Medicine or radiology at uni?

Hi! I'm interested in radiology but I'm not sure whether to study Medicine first or look at related courses like Medical Imaging or Radiography. Can anyone share advice about the best route and what I should be considering? 😊

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Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

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Reply 2

McGinger

Radiography job description - Diagnostic radiographer job profile | Prospects.ac.uk

Forthcoming online live webinars from Leicester about Medicine - look under Virtual events (Years 7-13) - Outreach | Leicester Medical School | University of Leicester - register to be sent the link

Reply 3

LeicesterFrankie

Official Rep

Hi,

Radiology and radiography are very different careers. Radiographers are healthcare professionals who perform medical imaging scans and work directly with patients to produce high-quality images. Radiologists are medical doctors who interpret those images to diagnose and manage disease. In short, radiographers take the images, while radiologists analyse and report on them.

In order to become a radiologist you will have to complete 5-6 years of medical school and 2 years of foundation training before you can apply for specialty training in radiology, which is very competitive! You will also have to study the rest of the human body at medical school, so you will need to be interested in everything medicine has to offer.

To become a radiographer you can do more specific courses that are typically 3 years in length, for example at Leicester we have our diagnostic radiography course. You will specifically study how to create detailed imagery and data through a variety of techniques, as well as the physics behind imaging technology.

I would really recommend doing some work experience and attending university open days to learn more about what each career could offer you.

Let me know if you have any questions about medicine or the University of Leicester!

Frankie (final year medical student)

Reply 4

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Damzzyyy

Radiology is a medical specialty. You need to do a medical degree to become a radiologist.

Radiology is not the same thing as radiography. Radiologists may well work with radiographers but they're distinct roles with different qualifications required (and different professional registration bodies).