Programme Overview

Radiotherapy is one of the main methods used to treat patients with cancer. This course qualifies you to work as a radiation therapist - the practitioner who is responsible for the delivery of a course of radiotherapy.

The first two years of the course cover the basic sciences - physics, chemistry and biology. You will also study the structure and function of the human body through anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics, and will be introduced to psychology, pathology, research methodology and statistics, introductory cancer medicine, clinical physics and basic professional attitudes and skills.

In the later half of the programme, students will study more specialist subjects that are specifically related to cancer and patient care, such as professional skills of radiotherapy, psychology and communication skills, health care management, radiotherapy treatment planning, simulation and physics, statistics and research methodology. Students will also need to complete a project in this area.

Is this the right programme for you?

The radiation therapist requires very specialist skills. Your degree will cover a lot of science subjects so you will have to have a keen interest in biology, physics and chemistry. The development of your clinical skills requires you to be interested in patient care as well.