Radiographic Reporting (PgCert)
- Duration: 1 year
- Mode: Part time
Open day
Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day.
Why study this course
The course offers knowledge and expertise to enable qualified healthcare professionals to carry out clinical image reporting tasks in their workplace, acting as autonomous professionals.
Accredited programme
Our programme is accredited by the Society and College of Radiographers.
Learning community
You will benefit from learning alongside a diverse group who are studying at various points in their career.
Student support
You will have academic support and be assigned a designated personal tutor throughout your studies with us.
High-quality teaching
You will be taught by experienced educational and clinical staff with considerable local, national and international reputations.
Student representative
You will have the opportunity to become a student representative and shape future educational provision.
Join our Postgraduate Certificate in Radiographic Reporting programme that is accredited by the Society and College of Radiographers and designed to help you expand your knowledge and enhance your clinical skills in this fast-developing sector. The skills you can obtain are transferable to all healthcare organisations and are recognised overseas.
Our programme is aimed at those with a current qualification and registration as a diagnostic radiographer, therapeutic radiographer, or other healthcare professionals with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration or equivalent.
This part-time course aims to develop your skills in radiographic reporting and other core practices associated with radiography. Due to our optional approach to learning you will get the opportunity to choose modules that best suit your needs so that your learning is relevant for you. Our optional modules focus on areas from Abdomen Radiographic Reporting to Appendicular and Axial Radiographic Reporting
You will also have the opportunity to work in our dedicated general X-Ray room with PACS system for both image viewing experience and for experimental purposes. As well as a dedicated X-ray space we also have dosimetry equipment, a radiography training room using 3D interactive simulation to include Shaderware computers and dedicated ultrasound equipment available for research opportunities and to enhance your learning.
Your learning will be supported and delivered by experienced researchers and academics alongside clinical experts. Radiologists and clinical radiographers support each of the clinical modules ensuring a high degree of current and relevant clinical knowledge is applied alongside the requirement for questioning practice. You will also be assigned a designated personal tutor who will support you throughout your studies.
You will also be part of a group of students who come from a variety of clinical backgrounds which also enhances your learning experience and you will be encouraged to share ideas and experiences.
Undertaking our programme will support your personal and professional development as well as influencing and informing healthcare across Wales and beyond.
Accreditations
Society and College of Radiographers
Where you'll study
School of Healthcare Sciences
Our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and experience you need to embark on a professional healthcare career.
Admissions criteria
In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.
With your online application you will need to provide:
- A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved an honours degree or passed a Higher Education Diploma in Radiography, or an equivalent international degree.
- A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.
- A reference from your employer to evidence that you are a qualified radiographer with at least two years full-time equivalent clinical experience and that you are currently working in a radiology/mammography department in the UK. References should be signed, dated and less than six months old at the time you submit your application.
- A personal statement which must address the following key points:
- Why have you selected this programme?
- What interests you about this programme?
- An understanding of the modules being offered at Cardiff University.
- Any relevant experience related to the programme or module content.
- How you plan to use the qualification in your career and the potential professional benefit from your studies.
- Why you feel you should be given a place on the programme.
If you intend to complete modules HCT207 Appendicular/Axial Radiographic Reporting and HCT108 Adult Chest and Abdomen Reporting you must have secured the support of a radiological mentor at the point of application. Please provide your mentors details as your second referee and make them aware that the programme team will be in touch to confirm their support.
Application Deadline
We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of July but may close sooner if all places are filled.
Selection process
We will review your application and if you meet all of the entry requirements, including an assessment of suitability through the personal statement, we will make you an offer.
Find out more about English language requirements.
Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Course structure
The Postgraduate Certificate in Radiographic Reporting programme is modular and students must complete 60 credits in the taught component of the programme. One module (30 credits) is core and must be taken and a choice of one optional module (30 credits).
Taught modules are arranged in block format of 2-3 days and run throughout the semesters identified.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum. Final modules will be published one month ahead of your programme starting.
