Higher/Degree Apprenticeship Diagnostic Radiographer
BSc(Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
BSc(Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
Page last updated 3 December 2024
Accredited by the Society and College of Radiographers, our Diagnostic Radiographer apprenticeship will give you the clinical skills to practice as a qualified diagnostic radiographer.
When a patient is first admitted to hospital, they'll undergo diagnostic assessment to ensure they receive the treatment they need. At this stage, a Diagnostic Radiographer will play a critical role in obtaining and examining images of the patient's body to start the diagnosis process.
To produce and interpret diagnostic images, radiographers are equipped with broad knowledge and skills, including patient care and management, anatomy, physiology, professional practice and digital technology. Due to the specialist expertise needed and pressures on healthcare services, Diagnostic Radiographers are in high demand, providing vital practice care and supporting the patient through their diagnostic pathway.
Our Diagnostic Radiography Degree Apprenticeship (Level 6) enables practitioners working in the NHS and private healthcare sector to train as qualified Diagnostic Radiographers, over a three-year period. You'll study the science that underpins effective diagnosis, using specialist imaging equipment to help diagnose surgical, medical or vascular conditions, cancer and complex injuries.
Throughout the course, you'll develop your skills and knowledge in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound, Computed Tomography (CT) and Nuclear Medicine, plus interventional studies and image reporting. By the end of the course, you'll become a confident, compassionate practitioner who can provide ethical, effective care for patients.
UWE Bristol has developed this course in line with the core values of the NHS Constitution, ensuring relevant content is embedded from recruitment through to teaching. From the start, you'll benefit from our established reputation as a radiography educator, thanks to our expert teaching, specialised facilities and continual assistance.
Our experienced lecturers offer a broad range of expertise across a range of imaging modalities, patient types and clinical settings. This breadth ensures you'll be adaptable to a range of challenges within your workplace. They'll mostly teach you through online learning in our virtual classroom, using a mixture of virtual simulations and live teaching, enabling you to learn from a distance.
During your off-the-job training, you'll have access to our industry standard facilities on Glenside Campus, our dedicated health community. These include Shaderware virtual reality software for practical X-ray simulations, as well as a virtual classroom experience, a fully operational CT scanner and imaging equipment.
Benefit from a range of student support during your apprenticeship, including guidance from a mentor and practice educator, and regular tri-partite reviews to monitor your progress. You'll also have access to UWE Bristol's library and support services, plus IT support, whether you're on campus or at your workplace.
Our Diagnostic Radiography Apprenticeship benefits healthcare services looking to 'grow their own' qualified Diagnostic Radiographers from their existing employees. The course offers a new way for your employer to plan for their future workforce, investing in your training and education, while retaining your talent in-house.
Throughout your clinical placement activity, you'll develop an empathic, reflective approach to your practice. You'll gain the emotional awareness and quality assurance needed to contribute safe and ethical therapeutic interventions to your workplace. Plus, to meet the needs of your organisation, you'll have the flexibility to spread your placement hours over the whole year or in discrete blocks.
Throughout your Diagnostic Radiographer apprenticeship, you'll gain a deep understanding of the science that underpins effective diagnosis, applied to a range of clinical settings in your workplace. You'll train as a confident, autonomous radiographer, not only offering strong clinical skills, but strong interpersonal skills to match.
As you build your skillset, your experiences and practice will provide valuable insights for your Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and lifelong learning opportunities. The course will also prepare you to develop your specialism further by studying a Master's degree in a dedicated field.
In addition to supporting your development in the workplace, this apprenticeship will help you to understand the career landscape in your sector and plan for your longer-term ambitions. Our award-winning Careers Service is on hand to give you independent advice and guidance at any point in your studies.
This blended course integrates practical experience and clinical practice with underpinning theory, supported by UWE Bristol's track record as a respected provider of Diagnostic Radiography education.
You'll mostly be assessed through exams, presentations, patient examinations and coursework.
Throughout the course, around 80% will be based in a clinical practice environment with your employer, and the remaining 20% will comprise of off-the-job training.
For 30 weeks of the academic year, you'll spend one day per week undertaking online distance learning. You'll also complete two days a week working in your current role, where you can put your learning into practice. The rest of your time will be spent on assessed placement activity in clinical settings within your own workplace.
You'll undertake one clinical practice module per academic year, as well as three one-week off-site placement blocks at UWE Bristol. This totals 1,500 hours of placement activity over the three-year degree apprenticeship.
Material will be delivered through a mixture of online distance learning and assessed placement activity. The block weeks will be structured to ensure that you'll have time for class contact, project work and academic support sessions to create a balanced academic experience.
On successful completion of this apprenticeship, you'll attain a BSc(Hons) Diagnostic Radiography degree accredited by the Society and College of Radiographers.
By the end of the apprenticeship, you'll be eligible to apply for registration by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which is required to practice as a registered Diagnostic Radiographer.
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To be an apprentice, you must be employed in a role that's relevant to the skill, trade or occupation you're being trained for. As part of your commitment to the apprenticeship, you'll have to complete at least six hours per week of off-the-job learning activity within your normal contracted working hours, which is supported by your employer.
We use the UCAS Tariff system to make offers to applicants. You can use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to convert your qualifications and grades into points.
If you are applying with considerable relevant work experience we would consider applicants with 96 UCAS Tariff Points (achieved from at least 2 A Levels).
In addition, all applicants are required to complete:
*All information will be treated in confidence and only taken into account when absolutely necessary.
If you’re interested in applying for Advanced Entry onto this course please contact the Degree Apprenticeship Hub, via the contact details at the foot of this page.
Applicants will be required to attend an interview.
To study an apprenticeship, you need to:
More information about eligibility for apprenticeship funding is available on the GOV.UK website.
Find out more about how to meet our entry requirements.
If you’re interested in applying and have the support from your employer, speak to your line manager and/or HR team in the first instance for approval. Your employer will contact us so we can send you an application link.
If you’re not employed, you can use the following tools to find an apprenticeship vacancy with an employer:
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For course-specific enquiries, please contact the Programme Leader.
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For further information about Higher and Degree Apprenticeships.