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.

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
Modules

Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

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.

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

This programme is a 2 year full-time programme over three semesters per year. Students will attend lectures from 9h00 to 5pm daily, with some dedicated time to independent learning, during semesters 1, 2 and 3. During semesters 2 and 3, students will be on clinical placement for a total of 14 weeks. There are three clinical placement blocks in semester 2 and 3 of year 1 and four clinical placement blocks (total of 20 weeks) spread throughout the 3 semesters in year 2. Students need to engage in approximately 1200 hours of supervised clinical practice to meet regulatory requirements. Students may need to travel and/or arrange short-term accommodation near the placement sites and students will incur the costs of travel to clinical locations as well as the costs of accommodation. There is the opportunity to carry out a three week elective clinical placement for those students wishing to encounter other hospital experiences.

Students will need to complete a short research proposal and complete a research project of limited scope.

Assessment will be by continuous assessment. This will consist of tutorial performance, small presentations, class tests, essays, practical vivas (competency-based) and work placement assessments.

2 years full-time.

Start Date 9 September 2024

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.