Innovative, Evolving Curriculum

As a student of Radiography at UCD, you will follow a curriculum that is innovative and constantly evolving to meet the needs of modern healthcare. The programme is delivered by experienced and enthusiastic staff within the School and our clinical training network, including university teaching hospitals and specialist centres across Ireland.

Clinical Immersion

You will become an integral part of the department team, working alongside radiography colleagues and other health professionals to learn and refine your professional skills. From early in year one, you will have access to state-of-the-art imaging and clinical education facilities, based at UCD’s Health Sciences Centre. You will develop knowledge of all aspects of medical imaging and image evaluation, as well as how to care for patients, how to perform examinations, and how to provide a high level of radiation protection.

A Unique Blend of Expertise

Radiographers are responsible for producing high quality images to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. While obviously a caring profession, radiography requires considerable technological and scientific expertise in both the production of images and the responsible delivery of ionising radiation. If you are interested in science, technology, and you want to use your knowledge to improve the lives of patients, then Radiography may be the course for you. Our aim is to prepare graduate radiographers to meet the every-day challenges arising from ongoing advances in diagnostic imaging and healthcare.

BSc Radiography Programme Summary

The overall purpose of the programme is to develop graduates who are patient-centred, competent and safe diagnostic imaging practitioners with a strong professional identity and understanding of their role in the wider healthcare context and their contribution as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Graduates of the programme will demonstrate well-developed autonomous learning skills and the capacity for continually developing their professional knowledge and practice, in an evidence-based, research oriented and international context, to provide clinical excellence.

BSc Radiography Programme Outcomes

• Competently undertake and appraise specific diagnostic imaging examinations;
• Adhere to best practice safety and quality guidelines relevant to clinical practice;
• Acquired the relevant knowledge of underpinning scientific principles, diagnostic imaging practice, technology & clinical practice;
• An ability to communicate effectively within the multidisciplinary healthcare environment;
• Integrate professional values and standards in their daily practice and promote these in a wider societal context;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the roles and responsibilities as an autonomous professional throughout their clinical practice;
• Act as reflective practitioners and demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning;
• Demonstrate and apply an evidence-based approach to all aspects of diagnostic imaging practice;
• Acquired the relevant skills to engage in research and clinical audit;
• Demonstrate an ability to work effectively, both independently and as part of a team;
• Apply problem-solving skills across a wide range of clinical scenarios;
• Engage with the professional education of students, colleagues and other health professionals to foster an ethos of continuing learning and knowledge sharing.

BSc Radiography Stage 1 Outcomes

• Understand the theoretical principles underlying ionising radiation, associated radiation risks and protection measures;
• Understand the structure and function of a medical imaging department and their role within it;
• Exposure to the clinical environment, professional behaviour, patient interaction and communication within the clinical environment;
• Have a knowledge and understanding of specified radiographic examinations, related anatomy, radiographic image critique and exposure to diagnostic decision making;
• Develop students’ learning approaches and skills to include capacity for critical thinking, self-directed learning, group-learning & teamwork, awareness of the role of reflection in professional practice;
• Understand their roles and responsibilities as students within the University and clinical settings.

BSc Radiography Stage 2 Outcomes

• Understand the theoretical principles underlying medical imaging equipment;
• Knowledge and understanding of human physiology to provide a basis for subsequent medical imaging modules;
• Further exposure to the clinical environment professional behaviour patient interaction and communication in the clinical department;
• Ongoing and increasingly advanced knowledge and understanding of specified radiographic examinations related anatomy and radiographic image critique;
• Knowledge and understanding of Paediatric medical imaging and fluoroscopy examinations;
• Further development of diagnostic image decision making.

BSc Radiography Stage 3 Outcomes

• Attain clinical competence for general and mobile radiographic examinations;
• Knowledge and understanding of the theoretical principles and clinical applications for CT, MR, US, RNI and angiographic examinations and introductory exposure to these modalities clinically;
• Reinforcement and development of the knowledge and understanding of advanced radiographic techniques;
• Reinforcement of critical evaluation and image appraisal skills, to form a basis for professional diagnostic decision making;
• Introduction and development of research skills resulting in the formulation of a novel research proposal;
• A furthering of knowledge of digital imaging systems and PACS;
• Knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms of disease processes relevant to the human body;
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of imaging pathways in trauma and vascular imaging.

