Careers and professional development
A career for life
Radiography offers excellent employment prospects within the health service and we are confident that our graduates are well prepared for their professional careers as diagnostic or therapeutic radiographers.
This demanding, technical and scientific discipline requires exceptional personal qualities and in return offers a flexible, professional career with a high level of job satisfaction.
You can choose a career in either:
- Diagnostic radiography - where a range of imaging techniques and sophisticated equipment is used to produce high quality images of an injury or disease
- Therapeutic radiography - involving the preparation and treatment of patients with cancer using radiotherapy
What do diagnostic radiographers do?
Diagnostic radiographers are responsible for producing high-quality clinical images used to detect, monitor and manage disease processes and the effects of trauma. As a diagnostic radiographer you will use a wide range of sophisticated technology for different imaging modalities such as X-ray, ultrasound and CT (Computed Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanners, combined with a high standard of patient care.
Diagnostic radiographers work predominantly in hospital diagnostic imaging departments but also undertake imaging procedures within:
- Operating theatres
- Accident and emergency departments
- Resuscitation rooms
- Cardiac catheter laboratories
- Endoscopy suites
- Minor trauma units
- CT units
- MRI units
- RNI (Radionuclide Imaging) units.
Diagnostic radiographers can specialise in advanced areas of practice and undertake management, teaching or research.
What do therapeutic radiographers do?
Therapeutic radiographers are responsible for the safe and accurate planning and delivery of radiotherapy to patients with cancer - a vital role that requires the use of sophisticated technology. Cancer is not just one disease. Cancers can develop almost anywhere in the body and there are many different tumour types, which means that every case is different. A course of radiotherapy treatment may last from one day to seven weeks and you will support the physical and emotional wellbeing of your patient throughout.
When delivering the radiotherapy treatment, therapeutic radiographers target tumours with millimetre accuracy using highly complex equipment and techniques to give the maximum dose to the tumour and the minimum possible dose to the surrounding normal anatomy.
Therapeutic radiographers predominantly work in departments of radiotherapy treating patients. Their role involves:
- Preparation of patients for radiotherapy
- Imaging to localise tumour
- Definition of tumour volumes and normal anatomy
- Calculation of dose
- Delivery of radiotherapy
- Verification
- Information giving and support.
Therapeutic radiographers can develop and progress in their careers towards business or technical management, or clinical specialism.
Our degrees are accredited by the College of Radiographers and make our students eligible to become a member of the:
