Overview
Embark on a career in diagnostic radiography with a degree from Canterbury Christ Church University. With a Diagnostic Radiography degree, you'll play a crucial role in frontline healthcare to provide diagnosis of injury or disease. This challenging and innovative course will give you opportunities to lead, manage, and develop entrepreneurial and strategic skills within a range of settings.
Choosing to study diagnostic radiography at university will allow you to be immersed in diagnostic radiography practice from day one. From developing your practical skills in our radiography suite to working in real healthcare environments, you'll learn to apply theory to practice and develop critical and ethical approaches to your training. You'll have access to cutting-edge, clinical-grade radiography simulation equipment, with a dedicated radiography room and mobile machine, allowing simulated learning in a realistic, purpose-built environment.
What's more, you'll learn how to assess radiographs (X-rays) for quality and provide commentary upon possible injury or disease. Our innovative and practical curriculum enhances both employability and postgraduate skills, which will aid in challenging and developing you at every point.
When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to register as a diagnostic radiographer with the HCPC.
We are renowned for expertise in advanced areas of diagnostic radiography, clinical reporting, and ultrasound imaging, and were the first higher education institution to offer postgraduate courses in clinical reporting for radiographers. Our teaching staff are at the forefront of many areas of world-leading research, spanning clinical reporting (x-ray, MRI, CT, US), nuclear medicine, forensic imaging, and interdisciplinary working, and we're excited for you to join us.
Diagnostic Radiography accreditations
Health & Care Professions Council
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Watch on YouTube100%
of our Diagnostic Radiography students were in jobs or further study 15 months after finishing their course.
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023Entry requirements
Qualification type |
Grades |
|
A Levels |
BBC |
|
BTEC |
DMM |
|
Access |
15 Distinctions and 30 Merits |
|
International Baccalaureate |
29 Points |
|
Combinations |
A combination of qualifications totalling 112 UCAS points |
A typical offer would be BBC at A2 level or equivalent.
GCSE English language, mathematics, and science at grade C/level 4 or above, or equivalent. Science at A2 Level or equivalent is advantageous, but not essential.
Access applicants must hold both GCSE English language, science, and mathematics at grade C or above at the point of application.
Offers of a place can only be made after a successful interview, and are subject to a satisfactory reference, health clearance and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Health clearance will include vaccinations for NHS placements, and evidence of vaccination status may be required by placement providers or the University.
Find out more information about entry requirements.
International students
Find out about IELTS requirements. Depending which country you're from, there may be specific entry requirements. Check your country to see if this is applicable to you.
If you have any questions about entry requirements for this course, please contact our Course Enquiry Team.
112
UCAS Points
Module information
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
Our experienced teaching team will help you reach your full potential. From nurturing your practical skills in radiography simulation activities to learning with and working alongside other healthcare professionals, you'll gain the academic and practical experience needed to become an autonomous and confident practitioner.
You'll be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical workshops, where you'll be faced with patient-centred scenarios to develop your have problem-solving skills. These sessions will be delivered in a blended learning approach with a split between online and on campus sessions.
Whilst in University, you'll typically have around 24 contact hours per week, which includes face to face and online sessions by staff, online projects and peer supported sessions. Academic development weeks are included within the timetable to support academic learning support sessions.
Seminars and practicals in smaller groups will allow you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures. In addition, you'll have scheduled meetings with your academic personal tutor for academic and pastoral guidance.
All courses are informed by the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy.
During your hands-on clinical placements you'll be learning in practice alongside qualified radiographers and will be mentored by teaching staff.
Placements are organised in blocks of between four to eight weeks. Attendance at clinical placements is mandatory and is treated like working as a radiographer with core working hours mirroring local practice. You should also expect to work some extended days and at weekends.
Please consider personal circumstances and your restrictions on ability to travel to a placement (up to 90 minutes travel time a day) including in some cases making arrangements for accommodation. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee you will be allocated to your placement of choice. This should be considered carefully before you accept an offer of a place.
When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops, or other timetabled sessions you will continue learning through self-study. Typically, this involves reading journal articles and books, undertaking research in the library, working on projects, and preparing for coursework assignments/examinations, workshops and seminars. This may be individually or part of a group. Your module leader will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities to complete between classes.
You'll undertake 420 placement hours per academic year with an additional time in simulated practice. For each 20 credit module you can expect 50 hours of academic direction and 150 hours practice learning and independent learning.
The teaching team consists of highly qualified academics. They have extensive expertise and experience and are all registered practitioners with postgraduate and teaching qualifications.
