About This Course
Fact File
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Title
Diagnostic Radiography
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Code
MSCDR
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College
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Duration
2 Years Full-time
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Teaching Mode
Full-time
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Qualifications
MSc
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EU Fees
€11,130 (Year 1); €11,130 (Year 2)
See Fees and Costs for full details. Non-EU Fees
€20,900 (Year 1); €20,900 (Year 2)
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Entry Requirements
See Requirements for full details.
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Closing Date
Open for applications at present.
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Non-EU Closing Date
Open for applications at present.
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Start Date
11 September 2023
Course Outline
Our MSc Diagnostic Radiography programme is an intensive pre-registration course for students with a primary degree in a subject other than diagnostic radiography. The programme uses the learning and teaching methods that best support students to develop the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes necessary for effective radiography practice.
The aim of this programme is to provide each student with an excellent educational experience both in academic and clinical environments. This ensures graduates that can contribute to the constantly advancing and evolving nature of healthcare requirements.
We aim to equip our graduates with the clinical and research skills, and professional attributes required to work and develop as competent clinicians, researchers, and agents for change within the evolving healthcare environment.
Our diagnostic radiography programme is situated in the School of Medicine which is part of the College of Medicine and Health. The College is located in the western end of the UCC campus and enjoys state-of-the-art facilities.
Clinical Placement
Practice education is an integral component of the programme and students are required to undertake a clinical placement. Clinical placements will mostly take place in the hospitals of the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) and other centres nationally. UCC is the academic partner of these hospitals affording you the best possible clinical experience in a wide variety of settings.
The key hospitals involved in our clinical placement programme include:
Course Content
The course comprises 120 credits of taught components taken over two years together with clinical placement blocks taken over 18 weeks in each year.
| Code | Module Name | Credits | Semesters |
|---|---|---|---|
| RA6005 | Professional Practice in Radiography 1 | 10 | 1 |
| RA6006 | Professional Practice in Radiography 2 | 10 | 2 |
| RA6003 | Medical Radiation Science | 10 | 1 |
| RA6001 | Biological Sciences for Health Professionals | 10 | 1 |
| RA6002 | Image Acquisition and Management of Information Systems | 10 | 2 |
| RA6004 | Principles of Research & Research Methods | 10 | 2 |
| Code | Module Name | Credits | Semesters |
|---|---|---|---|
| RA6011 | Professional Practice in Radiography 3 | 10 | 1 & 2 |
| RA6012 | Research Dissertation | 20 | 1 & 2 |
| RA6007 | Advanced Radiation Science | 10 | 1 |
| RA6010 | Imaging Service Provision and Healthcare Practice | 5 | 1 |
| RA6009 | Image Interpretation | 5 | 2 |
| RA6013 | Professional Practice in Radiography 4 | 10 | 2 |
Modules
Further details on modules can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.
Course Practicalities
This Master's programme is a 2-year full-time course – taken over three semesters per year. Students attend lectures from 9 am to 5 pm daily, with some dedicated time to independent learning during Semesters 1, 2 and 3.
Assessment is by continuous assessment. This will consist of tutorial performance, small presentations, class tests, essays, practical vivas (competency-based), Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and work-based placement assessments.
Connected Curriculum
Our learning approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a Connected University. Our staff will support you in making meaningful connections within and between topics such as medicine, healthcare, science, and management.
Placement
There are two clinical placement blocks in Semester 2 and Semester 3 of Year 1 (18 weeks total) and two clinical placement blocks (18 weeks total) in Year 2. Students must engage in supervised clinical practice to meet regulatory requirements.
Students need to travel and/or arrange short-term accommodation near their placement sites and students will incur the costs of travel to clinical locations as well as the costs of accommodation. There is the opportunity in the programme to undertake a 3-week elective clinical placement for those students wishing to encounter other hospital experiences.
Why Choose This Course
Our MSc programme was the original MSc (Pre-Registration) Diagnostic Radiography programme in Ireland. Diagnostic imaging is a growth area in Ireland, and internationally, and our course, recognised by Ireland’s health regulator (CORU), provides for this demand.
SSWHG Sponsorship
Some students accepted on the MSc in Diagnostic Radiography may be part sponsored by the Health Service Executive South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG). The selected students will be funded €5,000 per annum towards the total fee of €11,130.
The sponsorship from the SSWHG is subject to agreeing to a commitment to working in the SSWHG hospitals as required and assigned for 2 years following completion of the programme.
