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Radiography Degree

Hi, my names michael, 16 years old and im new to this forum. I would just like to know for the Radiography course avalible in some universities, which university do you think is the best for this type of course? And also as im approaching to start my AS-levels, i was wondering what subjects would be most appropriate for this course i want to take on. I've been thinking Psychology, Computing, Biology and Physics/Chemistry. I'm not totally sure so i was wondering if you guys could help me out. I would appreciate if you could reply and give me an answer. Thanks a lot!

Mike :smile:

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Reply 1

Nana_Julia

You might want to try a forum that isn't for Legal Careers - we don't know much about radiography in these parts although I'm sure that wouldn't stop some people from having a bash at advising you anyway :biggrin:

Reply 2

seaweasel

Don't know anything about radiography but here's some advice on transferable skills:

1) Don't use bold and underline together (ditto italic)
2) Don't underline whole paragraphs
3) Don't use Comic Sans, for anything, ever.

Reply 3

fettucini

All I know is that Leeds is quite good for radiography cos I know someone who's doing it there and she seems to think it's a good course so investigate that. As for any others...well, maybe you should just go on loads of university websites and try typing in radiography and see what you think of their course (if they have it).

Reply 4

JackieS

mtpac2001

use the ucas website - it will list all the universities and their requirement including required subjects

as for best uni - well there are no league tables so its down to individual preference (not that league tables really mean anything anyway)

Reply 5

Yoxen

My friend is doing it at st Martins and is really enjoying it. You will def need h/biology as there is a load of anatomy and I think there is a fair bit of physics too, he had to understand the machine and how it all works. It sounds really intense, but worth it in the end. Again, with regards to which uni, id do what Jackie has advised and bring up the list of unis that offer the course, also try www.radiographycareers.co.uk or http://www.sor.org/public/pdf/postgraduate_directory07.pdf
there are about 25 unis that you can choose from. Id try and look at the open days of several of them and then just apply. Good luck xx :biggrin:

Reply 6

Spiffy

I will be starting a diagnostic radiography degree course at UCE this september.

The highest offer you are likely to get for the course is a BBC from places such as cardiff and liverpool. My offer is a CCD with a C in biology. The entry grades are low because from what I have gathered this course isn't exactly popular or in high demand like other subjects such as law and psychology.

Definately take biology A-level because they ask for at least one science subject. Try taking physics over chemistry because it will come in handy at a later date. I was forced into taking chemistry and I only completed it to AS level but I actually learnt quite a bit on radiation and ionisation during that time so make sure to check out what topics will be covered in the exam boards you go with. I think biology, physics and computing may be a good combination of A-levels for you :smile:

As for which university is the best, its all down to personal preference really. I know that at some universities you have to work with cadavers and some dont give you that opportunity such as UCE because there is no medical school there. You need to take into account also that 99% of the radiography degrees are around 50% theory work at university and 50% work at hospitals withing the area. You could end up having to travel quite far away from the university campus if you're staying there to hospitals quite a few miles away. Its not your average course so a lot of things need to be taken into consideration. I'm staying at home in Birmingham because there are many local hospitals I can do work placement in and the Uni isnt too far away.

Its also an extended degree course so while your friends get time off and normal semesters, you could be doing work placement at hospitals during holidays but it's preparing you for the future really.

You're course fee's should be payed for because its and NHS course and you should also be entitled to a means tested NHS bursary to help with living costs while you study the course so there are some perks to the course :smile:

Hope thats of some help to you.

Reply 7

lcfc89

I'll be starting radiography this September too. :smile:

Most likely at Derby because I really liked it there and I can do my placements close to home. :smile:

I'm doing biology, statistics and health and social care, and I've got AS's in IT and chemistry.

I've had the same offer as Spiffy from UCE, 280 points from Bradford and 200 points from Derby. Teesside and Sheffield Hallam rejected me :frown:

and I'm still waiting to hear from Leeds. :rolleyes:

All apart from UCE and Bradford interviewed me which was a bit stressful, especially the group interviews that included some very confident older appplicants. :frown:

Last year my 6th form tutor helped me get a week's placement at a local hospital which was great. :smile:

Some unis want you to have spent time in a radiography dept but even if they don't it gives you something to talk about in your personal statement and at the interviews. :wink:

Reply 8

Spiffy

I never had an interview, I got into UCE and UWE first with unconditional offers of CCD so I accepted them as firm and insurance straight away. I dont want to move away because of the work placement thing and I'd rather work in birmingham anyway because that new super hospital is being built up the road from me.

I got offers for interview from portsmouth, exeter, cardiff and derby but I didnt accept because frnkly if I cant get a CCD at A level for UCE then I dont deserve to go to Uni at all :tongue:

I havent had the opportunity to work in a hospital either. I got into the course because I've had a few health problems in recent years which required a lot of x-rays. I wne to MRI and CT departments with family members who have required scans too. My cousin who was a mature student was doing theraputic radiography at UCE a few years back too but she had to drop out because ironically she got cancer. I've talked to her a lot and I came to the decision that this was the course for me. I've always wanted a career in healthcare but was never quite sure which route to go down. I'm rewriting my personal statement here lol.

