STUDY

Undergraduate

BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography

X-ray of shoulder joint
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: B821
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Three years full-time.
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBC (A-Level), DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: B821
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Three years full-time.
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBC (A-Level), DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)

Overview

Are you enthusiastic about science and technology? Are you looking for a diverse, challenging and rewarding career working with people? Diagnostic radiography could be the profession for you.

Diagnostic radiographers play a crucial role in healthcare, with the Society of Radiographers (2021) estimating that 90% of inpatients will interact with a diagnostic radiographer during their NHS treatment pathway. This three-year, full time undergraduate degree programme is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and practical experience to provide safe, high-quality care to patients requiring imaging. If you already have an undergraduate degree, you might be eligible for our two-year, accelerated pre-registration masters.

Diagnostic radiographers produce high quality images to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of injury, illness and disease. They employ a range of equipment across a variety of healthcare settings, including: 

  • Projection radiography (X-ray) in outpatients, inpatients and the Emergency Department (ED)  
  • Dental radiography 
  • Mobile radiography 
  • Computed Tomography (CT) 
  • Fluoroscopy, which includes imaging during interventional procedures and in the operating theatre  
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 
  • Ultrasound 
  • Mammography (breast imaging) 
  • Nuclear Medicine 
  • Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) 

Practice placement is invaluable in a rapidly evolving field, enabling you to apply the theory taught at the University to your interactions with patients in the NHS. Your practice placements make up approximately 60% of the course. We do our best to place you in your preferred placement hospital, however, we cannot guarantee this. Our regional NHS partners are: 

Our experienced team of HCPC-registered diagnostic radiographers will support you to develop and hone the interpersonal, technical and problem-solving skills you need to care for patients. We embed the NHS Values into everything we do. These values underpin the expectations of our staff and students and will be assessed at interview. You can learn more about the NHS Constitution here.

Further information about the University's relationship with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) is available in the PSRB register.

Diagnostic Radiography @ University of Suffolk

Close-up of a student being x-rayed

The University of Suffolk is world-class and committed to our region. We are proudly modern and innovative and we believe in transformative education. We are on the rise with a focus on student satisfaction, graduate prospects, spending on academic services and student facilities.

1st

in the UK for graduates in career 15 months after graduation in Health Professions (Radiography and Paramedic)

Guardian University Guide 2024

6th

in the UK for spend on academic services

The Complete University Guide 2024

11th

in the UK for social inclusion

The Good University Guide 2023

Course Modules

Our undergraduate programmes are delivered as 'block and blend' — more information can be found on Why Suffolk?  You can also watch our Block and Blend video.   

You will learn through a combination of lectures, small group tutorials and workshops, directed and independent learning. You will undertake simulation sessions in our contemporary Imaging Suite on campus and image real patients in practice placement. 

You will be assessed in academic and practice placement, using a variety of methods including examinations, viva voces, case studies, presentations, posters, seminars and Practice Assessment Documents (PAD). 

Downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.

A lecturer in a radiography suite

This module precedes the first practice placement, enabling you to develop a sound knowledge base of health care principles which can be applied in the practice environment to provide safe and effective care. It will introduce and prepare you to work within the National Health Service (NHS) and embody the NHS constitution and values. This module encourages the start of professional growth and ensures the development of essential personal skills such as resilience and responding to constructive feedback.

This module will introduce you to the scientific principles which directly underpin the production of X-radiation, its interaction with tissue and the capture of the emergent X-ray beam. The module will provide an opportunity for you to develop essential theoretical knowledge and understanding of X-radiation generating equipment as well as image acquisition and manipulation techniques encountered in practice. You will have the opportunity to apply this learning in the Imaging Suite on campus.

This module is designed to give you an understanding of the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the appendicular and axial skeleton, chest and respiratory system, and abdomen.  It will introduce you to the common radiographic techniques employed in projection radiography and discuss care of the patient for such examinations. As part of this module, you will learn in small groups within the Imaging Suite on campus.

This module is designed to enable you to develop a detailed understanding of the anatomy, physiology and common pathology of the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems. The module will build upon your understanding of radiographic projection imaging, and introduce common procedures used to image the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems.

