BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography
A therapeutic radiography degree at Herts will equip you with the skills to deliver radiotherapy, blending technical expertise with patient care. You will learn how to make a meaningful difference to cancer patients.
-
Typical offer: 112 – 120
Entry requirements -
Fees: £9,535 per year (UK)
Full details -
UCAS code: B823
-
Course length: three years
Find out more -
Location:
- University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
-
Institute code: H36
NHS Learning Support Fund
- Training grants of at least £5,000 a year are available for eligible healthcare students which you will not have to pay back.
- You may also be eligible for an additional £2,000 towards childcare costs to help balance your studies with family life and £3,000 for students who find themselves in unforeseen financial hardship.
A unique career combining specialist patient care and technical skills
98% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes, 2021/22)
Hands-on learning in specialist practice placements
Course overview
Graduate as a therapeutic radiographer, with the knowledge to become a skilled practitioner in cancer treatment and eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This dynamic program integrates theoretical knowledge with hands-on clinical experience, focusing on the principles of radiotherapy and patient care but also ensuring you understand the impact of other cancer treatments for patients. The course emphasises a patient-centred approach, equipping graduates to effectively plan and deliver radiotherapy and to support individuals undergoing treatment. With a blend of science, technology and compassionate care, this therapeutic radiography degree offers a pathway to a rewarding career, making a significant difference to cancer patients and their families.
You will develop skills in accurately planning and delivering radiotherapy using a range of specialised technical equipment. Additionally, you will cultivate essential skills to manage the psychological, social, and emotional factors experienced by patients with cancer, their families and loved ones. Most cancer patients are treated with a range of approaches (including surgery, chemotherapy and hormone therapy), so you will learn about the management of cancer from a holistic perspective. This approach takes into account how patients are diagnosed and considers their entire cancer journey, including both short- and long-term outcomes.
Why choose this course?
This therapeutic radiography degree will give you the knowledge and practical experience needed to succeed in a career within the healthcare professions.
Collaboration: Herts collaborates closely with 'experts by experience'—individuals who have undergone cancer treatment—alongside past and current students, clinical practitioners, and health service managers to enhance the program’s development and delivery.
Learn from experts: Our lecturers are highly experienced, HCPC registered therapeutic radiographers who all hold postgraduate qualifications in education, Master’s and/or Doctoral qualifications in radiotherapy-related topics.
Health profession qualification: Upon graduating, you’re eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a therapeutic radiographer, with the potential to advance your career into a wide range of specialised fields.
Strong employment prospects: 98% of Herts health and social care graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes, 2021/22).
Excellent student satisfaction: We excel at student support and guidance, receiving regular praise for this in student evaluations. 97.3% of students were satisfied with teaching on their course, 100% said academic staff supported their learning and 100% said their opinions were valued by academic staff (National student survey, 2023).
Ongoing clinical placements: You will gain practical experience and spend approximately 12 -14 weeks per year (37 hours per week) in one of our partner radiotherapy departments. During these placements you will be able to apply your theoretical knowledge to enable development of the skills and competencies required of a therapeutic radiographer. Practice placement experience is fully supervised by qualified therapeutic radiographers, practice educators and university link lecturers. You will need to complete a minimum of 1425 hours of clinical practice before graduating.
Practice placement locations: Currently, clinical placements take place in ten accredited cancer centres in Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, London, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. Placements are managed by the radiotherapy clinical lead and supported by a dedicated team of university lecturers, administrators, practice placement staff, practice educators and clinical co-ordinators, who work together to ensure that each student’s clinical practice experience is of the highest quality.
Professional accreditations
Society of Radiographers
Eligibility to apply for membership of the Society of Radiographers; a trade union and UK professional body for the diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy workforce.
Health and Care Professions Council
Upon graduation, you will be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council as a therapeutic radiographer.
Your future career
An impressive 98% of Herts health and social care graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes, 2021/22).
Typical areas of work for therapeutic radiography graduates include:
- Therapeutic radiographer
- Treatment review radiographer
- Advanced practitioner
- Consultant radiographer
- Practice educator
- Research and trials radiographer
- Information and support radiographer
- Health services management
- Higher education lecturer or clinical lecturer
Radiotherapy provides excellent career prospects with the opportunity for continuous career development and opportunities to work in various specialisms such as advanced practice, education, research and as an application specialist. The qualification is recognised by several countries around the world providing opportunities to work abroad. The entry level for newly graduated therapeutic radiographers is band 5 on the Agenda for Change pay scale for NHS health professionals. Most graduates can expect to progress to band 6 within two years of commencing their first band 5 post.
