Radiotherapy and Oncology
Radiotherapy and oncology is a clinical healthcare discipline concerned with the use of radiation to diagnose and treat cancer. Therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver radiation treatment to patients with cancer, working as part of multidisciplinary oncology teams that include oncologists, physicists, nurses and other healthcare professionals. The work requires both detailed scientific knowledge, of anatomy, pathophysiology, radiation physics and imaging technology, and the interpersonal qualities needed to support patients through one of the most stressful experiences of their lives.
At the University of the West of England in Bristol this three-year full-time programme leads to a qualification that enables graduates to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a therapeutic radiographer, which is the mandatory credential for practising in the UK. UWE has a strong record of graduate employment in radiography: as the course notes, a high proportion of radiography graduates are in graduate-level employment or further study within fifteen months of graduating. The programme combines academic study of radiation physics, oncology, anatomy, treatment planning and patient care with substantial clinical placement experience in NHS radiotherapy departments, where you will develop the practical skills and professional judgement that the role requires.
You will engage with the science of how radiation interacts with tissue, the principles of treatment planning and dosimetry, imaging technologies used in radiotherapy, and the patient-centred care that is central to good oncology practice.
Graduates work in NHS radiotherapy departments and cancer centres across the UK, as well as in private oncology providers. The profession offers clear career development paths into clinical specialist roles, advanced practice in treatment planning, research and radiotherapy education. Some graduates go on to postgraduate study in oncology, radiotherapy physics or clinical education.