Day In The Life Of A BCU Diagnostic Radiography Student On Placement

Hey Guys, welcome to my day in the life whilst on placement as a third-year student radiographer.
05:30–06:00: Morning Devotion
I like to give myself some time in bed to do my morning Bible devotional and meditation. This helps me gain motivation for the day and feel recharged rather than going straight into my morning routine.
06:00-07:00: Morning Routine
I typically spend no more than an hour getting ready in the morning because maintaining this discipline is crucial; otherwise, I risk missing my train. To save time in the mornings and make my life easier, I now prepare my lunch the night before.
07:00-08:45: Commute to Placement Site
My commute to placement typically takes about an hour, provided the trains are on time, and everything goes smoothly, but that's not always the case! So, to avoid being late, I prefer to leave earlier than necessary to account for any unexpected delays, especially since I need to take two
trains. Fortunately, as a healthcare student, there are provisions in place to claim back my travel expenses to placement.
09:00-17:00: Placement
My shift patterns vary depending on the department I'm assigned to. For instance:
• Emergency Department and General X-ray 8am-8pm: As a third-year student, I can participate in numerous examinations, which is crucial for completing my assessments
• CT/MRI Department 9am – 5pm: I mostly observe and make notes as CT and MRI require additional specialised training. However, I make myself useful by being proactive and conducting patient safety questionnaires before examinations and assisting radiographers with patient preparation and room setup
•8pm - 8am - Similar duties to the day shift, but during night time hours
• There are other shifts I haven't listed, I can go into more detail about my shifts if you want to know more
All the shifts highlight the duties and responsibilities of a radiographer, and it all helps academically, too, as the hands-on experience helps me put the content taught in lectures and seminars into practice.
17:00-18:45: Return home
Once I get home, I make it a priority to enjoy some downtime to relax and spend quality time with friends and family. Since moving back home for third year, I've been fortunate to have a strong support system. My mom always prepares dinner for me, allowing me to unwind and focus on other activities without the stress of cooking.
19:00-20:00 University work
With assignments and a dissertation to complete, I sometimes dedicate regular time to my university work, even when on placement. As a third-year student, the academic year is already moving quickly, and I want to avoid letting my workload pile up. So I try to make an effort when I've had a short shift at placement.
21:00:30: Go to sleep
Due to the demands of my course, I've always valued my sleep. I don't want to oversleep in the morning, so I go to sleep quite early to wake up early.
Thank you for following me along.
If you have any other questions about my experience on placement as a student radiographer. Please feel free to ask. See what BCU's like for yourself at one of our open days: https://bit.ly/4aHFLz5
Mercy
BCU Student Rep

Hi,
Can I ask you about the course quality and teaching ? I have heard such trash about BCU that I’m demoralised. People say it’s a uni people go to when they fail A levels and the lecturers don’t even care and are unsupportive, egoistic and arrogant. I’m so lost , I want to study radiography and it’s close to home and parentals won’t let me move out so ….. it’s the only option I’ve got. But the bad replies everywhere have me demoralised can you paint an actual picture of what it’s like ? are lecturers biased as people claim or are they good ? What about graduate prospects?

Hello @Sanjidasanjida
Hope you are well, apologies that it’s taken me long to reply🥲. What you’ve heard is awful from
my experience, it’s not true. I understand where you’re coming from because many people say that about BCU. Even when I was applying, I kept hearing those things. But I think it’s because BCU offers a wide range of courses and is very accessible, especially through Clearing. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad university, it just means it’s flexible and gives people opportunities rather than outright rejecting them. Many students I’ve met were able to get in through Clearing, and even if they didn’t meet the requirements, BCU is more accessible than some other universities, offering foundation years and alternative entry routes. But that doesn’t mean the students or lecturers are less capable. Radiography is a competitive course, and many students here are passionate and hardworking. What matters is how you engage with the degree and make the most of your opportunities.
As a radiography student at BCU, I’m very pleased with the level of academic support I’ve received over the past three years. At the start of first year, I was a bit lost and didn’t ask for help, which was my fault, But one of my lecturers noticed I wasn’t engaging as much and reached out to me. That moment made me feel more comfortable asking for help, and that’s when I truly saw how supportive the radiography team is. Of course, everyone has different interactions, and no uni is perfect, but I’ve found the radiography team to be professional and knowledgeable.Some students may struggle and feel unsupported, but that can happen at any university. If you engage with the course and seek help when needed, you’ll get the support you need.
And it’s not just academic support—when I first moved to Birmingham for uni, I experienced some financial and mental health challenges that really affected me. Thanks to my personal tutor, I was able to get the support I needed to sort everything out.
Radiography is a vocational degree, meaning you have a clear career path once you graduate. The demand for radiographers is high across the UK, so job prospects are solid. Many students secure NHS Band 5 jobs before they even finish the course, especially if they impress during placements. HCPC accreditation means your degree is recognised, and you can work as a diagnostic radiographer across the UK and even abroad. I’m currently in my third year, and it has definitely been a challenging final year, with so much going on—writing my dissertation, applying for jobs, and balancing everything. However, BCU has been incredibly supportive throughout this process. The Careers+ department has helped me write my personal statement and even coached me for interviews, which has been a huge help. The university truly wants its students to succeed, and considering that radiography is a high-demand profession, I feel well-supported as I prepare to transition into my career.
So honestly, I wouldn’t let the negative things online put you off. Your experience will depend on how you engage with the course and the support available. If BCU is your best option, I’d say go for it, the radiography course is solid, and there’s plenty of support if you need it.
There are some upcoming open days, so try and come along to get a feel for the place. You can also book your place online at: https://bit.ly/4aHFLz5
Let me know if you have any other concerns!
Mercy
BCU Student Rep