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PGDip Therapeutic Radiography and Oncology

University of Liverpool

Please note that this programme was previously known as Radiotherapy PGDip.

This full-time professional programme, approved by the Health and Care Professions Council and Society and College of Radiographers is intended for graduates from a health, science, biomedical or social science background.

Once successfully completed, this postgraduate diploma qualification enables you to apply for registration to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to practice as a Therapeutic Radiographer.

The programme is designed for you, if you want to work as part of a multi-professional team working together to provide compassionate care for patients with cancer. Radiotherapy is the treatment of cancer with high energy X-rays. It is planned and delivered by therapeutic radiographers, using a range of technology and equipment. Patients in your care will require information and support throughout their treatment, tailored to meet their needs. You will be part of their cancer journey, ensuring treatment effects are managed effectively, taking a holistic patient centred approach to care. You will need to have excellent communication and team working skills, a caring nature, an interest in people, cancer, science and technology.

Our 2-year postgraduate programme, with an optional online dissertation module for Masters qualification, will provide you with an exciting programme of study, combining clinical placement, anatomy, radiation, cancer management and patient care skills.  As a therapeutic radiographer, you will enjoy secure employment prospects, a competitive starting salary (around £25k) and help to save lives.

This programme is studied full time over two calendar years, commencing in semester two (January). It is a vocational programme, taught and assessed predominately at level 7 and includes a research dissertation in the final year. The programme structure follows the University Framework for Modular Postgraduate Programmes. The programme is a mixture of academic and clinical placement blocks, with 50 weeks of the programme delivered at the University integrated with 43 weeks of professional, clinical placement. The blocks of radiotherapy clinical placement will be delivered in the three main Cancer Centres in the North West of England – The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (and its two Satellite centres), the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (and its satellite centre) and Rosemere Cancer Centre.

Students normally complete the PGDip in 2 years, this enables successful graduates to apply for HCPC registration to work as Therapeutic Radiographers with the NHS in the UK. The programme will equip you with the radiotherapy knowledge and clinical skills developed in both the academic and practice settings. This will prepare you to plan and deliver radiotherapy treatment accurately to patients, whilst at the same time supporting them, their families and carers throughout their radiotherapy journey. This programme is for Graduate entry with up to 24 places available each year. On qualification there are excellent job and career prospects. Currently graduates from University of Liverpool have 100% employment rates. Many graduates have worked abroad and in the private sector. HCPC registration is recognised in many overseas countries; however you may have to apply to the registration body of the country in which you wish to work.

On completion of the PGDip, students will then have the opportunity to continue with an MSc on a part time basis over 12 months. Students undertaking the online MSc Radiotherapy (top up), will already be in employment. Completion of your MSc dissertation will further develop your critical thinking and analytical skills through the completion and dissemination of independent radiotherapy related research.

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Requirements

Listed below are the documents required to apply for this course.