Diagnostic Radiography

Course Outline

Our MSc Diagnostic Radiography programme is an intensive pre-registration course for students with a primary degree in a subject other than diagnostic radiography. The programme uses the learning and teaching methods that best support students to develop the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes necessary for effective radiography practice.



The aim of this programme is to provide each student with an excellent educational experience both in academic and clinical environments. This ensures graduates that can contribute to the constantly advancing and evolving nature of healthcare requirements.



We aim to equip our graduates with the clinical and research skills, and professional attributes required to work and develop as competent clinicians, researchers, and agents for change within the evolving healthcare environment.



Our diagnostic radiography programme is situated in the School of Medicine which is part of the College of Medicine and Health. The College is located in the western end of the UCC campus and enjoys state-of-the-art facilities.



Clinical Placement

Practice education is an integral component of the programme and students are required to undertake a clinical placement. Clinical placements will mostly take place in the hospitals of the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG), Saolta University Healthcare Group, and other centres nationally from time to time. UCC is the academic partner of these hospitals affording you the best possible clinical experience in a wide variety of settings.

The course comprises 120 credits of taught components taken over two years together with clinical placement blocks taken over 18 weeks in each year.



In Year 1 you will take the following 60 credits:

Code Module Name Credits Semesters

RA6005 Professional Practice in Radiography 1 10 1

RA6006 Professional Practice in Radiography 2 10 2

RA6003 Medical Radiation Science 10 1

RA6001 Biological Sciences for Health Professionals 10 1

RA6002 Image Acquisition and Management of Information Systems 10 2

RA6004 Principles of Research & Research Methods 10 2



In Year 2 you will take the following 60 credits:

Code Module Name Credits Semesters

RA6011 Professional Practice in Radiography 3 10 1 & 2

RA6012 Research Dissertation 20 1 & 2

RA6007 Advanced Radiation Science 10 1

RA6010 Imaging Service Provision and Healthcare Practice 5 1

RA6009 Image Interpretation 5 2

RA6013 Professional Practice in Radiography 4 10 2



Placement

There are two clinical placement blocks in Semester 2 and Semester 3 of Year 1 and two clinical placement blocks in Year 2. Students must engage in supervised clinical practice to meet regulatory requirements.



Students need to travel and/or arrange short-term accommodation near their placement sites and students will incur the costs of travel to clinical locations as well as the costs of accommodation.

Requirements

Applicants will hold a minimum Second Class Honours in a primary honours degree (NFQ Level 8), in Sciences, or a Health Sciences related discipline e.g. Nursing, Biomedical Science, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Anatomy or equivalent to any of the above.



Students who have graduated in the discipline of Diagnostic Radiography are not eligible to apply for this programme.



Interview Details

Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on:

- Educational qualifications

- Academic achievements outside of the curriculum, e.g. publications, conference presentations

- Contributions beyond academia

- Motivation: Applicants will submit a motivation statement as part of this application process. The motivational statement should be no longer than 800 words and will explain their motivation to become a Diagnostic Radiographer, outline their research aspirations in Radiography and indicate how their previous degree will contribute to their research and the practice of Radiography.



Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview and each applicant will be scored by an interview panel on the basis of:



- Communication skills and motivation;

- Knowledge of the field.



All applicants accepted onto the programme will need to have evidence of appropriate vaccinations for working in hospital environments.



Garda Vetting Policy

Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer, are subject to Garda Vetting. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.



- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date: Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.



Non-EU Closing Date: Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

2 years full-time.

Start Date 1 September 2026

Skills and Careers Information

This dedicated Graduate Entry programme offers an intensive route for graduates from any clinical or science-related discipline to gain a recognised qualification in diagnostic radiography. This postgraduate course will prepare graduates for success in a competitive jobs market.



When students complete this programme they do so as Diagnostic Radiographers and can apply for registration. This programme is approved by Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator – CORU. Following qualification, and when successfully registered with CORU, graduates are eligible to work as a diagnostic radiographer within any hospital or clinic that provides a Diagnostic Radiography Imaging Service.



In addition to developing the necessary technical and practical skills required for safe and effective clinical practice, our graduates develop a deep and critical understanding of the profession, vital for shaping the future of radiography. During the course, you build on a wide base of transferable clinical skills which may enable you to specialise in a specific area of Diagnostic Radiography following successful graduation.



Examples of areas which radiographers may progress to include:

Advanced Practitioner

Consultant Practitioner

Management

Teaching-Academy and Clinical

Doctoral Research



Examples of clinical areas which radiographers may progress to include:

Computed Tomography

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Positron Emission Tomography

Ultrasound

Angiography

Nuclear Medicine

Radiation Protection

Medical Image Integration



An increasing number of graduates also undertake further PhD studies based at the College of Medicine & Health in UCC. This programme offers successful graduates exciting opportunities to pursue research in a field of their interest.