your application:

• Give evidence that you meet the academic entry criteria above, or are expected to
• Show that you've completed your degree within the last five years; if not, evidence of level 6 study or above in the last two years is required.
• Provide examples of using your communication skills with the public
• Demonstrate how you've gained insight into caring for others
• Give examples of working as part of a team
• Demonstrate you can write clearly and concisely, showing a good level of spelling and punctuation
• Provide a reference
• Demonstrate that you are capable of managing the academic demands of Master’s level study

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.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Additional information about your studies

Download programme specification

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Additional costs and optional extras

We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

Included in your fees

• Uniforms
• Radiographic markers, name badges and ID holders
• Access to Pepplepad for your clinical portfolios 
• DBS Check
• Health Screening and vaccinations 

Mandatory costs not included in your fees

• Suitable footwear for skills sessions and placements approx. £40

Optional costs not included in your fees

• Theatre Shoes approx. £20
• Textbooks to supplement anything available through the library various prices depending on content
• Printing costs of course materials if a hard copy is desired approx. 5p per sheet
• Society & College of Radiographers student membership approx. £48 annually
• Attendance at conferences such as UKRC or ECR
• Professional HCPC membership required to practice. More details can be found www.hcpc-uk.org

Minimum numbers

Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.

Other courses you might like

• Diagnostic Radiography BSc (Hons)