Available Scholarships
UCC offers scholarships and prizes to prospective and current students. Please see the Scholarships & Prizes page for more information.
Skills and Careers Information
This dedicated Graduate Entry programme offers an intensive route for graduates from any clinical or science-related discipline to gain a recognised qualification in diagnostic radiography. This postgraduate course will prepare graduates for success in a competitive jobs market.
When students complete this programme they do so as Diagnostic Radiographers and can apply for registration. This programme is approved by Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator – CORU. Following qualification, and when successfully registered with CORU, graduates are eligible to work as a diagnostic radiographer within any hospital or clinic that provides a Diagnostic Radiography Imaging Service.
In addition to developing the necessary technical and practical skills required for safe and effective clinical practice, our graduates develop a deep and critical understanding of the profession, vital for shaping the future of radiography. During the course, you build on a wide base of transferable clinical skills which may enable you to specialise in a specific area of Diagnostic Radiography following successful graduation.
Examples of areas which radiographers may progress to include:
- Advanced Practitioner
- Consultant Practitioner
- Management
- Teaching-Academy and Clinical
Doctoral Research
Examples of clinical areas which radiographers may progress to include:
- Computed Tomography
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Positron Emission Tomography
- Ultrasound
- Angiography
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiation Protection
- Medical Image Integration
An increasing number of graduates also undertake further PhD studies based at the College of Medicine & Health in UCC. This programme offers successful graduates exciting opportunities to pursue research in a field of their interest.
Requirements
Entry Requirements
Applicants will hold a minimum Second Class Honours in a primary honours degree (NFQ Level 8), in Sciences, or a Health Sciences related discipline e.g. Nursing, Biomedical Science, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Anatomy or equivalent to any of the above.
Students who have graduated in the discipline of Diagnostic Radiography are not eligible to apply for this programme.
Interview Details
Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on:
- Educational qualifications
- Academic achievements outside of the curriculum, e.g. publications, conference presentations
- Contributions beyond academia
- Motivation: Applicants will submit a motivation statement as part of this application process. The motivational statement should be no longer than 800 words and will explain their motivation to become a Diagnostic Radiographer, outline their research aspirations in Radiography and indicate how their previous degree will contribute to their research and the practice of Radiography.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview and each applicant will be scored by an interview panel on the basis of:
- Communication skills and motivation;
- Knowledge of the field.
All applicants accepted onto the programme will need to have evidence of appropriate vaccinations for working in hospital environments.
Garda Vetting Policy
Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer, are subject to Garda Vetting. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.
International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.
- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.
English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.
Fees and Costs
The EU fee for this course is €11,130 (Year 1); €11,130 (Year 2).
The Non-EU fee for this course is €20,900 (Year 1); €20,900 (Year 2).
Deposits
If your course required a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.
EU student fee payment
Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration in August and the second in January.
International student fee payment
International Students can pay in two equal instalments once they have paid the appropriate deposit. The initial payment is due on registration and the balance usually by the end of January.
How can I pay?
You can pay by Credit/Debit card online or by credit transfer.
Questions?
If you have any questions on fee payment please contact the Fees Office.
Additional Fee Information
- Some students accepted for the MSc in Diagnostic Radiography may be part sponsored by the Health Service Executive (HSE) South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG). The students will be funded €5,000 per annum towards the total fee of €11,130. The sponsorship from the SSWHG is subject to agreeing to a commitment to working in the SSWHG hospitals as required and assigned for 2 years post-completion of the programme.
Additional Costs
- Students will need to meet the costs of travel to hospitals in Cork City as well as hospitals of the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG), and other clinical placement sites nationally, as and when necessary throughout the 2 years. Students will also need to cover the costs of accommodation during those placement blocks (usually ranging from 6-12 weeks at a time).
- Students will also incur the costs of uniforms which will be necessary for working on clinical placement.
How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.
- For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
- Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.
2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:
- Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
- Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.
3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.
- Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
Note
As part of the online application process you will be asked to include the following:
- Enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
- In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning, and professional training relevant to this programme.
- Describe your motivation and readiness for this programme. Please upload relevant certificates of achievement.
- Upload certification of current registration with the appropriate professional body.
Deposit
Please note that successful EU applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €500 on acceptance of their place.
Deferrals
Deferrals are not permitted.
The closing date for non-EU applications is Open for applications at present.
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