This article aims to answer the common questions people ask me about studying radiography as a career in the United Kingdom.
🟡 It is for those who wise to become a radiographer, but who do not yet have any qualification.
Good reading!😀
Am writing this article from my own experience. I have been a certified diagnostic radiographer for eight years here in the United Kingdom where I did a B.Scs. degree for 3 years.
Before I decided to study radiography, I had no idea what it was all about, and not even sure if I had passion for it.🤦
And since qualifying I have had so many friends ask me questions on how I got into studying radiography and what exactly I do as a radiographer.
This then brings to my attention that Radiography as a professional is not as well understood by the public as other allied health professions such as nursing (AHPs). Giving me the reason to write this article.
▶️what is radiography?
Radiography is an imaging technique used to provide images of the tissues, organs, and bones inside the human body.
In most cases doctors will not be able to diagnose different conditions without x-rays, scans, and interventional technology.
So, radiography helps doctors to diagnose or treat patients by recording images of the internal structure of the body to assess the presence or absence of disease.
In this article I will briefly tell you what radiography is and what radiographers do. But I will write a separate article with detailed information of what radiographers do on the patient care side because some people think we just press a button to take an image.
Radiography is divided into two:
🔶Diagnostic radiography. (where the focus of this article will be based)
🔶Therapeutic radiography.
▶️What is the difference between diagnostic and therapeutic radiography?
You may have had these two terms, but do you know the difference?
There are two types of radiographers:
1️⃣Diagnostic radiographer or (radiographer) as we are called here in the UK while in the USA radiographers are called radiologic technologists.
As a diagnostic radiographer, you’ll use cutting-edge technology to take images of the insides of patients to help understand and diagnose conditions.
2️⃣Therapeutic radiographer
Therapeutic radiographers (Radiotherapy radiographers) operate complex, highly technical equipment using radiation to treat cancer and tissue defects.
To work in either of these fields, you will need an approved degree in either diagnostic radiography or therapeutic radiography.
Below, we look closer into the differences between the two roles.
▶️Who is a diagnostic radiographer or who is a therapeutic radiographer?
In this table, I list what I consider to be the main differences and similarities between the activity of a diagnostic radiographer and therapeutic radiographer.
| Diagnostic radiographer | Therapeutic radiographer |
| Will work in larger hospitals or private hospitals as part of a healthcare team to provide diagnostic images. x-rays may be carried out in:-A main radiography department-Wards & operating theatres using mobile units. -A&E units. -May deal with a list of patients 1 to 40 a day. They only x-ray and scan patients, then images are diagnosed by a reporting radiologist. Most cases meet patients once this will depend on the area of imaging. | Will work in large specialised hospitals. Mainly look after cancer patients. They both plan and deliver treatment for patients. Two stages of this Planning. 1)They take x-ray or scans to determine the specific location of the area affected. 2)A treatment schedule is then prepared, calculating the correct radiation dose that needs to be used. This is done in consultation with medical physicists and doctors. Can get to know individual patients quite well, as often regular treatment is required. |
▶️What are the different modalities in Radiography?
There are different types of scans and procedures that use x-ray and non-x-ray to diagnose disease. But all fall into one umbrella radiography.
So, when you start your degree as a diagnostic radiographer you will study all the course units for all the seven modalities, but you will mainly focus on x-ray.
After the 3 years of class and hospital placements you will qualify with a B.Sc. in diagnostic radiographer.
When you start working you will be able to specialise in one or two or you may be able to rotate through all the modalities; this will depend on your hospital site protocols and your choice.
You do not need to go back to school to specialise, you will learn on the job because you already have the knowledge in general x-ray.
Some people specialise after working x-ray for at least 6 months after qualification and some decide to specialise straight away.
▶️What are the different modalities under radiography?
🔺X-RAY uses radiation to take images.
🔺Computer tomography (CT) uses radiation to take images.
🔺 Magnetic resonance (MRI) does not use radiation to take images.
🔺Nuclear medicine uses radiation to take images.
🔺 Ultrasound does not use radiation to take images.
🔺 Fluoroscopy uses radiation to take images.
🔺 Interventional uses radiation to take images.
The details of what each modality does to take images will be for another article.
How to get into radiography
In this article I am going to talk about diagnostic radiography. I will write another article for therapeutic radiography soon.
▶️How to become a diagnostic radiographer in the United Kingdom.
Education and training:
To become a diagnostic radiographer in the United Kingdom, you must first successfully complete an approved degree which will take you 3 years full time. If you decide to do it part time it will take you 4 to 6 years.
or you can do a postgraduate course that can take you two years.
Once you’ve completed your degree, you need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you can start practising.
The other option is to apply for an apprenticeship degree.
A degree apprenticeship is another way to become a diagnostic radiographer. Apprenticeships give you the chance to earn a living while gaining your qualification.
Your employer and the government will pay the tuition fees, so apprenticeships aren’t eligible for student grants.
▶️Requirements or Subjects needed to study for a BSc university radiography degree In the United Kingdom.
1️⃣English language requirements
If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country:
*️⃣ You will need IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5. Also, some universities accept a range of other English language qualifications.
