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Therapeutic Radiography (pre-registration) - MSc

Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.

Therapeutic Radiography is a challenging but immensely rewarding career, which offers a combination of science, technology and patient care. The MSc Therapeutic Radiography (pre-registration) is a two-year, full time, qualifying course for graduates with a suitable and relevant first degree, providing an accelerated route into the profession....

  • Level Postgraduate Taught
  • Study mode Full Time
  • Location City South
  • School School of Health Sciences
  • Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences

This course is:

Overview

[00:00:14] Mark The patients of one of the best parts about this job, they're going through such a hard time. They've had so much information and tests, scans and by the time they come to us, it's kind of, they're like a rabbit in the headlights kind of thing. But if we can make them feel comfortable and we can do our best to make this whole process as easy as possible. But when you leave at the end of the day, you know you've done your best for the patient, and that's all you can ask of yourself.

[00:00:45] Sally We do treat patients who are very poorly, and we're just trying to make the last period of their life more comfortable. But the vast majority of our patients, we're just trying to fit into their day as best they can. They still work. They're still working. They're taking their kids to school. We're  trying to manage their side effects so that they barely noticed that we're happening, and we just have a bit of a chat with them, have a bit of a laugh. It's a brilliant place to work

[00:01:14] Mark and it's...we have a lot of fun in here, don't we?

[00:01:17] Sally Yeah, I think you really see people kind of at their best.

[00:01:22] Mark I suppose memorable is when patients, you know, come in after their treatment and they personally seek you out.

[00:01:28] Sally That's brilliant. Yeah.

[00:01:30] Mark And they personally seek you out and and thank you for what you've done for them.

[00:01:34] Sally And it's so nice to see them, you know, months or years later. And they're doing really well and they want to tell you about everything they've done.

[00:01:41] Mark We don't do it for the thanks from the patient. We do it out of care and, you know, we want...but when they come in and personally seek you out or mention your name, it's just kind of like a little uplift, a boost, because you know you've done a good job with them. So that is... Those are memorable aren't they?

[00:02:04] Sally Go for it, do it. It's a really good role for someone who wants to have clinical experience, who wants to work with patients and also wants to have a bit more of a technical side of things.

[00:02:15] Mark But it's also having a good mix of people. Not everybody's going to be the same

[00:02:20] Sally ...and it takes a village. So you need you need a lot of personalities.

[00:02:25] Mark Yeah, I would definitely say you've got nothing to lose, to do this and everything to gain. So if you if you enjoy, you know, working with patients, if you're caring and compassionate I can't see why you wouldn't want to do this.

Therapeutic Radiography is a challenging but immensely rewarding career, which offers a combination of science, technology and patient care. The MSc Therapeutic Radiography (pre-registration) is a two-year, full time, qualifying course for graduates with a suitable and relevant first degree, providing an accelerated route into the profession. It is not for people who have already completed a qualification in Therapeutic Radiography.

This course is not open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

The MSc Therapeutic Radiography (pre-registration) course is the only MSc pre-registration course in Birmingham that covers oncology, radiotherapy technology and psychosocial issues surrounding cancer care. Our radiotherapy course will teach you to work with patients of all ages, to help relieve and/or cure the symptoms of their cancer. As the largest education centre for therapeutic radiography across the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire, our MSc Therapeutic Radiography (pre-registration) course will prepare you to be a fully qualified Therapeutic Radiographer once you have graduated. On qualification, you will be entitled to apply for registration with the regulator, the Health and Care Professions Council, to gain registered practitioner status and be able to practice in the UK.

As a Therapeutic Radiographer, you will be responsible for preparing and administering radiation to cancer patients, operating highly technical radiation equipment, imaging patients with the latest technology, monitoring patients’ progress and giving advice as they progress through radiotherapy treatment.

You will develop specialist skills by spending time on clinical placements within hospital cancer centres, providing you with plenty of experience to develop professionally and gain valuable employability skills. Your academic studies will take place at our City South Campus, which features a radiotherapy treatment couch with laser alignment system, a Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT) and advanced treatment planning facilities. With use of these dedicated facilities, you will confidently develop essential skills within a safe educational environment.

You will learn the science behind radiotherapy practice, as well as the human anatomy and physiology, radiation physics and radiobiology. You will also study the social and psychological aspects of cancer care and the needs of patients to ensure that you leave with all the skills needed to be a professional and expert Therapeutic Radiographer.

As you advance your knowledge of radiotherapy practice and the science of oncology, you will develop analytical skills and will explore the research evidence that forms the basis of current and emergent practices.