See what recent graduates are up to
Elise Woodbridge-Colella
Therapeutic Radiographer at NHS and Private Sector
Her ideal university
Elise had wanted to work in healthcare since childhood and discovered radiotherapy whilst supporting a family member receiving treatment for breast cancer. Elise says, ‘I visited a radiotherapy department and saw how therapeutic radiotherapy worked. It combines the best patient care with the latest science, and the treatment is unique in the fact that you treat patients for up to seven weeks. You get to know their situation and families very well, as you’re there for a large part of their cancer journey.’
For Elise, Herts was her ideal university. She says, ‘Herts is close to London, with good transport links that are great for going on placement and visiting home. It’s also a campus-based institution, with all the amenities you need on-site such as shops, pharmacies, and places to socialise.’
Elise was the first person in her immediate family to go to university and admitted that she was nervous when she started her course at Herts, but she met two of her best friends on her first day here. She says, ‘When we discovered that we all shared a birthday in the same week, we knew it was meant to be. We are still close, and we are looking forward to our first holiday together soon.’
Feeling supported
Elise wanted a course that combined in-class theory with a placement, which in her words, ‘gave me the opportunity to apply what I had learned in a work environment.’ She adds, ‘Our tutors were also very supportive, particularly when you went on placement. You still felt connected to the University and its support system throughout.’
At Herts, Elise was encouraged to take on extracurricular activities that complimented her learning. She was a Student Representative, she completed a student leadership programme, and she took part in a specialist proton beam therapy placement where she was invited to share her learning with peers once she returned to campus. Elise adds, ‘Throughout my course, you were encouraged to study and work with students from other healthcare professions, which prepared me well for interdisciplinary working once I qualified.’
At graduation, Elise received a Silver Go Herts Award in recognition of her engagement with extracurricular activities outside her course.
Her career and advice
Elise is now a Health and Care Professions Council registered Therapeutic Radiographer, who has worked in both the NHS and private sector. She says, ‘I love my job. It’s rewarding to be able to make a difference to patients every day. My degree at Herts gave me the knowledge and skills I needed to be a safe healthcare worker, and it opened my eyes to possible career paths I could take.’ She is now hoping to complete a postgraduate course and find her ideal specialism within cancer care.
Her advice to current and future Herts students is to make use of the support available here. She says, ‘Herts has an excellent careers support service, so it’s worth speaking to them if you need help with your CV or an application.’
What you'll study
Throughout this full-time, three-year therapeutic radiography degree, you will benefit from a combination of theoretical and practical experience.
In the first year of your therapeutic radiography degree, you will learn through integration of theory with clinical practice. A variety of teaching and learning methods will help you to explore essential topics to and enable you to understand the the normal function of the human body, how that changes with a diagnosis of cancer, and the basic science underpinning the use of equipment and delivery of radiotherapy techniques. You will learn how to find and review sources of information related to radiotherapy practice and begin to learn about the professional attributes required of this profession.
In your second year of the BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography, you will build on the knowledge gained in your first year, deepening your understanding of key concepts and growing your clinical practice skills. You will expand your understanding of cancer, by exploring a wider range of cancers and their management, and the scientific principles that underpin radiotherapy, with specific focus on radiotherapy planning, dosimetry and equipment. Research and critical evaluation skills are developed so that you can understand the science and study that underpins radiotherapy practice.
In your third year, you will consolidate your learning and prepare for professional practice in the field. Your final year of study deepens your understanding of therapeutic radiography and the importance of comprehensive cancer management strategies, emphasising the need for patient-centred care that addresses both physical and emotional needs. You will carry out an independent research exercise to refine your research methods knowledge and understanding. Your modules will prepare you for successful transition into your professional career, equipping you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel as a therapeutic radiographer.
What if I need support?
You’ll have a personal tutor to guide you throughout your course, all the way to graduation. At each placement site you will have either a practice educator or clinical co-ordinator to support your clinical learning, plus one of the lecturing team will regularly visit you in placement to support you with learning and clinical assessment. If you need additional support during your time with us, rest assured that we’ve got you covered. For help with study skills, including referencing, essay writing and presentations, you’ll have access to our academic support services. You can attend workshops, 1-to-1 sessions and online tutorials. Both our LRCs run drop-in study skills sessions. And the best thing is, there is no additional cost to you.
