Diagnostic Radiography and Medical Imaging

Diagnostic radiography is the healthcare profession responsible for producing and interpreting the medical images that clinicians rely on to diagnose and understand patients' conditions. Radiographers work with technologies including X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound, using medical imaging equipment to obtain the images needed to guide treatment decisions. It is a profession that combines technical expertise with patient care, requiring practitioners to be both skilled in the science and technology of imaging and attentive to the needs of patients who are often anxious or unwell.

At the University of Portsmouth this three-year full-time programme prepares you to work as a diagnostic radiographer in the NHS and related settings. You will develop both the technical knowledge of imaging physics and equipment operation and the clinical skills of image acquisition and interpretation, alongside the communication and patient care competencies that effective radiography demands. The degree includes a year abroad, which offers an international perspective on how imaging and healthcare are practised in different national contexts.

The typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects the academic and scientific level expected of students entering the programme.

You will study radiographic physics, anatomy and physiology, pathology, imaging techniques, radiation protection, and the clinical decision-making that connects imaging findings to patient care. Practical placements in clinical imaging departments are central to the programme, providing the hands-on experience that healthcare professional training requires.

Graduates are eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council and to work as qualified diagnostic radiographers in the NHS, independent hospitals, and related healthcare settings. Career development can lead to specialist practice in areas such as CT, MRI, or reporting radiography, as well as into management and education. Postgraduate study in specialist imaging or healthcare science is a well-established next step.