University Diploma - Radiography Assistant Practitioner Bridging

This course is subject to validation.
What does this mean?

This is a short course designed to provide experienced Assistant Practitioners with the additional academic knowledge, skills, and clinical experience to step on to year three of the BSc Radiography Programme. This course will focus on the detailed key underpinning knowledge related to radiographic science and anatomy which is required for transition into the final year of a radiography degree.

Book an Open Day

Lancaster All

Health and Care Professions Council, and approved by the College of Radiographers

Radiography Assistant Practitioner Bridging cover image

Course Overview

This programme will provide an additional entry stream into the radiography profession. It will offer significant benefits by widening access to a large group of individuals who are not able to study radiography under the existing arrangements. In addition, it will allow employers to ‘grow their own’ workforce by progressing and upskilling Assistant Practitioners through a flexible educational system to progress to radiography level and meet the needs of current imaging departments. As a student progressing through the system you are more likely to stay and work with the employers who have invested in their education on completion of your studies. Upon successful completion of the programme, you will have gained credits and practical experience to APEL onto Year Three of any Diagnostic Radiography programme. This in turn would allow you to be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC as a diagnostic radiographer upon completion.

On this course you will...

Develop your education to achieve full practitioner status.
Refresh and develop academic skills through continual support to a point where you are capable of undertaking Level 6 study.
Achieve a comparable level of educational and clinical attainment to that of a radiography student at the end of their second year.
Provide an enhanced level of patient centred care in a developing profession.

Book an Open Day

Lancaster All

Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
Course LocationLancaster
Online
Institute Institute of Health
Mode of DeliveryBlended Learning
Course Duration Part-time: 6 weeks
Course Start PointJanuary
September
AwardUniversity Diploma
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysLancaster
All

Minimum entry requirements

Applicants should have an Assistant Practitioner foundation degree

UK Tuition fees

£4,625

Tuition Fees Policy

Course Structure

What you will learn

You will build on the academic knowledge and clinical experience you acquired in studying your first assistant practitioner programme. This may include additional clinical experience in clinical areas such as CT or MRI to allow you to attain the equivalent learning outcomes achieved by a student radiographer at the end of their second year of a radiography BSc programme. As a student at the University of Cumbria, you are part of an inclusive learning community that recognises diversity. You will have opportunities to learn by interacting with others in a collegiate, facilitative and dynamic learning environment. Teaching, assessment and student support will allow equal and equitable opportunities for you to optimise your potential and develop autonomy.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

The programme team will provide a flexible learning environment in which you may use a mixture of online resources, formal teaching sessions, self-directed learning and work-based learning to achieve your individual learning plan. A significant element of the programme will be delivered by work-based learning which will enable you to develop the equivalent depth and breadth of knowledge, skills and behaviours as would be exhibited by a student who has competed Level 5 of a BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography programme. You will also be able to mould your work-based experience to suit the needs of the employer to become a ‘role ready’ practitioner for the given employer context whilst also achieving national benchmark standards for the discipline.

How you will be assessed

The programme consists of one 60-credit module which will employ different assessment methods thus ensuring a balance of assessment across the programme. The use of a clinical portfolio which contains both summative and formative assessments is key to ensuring a valid assessment of the clinical skills and professional behaviours expected for your stage of training. Applied subject knowledge will be assessed via two relatively short formative examinations, which will be self-marked against model answers with tutor and peer support. You will be given immediate feedback which can be used to enhance performance in the two x 1 hour examinations at the end of the programme. A short written formative assignment will initially be used to assess academic skills which you will be able to use to inform your learning and access support as appropriate. Other formative written work will enable you to develop as independent autonomous thinkers who utilise an appropriate evidence base to enhance your practice.

Career Outcomes

This programme will prepare you for Level 6 (Year 3) of the radiography degree which will allow you to progress to a top-up programme or APEL into the third year of an existing Radiography programme. Students graduating as a radiographer will be able to register with the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC) as a Diagnostic Radiographer and you will have excellent career paths with a range of opportunities for progression through a variety of specialities.