We have earned a reputation in specialist research, so your studies are up to date with current practices.
Radiography is about empowering you to make a difference in people’s lives. We support you to be confident, competent, and compassionate practitioners.
James ElliottCourse Director, Diagnostic Radiography
How you’ll be assessed
You'll be provided with opportunities to test your knowledge and understanding informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark.
Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or 'formative' assessment for which you receive feedback from your tutor. There is a formal or 'summative' assessment at the end of each module.
The course embraces a broad range of assessment techniques including essays, written exams, presentations, posters, practical examinations, and clinical assessment of practice, all which require you to analyse and evaluate your learning and practice, supported by research and a broad evidence base. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark. You must achieve a pass mark of 40% or above in all modules.
You will also be assessed in practice, i.e. the hospital environment. You will be assessed by qualified staff trained to assess your work. Practice assessment will include such things as observed service user interactions, and how consistently you undertake certain tasks. Professional qualities such as timekeeping, appearance, and willingness to take part will also be assessed as they link to HCPC standards. 100% attendance is required to pass the practical component. You will be required to communicate your views, orally and in written formats.
Your future career
Upon successful completion of our BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography degree, you will be eligible to apply for registration with Health and Care Professions Council as a diagnostic radiographer.
You will have gained qualifications that meet the Governments criteria for “fitness to practice” along with a unique set of transferable skills enabling you to work in a rewarding and progressive career both within the UK and abroad. The range of NHS and private healthcare partners we work closely with to enhance your experience boosts your employment prospects.
After qualifying, there are a number different options for taking your passion for diagnostic radiography forward, for example, our postgraduate radiography course provides a number of pathways, including Clinical Reporting, ultrasound imaging, and MRI. Later you may choose to develop your career in leadership and management, in research, teaching or industry or as a practitioner in a private setting.
Our students go on to lead exciting careers both in the UK and abroad and we're proud to have taught students who have achieved awards including the national Society of Radiographers ‘Student of the year award’ and the ‘Work the World’ award for elective placements abroad in developing countries.
Canterbury Christ Church University is the first institution to offer postgraduate opportunities in clinical reporting for radiographers and has developed a national and international reputation for research in this area.
The course has prepared me for my future career. From the help of lecturers to the academic support at the library, everyone has played a role in my development and learning.
Hannah, Diagnostic Radiography graduate
Fees
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,535 | £15,500 |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated. The fees represented here are for study with Canterbury Christ Church University. If you are looking to study at a partner institution, please visit their website for fees information.
Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
Home (UK) Fees
The Government has announced that it will increase the tuition fee cap by 3.1%, in line with inflation, for the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to parliamentary approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 our undergraduate home tuition fees are expected to be £9,535.
Overseas/International Fees
Undergraduate / PGCE tuition fees for international students are not set by the UK Government.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Further entry requirements
Applicants are recommended to attend a radiology department for work-experience to better understand the Diagnostic Radiography profession. An awareness of the profession and common imaging technologies are frequently explored during the interview.
Industry links
Approximately 50% of learning occurs within the clinical setting. We work closely with the NHS and other imaging service providers to provide a programme that is fit for the future.
Previous undergraduate students have benefitted from international experiences and elective placements in Ireland, Cyprus, India, Tanzania, South Africa, and Taiwan. The University embraces transglobal healthcare education and learning from and about different international healthcare systems.
Professional accreditation
The course is approved by the statutory regulatory body, the Health and Care Professions Council and accredited by the College of Radiographers.
On completion of the course and in preparation for registration, the Programme Director must be satisfied that you meet the relevant statutory regulatory body fitness to practise criteria. You will be required to sign an annual declaration of ongoing fitness to practise at regular intervals during the course. The Faculty of Health and Wellbeing has a fitness to practise policy and procedures which may be instigated should you demonstrate behaviour or conduct that falls short of that expected by the University and/or statutory regulatory body.
To be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council you must demonstrate good health and good character throughout your studies and on completion.
Health Foundation Year
For candidates who have been successful at interview, but who are unable to subsequently meet the wider entry requirements, we may be able to offer you a four-year course which includes a foundation year.
The Health Foundation Year will prepare you for future study and will be the first year of a four-year degree, and if successfully completed, you will be able to progress on to your chosen degree.
Applications cannot be made directly to the Foundation Year and places are limited.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
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Duration:
3 yearsUCAS code:
B821Location(s):
CanterburyAny questions?
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