You will apply research strategies to health and care practice and merge your clinical skills and knowledge.

Accredited By

  • HCPC
  • College of Radiographers

Why Choose Us?

  • Funding - Allied health profession students will receive at least £5,000 a year in additional funding for maintenance and associated study costs. Download the funding FAQs
  • We are the largest centre for therapeutic radiography training across the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. As the only course of its kind within these regions, we are proud to be experts in developing professional therapeutic radiographers across a wide geographical area, including supporting Trusts in Gloucestershire.
  • You will study City South Campus, where you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities including Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT), advanced treatment planning facilities, mock clinical environments, and online simulation learning
  • Established links with the NHS, which you will benefit from by having full access to for learning, work placements and the opportunity to build a professional network of contacts ready for when you graduate
  • Student loan finance - have you already studied an undergraduate degree but would like to do a second one in Therapeutic Radiography? You may be eligible for funding

OPEN DAY

Join us on campus where you'll be able to find out more about your course, learn about postgraduate finance and get an insight into studying at BCU. Booking for the next event isn’t open yet. Register your interest below and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.

Next Event: 29 June 2024

Register interest

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

UK students
Essential

You must have an Honours degree with a 2:1 or above in a relevant subject such as anatomy, human biology, biomedical science and psychology. This list is not exhaustive and applicants with other subjects will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Please note, we may need to ask to see your undergraduate degree transcript and in some cases will request further details about the content of individual modules. 

You must also have GCSEs in mathematics and English at grade C or above.

Applicants who have not received their secondary school education in English will require an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with no subtest below 6.5 in line with the HCPC English language requirements for Therapeutic Radiographers.

All places will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and a satisfactory Occupational Health check.

Any offer of a place is subject to satisfactory performance at interview.

Other requirements

Height statement: Most patients are treated at a height of 120-130cm above the ground. You should be able to comfortably and safely manipulate a patient lying at this height.

If not, please contact the MSc Therapeutic Radiography (pre-registration) course lead before you start the course so the team can ensure that the necessary risk assessments and adjustments can be in place in a timely manner, to ensure your safe practice. Any disclosure will not prejudice your application.

You may be asked to provide evidence of an experiential visit to a radiotherapy clinical department as a condition of your offer.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MSc

Starting: Jan 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 2 years
  • £9,250 in 2024/25

International students

Sorry, this course is not available to International students.

January 2025 applications

Please note: applications for this course will close on 31 May 2024.

If you're invited to attend an interview, you will be notified of the outcome by 31 July 2024.

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field Trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key Software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

DBS Check

You will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for this course. Your first DBS check is included in your fees.

Uniform

You will be provided with three sets of uniform (tunic and trousers). If you need additional sets of uniform, you will need to purchase them.

Occupational Health Assessment

You will need to complete an occupational health assessment. The cost for this is included in your course fee.

Specialist Equipment

This course requires specialist equipment. A radiography marker, metal ruler and TLDs will be provided.

Placement expenses (mandatory)

There may be some costs for travel or temporary accommodation associated with placements. The NHS Learning Support Fund can help with these costs. Information about what the fund covers and eligibility criteria can be found online.

Clothing and safety equipment (mandatory)

You will need to buy suitable footwear for placement, plus any additional uniform over the initial four sets that are provided.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy.

Subscriptions (optional)

You may wish to purchase subscriptions to additional journals and websites.

Memberships (optional)

You may wish to join a union or professional body related to this course.

Accommodation and living costs

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Personal statement

You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.

Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.

Course in Depth

Modules

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits): 

Download course specification

Download now

How you'll learn 

You will learn the science behind radiotherapy practice, as well as the human anatomy and physiology, radiation physics and radiobiology. You will also study the social and psychological aspects of cancer care and the needs of patients to ensure that you leave with all the skills needed to be a professional and expert Therapeutic Radiographer.

As you advance your knowledge of radiotherapy practice and the science of oncology, you will develop analytical skills and will explore the research evidence that forms the basis of current and emergent practices.

You will apply research strategies to health and care practice, which will facilitate a merging of your clinical skills and knowledge.

Submitted for approval to: 

HCPC
Health and Care Professions Council

This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council, and will give you eligibility to apply for registration if you successfully complete the course.

College of Radiographers
College of Radiographers

The College of Radiographers (CoR) is a registered charity concerned with standards in the provision and development of diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy for the public benefit.

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

You will be gaining a professional qualification that will enable you to gain employment within the wider NHS. The clinical skills you gain will support your developing competence and enable you to undertake the role of a qualified therapeutic radiographer. You will gain competence in the safe and effective operation of cutting edge medical technologies and develop autonomous practice skills including decision making and care provision.

