Diagnostic Radiography at the University of Gloucestershire

Has anyone studied this course? What was your experience like? How difficult was it to get onto the course? What was your general experience of the course and what opportunities came after finishing the course?

Reply 1

normaw

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

19

Original post by aaaankle

Has anyone studied this course? What was your experience like? How difficult was it to get onto the course? What was your general experience of the course and what opportunities came after finishing the course?

There is a national shortage of radiographers so getting a degree in DR will give you a very high chance of getting a job as soon as you qualify. You would be able to enter the NHS on salary band 5 (currently around £28k) and there are opportunities to advance your career if you want to take them.

DR degree courses can be competitive but if you meet the entry requirements and have appropriate shadowing and public-facing work experience, you should be invited for an interview. DR courses will be a mix of academic study and placements. Check where and when placements will be held - they vary a lot between unis.

Reply 2

aaaankle

OP

2

Original post by normaw

There is a national shortage of radiographers so getting a degree in DR will give you a very high chance of getting a job as soon as you qualify. You would be able to enter the NHS on salary band 5 (currently around £28k) and there are opportunities to advance your career if you want to take them.
DR degree courses can be competitive but if you meet the entry requirements and have appropriate shadowing and public-facing work experience, you should be invited for an interview. DR courses will be a mix of academic study and placements. Check where and when placements will be held - they vary a lot between unis.

Thanks for your response. Could you tell me more about the shadowing/ work experience? What kind of things would this be and how do you find these opportunities?

I am currently debating between doing an access to higher education course (1 year) vs a extended diploma BTEC in Biomedical science (2 years) but am currently leaning towards the BTEC because I think i'd need 2 years to get my mental health and anxiety in a place where I am capable of doing a lot of the practical work around people for the uni course.
Honestly, i'd love to go into a career in radiography but i'm very anxious around people right now so i doubt my decision a lot even if i'd still enjoy it but I definitely want to work on it so i can get to a point where this career is possible for me.

Reply 3

normaw

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

19

Original post by aaaankle

Thanks for your response. Could you tell me more about the shadowing/ work experience? What kind of things would this be and how do you find these opportunities?

I am currently debating between doing an access to higher education course (1 year) vs a extended diploma BTEC in Biomedical science (2 years) but am currently leaning towards the BTEC because I think i'd need 2 years to get my mental health and anxiety in a place where I am capable of doing a lot of the practical work around people for the uni course.
Honestly, i'd love to go into a career in radiography but i'm very anxious around people right now so i doubt my decision a lot even if i'd still enjoy it but I definitely want to work on it so i can get to a point where this career is possible for me.

Qualifications:
If you go the BTEC route, email the admissions departments at all the unis you might apply to and check what subjects they accept for the course. For example, Liverpool Uni accepts BTEC National Extended Diploma in either Applied Science/ Medical Science or Health and Social Care at DDD. Also, make sure that you will study a BTEC National Extended Diploma. If you take just the diploma or extended certificate, you would also need an A level or two alongside the BTEC.

It sounds like this would be a better option for you in terms of timing as Access courses are intense. However, it might be worth contacting a couple of Access course providers and ask if they can be studied over a longer timeframe. It is also possible to get an Advanced Learner Loan for Access courses, which will be wiped if you then study a degree.

Also, do check that you meet the GCSE requirements for a degree course - these are mandatory.

Shadowing experience:
Contact local hospitals and ask if they can arrange a day for you to shadow a radiographer. Unis expect you to have this so that you understand the role of a DR. Contact details can be found on NHS trust websites. If you can't get in through formal channels, ask any friends or family who work in the NHS or nursing homes if they have any contacts at a local hospital. My DD got in by accompanying her dad to an X-ray appointment and chatting to the radiographer - they took her details and the department manager arranged a day for her.

Work/volunteering experience:
Unis also want to see that you can communicate with the general public and would be able to work in a team. Working in a care home or special needs school would be ideal, but any public-facing role is fine such as working in a bar, restaurant or charity shop.

Have you considered therapeutic radiography (sometimes known as radiotherapy) too? My DD chose this course after attending a few open days and listening to course talks for both diagnostic and therapeutic radiography. She found therapeutic more interesting in terms of content but also the working hours (weekdays only - no night shifts or weekend) and the fact that you build relationships with patients as you see them daily over a period of time.

If you're in the South West, it might be worth attending open days at UWE, Cardiff and BCU and signing up for the course talks for both courses. There is a radiotherapy unit at Cheltenham hospital if you want to ask for shadowing experience there too.

Diagnostic Radiography at the University of Gloucestershire

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