Where you'll study
Your main campus is College Lane, this is where the creative arts, science and health-related subjects are based. This means you’ll share the campus with future health care professionals, scientists, artists and more. You can use the common rooms to relax with friends, work out in the 24-hour gym or have a drink in our on-campus bar. We also have restaurants for you to eat in or grab something on the go. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.
Who you'll learn from
There will be a variety of lectures, seminars, tutorials, clinical skills workshops and simulation using our Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training suite (VERT) and radiotherapy planning laboratory. Our blended learning approach includes face to face on-campus, electronic and distance learning, which support placement learning in our partner radiotherapy departments.
You will be taught by our team of highly qualified academics, experienced in the field of therapeutic radiography. Additionally, you will have access to an academic support team, a well-being team, and a personal tutor who will help you navigate university learning and living. Working together, your teaching and support team is committed to assisting you in realising and achieving your full potential.
Check out our student blogs
How we support our students
At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible.
We offer a range of support services, from childcare to counselling, ensuring that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying, having fun, and have the support you need.
Student Blogs
Lauren - Guide to the facilities
Guide to Radiotherapy Facilities
The following blog will talk you through the facilities available to Radiotherapy and Oncology students and some of the ways you can use them!
Wi-Fi
Firstly, an amazing aspect about the University is the free Wi-Fi which you can pick up anywhere across both campuses (College Lane and de Havilland). It is an important asset when so many resources can be accessed online!
Learning Resource Centre (a.k.a. onsite library)
There are hundreds of books across both campuses; all the Health and Social care books are located at the College Lane Learning Resource Centre (LRC). A system within the LRC helps you find any book you need and the location using the Dewey Decimal Classification System. The LRC does not only have books though, it has hundreds of computers linked to printers with copying and scanning functionalities. As you travel up the floors of the LRC there are quiet zones or spaces for group and social work. Our LRC is open 24/7 with a café and sleep/relaxation pods!
Online library
This amazing database has all the possible books which are in the LRC many of which have online copies however it shows the location of the books across both campuses if an e-version is not available. Not only this, it shows every journal article which the University pays a licence to, meaning there are thousands of different resources linked to the University alone! So, don’t go and but your own subscriptions/books until you see if they are on the online library. The advantages do not stop there! When writing essays, the online library has a function to cite and reference items for you. (If you do not know what this means do not worry but… this will be very useful soon!)
Online learning
Due to the current situation, all our lectures are now online. The University of Hertfordshire has its own software to accommodate student learning needs (two parts – Study Net and Canvas). Canvas allows for the following functionalities: PowerPoints are uploaded with speaker notes or narration present new information to students or to assist with revision. Extra reading (e.g. journals, trials, paper and more) can be provided. Online quizzes to test your knowledge (I find these particularly helpful). Discussion boards or chat function to talk to your classmates. Assignment portals. The most helpful part of Study Net for a lot of students now is the conferences functions, you can have a live lecture, being able to see and talk to your lecturers and peers directly. Study Net links directly to Canvas but shows different information. It shows updates of events happening around the University but also course-specific information including links to helpful external website links (e.g. imaging bases and anatomy sites), information for placement (e.g. accommodation) and instructions/help when you need extensions or further support.
Planning Lab
This is a crucial part of the radiotherapy course. It is an expensive system which is in only one room of the University! We use it to contour parts of the body to add a practical aspect in learning of anatomy in the first year. By the end of your third year, you should be able to plan a patient’s radiotherapy treatment using your experience from placement and theory you have learned in the classroom.
Computer Tomography (CT) Scanner
A machine we share with the diagnostic radiography course. You will have the opportunity to use this machine throughout all three years to practice what happens during the CT stage in the patient journey. You will learn the processes using a phantom body which once scanned shows differences between bone and soft tissue! I love this facility as it is the most realistic representation of what we do in practice without doing it on a real patient.
Virtual Environment of Radiotherapy Training Suite (VERT)
Another incredible system which is installed in only one room! It allows for all students to practice using the controls of a linear accelerator (one of the machines which gives radiotherapy treatment). You can see a patient on the bed, see the patient’s scan in relation to the treatment bed, move the machine and panels around to get a feel for what it will be like when you attend placement. 3D goggles can also be worn (if you are comfortable) to create the experience of truly being in a treatment room! Also, there is a function to image match (the CT planning image to an image you take in the treatment room).
