Online Access to Higher Education – Radiography

Do you want a career in a crucial healthcare practice?

Do you need a Level 3 Qualification to meet the entry requirements for University?

If so, then this is the course for you!

Traditionally, universities were quite strict on what they accepted as adequate qualifications to meet the entry requirements of healthcare degrees. This would limit many would-be students from pursuing higher education to reach their career goals. Now, many more qualifications are accepted as adequate preparation for learners going into higher-level study, including Access to Higher Education Diplomas.

Created as alternatives to traditional qualifications (e.g. A-levels), Access to Higher Education Diplomas are designed for learners who have been out of education for an extended period of time and are looking to return to study.

They are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to confidently undertake a degree level programme.

Most universities across the UK accept Access to HE Diplomas in place of A-levels and will accept applications from students working towards, or holding, this qualification.

It is important to check the entry requirements of the universities you wish to apply to, however, as all university admission criteria differ!

Radiography is a crucial part of healthcare practices as it is a technique that is used across the board. This form of imaging is used to detect abnormalities or issues relating to the human body, from bones to organs.

To take and diagnose these images, you need to be a trained professional, and if this is something that interests you, then you can begin your career path by studying for an Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography).

You will study core scientific and medical principles essential to working with radiation and hazardous materials safely, as well as how to provide support for the patients in your care. As part of your studies, you will also explore radiography as a process and the roles and responsibilities of various healthcare professionals.

The vocation-focused modules provide learners with subject-specific knowledge and skills whilst gaining a qualification worth the equivalent of 3 A-Levels. Not only will you gain a wealth of knowledge, you will also complete modules that focus on giving you the study skills for university, which is perfect for those who have been out of education for some time.

As well as providing you with foundational knowledge about radiography, the course will also enhance your study skills to help you navigate through your degree. You will learn various study skills and writing techniques that will prepare you for degree-level study.

Access to Higher Education Diplomas can be used to gain entry to university, however, universities set their own entry requirements, so we advise that you check with your chosen establishment before applying.

With a broad spectrum of career options available, you can take initial steps towards discovering your perfect role by studying for an Access to Higher Education Diploma.

The course, and the degree you’ll be eligible to study after, will provide you with a diverse range of knowledge and skills that will be invaluable wherever your career takes you.

Do you want to study online from the comfort of your own home?

Are you unable to commit to full-time college-based study due to personal or employment reasons?

The Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography) is a flexible distance learning course, allowing you to study at a pace that suits you.

Studied completely online, the flexibility of this course enables you to work towards a future career in the biomedical science sector outside of your current work / life commitments. So, no matter if it’s a full-time job or childcare, you can complete your course around them.

Once you have enrolled onto the course, you will be given 24/7 online access to interactive and easy-to-follow materials. As part of your study programme, you will also receive support and guidance on your university application so that you can get the most from your diploma.

Stay On Top Of Your Learning

You will have a dedicated personal tutor who will be available to contact for assistance. You will be supported every step of the way.

You will be provided with an Individual Learning Plan that outlines the submission deadlines for your assignments to keep you on track throughout your studies.

The amount of time required to complete this course is approximately 600 hours and you’re free to do this in as little as 6 months or over the course of one academic year.

Access to Radiography Modules

Unit 1: Academic Writing Skills

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task
• Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in responding to a set, academic writing task
• Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information, or central ideas

Unit 2: Preparing a Written Assignment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how to use key information sources
• Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced
• Understand a range of reading strategies
• Understand note-making methods
• Understand how to plan, draft and produce a written assignment

Unit 3: Cell Biology

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and organisation of cells
• Understand cellular metabolism
• Understand how cells grow and divide

Unit 4: Electromagnetic Spectrum

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the principles and types of electromagnetic waves
• Understand the properties of visible and ultraviolet light
• Understand the properties of microwaves and infrared
• Understand the biohazards of ultraviolet and infrared radiation
• Understand the hazards and uses of X- Rays in medical applications

