Diagnostic Imaging

Diagnostic imaging is the clinical discipline concerned with producing and interpreting medical images to identify and understand disease and injury. It encompasses a range of modalities, including X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and it plays a central role in the diagnosis and management of a vast range of conditions across virtually every medical specialty. Assistant practitioners in diagnostic imaging support registered radiographers in delivering imaging services, working competently across a range of clinical settings under appropriate supervision.

At London South Bank University, this two-year, full-time programme leads to a Diploma of Higher Education, combining practical clinical skills with the theoretical knowledge needed for competent and compassionate practice. You will develop skills across a range of imaging modalities and clinical settings, learning to work safely and effectively while maintaining the dignity and wellbeing of the patients you care for. Theory and clinical practice are integrated throughout the programme, with placement experience giving you supervised exposure to real imaging departments and the clinical decisions made within them.

The programme aims to develop confident, competent, and reflective practitioners who understand both the technical requirements of imaging work and the human dimensions of caring for patients who may be anxious or unwell.

Graduates achieve a Diploma of Higher Education and are qualified to work as assistant practitioners in diagnostic imaging departments within the NHS and independent sector. Many graduates continue to degree-level study to become fully registered diagnostic radiographers, using the Diploma as a direct stepping stone. The imaging workforce is consistently in demand, and there are strong employment opportunities for qualified practitioners across acute hospital trusts, community diagnostics centres, and specialist imaging facilities throughout the UK.