Support
There are so many avenues of support within the University. One of these includes the radiotherapy office! (This is where all the lecturers sit). I would argue, the radiotherapy and oncology course have one of the best lecturing teams. They have an open-door policy for students to drop-in when you can, or you can contact them via phone or email with an amazingly quick response. Another good support is the Academic Support Services. They aid with academic literacy, referencing and numeracy with descriptive help on the website but if you continue to struggle you can email and organise to be put into a group or one-to-one session.
All these different facilities support the progression of all the students at some point throughout their studies and I know they have really helped me!
Student Blogs
Lauren - Why I chose Herts
Why I Chose to Study Radiotherapy and Why at Herts!
Hey! I am Lauren, a radiotherapy and oncology student about to enter my third and final year of my degree. Before going to University, I studied my A-levels at school, chemistry, physics and psychology. I have always loved my sciences and had a large passion for helping others. I wanted to find the perfect course that fit all my interests and after some researching and help from my earlier institution, I found radiography.
Next, it was the decision between diagnostic and therapeutic radiography. I went to visit some clinical departments in hospitals. I would highly recommend, it truly helped me make my mind up between the two professions. Personally, I chose the therapeutic route due to the patient rapport you build, seeing the same patient for a few weeks instead for a few minutes.
Why did I choose Herts though? Well on all my visits I got ‘the vibe’, you know the one where you feel safe and everything feels right! But if you want something a little more measurable...
All the staff members were supportive in my decision making throughout the selection and interviewing process. The facilities across the whole campus are brilliant; the Learning Resource Centre (LRC), the planning lab, the virtual environment radiotherapy training suite and Computer Tomography (CT) scanner.
However, there is not only course-specific advantages. Moving away can be a pretty big thing and knowing you are supported and safe while moving is crucial. The University of Hertfordshire gives you so many opportunities to access help to make your experience the best it can be. There are great accommodation facilities, I lived on campus for two years and for my final year I am commuting from Essex. The accommodation is new and modern with lots of different options and prices including central accommodation hub to help with all your queries. It is an on-campus university meaning everything you need is on-site, but you are not far away from a shopping centre, supermarkets and the train station which can get you into London within 30 minutes. There is a nightclub on campus and free transport to other clubs nearby (if that is your thing). Societies for me were one of my biggest supports and there are hundreds to choose from, I am part of the Christian Union where there are opportunities to meet three times per week.
I have grown so much since being at University, learning skills for my course, making new friends, and even just cooking, cleaning, and washing my clothes for myself. It has made me feel more independent and confident in the person I am becoming, and the University of Hertfordshire helped me do that!
Student Blogs
Sarah - studying radiotherapy at Herts
I am a mature student changing my career and currently in my first year of my Radiotherapy & Oncology degree. Here are my top five excellent things about this course:
1 - Placements: We have the opportunity of working in three out of nine link hospitals in the practical element of our degree. Instead of 100% theory, we get to take our theory out in to the environment that we will work in in our future. Theory makes sense when it is applied to real life situations. The staff in our link hospitals are really supportive and your first placement is early in the course so it is something to look forward to!
2 - Subject matter: We learn the detail of why cancer behaves the way it does and how some people are more susceptible than others. We learn how we create X-rays and the radiation beams that we use on our patients. We learn and refine our skills to communicate and look after our patients. Our degree is a perfect mix of theory, practical and working with people.
3 - IT and Virtual Reality: I have worked with IT for most of my working life and one of the things that drew me to this career is that we use specialist equipment and IT that we use to perform our role. The Linear Accelerator (LINAC) is the main, and most recognisable, equipment that we use to treat our patients. However, we cannot use the machine to practice so the University has a virtual reality LINAC that we can practice on. It's fantastic to use before we go to placements so we know what we are doing!
4 - Radiotherapy Students: You must be a certain kind of person to want to do this course and the job that follows, so we tend to be chatty, friendly and extremely social! We have a WhatsApp group for the cohort and lots of various ones for study groups. We used to meet up (before the pandemic) and no I can't wait to arrange one when it is possible. I am in first year, but I have wonderful students in the other years that I regularly talk to about what we are studying, what they are deciding to do next and what I can expect for my next year of study.
and last, but certainly not least.....
5 - The Teaching Team: Our teaching team won the Vice-Chancellor's Award for 2020 for the "Team of the Year" and it is easy to see why. All the teaching team are approachable, provide excellent resources for the students to use (especially as we have been online this year), extra sessions for anyone who needs them and basically an "open door" policy for us to ask any questions on the curriculum studied. We also have a personal tutor for any pastoral issues and a link-lecturer specific to the hospital that we have our placements in. This helps us to discuss our experiences and receive support.
