Radiotherapy and Oncology
Radiotherapy and Oncology is the healthcare specialty concerned with using radiation to treat cancer and other tumours. Therapeutic radiographers are the clinical professionals who plan, administer and monitor radiotherapy treatments, working closely with oncologists, medical physicists and other members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team to deliver precise and effective treatment while minimising harm to healthy tissue. The role requires a thorough understanding of cancer biology and oncology, radiation physics and dosimetry, patient care and communication, and the technical operation of complex imaging and treatment equipment.
At Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme leads to both a BSc (Hons) and an undergraduate master's qualification, giving you both the professional foundation and a higher level of academic development suited to a career in this technically and scientifically demanding specialism. Practice placements are integrated throughout the programme, allowing you to put your theoretical knowledge into practice in real clinical settings and develop the professional competence, clinical reasoning and patient communication skills that the role demands. The degree is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and graduates are eligible to register as therapeutic radiographers on completion.
Radiotherapy and Oncology graduates work in NHS cancer centres and radiotherapy departments, private healthcare and increasingly in research and academic settings as the science of precision radiotherapy and imaging continues to advance. The profession provides strong career progression opportunities into clinical specialist roles, advanced practice, management, education and research. Many graduates pursue further postgraduate study in oncology, radiation sciences or clinical education, and the combination of technical expertise and patient-centred care that the degree develops is highly valued across the cancer care workforce.