Radiography Assistant Practitioner Pathway diagram

Overview

Applicants should have an Assistant Practitioner foundation degree and be resident in the UK. You will be expected to produce a portfolio of evidence related to your skills.

Employers must complete a Practice Placement Agreement if one is not already in place with the University of Cumbria.

GCSE Maths at grade 4/C or above and GCSE English at Grade 4/C or above or IELTS 6.5 in all components. To register with the HCPC, you must achieve a minimum overall score of 7.0 in the IELTS Academic Test with no individual component score below 7.0.

FITNESS TO PRACTISE

All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening.

The University of Cumbria will need evidence directly from your employer confirming that a satisfactory Occupational Health clearance has been completed. This Medical Clearance (Occupational Health check) must meet the following criteria:

1) Confirmation that a suitable Occupational Health assessment has been carried out and the applicant has been deemed Fit to Train/Fit to Work (must have been completed within three years of the course start date).

2) Vaccinations for or evidence of immunity to include:

Tuberculosis
Varicella
Measles and Rubella
Hepatitis B

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK

If you accept an offer of a place, we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check.

The University will require evidence directly from your employer confirming that a satisfactory DBS check has been processed. This DBS check must meet the following criteria:

Level: Enhanced
Date of issue: must be within three years of the course start date
Position Applied For: must specify ‘Child and Adult Workforce’
Barred List included: both Children’s and Adults’ (both these fields must state ‘None Recorded’, not ‘Not Requested’).
Name of Employer: this must be the same as the employing Trust, unless the Trust has utilised the DBS Update Service in lieu of processing a new DBS check and can provide evidence of the Status Check result. The date of the Update Service Check must be within three years of the course start date.

The University reserves the right to require submission of a new DBS application in cases where the existing DBS check does not meet the above criteria.

Please Note: The University also needs to be aware of any cases where an applicant has a criminal record or where there is other police information held so that the University’s DBS clearance process can commence. The applicant’s explicit consent for this notification to be given to the University of Cumbria would first need to be obtained by the Employing Trust, in line with the DBS Code of Practice.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

GCSEs: GCSE Maths and English at Grade 4/C or above.

Other experience: Assistant Practitioner Foundation degree.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK Tuition fees

£4,625

International Tuition fees

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..

Student Finance

Additional Costs

Stationery, printing and digital storage

Approximately £30 to £40 per year

RequiredPer yearStationery

You should budget for stationery and consumables for personal use. These may include notebooks, pens and pencils, digital storage devices, printing and photocopying. The amount you spend will depend on your study preferences.

Books and journals

Approximately £50 to £300 over the course of your studies

OptionalThroughout the courseBooks and journals

Most core textbooks and journals are available through the University library. You may choose to purchase personal copies of books or other resources used to support your studies.

Some courses recommend particular books or provide an estimated annual budget for purchasing personal copies. Search for your course below for details.

Technology requirements

Cost depends on the equipment and internet service you choose

RequiredThroughout the courseDigital learning and IT

You will need regular access to a laptop or computer capable of accessing the internet and running software such as a word processor and Microsoft Teams. Microsoft 365 is provided as part of your studies. You will also need a reliable internet connection. The amount you spend will depend on the equipment and internet service you choose.

Information on borrowing university laptops

Controls for the spotlight carousel

Location
Lancaster Campus
Lancaster is the Red Rose heartland, a student haven full of history and culture. With iconic stone architecture, parkland, and a caring community, this is the place to get involved. The campus houses top-quality facilities tailored to the needs of life-savers, world changers, and future leaders.
Find out more
Location
Online Learning
Online learning at the University of Cumbria is an interactive experience that makes use of a range of technologies and media types to provide a rich learning environment.
Find out more

University Diploma - Radiography Assistant Practitioner Bridging