I researched my change of career in detail before I decided to apply to the University of Hertfordshire to study Radiotherapy and Oncology. I have had all my expectations met and exceeded for my academic progress. Even the areas that I found challenging were supported and the variety in the course means I am never bored.
Entry requirements
The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.
| Typical offer (UCAS points) | (enter tariff range) |
|---|---|
| Typical A Level offer | (enter range) |
| Typical IB offer | (enter range) |
| Typical BTEC offer | (enter range) |
| Typical T Level offer | (enter range) |
| GCSE | EG: Grade 4/C in English Language and 4/D Mathematics |
| Access courses | EG: An overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3. |
| Additional information | Find out more about our standard and contextual Undergraduate Entry Requirements. |
| English language | All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band. If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level. |
|---|---|
| Additional information | Find out more about International Entry Requirements. |
| Typical offer (UCAS points) | 112–120 |
|---|---|
| Typical A Level offer | BBC–BBB Mandatory subjects: Science subjects or Mathematics. EPQ points are accepted in the points calculation. |
| Typical IB offer | 112-120 UCAS points From 1 HL subject at grade 5 or above and 1 HL subject at grade 4 or above to include a life science or maths subject. |
| Typical BTEC offer | DMM–DDM Mandatory subjects: Applied Science or Health & Social Care with a minimum DMM profile. If you study Health and Social Care we prefer your GCSE science profile to be 5 or above, and you must have Distinction in the Anatomy and Physiology unit. |
| Typical T Level offer | 112–120 UCAS points Accepted subjects: Healthcare Science; Health; Science. |
| GCSE | Grade 4/C in English Language, Mathematics and Science. |
| Access courses | Radiography, science or access to health and medicine programmes (or similar) are accepted. 45 credits at level 3 of which 24 credits are Distinction including 9 credits from a science subject and 21 credits are Merit. Access diploma must include Physics and/or Chemistry and/or Biology units. |
| Additional information | Find out more about our standard and contextual Undergraduate Entry Requirements. |
| English language | All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each band. If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level. |
|---|---|
| Additional information | Find out more about International Entry Requirements. |
Ready to apply?
UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK
| Start date | Study type | Apply |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | Full time | Apply via UCAS |
| September 2026 | Full time | Apply via UCAS |
International and EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK
Apply through Clearing
Fees and funding
At Herts, we’re dedicated to providing world-class teaching supported by industry-level facilities and incredible social spaces. We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to higher education, and we strive to keep both our standard and additional costs as low as possible.
| Study type | Fees | |
|---|---|---|
| UK students | Full time | £9,535 for the 2025/2026 academic year |
| EU students | Full time | £19,100 for the 2025/2026 academic year |
| International students | Full time | £19,100 for the 2025/2026 academic year |
Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.
| Scholarships, grants and bursaries | Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship, grant or bursary to support your studies. |
|---|---|
| Disabled Students' Allowance | The Disabled Students’ Allowance can cover any study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability. |
| Student loans | Find out about securing a student loan, from how much you could be eligible for to when you need to start making repayments. |
| Accommodation costs | We offer a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget. |
| Additional course fees | Students studying on nursing, midwifery or allied health professional courses funded by Health Education England will have access to the same student loans support package and support for living costs as other students. You could also benefit from the NHS learning support fund if you study an eligible nursing, midwifery, or allied health course. If eligible, the different kinds of support you could get include a training grant, parental support, money back for travel and temporary accommodation whilst on placement, and financial hardship (which you won’t need to pay back). For more detailed information on the scholarships and/or bursaries available, please visit our fees and funding page and the NHS learning support fund website. Costs for travel to/from placement sites will depend on where your term-time address is located and whether you use your own or public transport. If you are eligible for tuition fee and maintenance loan support from the Student Loans Company (SLC) you should be able to claim back some or all of your travel/placement costs. You can find more information on the NHS website. Society of Radiographers student membership. Indicative fee for the first year is £48. *Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years. Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet. |
More about the course
| Course fact sheets | |
|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography | Download PDF |
| Programme specifications | |
|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography | Download PDF |
| Additional information | |
|---|---|
|
Applications open to international and EU students |
Yes |
Course length |
Full Time, 3 Years |
