Diagnostic Radiography
Our diagnostic radiography courses prepare you for a challenging but rewarding career within the health service, using advanced technology. They give you the training and necessary skills for a career as a diagnostic radiographer which is a critical profession in modern healthcare.
Choose from:
Degree Apprenticeship
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Postgraduate/Post-Registration
CPD modules
We also have a range of CPD modules for professionals who are interested in refreshing their knowledge and skills or just want to stay on top of new developments in diagnostic and therapeutic radiography.
More information about our Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiography CPD Modules
Overview
What is Diagnostic Radiography?
Diagnostic radiographers carry out imaging examinations essential to the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease and injury. They evaluate the diagnostic and technical quality of images, as well as interpret normal and abnormal appearances.
Diagnostic radiography embraces a wide range of techniques like:
- conventional 'x-rays'
- computerised tomography (CT) scanning
- ultrasound
- radioactive isotope imaging
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
What will I do when I graduate?
When you graduate from our diagnostic radiography course you can work in a wide range of settings at hospitals such as:
- the imaging department
- the wards
- accident and emergency
- operating theatres.
You will experience the pleasure of knowing that your work has contributed to diagnosing disease and saving lives.
Other career opportunities as a diagnostic radiographer are:
- clear career development pathway towards advance and consultant practice
- 24/7 shift working which provides increased individual responsibility and enhanced earnings
- postgraduate study and research opportunities
- working overseas
- mentoring and teaching
- management or technical application opportunities.
It is important to note that radiography may involve working with ill and vulnerable patients, and that an interest in patient care is as vitally important as performing well in the technical aspects of the role.
Facilities
We have impressive facilities for diagnostic radiography students including:
- two x-ray rooms to simulate the equipment you would find in clinical practice
- CT scanner, which is a diagnostic imaging device that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce detailed images of the inside of the body
- two ultrasound labs which involves the use of high frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body.
Practice placements
Every year of the programme, students undertake placements in diagnostic radiography departments, as we believe that the best way to develop clinical skills and knowledge is by hands-on experience, gained by working in our partner practice placement hospitals.
We have a dedicated team that manages and supports practice placements. The team includes University lecturers and placement educators who work together and meet regularly to ensure that your clinical practice experience is of the highest quality. Our radiography courses are supported by over 30 affiliated hospital sites located in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, London, East Midlands and South Central regions. You will be allocated a base NHS trust for the duration of the course where you will undertake practice placements and there will also be opportunities for elective placement to more specialist facilities to allow every student to gain experience of a wide range of injuries and pathologies.
Contact us
If you would like to find out more, please e-mail the Diagnostic Radiography team at radiography@herts.ac.uk or radiographyapprentices@herts.ac.uk if you have a question about apprenticeships.