Your qualification will enable you to seek professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and membership with the Society of Radiographers.

You will receive opportunities to develop your employability skills whilst a student. This includes development of your ability to mentor others, practice your interview skills and job application writing skills.  

Facilities & Staff

We have invested over £400 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.

Mock Wards

These are set up to look like typical hospital wards, with four-six bays. Depending on the topic in hand, different manikins can be used as patients and relevant equipment is provided to practise clinical skills. Some of the manikins are interactive and can simulate different scenarios e.g. some allow you to cannulate, check pulses, intubate etc, and some can talk to you. One ward is often used as an adult ward, and the other as a child ward.

These rooms also allow for scenarios to be set up for other professions such as dietetics, paramedic science and social work.

The Operating Theatre and Recovery Suites

The operating theatre and recovery suite gives you the sense of what it would be like in a real surgical environment.

These spaces emulate the full surgical journey from anaesthetics, through surgery and into recovery. ODP students can practice a range of skills including gowning, hand washing, preparing instrument trays, and working with a patient. Nurses and midwives may experience a surgical placement and need to go to theatre or be part of the midwifery team involved with caesarean sections. Many other Allied Health Professionals may also see patients in recovery if necessary.

Home Environment Room

This space is used to simulate non-clinical settings, as not everything health professionals deal with is hospital based. This is used for simulations of home visits and home births. It also houses soft matting and a bubble machine that are used by the Learning Disability Nursing team.

Assisted Living Space

This space replicates a flat and is used for scenarios such as home visits. The sitting room area provides a different space to practise skills and simulations and work with service users and other students.

Assisted Kitchen

This specially designed kitchen has different areas where you can practice cooking, cleaning, boiling the kettle etc., with someone who has actual or simulated visual impairments. There are adapted devices to help, and simulation glasses for you to wear to experience visual impairments.

Physiotherapy Room

This is a space for physiotherapy students to use, with various equipment to practise client meetings.

Radiotherapy Planning Computer Suite

Our computers allow you to plan hypothetical treatments, in terms of angles and directions, ensuring that radiotherapy reaches where it is needed on a patient’s body.

Radiography Image Interpretation and Reporting Stations Computer Suite

These facilities allow you to view and analyse x-rays.

VERT - Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training

This room contains 3D technology to view virtual patients and look at trajectories for treatment.

Radiotherapy

This room contains the same bed/couch used when patients are given radiotherapy treatment. While students of course do not administer radiotherapy in this room, it does allow them to practise adjusting the equipment to make sure both it and a patient would be in the correct position to receive treatment.

Telehealth Room

This room allows for small group teaching in a central area (large boardroom type table) with five small telehealth booths down either side. These are to allow all our health professions students to practise delivering healthcare and advice remotely, either over the phone or on a video call. This addition to our teaching reflects moves in the sector to offer more flexible access to healthcare services, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Imaging Academy

This new facility is a larger version of our existing image interpretation computer facilities and forms part of the Midlands Imaging Academy Hub, funded by Health Education England. These expanded facilities will mean we can further develop our courses and expertise in radiography and imaging.

Speech and Language Therapy Resource Room

Our Speech and Language Therapy Team have developed a collection of tools, books and resources to help you learn and understand the implications of a speech or swallowing limitation. You can practise one to one client meetings and clinics and use the video recording equipment to review role play scenarios.

Ultrasound simulation suite

You have access to a wide range of Ultrasound simulation equipment to develop your clinical skills and aid in training. The equipment includes two ultrasound machines with a range of phantoms, scan training stations and eve body works.


Our staff

Lisa Pharaoh-Stokes

Senior Lecturer and Course Lead, MSc Therapeutic Radiography (pre-registration)

Lisa is a Senior Lecturer and Course Lead within the Department of Radiography at Birmingham City University. She is also a Personal Tutor. Lisa has been working in therapeutic radiography education for over 20 years and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

More about Lisa

Nick White

Course Leader

Nick is a Senior Lecturer within the Department of Radiography at Birmingham City University and also a clinical tutor within the radiotherapy department at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.  Nick has worked in radiography education for 19 years, teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He is a Senior Fellow...

More about Nick

Michelle Ryland

Admissions Tutor / Senior Lecturer - Radiotherapy

Michelle qualified from the University of Liverpool and Northern Centre for Cancer Treatment (Newcastle) in 1999 with a BSc (Hons) in Radiotherapy and started work as a therapeutic radiographer at UHCW.

More about Michelle