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Diagnostic vs Therapeutic Radiography Uni

I'm thinking about doing therapeutic radiography, but I’ve noticed way fewer unis offer it compared to diagnostic radiography. Plus, most of the top unis focus on diagnostic, with Cardiff being the only russell group for therapeutic. Why is that? Is there actually a demand for therapeutic radiographers?
Original post by tokiibun
I'm thinking about doing therapeutic radiography, but I’ve noticed way fewer unis offer it compared to diagnostic radiography. Plus, most of the top unis focus on diagnostic, with Cardiff being the only russell group for therapeutic. Why is that? Is there actually a demand for therapeutic radiographers?


Yes there is a demand for therapeutic radiographers as there is a national shortage. TRs work in specialist cancer centres that deliver radiotherapy treatment to cancer patients. These services won't be available in a lot of local hospitals whereas diagnostic imaging services are. As a result, there are fewer locations that can offer placements to train students, which restricts the number of unis that can offer the course. Sheffield Hallam's placements cover the cancer centres from Nottingham to Newcastle, Liverpool tends to cover the centres in the North West, etc.

Whether a uni is 'top' uni or not is completely irrelevant for healthcare courses. The NHS won't care where you did your training and all courses have to be approved by and meet the standards of the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

My DD is in her second year of her TR course. She only applied to three unis and one of those was just for the interview experience.
(edited 1 month ago)

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