Program Overview

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MSc Radiotherapy and Oncology in Practice

Course Summary

This challenging and supportive course has been developed in partnership with employers and professional bodies. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a therapeutic radiographer with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You’ll develop your personal and professional skills as an autonomous reflective practitioner, fit for employment in a wide range of health, social care, and voluntary and independent sector environments.

How You Learn

You’ll spend a significant time working in a radiotherapy department, with most of your academic study undertaken through distance learning. This means you could locate closer to your practice placement than Hallam if you’d like to study from home, or anywhere you wish! This may help you manage travel and accommodation costs and your home life.

You’ll study at Collegiate Campus for short periods of time to offer support and practical experience including induction to the course and study methods, mandatory training and a range of simulated practice workshops to prepare for and consolidate practice placement learning.

You learn through:

• Distance learning using learning packages, live online lectures and seminars
• Face-to-face seminars and simulated practice workshops in short periods of attendance at university
• Regular live support sessions on digital platforms
• Tutor and self-directed study
• Practice-based learning
• Plenty of contact with tutors, the course leader and academic advisers

Key Themes

You will delve into the intricacies of cancer aetiology, epidemiology, pathology and histology, gaining a deep understanding of the origins, spread and cellular characteristics of cancer. We emphasise health promotion and cancer prevention strategies – equipping you to advocate for proactive measures in healthcare.

You'll also explore anatomy, physiology and oncology across various body systems – examining cancer presentation, diagnosis, progression, staging, and grading.

Understanding treatment modalities used in cancer management is crucial, including insights into radiotherapy technology, its biological effects and safe practices. Additionally, we address the profound physical, psychological and psychosocial impacts of cancer, highlighting personalised care approaches.

Through critical engagement with contemporary evidence-based practice and research, you'll gain insights into practice development, fostering independent learning for ongoing professional growth. You’ll also build your professional attitude, communication skills and ethical awareness – ensuring you're adept at providing personalised care within legal and ethical frameworks.

Course Support

You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate-level employment through a number of key areas, including:

• Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development.
• Access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
• Industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
• Support during online live module activities, with periods of on-campus activity to get together with your peers and tutors, and to support you through simulated practice
• Tutorials with the teaching team, a personal academic adviser and mentors in practice, as well as regularly schedule post-placement debriefs

Applied Learning

• Live Projects
• Work Placements
• Networking Opportunities

Modules

Year 1

• Evaluating Research Methodologies (20 credits)
• Fundamentals Of Oncology & Radiotherapy (40 credits)
• Radiotherapy & Oncology 1 (20 credits)
• Ronc Pr Competency In Practice 1

Final Year

• Creating Original Practice (40 credits)
• Evaluating Complexity In Practice (20 credits)
• Radiotherapy & Oncology 2 (40 credits)
• Ronc Pr Competency In Practice 2

Future Careers

You’ll be an autonomous reflective practitioner who’s fit for employment in a wide range of health, social care, and voluntary and independent sector environments.

By the end of the course, you’ll have demonstrated the requirements that confer eligibility to apply to register as a professional therapeutic radiographer with the Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) – qualified to work in radiotherapy departments throughout the UK and overseas.

Previous graduates have gone on to work in specialist areas including:

• Radiotherapy treatment, planning and delivery
• Patient information, review and support services
• Research
• Teaching
• Management
• Quality assurance
• Equipment design and sales

Equipment and Facilities

During the course you’ll work with:

• Our anatomy training equipment
• Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training (VERT) equipment
• Dedicated treatment planning and verification software
• Specialist radiotherapy apparatus, e.g. immobilisation and patient positioning devices, linear accelerators and pre-treatment imaging, quality assurance and verification equipment

We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want – with support as a distance learning student via the specialist library services. These include access to a wide range of journals and research databases through 24-hour library services.

Where Will I Study?

You study this course online from any location

Entry Requirements

• All students
• Additional information for EU/International students

All Students

An honours degree recognised in the UK at 2.2 or above in a related healthcare subject or science including psychology, sociology, biology, health sciences, sport sciences, engineering and humanities.

Or

A professional qualification at degree level including teaching, nursing, social work or an allied health profession.

And

• GCSE's in
  • Science at grade C or 4 or equivalents
  • Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalents
  • English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents

Additional Information for EU/International Students

This course is not open to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK. If you are an international applicant but do not require a student visa, email our Admissions Team to find out whether you’re eligible to apply.

Fees and Funding

Home Students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £21,240 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time. Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 are: Year 1: £10,620 Year 2: £10,620. The NHS Learning Support Fund offers a non-repayable training grant of £5,000 per year to all eligible new and current pre-registration students. You may also be eligible for additional financial support based on your circumstances up to the value of around £5,000. This includes parental support, travel/accommodation expenses and a financial hardship fund. Find out about health and social care funding options.

Postgraduate Student Loans

Up to £12,858 is available in 2025/26 for home students on most masters courses.

Additional Course Costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 279KB)