In Year One you will complete 1 optional and 1 core module (30 credits)
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Applied Radiation Science | HCT345 | 30 credits |
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Adult Chest and Abdomen Reporting | HCT108 | 30 credits |
Appendicular & Axial Image Radiographic Reporting | HCT207 | 30 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
How will I be taught?
Teaching is mainly through workshops, tutorials and seminars. There are also lectures, and these are followed up by appropriate opportunity to discuss and evaluate the ideas presented. Content is supported by online resources.
Self-directed study forms an important part of the course, and you will be directed in study skills and guided in the areas for study.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed through a variety of assessment procedures, such as written assignments, oral presentations, portfolio and work-based projects. There are also clinical examinations in the reporting modules. This enables you to demonstrate your ability at analysing and evaluating a situation but also to use a variety of ways to present your ideas and abilities.
How will I be supported?
This programme gives you the opportunity to share ideas with health professionals from a variety of clinical settings. As well as developing your own intellectual abilities, this sharing of ideas enables you to learn and benefit from the experiences of others. Opportunity discussion and exchange of ideas through seminars and tutorials.
You are given a named personal tutor following registration onto the programme, who is able to assist you with any pastoral care as well as advice on academic issues.
All modules within the programme make extensive use of Cardiff University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Learning Central, on which you will find course materials, links to related materials and assessment exemplars. All lectures are recorded via Panopto and are available to you throughout your programme.
The University offers a wide range of services and activities designed to support you. These include a student counselling service, a student advisory service, day care facilities, sport and exercise facilities, as well as campus information, library and IT services.
Our student app allows you to access Cardiff University services and personalised information in one place in a simple and convenient way from a smartphone via the app store.
Features include:
- Campus maps
- Student library renewals, payments and available items
- Student timetable
- Find an available PC
- Access to help and student support
- Student news
- Receive important notifications
- Links to launch other University apps such as Outlook (for email) and Blackboard (for Learning Central).
- Links to recommended apps such as nextbike to help make the most of your student experience.
- Links are being developed with the national Imaging Academy for Wales and some sessions may be facilitated at this site.
What skills will I practise and develop?
Knowledge & Understanding:
- Identify and recognise normal and abnormal anatomy, consistent with a mastery of skills in specified specialised areas of radiographic anatomy, pathology and differential diagnoses.
- Formalise a diagnosis in the specified area to a standard where patient care is not compromised
- Produce an accurate, informative written report in a concise and coherent way, utilising specialised problem solving skills
- Respond to ethical dilemmas within this area of professional practice and suggest further imaging options as required
- Critically evaluate research-based evidence with respect to imaging and reporting and debate the implications for professional practice.
Intellectual Skills:
- Critical analysis of research.
- Reflection and critical analysis of the radiography profession and of your own practice.
Professional Practical Skills:
- Practical skills in areas of advancing practice
Transferable/ key skills
- Confident communication skills
- Critical academic writing and study skills.
- Time management and self-organisation skills.
- Develop practical research skills and apply them to practice.
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
Fees will be invoiced by module. Normally, invoices will be released shortly after enrolment for each individual module. For more information please refer to our tuition fees pages.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
This course does not currently accept students from outside the UK/EU.
Additional costs
Will I need any specific equipment to study this course/programme?
No
Living costs
We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Funding
Careers and placements
Postgraduate level study is essential if you want to progress to advanced and specialist practice. The Postgraduate Certificate is essential for undertaking radiographic reporting roles within a radiology department. The qualification is validated by the Society and College of Radiographers and is transferable across the UK.
Our modules are varied and challenging and give you the opportunity to consider progression within clinical practice, but also to facilitate a move into academia or research.
Our graduates have gained roles including:
- Clinical specialists
- Reporting Radiographers
- Radiography management positions
- Radiography and clinical education positions.
- Lecturer
Placements
The clinical modules require a clinical placement, students must be working in the clinical environment to be able to practise these skills. The radiological mentor must be agreed before the start of the programme and verified by the module teams. Cardiff University does not organise the clinical placements.
Next steps
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Related searches: Healthcare, Medicine, Radiography
HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.