*️⃣If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take the Pre-Sessional English course to gain entry onto this degree.
2️⃣ GCSE entry requirements
*️⃣Five GCSE subjects at grade C/grade 4 or above including English language, Mathematics and Science.
*️⃣Science must include all three components: Biology, Chemistry and Physics at grade C/4 or above OR Combined Science (double award at grade C/4 or above). First sittings are preferable.
BTEC Science at level 2 is not considered for this course. Level 2 equivalent qualifications are not considered for this course.
You must fulfil GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the Level 3 requirements listed below.
🅰️A-Level
A level: 120 points. To include at least one Science subject- mandatory from: Physics, Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Psychology at a minimum grade B or above.
🅱️Access to Higher education diploma: Radiography:
♦️60 credits with 45 credits at level 3.
♦️All credits must be Merit or above, with a minimum of 39 at Distinction.
♦️The Access course must include both Biology and Physics modules.
♦️Applicants applying with Access to HE- GCSE requirements are English Language and Math at Grade 4/c or above.
Level 2 equivalent qualifications are not considered for this course.
C) BTEC National Diploma
♦️ DDD Applied Science (biology and physics) preferred.
Extended Certificate in Applied Science will only be considered if you also have another Level 3 science subject.
▶️How is the course provided and how long is it?
You will speed 35% time in the lectures or class face to face and 75 % in hospital placements, for 3 years. Radiography is a 3 year degree.
▶️Does the NHS pay for radiography degrees in the United Kingdom?
The NHS bursary originally funded students on healthcare degrees across the UK, but reforms led to a patchwork of financial support in different nations.
This guide shows the current financial support for U.K students in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, if you decide to study radiography as a career.
For UK-resident students studying at English universities, NHS funding is provided by the Learning Support Fund (LSF).
Students from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland studying radiography may qualify for extra grants, including a £5,000 annual training grant.
Training grant
A non-means tested grant of £5,000 per year is available for all eligible students. You’ll need to apply for this each year. You don’t need to repay it.
Specialist subject payment
You may also qualify for an additional payment of £1,000 per year (not means tested):
Parental support
£2,000 annual grant for students who are parents responsible for a child under 15 years old at the start of the academic year (or under 17 if they have special educational needs). The grant is pro-rata for part-time students and doesn’t affect your entitlement to childcare allowance.
Studying in Wales:
If you study in Wales, you can access the NHS Wales bursary as long as you commit to working for NHS Wales for two years after the end of your course
In Northern Ireland, funded places are reserved for students who’ve lived in Northern Ireland for three years before the start of their course.
In Scotland, the radiography bursary is only available to Scottish residents. Which is £ 1820 for the rest of Uk £9,250 and £ 15,200 for international students.
In England, an alternative way to become a radiographer is by taking a degree apprenticeship. These are funded by employers and run in partnership with the university or college where students’ study part-time. Apprentices are employed, so instead of taking out a student loan they receive a salary, and their tuition fees are paid for.
All home students who are British citizens pay £ 9,250 per year to study a University radiography degree apart from Wales which still gives a full time bursary with attachments.
You have to apply for £ 9250 every year and this is not paid upfront, after you graduate the government will take it off your wages as soon as you start working and your income is over £480 a week, £2,082 a month or £24,990 a year.
For international students fees is different from each region of the UK starting from 18,655 per year. Check with your university.
All these figures are bound to change you can check with your university.
▶️Neither diagnostic or therapeutic radiography: which to study to follow?
If you do not yet have a diagnostic or therapeutic degree, you will have to decide in favour of one of these 2 disciplines to study! Because you cannot follow the two courses together
It’s a very personal choice. This article may help you decide based on the differences.
My personal opinion: I recommend training into diagnostic radiography, for reasons that I will develop in a future article! But here are already 4 reasons:
1️⃣ It is one of the professionals in the United Kingdom with a shortage of radiographers. Meaning after you qualify, there is a good chance of job opportunities.
2️⃣It’s an interesting profession if you love working with technology and care about people.
3️⃣You will be able to specialise in one or two of the different categories listed in this article.
4️⃣It is fulfilling when you know you have helped someone.
▶️Other skills and knowledge apart from grade requirements:
You’ll need:
🟠knowledge of medical procedures not necessary if you are willing to learn.
🟠Sensitivity and understanding of working with sick people and others.
🟠Be able to pay attention to detail.
🟠knowledge of biology
🟠The ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning.
🟠Active listening and concentration skills
🟠To be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently if not you must be willing to learn.
This is what I wanted to tell you about? Questions, comments? See you in the comments section.
This article might also interest you:
➡️How to work as a radiographer in the United Kingdom if your studied from overseas.
Have any questions, remarks, or experience to share? Feel free to use the comments section at the end of the article!🙏
Last updated: May 2024. Written by Juliet N Semakula, a certified diagnostic radiographer in the United Kingdom.
Disclaimer: no affiliate links.
📚Sources:
https://www.hcpc-uk.org/registration/.
https://www.gcu.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate-diagnostic-imaging-glasgow