.jpg)
Course overview
Emphasising student-centred learning and professional development, the apprenticeship fosters a holistic and ethical approach to medical imaging.
5 reasons why you should hire a Diagnostic Radiography Apprentice:
- Enhanced patient care: apprentices learn to deliver compassionate, patient-centred care, improving patient satisfaction and outcomes in your practice.
- Cutting-edge skills: apprentices receive up-to-date training in radiographic techniques and technology, ensuring your team remains at the forefront of medical imaging advancements.
- Evidence-based practice: apprentices are trained to apply research and evidence-based approaches, enhancing the quality and effectiveness of diagnostic services.
- Cost-effective talent development: hiring apprentices allows you to develop highly skilled professionals tailored to your specific needs, often at a lower cost than traditional hiring methods.
- Future-proof your workforce: investing in apprenticeships ensures a pipeline of qualified radiographers, addressing potential skill shortages and sustaining your organisation’s long-term success.
This apprenticeship prepares compassionate, future-ready radiographers eligible for Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration. Apprentices become autonomous, reflective practitioners who apply evidence-based approaches to healthcare.
Please note, we can only respond to enquiries from employers, or individuals with agreement from their employer to undertake an apprenticeship.
Where you study
Blended learning
Supporting information for applicants
Our School feedback policy (word - 278kb)
Our School reference policy (word - 276kb)
* Subject to University approval
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Radiographers require a detailed knowledge of anatomy. You look at surface markings and how you use these anatomical features to assist you in positioning patients for X-ray examinations.
Introduction to Professional Practice
Designed to provide an underpinning of professional practice issues, exploring skills and development issues relating to the core theme of professionalism.
Ionising Radiation Physics for Radiographers
You look at basic ionising and non-ionising radiation physics. You explore radiation hazards, the principles of radiation safety and the legislation that you practice under within the clinical environment while on your clinical placements.
Radiographic Practice Placement One
You explore the structure and function of the human body relevant to diagnostic radiography, along with basic knowledge of health, disease, disorder and dysfunction. This module also includes your clinical assessment and associated clinical time.
Structure and Function for Allied Health Professionals
You explore the physiology that underpins disease manifestation on diagnostic radiographs.
Year 2 core modules
Dissertation Planning and Preparation for Research
You further develop your knowledge of research methods and critical appraisal, allowing you to apply it to design a project using primary or secondary research methods.
Improving the Patient Experience in Imaging
You explore the impact of contemporary healthcare policy and guidelines in the clinical imaging service in terms of enhancing the quality of the service for the patient.
Radiographic Practice Placement Two
This distance-learning module introduces and focuses on more complex radiographic examinations, including reviewing radiographic images for diagnostic acceptability and abnormality recognition. You learn the applications, indications and contraindications of a range of contrast media and pharmacology used in radiographic examinations and procedures, and cross-sectional anatomy of the neck, chest and abdomen.
You explore a variety of ethical dilemmas related to medical imaging, using a model to aid clinical reasoning and ethical decision-making.
You investigate and examine the current evidence-base for your clinical radiography practice. You familiarise yourself with the current UK, European and international legislative framework for the use of ionising radiation in medicine.
Year 3 core modules
Applied Physics for Specialist Modalities
You gain an insight into health informatics and explore the theoretical principles underpinning a range of imaging modalities.
Diagnostic Radiography Research in Action
You consolidate and further develop the knowledge and skills gained during previous modules and carry out the project designed at Level 5.
You develop a knowledge and understanding of healthcare policy, statutory and professional policy and explore the impact of these policies with respect to patient care, professional practice and service delivery.
Preliminary Clinical Evaluation for Radiographers
You develop the preliminary clinical evaluation skills of the appendicular and axial skeleton, chest and abdomen for manifest abnormality as required for first post competency.
Radiographic Practice Placement Three
You gain support to achieve the required skills and attributes for your first post. You consolidate your radiographic skills and further develop your ability to adapt your practice to meet individual service user’s needs.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
Apprentices learn through keynote lectures, seminars, small group work and practical skills sessions. They are given constructive feedback to enhance their learning opportunities. They are encouraged and supported to engage in self-directed learning throughout. The course includes 15 weeks of placement which is agreed individually with each employer at the beginning. Placement can be anything from 4 - 15 weeks long depending on the requirements of the employer. During placements, apprentices are supervised by experienced clinicians or mentors.
How you are assessed
Methods of assessment include written and practical examinations, completion of practice portfolios, poster and oral presentations, written assignments and practice placements.
The employer, in conjunction with the University, confirms that the apprentice is eligible to progress to the End-Point-Assessment (EPA), in the form of an award board, following completion of the modules. Eligibility is confirmed once they have met the set criteria.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be accepted on to a degree apprenticeship course you must have support from your employer and meet the course entry requirements.
Apprentices must:
- hold Level 2 qualifications in English and maths and be able to produce the certificates
- have three A-levels or equivalent experience
- be employed as an apprentice diagnostic radiographer with a healthcare provider (on entry to the course)
- demonstrate the appropriate values and attitudes for the programme through an interview with the employer and University
- have a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure.
For this particular course, there may be a need/requirement for students to undertake an occupational health/work based risk assessment check. If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism spectrum condition, sensory impairment or medical condition that may require reasonable adjustments during an external placement or in the university or in a clinical practice area, this must be declared as part of the enrolment process. If you are unsure you can contact the relevant admissions or course tutor for guidance.
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
Radiographers are in demand in the UK and overseas within the NHS and private sectors. After completing the course, the apprentice could work in several sections within a hospital medical-imaging department and carry out a variety of imaging investigations, including projection radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
They may also consider postgraduate study and research.
Professional Accreditation
Successful completion of the course provides eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC and membership of the Society and CoR.
