BSc(Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
Page last updated 14 May 2025
Please note there are no vacancies for this course for September 2025. Applications for 2026 entry should be made through UCAS from September 2025.
Introduction
Develop specialist diagnostic radiography knowledge and skills. You'll have access to industry-standard technology and undertake work placements in NHS and private healthcare settings.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study diagnostic radiography?
Most hospital patients don't receive treatment without some form of diagnostic assessment.
Computer or digital radiography equipment uses plain imaging to assess the chest and skeleton. Specialist imaging equipment such as ultrasound, computerised tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine help diagnose surgical, medical or vascular conditions, and complex injuries.
To produce and interpret these diagnostic images properly, radiographers need specialist knowledge in radiation science, technology, anatomy, physiology and pathology.
A £5,000 per year training grant is available for home students along with an additional £1,000 per year grant because diagnostic radiographers are in demand in the UK and worldwide. Further information is available on the NHS Business Services website.
Why UWE Bristol?
BSc(Hons) Diagnostic Radiography is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), so you will be eligible to apply for registration with them when you graduate.
You'll learn in industry-standard facilities where you'll observe and practise diagnostic procedures.
Get to grips with operating highly specialised equipment such as the Shaderware virtual reality x-ray laboratory. Study the science that underpins effective diagnosis. Develop strong interprofessional and interpersonal skills.
The course has a strong practical focus, incorporating evidence-based learning, simulations and placements throughout. You'll engage with patients, clinical radiographers and other healthcare professionals on placements, in class and online.
You'll spend about half the course on clinical work placements in the NHS and private healthcare organisations. There's also the chance to develop and apply your skills working abroad.
Where can it take me?
Diagnostic radiographers are in demand, with exciting career opportunities for graduates in the NHS and private radiography departments in the UK and worldwide.
You can also develop a specialism by studying a master's in a field such as ultrasound, nuclear medicine or radiotherapy.
Find out where a career in allied health professions can take you.
Personalised virtual tour
There's no need to visit us in person to explore our facilities and campuses. Take a personalised virtual tour and discover it all for yourself from wherever you are.
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Content
The University is currently reviewing the curriculum for this programme from year one onwards. The module areas you will study are listed below, however the final module titles are subject to approval as the changes go through university and relevant PSRB approval.
Year one
You'll study:
- Physical Sciences and Imaging Technology 1
- Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Diagnostic Radiography Professional Practice 1
- Clinical Context and Applications of Diagnostic Radiography 1
- Principles of Radiographic Imaging Technique.
Year two
You'll study:
- Professional Behaviour and Health Psychology
- Informing Practice through Research and Inquiry
- Clinical Context and Applications of Diagnostic Radiography 2
- Physical Sciences and Imaging Technology 2
- Diagnostic Radiography Professional Practice 2.
Final year
You'll study:
- Healthy Futures
- Research and Evidence in Practice
- Continuous Professional Development and Employability Skills
- Skills for Informing Practice
- Diagnostic Radiography Professional Practice 3.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
We use a mix of lectures, practical sessions, experiments, student-led seminars, e-learning, guided self-study and problem-based learning, using scenarios and case studies, to develop your understanding and skills
Develop a solid foundation in imaging science, and apply that knowledge to new technologies and procedures.
Study professional practice theory, and explore ethical, legal and professional principles, role development and employability.
Learn with other professional groups to develop your inter-professional relationships and collaboration skills.
Go on clinical placements, building on the complexity of imaging to prepare you for practice.
Research is integral to the course and will help with your future professional development as a radiographer.
Like all radiography students, you'll be allocated one of the radiography lecturers as your personal tutor.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Network and learn
Meet with visiting NHS professionals and service users at our regular events to get a holistic view of the health service.
Raise your profile
Put yourself forward to present work at the Society of Radiographers' conferences. Our students have won prizes for presenting, and others have published work in professional journals.
Assessment
We'll assess you using a mixture of examinations, assignments, case studies, appraisals of clinical skills, student-led presentations, your clinical portfolio, research dissertation, weblogs and wikis.
Features
Professional accreditation
This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which means you will be eligible to apply for registration with them when you graduate.
The course is accredited by the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR).
Placements
UWE Bristol's geographical area for placement provision covers the whole of the South, South West and West of England. Placements across this region help support and provide a wealth of clinical experience across many areas within the NHS healthcare service and the Private Voluntary and Independent sector. These placements are vital to meet the professional regulatory body standards in practice for our affiliated health and social care courses.