This module is designed to enable you to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills within the practice setting. You will be given the opportunity through structured practice placements to make links between theory and practice based on the content of year 1 Imaging modules. This will be reinforced with practice tutorials undertaken by practice educators and specialists in the practice setting.

The purpose of the module is to enable you to identify and understand your key personal abilities in the context of your future career aspirations. The development of your personal and professional skill set is essential to a successful and rewarding career. Through the development of your critical, reflective abilities and your confidence and competence, you will evaluate your current strengths and weaknesses and take ownership of your personal and professional development. 

The successful outcome of orthopaedic and trauma imaging of the chest and appendicular skeleton requires a sound knowledge of the presenting conditions, adaptation of technique and an understanding of the resultant images. This module provides you with an opportunity to evaluate this area of radiography and develop an appreciation of the factors which can enhance its diagnostic efficacy.

This module is designed to enable you to develop a detailed understanding of the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the cardiovascular, urinary and reproductive systems.  The module will build upon your understanding of radiographic projection imaging and introduce a variety of other imaging procedures used to image the cardiovascular, urinary and reproductive systems.

Diagnostic radiography is concerned with providing safe and accurate imaging examinations in order to facilitate appropriate treatment and management of service users presenting with a range of increasingly complex conditions. Such examinations encompass a wide range of situations across the life span, including acute and chronic conditions, trauma and health screening. This involves the use of specialised imaging modalities to facilitate diagnosis and expedite treatment. This module enables you to develop an in depth understanding of a range of imaging modalities to facilitate safe and effective use in practice.

This module is designed to enable you to develop a detailed understanding of the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the endocrine and central nervous systems. The module will build upon your understanding of radiographic projection imaging and introduce a variety of other imaging procedures used to image the endocrine and central nervous systems.

The needs of diagnostic imaging service users and their carers vary considerably. These needs may relate to mental and physical disabilities, sociological and psychological issues, and age and physical development, as well as to the pathological conditions that are being investigated. It is essential that practitioners appreciate and respect the needs of all service users and maintain equality of access in accordance with current healthcare policy and guidelines.   Practitioners need to be able to provide service users with information about their imaging procedure and be able to adapt this to each individual person. This module builds upon your knowledge of patient care, and supports you to adapt to the needs of the individual you are caring for.

The development of research skills is an essential requirement for all graduates. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) advise that in order for radiography practice to advance, radiographers need to lead and participate in research and implement the findings of such research to enable improvements in health care delivery, patient care, technological innovations, education and development of the workforce.  The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency requires radiographers to be able to engage in evidence-based practice. This module, studied with students on the BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography course, is designed to enable you to identify and understand high quality research and evidence, to apply it to your own practice and to prepare you to design and undertake your third year project.

This module is designed to enable you to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills within the practice setting. You will be given the opportunity through structured practice placements to make links between theory and practice based on the content of year 2 Imaging modules. This will be reinforced with practice tutorials undertaken by practice educators and specialists in the practice setting.

Studied with students on the BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography course, this module is designed to prepare you with a portfolio of skills in preparation for your first post as a radiographer.  It will afford the opportunity to explore a range of professional issues and the wider implications of current government initiatives and policies and to critically reflect on the NHS constitution, principles and values.  Aspects and experience of role transition will also be discussed, underpinned by recent research and input from alumni. You will be introduced to the principles of teaching and learning. The roles of supervision and mentoring learners in the practice environment will also be scrutinised.

Radiographers work as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team and actively contribute to the patient pathway. In undertaking their role, radiographers are required to apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills within a multi-disciplinary context.  They provide accurate information for users attending for a range of examinations and procedures which needs to be underpinned with sound knowledge of the related technology, procedure or examination. This module aims to provide you with a broad understanding of developing technology, and enables you to undertake an in depth examination of an advancement of your choosing.

This module is designed to enable you to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills within the practice setting. You will be given the opportunity through structured practice placements to make links between theory and practice based on the content of the year 3 Imaging module. This will be reinforced with practice tutorials undertaken by practice educators and specialists in the practice setting. You will be supported to practically apply your knowledge and understanding of image interpretation, clinical reporting and decision making within the practice setting, as well as further develop your approach to reflection on practice.

