Program Overview

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Healthcare Science (Radiation Physics), BSc (Hons)

Course Overview

Our BSc in Radiation Physics will give you the expert training you need to begin a rewarding and highly-skilled career in the healthcare profession as a radiation physics technologist.

You will learn about the clinical uses of x-rays, radioactive materials, lasers, and ultraviolet radiation in imaging patients, diagnosing and treating disease, and monitoring patients' response to treatment.

You will also gain a clear understanding of the laws and regulations around the clinical use of radiation and the principles of risk assessment and management.

The structure of our course means that you will combine in-depth academic work with practical skills in a range of specialised healthcare settings.

Radiation Physics is a vital field of medicine requiring a high level of responsibility and technical skill. As a radiation physics technologist, you will use sophisticated equipment to measure and calculate the doses of radiation received by patients during treatment and by the staff delivering it.

As your career progresses, you will have excellent opportunities for advanced practice and further study to Master's and doctoral level.

Why Radiation Physics at Swansea?

We are one of just a handful of universities in the UK offering a BSc in Radiation Physics and the only one in Wales.

Our course is accredited by the National School of Healthcare and Science.

Many of our academic staff are also practising healthcare scientists, providing an unrivalled combination of scientific rigour and professional expertise.

Places are also available if you receive sponsorship from a healthcare employer and in some circumstances; we may accept self-funded places with standard tuition fees if you are able to secure your own work placement.

Course Structure

• Year 1 (Level 4):
  • Compulsory Modules:
    • Professional Practice 1
    • Anatomy and Physiology for Healthcare Science
    • Pathophysiology for Healthcare Science
    • Basics of Mathematics and Physics for Healthcare Science
    • Scientific Basis of Medical Physics
    • Informatics and Statistics
• Year 2 (Level 5):
  • Compulsory Modules:
    • Professional Practice 2
    • Research Methods and Statistics
    • Instrumentation Signal Processing and Imaging
    • Medical Imaging
    • Practice of Radiation Protection
    • Medical Equipment Lifecycle
    • Healthcare Science Work Based Placement 1 (Radiation Physics)
• Year 3 (Level 6):
  • Compulsory Modules:
    • Professional Practice 3
    • Healthcare Science Research Project
    • Healthcare Science Work Based Placement 2 (Radiation Physics)
    • Framework of Radiation Governance and Risk Management
    • Practice of Radiation Physics

Entry Requirements

You will need to demonstrate a strong educational profile and commitment to Healthcare Science in the Physical Science field.

• Typical A-level Offer: Minimum BBB at A level, including maths or physics.
• Typical Access to Science Offer: Distinction and Merit profile against the rules of combination. We do not accept Access to Healthcare or Access to Healthcare and Nursing.
• Typical BTEC Offer: DDD
• Typical Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Offer: B and either BB at A level (including Maths or Physics) or DD at BTEC
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 345
• Minimum five-grade A-C GCSE passes including Welsh/English language, Maths and a Physical Science or Double Award Science.
• If your first language is not English you will need IELTS English language requirement 7.0 with no components below 5.5.
• If you are offered a place you will also need A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, or approved equivalent.

Tuition Fees

• Start Date: September 2025, September 2026
• UK: £9,535
• International: Not specified

Careers and Employability

The NHS starting salary for Radiation Physics Technologists is around £28,407 rising to £50,056. There are also many opportunities to work in research, education, management, and the private sector.

On graduation, you will be eligible to apply for membership of the regulatory body, the Institute for Physics and Engineering in Medicine, and enter the workplace as an independent practitioner.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.