Unit 5: Atomic Structure

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand protons, neutrons and electrons in terms of their relative charges and masses
• Understand the distribution of protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom given its Atomic number and Mass number, including some isotopes
• Understand the number and relative energies of the s, p and d orbitals for the principal quantum numbers and know the shapes of s, p and d orbitals
• Understand how ionisation energies of elements relate to reactivity
• Understand the position of elements within the Periodic Table from ionisation energy data

Unit 6: The Human Muscular and Skeletal System

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand anatomy, organisation and function of the muscular system
• Understand anatomy, organisation and function of the skeletal system
• Understand how the muscular and skeletal system interact in locomotion

Unit 7: Trigonometry

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to use trigonometrical functions
• Be able to use trigonometry to solve equations and problems
• Be able to use trigonometric functions and identifies in the context of proofs
• Be able to produce trigonometric graphs

Unit 8: Medical Physics

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand atomic structure
• Understand the nature of alpha, beta and gamma radiation, and X-rays
• Understand the main uses of ionising radiation in monitoring and treatment
• Understand how radio isotopes are used in healthcare
• Understand the health applications of a selected part of electromagnetic spectrum
• Understand how ultrasound is used in healthcare

Unit 9: The Roles and Responsibilities of Health Care Professionals

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the changes to the roles and responsibilities of a chosen healthcare professional
• Understand the role of professional/regulatory bodies for a healthcare professional, for example HCPC and Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Understand the current multidisciplinary approach to healthcare

Unit 10: Human Disease and Prevention

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the categories and causes of disease
• Understand the epidemiology of disease
• Understand preventative measures for a chosen disease or condition

Unit 11: Periodic Table

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the Periodic Table
• Understand periodicity in the elements of Period 3
• Understand ionisation energy
• Understand oxidation and reduction
• Understand the reactions of the Group 2 metals
• Understand the Group 7 elements

Unit 12: Radioactivity

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the main types of ionising radiations and their measurement
• Understand radioactive decay
• Understand the practical applications of ionising radiation and radioisotopes and their use with acceptable safety

Unit 13: Atomic Structure & Bonding

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure of the atom
• Understand electronic structures
• Understand the formation of ionic bonds
• Understand the formation of covalent bonds

Unit 14: Physics

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the connection between force and motion and be able to use Newton’s Laws of Motion
• Understand conservation of energy and momentum
• Understand the concepts and vocabulary of wave motion
• Understand the straight-line model of the behaviour of light
• Understand the behaviour and properties of magnets and magnetic fields, electric charge and electric current

Unit 15: Chemical Bonding and Structure

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand electronic configuration using s, p, d notation
• Understand ionic, covalent and dative covalent bonding
• Understand polarisation and intermolecular forces
• Understand the relationship between structure and properties of molecules
• Understand electron pair repulsion theory
• Understand the nature of organic chemicals

Unit 16: Statistical Research

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to plan an investigation which allows for the collection of statistical data
• Be able to carry out an investigation
• Be able to interpret and analyse results
• Be able to evaluate an investigation

Unit 17: Optics & Sound

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the Laws of Reflection
• Understand the Laws of Refraction
• Understand the action of convex and concave lenses
• Understand the simple optics of the eye
• Understand the nature of transverse and longitudinal wave motions
• Understand how the ear detects sound waves

Course pre-requisites

Applicants for Access to Higher Education Diplomas must be aged 19 years old or over at enrolment and will require a minimum of Level 2 Maths, English and Science. This means you will need GCSE English at Grade A*-C (9-4) or equivalent (Level 2 Functional Skills), GCSE Maths at Grade A*-C (9-4) or equivalent (Level 2 Functional Skills) and GCSE Science at Grade A*-C (9-4).

Some Universities will only accept GCSEs to meet entry requirements. They will also require you to have additional GCSEs at Grade A*-C (9-4) for some courses and pathways.

Minimum age restriction

As Access to Higher Education Diplomas are designed to support students to progress to university who have substantial experience of life outside of formal education which they have gained since completing compulsory schooling, applicants must be aged 19 or over at enrolment.

As this is a distance learning course there are additional eligibility criteria:

Additional Requirements

• As the course is fully online you must have strong ICT skills to enable you to cope with the demands of the course.
• You will also need to have your own laptop.

