Diagnostic Radiography (Degree Apprenticeship) - BSc (Hons)
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.
As a diagnostic radiographer you play a valuable part in a service user’s pathway by providing the imaging needed to support their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, using highly specialist technology. A career in diagnostic radiography combines science, technology, patient care and an eye for detail....
- Level Apprenticeship
- Study mode Full Time
- Award BSc (Hons)
- Start date March 2025
- Subject
- Location City South
This course is:
Overview
As a diagnostic radiographer you play a valuable part in a service user’s pathway by providing the imaging needed to support their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, using highly specialist technology. A career in diagnostic radiography combines science, technology, patient care and an eye for detail. As well as being a rewarding field to work in, it offers a diverse career pathway with a variety of options to progress to advanced practice.
How to apply
You apply for a degree apprenticeship in the same way you apply for a normal job. You’ll need to submit an application to the recruiting employer.
Employers advertise degree apprenticeships throughout the year and there is no application cycle like there is with university applications. The vacancy will state when the application deadline is, and when the apprenticeship is due to start.
You cannot apply directly to the University for a degree apprenticeship. To apply for an apprenticeship, you first need to find one that you are interested in applying for.
The NHS Jobs website is where the vacancies are advertised. It only shows live jobs (so it won’t tell you previous vacancies, nor what’s coming up), so you will need to check it regularly to see new vacancies as the employers advertise them.
What's covered in this course?
On successful completion of all course requirements, you will be entitled to apply for registration with the regulator, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), to gain registered practitioner status and be able to practice in the UK either within the NHS or the private sector.
As an apprentice on this course, you will be released by your employer to study at the university while having exposure to a range of practice placement settings at your workplace. You will experience a mixture of face-to-face and virtual teaching, self-directed study and on the job learning with your employer. Off the job learning is delivered on a block release basis, with approximately one week in five being allocated to this. Attendance at university is not required for all off the job blocks as some of these will be delivered virtually or using structured self-directed learning materials. When on campus, as well as classroom delivery, you will have access to our specialist teaching spaces, including a well-equipped x-ray suite, image viewing facilities, ward, and operating theatre.
On the job, you will engage with practice partners and service users to learn the specialist knowledge, skills and behaviours required to care for a wide range of patients in the diagnostic radiography setting. Your academic studies include subjects which form the core of diagnostic radiography practice, including the study of human anatomy, physiology and pathology, principles of radiation and imaging, and how to deliver exacting standards of patient care in the context of varying social and psychological needs. You will also develop a strong understanding of what it means to be a registered professional.
The purpose of this is to ensure that you are prepared for practice with all the skills and knowledge you need to be a competent and confident diagnostic radiographer. This course will also support you with your employability skills so that you are ready to make the move into the working world as you complete your studies.
As you advance your knowledge of diagnostic radiography practice and the application of imaging technology to differing pathologies, you will develop academic and analytical skills and will explore the research evidence that forms the bases of current and emergent practices. You will also develop your ability to apply research strategies to health and care practice and will consolidate your clinical skills and knowledge to support your transition to registered practitioner status.
Studying here
The design of the course not only considers the PSRB requirements but also the needs of our apprentices in transforming them from members of the public with an interest in radiography to fully fledged, newly qualified diagnostic radiographers. The journey on which our apprentices travel during their time with us must be of value to them, their employers, and our society. We aim for our apprentices to graduate from the course feeling they have achieved their absolute best, and have enjoyed, and felt supported during, their time with us.
The course has been designed across four streams; the four advanced practice pillars of:
- clinical practice
- management and leadership
- education and research
- demonstration of core and area-specific clinical competence.
This is to ensure our apprentices are practice-ready, motivated for continued professional development and further study, and able to drive and develop practice for the benefit and prosperity of our profession.
Why Choose Us?
- Work based learning – the opportunity to build on existing knowledge and skills
- A wide range of placement opportunities to broaden your understanding of healthcare provision across the lifespan
- Work based clinical educators to support you in practice
- We are one of the largest centres for diagnostic radiography training in the UK, so you are guaranteed excellent support, training and access to a wealth of knowledge
- Learn from passionate and experienced staff – the course team offers a wealth of experience and knowledge for you to learn from. They were part of the Trailblazer group developing the Diagnostic Radiography Apprenticeship Standards approved in 2019 and have been central to bringing apprentices to the diagnostic radiographer workforce.
- Our City South Campus features a fully functioning X-Ray room with both CR and DR capabilities, as well as PACS system with reporting standard monitors, a 3D fully immersive VERT, 2 x GE ultrasound scanners, and a range of ultrasound simulators.
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 to 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 facility replicates a small flat with bedroom, bathroom and kitchen diner space. It is used to simulate non-clinical settings, to give students experience of working in different environments. It also incorporates a range of digital health technology, to help prepare students to work in the NHS of the future.
Simbulance
Our ‘Simbulance’ is a purpose built teaching space that allows students to practise their skills in a highly specialist, high-fidelity simulated environment. The Simbulance is an exact replica of an operational emergency ambulance. Learners are truly immersed in the clinical environment and test their knowledge and skills in a safe and supported space, before entering the clinical environment ‘for real’ on placement.
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 Training Academy, 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
Students have access to a wide range of Ultrasound simulation equipment to develop their 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
Tracey Perks
Senior Lecturer in Diagnostic Radiography / Course Leader for Preceptorship - MSc Medical Ultrasound
Tracey is a Diagnostic Radiographer with 20 years’ experience, focusing on trauma imaging and student support. She worked clinically in Southampton before moving to Heartlands Hospital as a Senior Radiographer. Tracey moved into academia in 2002 as a senior lecturer with Birmingham City University. She has fulfilled a number of roles within...
More about Tracey