BSc Radiography Stage 4 Outcomes

• Advancement of research skills leading to the completion of a research dissertation and an original manuscript intended for peer review publication based upon the research proposal developed in Stage 3;
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical pathology with a systematic approach blended with advanced diagnostic imaging pathology;
• Demonstrate critical thinking in relation to competence of professional practice to facilitate the graduating student as an independent reflective practitioner;
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of technology, clinical application and imaging pathways in oncological imaging;
• Knowledge, understanding and competence in the undertaking of quality assurance, quality control and clinical audit to facilitate safe practice;
• Knowledge, understanding and practical exposure of IV cannulation and administration;
• Reinforcement of medico-legal principles underpinning professional practice;
• Mastery of clinical skills appropriate to a new graduate;
• Active participation in an Erasmus Programme focussing upon areas of advanced radiographic practice in a European perspective.

Radiography Year One

In your first year, you will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of radiation science and technology, human anatomy and radiographic technique. You will also interact with patients at one of our teaching hospitals.

Radiography Year Two

During your second year, you will develop and refine your scientific knowledge, undertake physiology modules and build your expertise with regard to radiographic equipment and examination. You will undertake a block of clinical education at the end of semester two.

Radiography Year Three

In your third year you will deepen your knowledge of radiographic technique. It is at this point that the study of pathology begins. It is also the stage at which new diagnostic technologies are introduced including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and radionuclide imaging.

Radiography Stage Four

Throughout year four, the study of pathology is integrated with and underpins a critical approach to imaging techniques and radiographic image evaluation. Students also submit a dissertation towards the end of stage four. There is an option to select an international study option.

In stage four, students must choose from pathway one or pathway two.  

Students who select pathway one must:

Select Cardiac Interventional Radiography (Erasmus) module (15 credits)

• Select PATHWAY 1 Radiography Research Project 
• Select PATHWAY 2 Current Issues in Healthcare 
• Select PATHWAY 3 Radiography and Culture in Europe 
• Select PATHWAY 4 Breast Imaging 

Students who select pathway two must:

• Select Erasmus Radiography (abroad) module (15 credits)

Award-Winning Programme

‌Our BSc. in Radiography has been awarded the inaugural 2018 National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning DELTA Award which recognises excellence in learning, teaching and assessment.

World-Class Imaging & Clinical Facilities

Radiography will first be demonstrated in UCD’s own imaging facilities before you progress to performing examinations on patients. The diagnostic imaging area, unique to Ireland, contains a networked Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) that allows storage of, and access to, diagnostic images from all diagnostic and biological imaging modalities.

It is designed to be compatible with similar systems used in hospitals, and has clear advantages for the education of all health care professionals and unlimited potential in research. A teleconference equipped lecture theatre permits simultaneous interactive lecture broadcast on campus and across several clinical education sites.

Network of Teaching Hospitals

Our network of teaching hospitals will also play an integral role in your training and you will work alongside radiography colleagues to learn and refine your professional skills.

International Electives

Erasmus opportunities exist in fourth year. You may spend a three-month period in one of our current partner institutions in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark and the UK. Further elective opportunities to the USA are also available at various stages within the programme.

Irish/EU Applicants

Irish/EU Applicants will be required to apply via the Central Applications Office (CAO) system and will be required to present their State or International School Leaving Examination. For information pertaining to CAO and Admissions, please visit myUCD.

Non-EU Applicants

Non-EU Applicants will be required to apply directly to  UCD International Admissions and will be required to present their relevant School Leaving Examination results (e.g. ACT, SAT, etc), two letters of reference and a short personal statement.

Programme Requirements

Students must fulfil a number of specific programme requirements in addition to meeting academic criteria for admission.

These are as follows:

• Health Screening
• Garda Vetting
• Commitment to Ethical & Professional Conduct including Confidentiality
• Requirements for Participation in Clinical Education

For more detaile advice, refer to our Programme Requirements (docx).