Program Overview
The MSc Diagnostic Radiography program at UCC, Ireland, equips students with the knowledge and skills to effectively practice diagnostic radiography in hospitals and clinics. The 2-year program includes both academic and clinical placement components, preparing graduates for work in various healthcare settings, including imaging service provision and specialized areas of diagnostic radiography. Graduates meet the requirements set by Ireland's health regulator, CORU, and are eligible for opportunities in a competitive job market.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The MSc Diagnostic Radiography program is a 2-year, full-time pre-registration course designed for students with a primary degree in a subject other than diagnostic radiography. The program aims to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes necessary for effective radiography practice.
Objectives:
- Equip graduates with the clinical and research skills, and professional attributes required to work and develop as competent clinicians, researchers, and agents for change within the evolving healthcare environment.
- Provide an excellent educational experience in both academic and clinical environments.
- Ensure graduates can contribute to the constantly advancing and evolving nature of healthcare requirements.
Description:
The program is situated in the School of Medicine, part of the College of Medicine and Health at UCC. The College boasts state-of-the-art facilities. The program includes a significant clinical placement component, with students undertaking placements in hospitals within the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG), Saolta University Healthcare Group, and other centers nationally. UCC's partnership with these hospitals provides students with diverse clinical experiences.
Outline:
The course comprises 120 credits of taught components taken over two years, along with clinical placement blocks totaling 18 weeks in each year.
Year 1:
- RA6005 Professional Practice in Radiography 1 (10 credits, Semester 1)
- RA6006 Professional Practice in Radiography 2 (10 credits, Semester 2)
- RA6003 Medical Radiation Science (10 credits, Semester 1)
- RA6001 Biological Sciences for Health Professionals (10 credits, Semester 1)
- RA6002 Image Acquisition and Management of Information Systems (10 credits, Semester 2)
- RA6004 Principles of Research & Research Methods (10 credits, Semester 2)
Year 2:
- RA6011 Professional Practice in Radiography 3 (10 credits, Semesters 1 & 2)
- RA6012 Research Dissertation (20 credits, Semesters 1 & 2)
- RA6007 Advanced Radiation Science (10 credits, Semester 1)
- RA6010 Imaging Service Provision and Healthcare Practice (5 credits, Semester 1)
- RA6009 Image Interpretation (5 credits, Semester 2)
- RA6013 Professional Practice in Radiography 4 (10 credits, Semester 2)
Course Schedule:
- The program is a 2-year full-time course, taken over three semesters per year.
- Students attend lectures from 9 am to 5 pm daily, with dedicated time for independent learning during Semesters 1, 2, and 3.
Assessment:
- Continuous assessment, including:
- Tutorial performance
- Small presentations
- Class tests
- Essays
- Practical vivas (competency-based)
- Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
- Work-based placement assessments
Teaching:
- The program emphasizes the Connected Curriculum, connecting students, learning, research, and leadership.
- Staff support students in making connections within and between topics such as medicine, healthcare, science, and management.
Careers:
- Graduates are eligible to work as diagnostic radiographers in hospitals or clinics that provide Diagnostic Radiography Imaging Services.
- The program prepares graduates for success in a competitive job market.
- Graduates can specialize in specific areas of Diagnostic Radiography, such as:
- Advanced Practitioner
- Consultant Practitioner
- Management
- Teaching-Academy and Clinical
- Doctoral Research
- Examples of clinical areas for specialization include:
- Computed Tomography
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Positron Emission Tomography
- Ultrasound
- Angiography
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiation Protection
- Medical Image Integration
- Graduates can also pursue PhD studies in the College of Medicine & Health at UCC.
Other:
- The program is recognized by Ireland's health regulator (CORU).
- Some students may be partly sponsored by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
- UCC offers scholarships and prizes to prospective and current students.
- Students will need to meet the costs of travel to hospitals in Cork City and other clinical placement sites nationally.
- Students will also need to cover the costs of accommodation during placement blocks and uniforms for clinical placements.
Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2024/2025 Deposits If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January. Fee payment Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January. page. Any questions? Some students accepted for the MSc in Diagnostic Radiography may be part sponsored by the Health Service Executive (HSE) South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG). The students will be funded €5,000 per annum towards the total fee of €11,130. The sponsorship from the SSWHG is subject to agreeing to a commitment to working in the SSWHG hospitals as required and assigned for 2 years post-completion of the programme. Additional Costs Students will need to meet the costs of travel to hospitals in Cork City as well as other hospitals and clinical placement sites nationally, as and when necessary throughout the 2 years. Students will also need to cover the costs of accommodation during those placement blocks (usually ranging from 6-12 weeks at a time). Students will also incur the costs of uniforms which will be necessary for working on clinical placement.
Entry Requirements:
- Academic Qualifications: Applicants must hold a minimum Second Class Honours in a primary honours degree (NFQ Level 8), in Sciences, or a Health Sciences related discipline e.g. Nursing, Biomedical Science, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Anatomy or equivalent to any of the above.
- Exclusions: Students who have graduated in the discipline of Diagnostic Radiography are not eligible to apply for this programme.
- Interview Details:
- Shortlisting: Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on:
- Educational qualifications
- Academic achievements outside of the curriculum, e.g. publications, conference presentations
- Contributions beyond academia
- Motivation: Applicants will submit a motivation statement as part of this application process. The motivational statement should be no longer than 800 words and will explain their motivation to become a Diagnostic Radiographer, outline their research aspirations in Radiography and indicate how their previous degree will contribute to their research and the practice of Radiography.
- Interview: Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview and each applicant will be scored by an interview panel on the basis of:
- Communication skills and motivation;
- Knowledge of the field.
- Vaccination: All applicants accepted onto the programme will need to have evidence of appropriate vaccinations for working in hospital environments.
- Garda Vetting Policy: Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer, are subject to Garda Vetting. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland:
- Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements.
- Note that not all courses are open to international
on-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
- English Language Requirements: Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.
