BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2026
You can also study this course:
Are you looking to start a dynamic and rewarding career in healthcare? Do you have an interest in advanced medical technology and a passion for patient care? Our BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography degree equips you with the scientific knowledge, technical skills, and clinical experience needed to play a vital role in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of a variety of conditions.
Employability is at the heart of this course. Designed to provide you with the knowledge and practical skills required to meet the standards set by the regulatory and professional bodies, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the College of Radiographers (COR) respectively, upon completion of the degree you’ll be ready to take your first step into the NHS or other healthcare environments.
* Please note the Foundation Year of this course is Subject to Validation.
Diagnostic radiography is a dynamic and evolving profession, one that sits at the heart of modern healthcare.
With the UK’s changing demographics, ageing population, and increasingly diverse healthcare needs, the demand for skilled diagnostic radiographers has never been greater. The future of the profession lies in integrated, multidisciplinary teams, often working within local clinics and community-based settings, as well as the traditional hospital setting.
Being a diagnostic radiographer goes far beyond operating imaging equipment. It’s about interpreting clinical information, supporting accurate diagnoses, and playing a vital role in patient journeys, from initial assessment through to treatment planning.
Drawing on extensive professional experience, we’ve created a degree that not only teaches technical proficiency but also focuses on clinical reasoning, patient communication, and interprofessional collaboration, ensuring you graduate as a confident, adaptable, and highly employable healthcare professional.
We’ve developed a modern, forward-thinking degree designed to give you the technical expertise and hands-on experience needed for today’s clinical environments.
At the heart of your training is our state-of-the-art, fully digital Radiography Skills Laboratory, equipped with the latest imaging technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. This means you'll train on the same advanced systems used in hospitals, gaining practical experience that mirrors real-world practice. Alongside your clinical placements, this ensures you're fully prepared to work confidently with a wide range of diagnostic imaging equipment upon graduation.
You'll also benefit from our cutting-edge anatomy teaching resources, including an interactive 3D digital anatomy platform, allowing you to explore, dissect, and understand the human body in a hands-on and intuitive way. These tools will support your understanding of the body systems you'll be imaging in clinical practice.
Technology plays a key role in the future of healthcare, and as a diagnostic radiography student, you’ll explore how innovations like AI and digital imaging are transforming patient care, making this a truly exciting and future-focused career path.
If you have an interest in healthcare and are looking for a rewarding and fulfilling professional role with great purpose, a career in diagnostic radiography may be a perfect fit for you. To support you in becoming a Diagnostic Radiographer, the UK Government is continuing to provide financial support to radiography students with a payment of at least £5,000 a year, which will not need to be paid back. Find out if you are eligible on the NHS Learning Support Fund website.
Every aspect of our BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography course has been carefully designed to develop you into a confident, competent, and compassionate healthcare professional. The curriculum is informed by the extensive clinical experience of our academic staff, many of whom have worked across a variety of radiography settings in the NHS and private sector. Their insights ensure that the course remains relevant, practical, and closely aligned with the realities of modern radiographic practice.
We have structured the degree in line with the professional frameworks and standards set by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the College of Radiographers (CoR). This includes a strong focus on evidence-based practice, patient-centred care, ethical decision-making, and the safe and effective use of advanced imaging technologies.
Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC as a qualified Diagnostic Radiographer.
As part of this course, you will be required to complete practice placements in clinical settings. These placements are carefully integrated throughout the programme to give you the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real-world healthcare environments.
By working alongside qualified radiographers and other healthcare professionals within local NHS Trusts and imaging departments, you’ll gain invaluable hands-on experience with patients, imaging equipment, and clinical workflows. This not only enhances your learning but allows you to build connections within the healthcare sector early in your career, all while accumulating the mandatory practice hours required for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
What will I study?
Throughout the course, you will study a wide range of topics designed to build both your technical expertise and professional confidence as a diagnostic radiographer. You'll learn how to use diagnostic imaging equipment safely and effectively, with a strong focus on legal, ethical, and workplace best practices. The course will deepen your understanding of health, disease, and disorders commonly encountered in radiographic practice, while also exploring the role of screening, health promotion, and patient education in supporting healthy living.