This module builds upon the Research Methods module and has been informed by the Society and College of Radiographers’ research strategy. The research project provides the opportunity for you to develop an individual study drawn from an aspect of radiography. It will enable you to utilise skills developed throughout the course and allows you to apply problem solving and decision-making skills in a novel situation. The research project also provides a mechanism for the continuing development of autonomy and self-direction.

This module provides a learning opportunity for you to develop skills in aspects relevant to image interpretation, clinical reporting and decision making. This encompasses both academic and clinical components and reflects the Society and College of Radiographers’ expectation that undergraduate programmes should include aspects of medical image interpretation and clinical reporting in the curriculum.

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WHY SUFFOLK

2nd in the UK for Career Prospects

WUSCA 2024

3rd in the UK for spend on academic services

Complete University Guide 2025

4th in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction

Guardian University Guide 2024
Close-up of a student being x-rayed
Imaging Suite
A lecturer in a radiography suite
Radiography video
A student looking a x-ray on a computer screen
Imaging of the spine
Lift shaft of the Health and Wellbeing Building
Health and Wellbeing Building video

Entry Requirements

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Career Opportunities

Although most of our graduates choose to practice as diagnostic radiographers in the NHS, diagnostic radiography is a lifelong career, with many opportunities to specialise and to undertake postgraduate study. Diagnostic radiographers can work in the private sector, abroad, in industry, research, management, the military and education. 

The University of Suffolk also offers a range of postgraduate programmes to support your career development.

Newly qualified diagnostic radiographers join at band 5, with opportunities for progression with experience. You can find the NHS pay scales for 2023/24 here.

You can learn more about the career development options available to diagnostic radiographers in the College of Radiographers Education and Career Framework. 

 

Your Course Team

Hollie Hadwen

Hollie is Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography and the PgC in Advanced Practice and Reporting in Computed Tomography Colonography.

Hollie Hadwen staff profile photo

Professor Ruth Strudwick

Ruth is Head of Allied Health Professions and Associate Professor in Diagnostic Radiography.

Ruth Strudwick staff profile photo

Christopher Cobb

Christopher has extensive experience as a clinical radiographer, manager of a radiology academy and is Senior Lecturer in Diagnostic Radiography.

Jerome Atutornu

Jerome is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Allied Health Sciences. He graduated from University of Suffolk in 2012.

Deana Hazeldene

Deana is Course Leader for MSc Diagnostic Radiography and co-ordinates radiography student clinical experience as Practice Placement Lead.

Deana Hazeldene staff profile photo

Nancy Sims

Lecturer in Diagnostic Radiography and is passionate about contributing to enhancing the quality of care that diagnostic radiography service users receive.

Nancy Simms staff profile photo

Jo Shuttlewood

Jo is Lecturer in Diagnostic Radiography and previously worked at a specialist Neurological Centre of Excellence specialising in Neuroradiography.

Jo Shuttlewood staff profile photo

Gemma Spelman

Gemma is a Diagnostic Radiographer by background and before joining the university was a Senior Radiographer at her local hospital.

Gemma Spelman staff profile photo

Gemma Vass

Gemma is Lecturer in Diagnostic Radiography and has expertise in Musculoskeletal Appendicular and Axial reporting.

Gemma Vass staff profile photo

Imogen Diggens

Imogen is a Lecturer in Diagnostic Radiography.

Imogen Diggens staff profile photo

Joseph Purdey

Joseph joined the University of Suffolk in 2023 as a Diagnostic Radiography Lecturer.

Joseph Purdey staff profile

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£9,250

per year
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£18,380

per year and including placement fee

The decision to study a degree is an investment into your future, there are various means of support available to you in order to help fund your tuition fees and living costs. You can apply for funding from the Spring before your course starts.

UK Fees and Finance NHS Learning Support Fund International Fees and Scholarships

How to Apply

To study this course on a full-time basis, you can apply through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

Apply Now Further Information on Applying
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Beatrice McCabe, BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography

"For me, being able to put what we learn in lectures into practice whilst on placement is so rewarding."

read more
Headshot of Beatrice McCabe

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