To access this variety of opportunities within the health and social care courses, there's an expectation that all students at times will have to travel across large areas. In some cases this can be more than 50 miles away and may be outside of normal working hours due to the nature of shift work on some courses.
When considering your application to these courses, you must ensure you have means to travel to your placement location at unsociable hours, and/or funds available to secure short-term accommodation options to participate in your placement, if required.
You'll go on a variety of placements to increase your experience, helping you to become more adaptable. The variety of clinical placements you'll experience will make you highly employable, developing your skills, industry knowledge and professional network.
We have excellent links with hospitals and private healthcare organisations. You'll spend half the course applying your knowledge and building your professional skills on a number of different placements.
We offer variety of work environments to choose from, so you can find a location that suits you.
International opportunities
Add international experience to your degree by going on a five-week pre-qualifying placement abroad during your final year, or applying for a place on the Work the World programme.
Study facilities
Benefit from our highly specialist facilities, including our Skills and Simulation Centre, to support you in your studies.
Explore the use and production of x-rays, and develop positioning and patient-related skills, using the latest radiography and digital radiography and processing equipment.
Practise procedures and experience changing factors as they'd look on a real patient using Shaderware technology.
Access a huge selection of books, journals and audio-visual materials, including specialist health and social care databases, in our Glenside Campus library, one of the best healthcare libraries in England.
IT facilities are available to use on all our campuses.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Health Professions facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Life
Accommodation
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
Diagnostic radiographers are in demand, with exciting career opportunities for graduates in the UK and worldwide. Our students go on to work in the hospitals within the region and also work nationally and internationally.
Most of our graduates find positions in the diagnostic imaging departments of NHS Trusts. Others go into private healthcare providers or work in field hospitals for the forces.
You could also do a master's and specialise further in an area such as ultrasound, nuclear medicine or radiotherapy.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Learn more about NHS careers.
Fees
Full time course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
A £5,000 per year training grant is available for home students along with an additional £1,000 per year grant because diagnostic radiographers are in demand in the UK and worldwide. Further information is available on the NHS Business Services website.
Entry
Typical offers
You will need to meet the following Level 2 requirements:
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
In addition to the above Level 2 qualifications, you'll need to achieve the published tariff points from your Level 3 studies prior to entry. Below is an indicative list of the main qualification types. However, we will consider any Level 3 qualifications towards meeting our entry requirements.
- Tariff points: 120
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 with 6.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need on our English language requirements page.
- A-level subjects: Grade C in a Science or Social Science subject.
- Relevant subjects: Subjects that meet the Science/Social Science requirement for this course: Biology, Applied Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Health and Social Care, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Applied Science, Science (Biology route), Science (Chemistry route), Science (Physics route), Science in Society, Sociology, Sport and Physical Education, Sports Studies.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: You'll need a minimum of five units in a Science or Social Science Subject. You may be asked to do more based on the size of your units. Please list the units you are studying in your application. For further advice on acceptable units, please email us.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: 15 Level 3 credits at Merit in a Science or Social Science subject.
- Baccalaureate IB: A minimum Grade 5 in a Higher Level Science or Social Science subject. We accept the IB Career-related Programme in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
- Irish Highers: H2 in a Science or Social Science subject.
- T Levels: Science, Healthcare Science and Health.
If you partially achieve your T Level, you can meet our subject requirements if you have at least a D in your Core Section. For further advice on acceptable subjects please email us.
Selection process
Applicants who meet the academic requirements listed below will be shortlisted on the strength of their personal statement. Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an interview. For more details on the process, please visit our selection page.
Entry requirements
Please note that due to early clinical contact on this course applicants must turn 18 before the start of the course. Applicants who do not turn 18 by the commencement of the course will be advised to defer or reapply as appropriate. Please see our admissions policy for further information.
If you don't meet the entry requirements of this course, you may be eligible for the Health Professions Foundation Year.
Additional requirements
Before you start your course, you'll be required to complete:
- an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check
- a Health Check.
Read more about professional checks.
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Deferred entry
We do not accept deferred entry applications for this course.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
If you've not received a decision on your application within a week of the interview, this means that the University is still considering your application. We appreciate your patience during this time and would like to remind you that if you applied through UCAS and have received offers from any other Universities, you'll not lose these offers before your UCAS Reply Deadline.
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644