You’ll examine the principles of quality control, assurance, and clinical audit, as well as develop a strong technical understanding of various imaging modalities and their applications. Interpreting diagnostic data accurately and linking it to human anatomy, physiology, and pathology is a key focus, supported by training in image interpretation.
In addition, you’ll explore the importance of patient-centred care and effective communication, which are essential in delivering safe, compassionate healthcare. The course also encourages critical thinking, allowing you to evaluate current practice and contribute ideas for innovation and improvement.
By the end of your studies, you’ll have the knowledge, technical skills, and professional attributes needed to begin a rewarding career as a diagnostic radiographer.
How will I be taught and assessed?
The degree is delivered primarily through in-person, face-to-face learning, offering a rich and interactive educational experience. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used to support different learning styles and ensure a well-rounded understanding of the subject. These include practical workshops, simulated practice in our radiography suite, seminars, tutorials, and problem-based learning in small groups.
In addition to face-to-face teaching, some theoretical content is delivered online through webinars, recorded lectures, videos, and interactive discussion forums, providing flexibility while supporting your independent study.
Developing your clinical skills is a core element of the course. These are cultivated through a combination of clinical observations, practical classes, e-learning resources, and extended clinical placements in real healthcare settings.
You will be assessed using a variety of methods to reflect the diverse skills required in professional practice. These include:
- Written examinations
- Oral assessments
- Poster presentations
- Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
- Written assignments
- Reflective and clinical portfolios
This combination of teaching methods and assessments ensures that you graduate with the academic knowledge, practical experience, and professional skills needed to thrive as a diagnostic radiographer.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 120 - 136 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
- Applicants will be required to have 5 GCSE’s including Maths, English and a Science at grade 4 / C or above or Level 2 equivalent and 120 -136 UCAS tariff points (e.g. 3 A Levels at grades BBB or above from a science or related science subject such as Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology or Sociology) OR
BTEC Level 3 extended diploma DMM in a Science or health and social care related subject OR
T level qualification equivalent to 120-136 points in a Science or health and social care related subject OR
International Baccalaureate (30 points) OR
Access diploma to Higher Education course in Science, Health, Social Care or similar.
For learners, whose first language is not English, there is a requirement to achieve an IELTS tariff of 7 with no individual component below 6.5. This falls in line with the recommendations of the HCPC.
Applicants will also need to undergo a Satisfactory completion of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS).
Non-academic requirements
As well as meeting the academic requirements, all applicants need to be able to demonstrate that they have researched diagnostic radiography as a career and are aware of the scope and expectations of the profession.
Learners with the potential to meet the academic requirements and who also provide a relevant and informed personal statement will be shortlisted for an interview. At the interview, applicants will be asked to demonstrate motivation and understanding of diagnostic radiography as a career and show that their values and behaviours align with the values in the NHS Constitution.
Applicants must attend a 2-day work experience in a radiology department following a successful interview. The course team will help arrange this.
All places on this course are subject to a satisfactory occupational health check, and a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Foundation Year
This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home Foundation Year, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £9,790 *
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Home, Academic Year 2026 - 2027: £9,790 per year *
Please note all of the 2026/27 academic year fees stated are subject to parliamentary procedure. Tuition fees are expected to increase each academic year in line with the maximum permitted value set by the Government for that academic year. The expected rise for Home undergraduate students (including those on a foundation year course), may impact both new and continuing students.
What are my career prospects?
This course will set you up perfectly for a career in diagnostic radiography and for advancing your practice thereafter. You may choose to progress as part of your career development in diagnostic radiography by considering opportunities in research or teaching. You can also explore managerial posts in the NHS, agencies or charities, looking at issues such as quality assurance, patient care and/or information and support services.
With experience it is possible to specialise in an area of diagnostic radiography, such as:
- Breast Screening/Mammography
- Computerised Tomography (CT) scanning
- Interventional Radiography
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Medical Ultrasound
- Nuclear Medicine
- Trauma/accident and Emergency
Alternatively, you could choose to specialise by working with a group of patients, such as children, stroke patients or the terminally ill.
As your career progresses, you may become an advanced practitioner and take on a higher level of clinical responsibility and management of patients. A small number of diagnostic radiographers go on to work at consultant level, where you'll contribute to the strategic development of services.
Course leader
- Associate Professor
- Discipline Lead and Programme Lead
- Admissions Lead, Clinical Lead & Senior Lecturer
