Program Overview

Bachelor of Radiation Therapy

The Bachelor of Radiation Therapy is a professional degree that aims to develop competent radiation therapists with the necessary knowledge and skills to practice in accredited workplaces.

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to equip students with the knowledge and skills required for Radiation Therapy, enabling them to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Radiation Therapist upon successful completion.

Outcomes

After completing the program, students will be able to:

• Apply the principles of human rights, ethics, and relevant medical law to ensure patient well-being.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding and application of quality assurance and radiation protection in a Radiation Therapy division.
• Apply scientific knowledge and technical skills to perform radiation oncology laboratory techniques and procedures.
• Perform radiotherapy procedures competently to ensure optimal radiation localization and immobilization for radiation treatment.
• Perform radiotherapy procedures competently to ensure optimal treatment planning.
• Apply scientific knowledge and professional skills to perform therapeutic procedures for accurate delivery of the radiation treatment prescribed.
• Plan, develop, and apply total quality management appropriate to the radiation therapy context.
• Demonstrate research skills and foster a research climate in radiation therapy.
• Apply the principles, specific knowledge, skills, and values related to the chosen elective subject.

Rules of Access and Admission Requirements

To be eligible for the program, applicants must have:

• A Senior Certificate or an equivalent qualification at an equivalent standard as determined by a Faculty Status Committee, with the following subjects:
  • Mathematics with a Higher Grade D or Standard Grade C symbol.
  • Physical Science with a Higher Grade D or Standard Grade C symbol.
  • Biology with a Higher Grade C or Standard Grade B symbol or Physiology with a Higher Grade C or Standard Grade B symbol.
• A National Senior Certificate APS Score with minimum requirements:
  • Minimum APS: 31
  • Language of teaching and Learning (English): 5
  • Mathematics: 4
  • Mathematical Literacy: Not Accepted
  • Physical Sciences: 4
  • Life Sciences: 5

Selection Criteria

Selection will be based on:

• Academic merits.
• Clinical placement in a Health Professional Council of South Africa accredited clinical training site.

Pass Requirements

The pass requirements for the program are as follows:

1. Students retain credits for all modules passed except where requirement 2 applies.
2. If a student fails any module in any level of study, they forfeit the credits for the Radiation Therapy Clinical Practice Module for that level of study but retain credits for all other modules passed.
3. Students may enroll for a module in the following year of study provided that they have passed the prerequisite module/s.
4. Students may not register for module combinations that lead to timetable clashes.
5. The Department will make the final decision as to the modules for which the student may register.
6. Students are promoted:

• to the second year of study if they have passed all the first-year modules.
• to the third year of study if they have passed all the second-year modules.
• to the fourth year of study if they have passed all the third-year modules.

7. To be admitted to any module in the second or third academic year of study, and progress to the following year of study, students must have passed at least 60% of the modules in the previous year of study.
8. Students must pass at least 3 out of the 7 modules in the first year of study in order to qualify for readmission to the first year of study.

Specific Rules and Regulations for Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences Students

1. Students must familiarize themselves with the internal rules and regulations of the Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences.
2. The program is not offered as a limited contact or distance learning program. Students who elect to leave the country will be unable to continue with their studies.
3. All students are required to complete a minimum number of clinical hours/competencies as stipulated by the HPCSA at the time.