Post-Application

You will be required to attend an interview. At interview please bring in the email correspondence you have had with the universities you are intending to apply to, providing such information as the required GCSE Maths and English/Level 2 qualifications. Please note that many degree courses have a GCSE Maths and/or English and/or Science requirement for courses, although some will be satisfied with a level 2 Functional Skills in these subjects.  It is therefore important that you contact your chosen universities and ask about their specific GCSE requirements and bring this information to your interview.  It is not possible to study GCSE qualifications alongside an Access diploma.

University Entry Criteria

Access to Higher Education Diplomas fulfil the entry criteria for range of different university courses and are suitable for the UCAS application process, however it must be reiterated that each university will set its own admission criteria.

When searching for a university course, you’ll find the entry requirements include a minimum number of UCAS points. This will often be 112 UCAS points, although this will vary from course to course, however most universities seem to accept that 112 UCAS points are the standard for the average UK student. Universities will also assess their candidates on many different factors as part of their criteria.

Admission criteria may include, but is not limited to:

• Having a set number of credits attained at Merit or Distinction level
• Attending a face-to-face interview at your chosen university
• Passing literacy and numeracy assessments
• Successful completion of work placements or work experience

You must check with your desired institution if your Access to HE Diploma and other qualifications will be accepted.

It is your responsibility to check that your Access to HE Diploma will be accepted as part of these entry requirements for your chosen degree. Colchester Institute will not be held accountable if completing this Access to Higher Education Diploma doesn’t secure you a position with a higher education institution.

The Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography) is modular and composed of graded and ungraded units, allowing learners to quickly and easily absorb the information in bitesize chunks.

In order to achieve this qualification, learners will need to have attained a total of 60 learning credits, of which 45 of these will be taken from graded academic subject units, whilst the other 15 units are ungraded skills for learning units relating to study skills.

Learning is assessed through various methods to prepare learners for study at university, including essays, report writing, online assessment, and presentations.

The assessment process of the course consists of the following:

Assignments

The assignments for this course aim to prepare learners for the next step into higher education while providing the number of credits necessary to achieve the qualification.

At the end of each unit of study, you will need to complete an assignment which your tutor will then mark and provide you with feedback and a grade to help you to progress.

The feedback aims to show the quality and effectiveness of the submitted piece of work and where improvements are needed going forward. These assessments are integral to the learning process as they are signposts of where progress is taking place.

Credits

To successfully complete the Access to Higher Education Diploma, learners will need to achieve 60 credits in total.

The credits are split between the following categories:

• Graded – 45 credits come from graded units, which focus on the academic subject
• Ungraded – 15 credits come from ungraded units, such as writing and study skills

As part of the diploma, learners will also receive help and guidance with their university application and the research they need to do to get the most out of this qualification.

Are Exams required?

There are no exams included in the assessment of the course.

In order to gain your diploma you need to successfully pass all units within the course. This diploma has been assigned 60 credits.

Following successful completion of this diploma you will be awarded a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref:40012360).

Degrees You Could Study

Given that this Access to Higher Education Diploma specialises in radiography, you will be well placed to pursue a career in this sector. You will gain a solid understanding of this essential process, which will make you a desirable candidate for universities.

Further Qualifications and Prospects

To achieve a step up in your radiography career, you could embark on postgraduate study to become an advanced practitioner, making you the expert voice in your industry. From a clinical perspective, you could specialise in the following areas:

• Management and leadership
• Research and service development
• Education

You can also undertake postgraduate qualifications and training to become a consultant or an educator in your field.

What are the career routes for this course?

Once you have achieved your degree, you will be able to pursue a job position, but it is important to note that to work as a radiographer, you will need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

If you become a radiographer at practitioner level, then you could become a therapeutic radiographer, who focuses on planning and administering radiotherapy treatment. Alternatively, you may want to work as a diagnostic radiographer, who takes images to diagnose illnesses and injuries. If you go down this route, then you will likely work with the following methods:

• Angiography
• Computed tomography
• Fluoroscopy
• MRI
• X-ray
• Ultrasound