Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging

Our full time, three year diagnostic radiography and imaging programme is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council and the Society and College of Radiographers, and the skills you obtain are transferable to all NHS organisations and are recognised overseas. This will help you to develop the skills necessary to become a qualified diagnostic radiographer.

Diagnostic radiographers are key members of the healthcare team who work closely with doctors, and other healthcare professionals to provide personal and supportive care to people of all ages. They operate a wide range of imaging equipment available in modern medical practice including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic ultrasound and X-ray equipment.

As a diagnostic radiographer you will be responsible for providing comprehensive care for patients from new born children to the elderly, producing and interpreting images to be used in the diagnosis of injury and disease. By the end of the programme you will have a thorough knowledge of the professional and clinical aspects of diagnostic radiography, including the wide range of imaging technologies in use today.

The School provides an interdisciplinary environment, with opportunities for shared learning and inter-professional education. Therefore, opportunities to learn with and from other healthcare students, especially in respect of person-centred care will be part of the programme. We offer an integrated mixture of university-based study and practice placements in the clinical setting. We work collaboratively with NHS organisations across South and West Wales so that you are competitive in the employment market upon qualification.

You will receive close academic support from experienced personal tutors and be taught and supported by experienced staff whilst sharing ideas within a close-knit class and you will also benefit from placements supported by experienced radiography clinical lecturers. A varied profile of placement experience undertaken at optimal times across the three years of the programme will allow you to integrate academic theory with practice and gain insight as to the wide-ranging employment opportunities available to you upon qualification.

You will have the opportunity to undertake an original research project representing the culmination of your three years of study. The research study aims to equip you with the necessary skills for ongoing professional development and evidence-based practice.

Distinctive Features

As part of a large School based at the University Hospital of Wales, we’ll help you to enjoy an academically rich and fulfilling experience. Here are some of the key features of our programme:

Our Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging programme at Cardiff University is ranked in the Top 5 by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and in the UK Top 10 under Medical Technology by The Complete University Guide 2019

You will have a well-balanced range of clinical experiences, enabling you to not only meet the required professional competencies for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), but also to be competitive in the employment market.

You will learn to cannulate during your final year, a skill that is very desirable in clinical practice but is not taught in many institutions.

As part of the clinical elective placement in the second or final year, you will have the opportunity to organise a clinical placement in a radiology department of your choice, with the opportunity to work or volunteer abroad.

Practical teaching will take place in our specific diagnostic facilities including a functional diagnostic x-ray room and an image viewing suite.

Employability upon graduation is excellent with 95% of students in employment 6 months after graduating (UNISTATS 2018).