PgDip/MSc Radiotherapy and Oncology (Pre-Registration)

This course is designed to allow you to retrain in the area of radiotherapy and oncology. It is not suitable for people already holding a qualification in therapeutic radiography.

Radiography is a caring profession that calls for technological expertise. Therapeutic radiographers use radiation to give radiotherapy treatment to patients with cancer.

Why QMU?

• This course will qualify you to embark on a professional career in which you are eligible to register within just two years.
• You will be entering a caring profession that also calls for technological expertise in the rapid developing area of cancer treatment.

Course overview

If you are considering this career move, it is essential that you have good interpersonal skills as radiographers have to interact with other healthcare professionals as well as with patients and their families, many of whom may need considerable reassurance.

This course will focus on the professional elements required of a therapeutic radiographer. The aim of the course is to further develop the analytical, theoretical and practical skills of an honours graduate so that they can demonstrate the necessary attributes required for a registered therapeutic radiographer. This will enable employment within the UK.

Teaching, learning and assessment

You will benefit from a wide range of learning and teaching methods, based on a problem-based learning approach where you will work both independently and collaboratively with your peers. The teaching and learning strategies are designed to enable independent progress within a supportive framework.

Links with industry/ professional bodies

You can become a member of the College of Radiographers as a student and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) on graduation. The course leads to eligibility to register as a therapeutic radiographer with the HCPC.

Placements

Both work-based learning modules will be undertaken whilst on clinical placement in any of the five cancer centres in Scotland (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness). In Year One clinical placement runs for 16 weeks (May-August) and in Year Two placement lasts for 20 weeks (May–September). Placements are allocated by QMU and your personal performance on placement will be assessed. Students are required to meet any costs associated with placements (ie travel, accommodation).

Careers

As a graduate, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC and work as a therapeutic radiographer with the NHS in the UK. Currently, graduates from QMU have a high employment record.

Many of our graduates have gone on to further their careers abroad. However, although HCPC is recognised in many overseas countries, you may have to apply to the registration body of the country in which you wish to work.