Reply 9

SparxXx

aah thanks a lot for all the advice, much appreciated and very helpful. My dad says he wants me to go to the chelmsford uni, ive checked the website and all for diagnostic radiography but theres nothing....weird ey? but if any of you guys know about that please feel free to say. And i've been checking the uni's for the highest requirements for this course and its 260 points - (C,C,B) at one or two uni's such as st.george i think. Thats really close to me so i'd really want to go there.
On another note, is physics hard? because ive heard it is probably the most hardest out of the sciences, at AS and a-level....oh and if i did take physics at AS and i dont take maths is that such a big problem? thanks in advance!

Reply 10

Yoxen

dont panic, you dont need to have physics, my friend did, but loads on the course didnt, the uni brings everyone up to the same level anyhow, bit like us at the moment, some did sociology, some did psychology and some did h/biology. we all have to be pulled up tp the same level, its just a little easier if you have prior knowledge :biggrin:

Reply 11

SparxXx

oh i see, yoxen what subjects did you take? or have you not entered the course fully yet? Because it seems biology is probably the most vital subject, i was thinking to take Biology, psychology,computing and chemistry/physics (havent made up my mind) at AS and at A2 i would drop chemistry/physics.

Reply 12

Spiffy

Yeah, only do physics if you feel really comfortable with the subject because it is one of the harder A-levels. The university will bring everyone up to the same level with the physics aspect of the course in the first year anyway so I'm only saying do physics because it would give you a bit of an advantage when learning it.

Im currently taking Biology, Psychology and English Literature. I've found studying health psychology really interesting and possibly very helpful for the future when it comes to understanding patient-practitioner relationships, etc etc.

I think your plan sounds pretty good. Do biology, psychology and computing at full and do physics/chem for AS level just to get a bit of background knowledge like I did :smile:

http://www.radiographycareers.co.uk/uniweblisting.html

That link will take you to a list of universities in the country that do Radiography Degrees although I noticed a few like Exeter aren't listed, possibly because they named the course 'Medical Imaging' but its still the same course code.

Reply 13

Yoxen

No, am a first year OT :biggrin:

its my friend who is doing radio. I took health studies, Psychology. Do wish Id done H/biology as I have found it all a little intense, I just didnt relise the level of anatomy we would be covering to be honest, and with exams looming :eek:

oh well xx

Reply 14

SparxXx

noramlly how many years would this course take? around 3 to 4 ive been told...and also how does the pay work out? thanks in advance

Reply 15

Spiffy

Its 3 years at the vast majority of universities. When researching the course I onyl came across one uni that did 4 years and another that did an introductory year that lead on to 3 more years.

I believe the starting pay for a newly qualified radiographer can be anywhere from £18,000 to £24,000. Obviously you can progress to senior and superintendant but I'm not sure how high top level pay is, I think I've seen £38,000 for a senior II before. Of course there is the chance to do postgraduate study to specialise in the different areas. Hopefully I will go on to do a postgraduate course in image reporting.

Reply 16

katern13

I've accepted Leeds as my firm and Liverpool as my insurance to do radiography. I had interviews for Leeds, Liverpool and Cardiff but didn't have ones for Exeter, Bangor and Salford. I got in everywhere and I need 3C's to get into Leeds. I'm really looking forward to going even though I no it'll be hard. I'm doing chemistry,biology and english language at A level and have already got my German A level - pretty random I know! I struggle with physics but at each Uni they said they go out of their way to make sure the people who haven't taken physics will get extra help to get up to scratch with the specific things you need to know for radiography. Don't forget to think about whether you want to do diagnostic radiography or theraputic radiography - they're a bit different!

Reply 17

SparxXx

yeah i wanna do diagnostic radiography, and my choices for a-level are psychology, chemistry, biology and computing...not entirely sure what il drop but il decide once ive started it

Reply 18

UNKN0WN

Is Physics essential for Radiography? Because I took at it A-Level and dropped it (due to the fact I didn't like the teacher).

I'm currently doing AS levels in Bio, Chem, Maths and ICT.

Reply 19

JackieS

Is Physics essential for Radiography? Because I took at it A-Level and dropped it (due to the fact I didn't like the teacher).

I'm currently doing AS levels in Bio, Chem, Maths and ICT.

I don't think it is essential at A-Level but it does come up at degree level but they do understand not everyone has done alot of physics and therefore usually start from the beginning. That said it would probably be a help if you did have it but I wouldn't owrry too much. However, I would check with the unis you're intersted in applying to and see what their subject requirements are as some may specifically request physics