Diagnostic Radiography (pre-registration) MSc

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Course structure

The Diagnostic Radiography MSc full-time degree will be a mix of clinical practice and academic study and runs for 45 weeks on each of the two years.

Clinical practice modules will be delivered throughout the programme with external clinical educators within NHS and private healthcare services.

This embedded approach allows you to engage in a diverse range of practice-based learning environments and is designed in a block pattern to consolidate recent academic learning.

Placements will account for around 50% of the course. You will work in several sites with additional specialist rotations to ensure you meet all learning outcomes for your practice-based learning.

Teaching at the university includes keynote lectures from subject specialists and expert patients, workshops, pre-recorded content, student led case-based group work, presentations, seminars, webinars, peer teaching and learning, guided independent study, self-directed study, clinically-based activities and e-learning including group work in Wikis and blogs, video analysis and discussion boards.

The final dissertation provides you with a project on a topic of your choice. 

You’ll be encouraged to be research active and this translates directly into developing creative relationships between teaching, learning and research.

As a student on this course you’ll also get to participate in Schwartz Rounds - hour-long sessions where students come together to listen to stories and share reflections in a supportive and confidential environment. The sessions offer the opportunity to reflect on the emotional aspects of clinical practice and are designed to support students and recent graduates working in complex settings.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Areas of study

Our Diagnostic Radiography MSc degree will ensure you graduate as a competent Diagnostic Radiographer able to obtain high quality diagnostic images using a range of complex imaging equipment such as X-rays, Computed Tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy.

You’ll also have opportunities to gain experience in other imaging modalities such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), ultrasound, mammography and nuclear medicine.

You’ll also experience working with a broad range of patients, from all ages, including with mental and/or physical disabilities and the terminally ill.

Year 1

You’ll be introduced to diagnostic radiographic practice and to the principles of radiation physics, radiographic equipment, radiation protection, legislation and radiobiology to enable understanding of radiographic processes and safe practice for transfer into the clinical setting.

You will complete all required mandatory training prior to beginning clinical practice placements.

You will also study research methodology and its applications in healthcare, develop further science and technology comprehension in the specialist modalities, and complete an anatomy module which includes all body systems. Professional practice education will look at examinations on patients with additional needs, health promotion, contrast media and quality issues in radiography.

Your clinical placements in this year focus on radiographic technique and begin to introduce you to the specialist modalities to consolidate your academic learning.

Modules

• Introduction to Diagnostic Radiography and Radiation Physics
• Science and Technology in Diagnostic Radiography
• Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology
• Professional Practice in Diagnostic Radiography
• MSc Practice Learning Diagnostic Radiography 1

Year 2

In the second year the professional focus is on understanding the wider scope of the role and factors affecting quality service provision to prepare you for practice as a qualified diagnostic radiographer.

Your clinical focus will be on special care groups and their management alongside completing your experience of the specialist modalities.  You will also complete an image interpretation module to include medicolegal aspects of radiographer reporting and performance measurement.

In addition you will produce a dissertation focusing on an area of subject specific professional practice to complete your MSc.

Modules

Placements

In each year you’ll go on placement in healthcare settings to gain hands-on learning and assessment opportunities with a range of diagnostic imaging modalities. You’ll be on placement for around 50% of your course.

Placement learning focuses on competence, rather than a set number of hours or a set number of X-rays.

Practice blocks will comprise of a 35-hour week with the shift pattern determined by the placement provider in line with their staffing template. You will also be expected to work night shifts in year 2 to prepare you for autonomous practice as a qualified diagnostic radiographer.

Clinical placements will be provided by our local trusts partners who are located throughout the south east in Sussex, Surrey and Kent. You will need to be prepared to travel the region for your placements to ensure exposure to a broad range of practice settings.

Placements will take place in a variety of diagnostic radiography settings in hospitals, community and private sector.

All areas of diagnostic radiography will be covered for theory and practice learning in general, A&E, dental, paediatrics, community and private settings.

You will also gain experience in fluoroscopy, CT, ultrasound, interventional radiography, cardiac catheterisation, MRI, neuroangiography, nuclear medicine and PET-CT.

You’ll be supported and overseen throughout your placements by a mentor in the healthcare setting.

Facilities for learning

The University of Brighton has a wide range of facilities to support the learning of our health students which enable students to develop their skills in ‘real-life’ scenarios.

For this new course we have created a Clinical Imaging Suite for our diagnostic radiography students which includes:

• X-ray table and tube
• PACS/DICOM image store
• Clinical imaging simulation software

In our libraries you will have access to relevant books and journals to support your development as a radiographer.

Becoming a diagnostic radiographer

There is a growing demand for radiographers.

To practice as a radiographer you need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – successful completion of our Diagnostic Radiography MSc means that you'll be eligible to apply for HCPC registration.

If you work for the NHS, you're likely to work in the radiology and imaging department providing a service for most departments within the hospital including accident and emergency, outpatients, operating theatres and wards. You may work in private clinics and hospitals.

As well working with other health professionals including healthcare scientists working in non-ionising imaging, you may supervise the work of radiography assistants or imaging support assistants.

You could choose to specialise in a particular type of imaging such as computerised tomography or sonography or working with a specific group of patients such as children or stroke patients. 

You could also move into management of local radiology services.

As a radiographer in the NHS you'll start your career as a Band 5. Pay scales can be found on the NHS website.

Meet the team

Charlene Wallace, Course Leader

Charlene is a Diagnostic Radiographer who has worked both in the NHS and private sector. Charlene initially completed a BSc(Hons) in Diagnostic Radiography at the University of Portsmouth. After working in clinical practice for several years, Charlene specialised in ultrasound by completing a PG Diploma in Medical Ultrasound at King's College London. Charlene holds a range of ultrasound competencies and continued to develop her role by undertaking a Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Postgraduate module at Canterbury Christ Church University. 

In 2021 Charlene began a new chapter in her career as Senior Lecturer and Course Leader of MSc in Diagnostic Radiography (Pre-Registration) at the University of Brighton. Her main areas of lecturing work are professional practice in diagnostic radiography, and anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology.

Charlene is passionate about a student-focused course and wants to inspire radiography students to reach their own unique potential.

"This accelerated two-year MSc course at the University of Brighton, is an intense course for those who have completed a first degree. The course aims to enhance your critical thinking and research skills through academic study, simulation-based education, and clinical placement. These experiences will equip you with the skills required to put service users at the heart of all you do, whilst providing high quality diagnostic images. On completion of the masters, you will be able to register as a Diagnostic Radiographer with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and begin your diverse and exciting career." 

View Charlene's full academic profile. 

Other members of the team

• Peter Dick, Lecturer
• Sara Savidge, Lecturer
• Vicky Ballard, Lecturer

Course fees

Additional funding support

UK students studying nursing, midwifery and some allied health professions subjects receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each academic year. Shortage specialisms, such as radiography, receive an additional £1,000. Find out more on the NHS website.

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2023–24.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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