Diagnostic Radiography

Diagnostic radiography is the healthcare profession that uses medical imaging to visualise the internal structures of the body, enabling clinicians to diagnose injuries and disease, monitor treatment, and guide clinical decision-making. Radiographers operate complex imaging technologies including X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and fluoroscopy, and they must combine technical precision with patient-centred care, working with patients who may be in pain, anxious, or critically ill. The profession plays a vital role in the diagnostic pathway across virtually every clinical specialty.

At Teesside University, this three-year full-time programme prepares you for registration as a diagnostic radiographer with the Health and Care Professions Council, the regulatory body for the profession. You will develop an understanding of human anatomy and physiology, imaging technology and physics, patient care, radiation protection, and the clinical decision-making that diagnostic radiographers exercise in practice. The multidisciplinary foundations of the programme include basic processes and principles of human physiology relevant to a range of health professionals, building the scientific grounding for everything that follows.

Practical clinical placements are a central feature of the degree, giving you direct experience in imaging departments and other clinical settings across a range of hospitals and healthcare providers in the region.

With a typical entry tariff of 120 UCAS points, this degree attracts students who combine scientific aptitude with a commitment to patient care. Graduates register with the HCPC and enter practice as diagnostic radiographers in NHS trusts, private hospitals, and imaging centres. With experience, radiographers can specialise in specific imaging modalities such as MRI or CT, or move into practice education, management, or research.

Some continue to postgraduate study in advanced imaging, radiotherapy, or clinical leadership, developing expert practice or moving into extended roles that include image reporting and clinical decision-making.