Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £11,590 for the course
International/EU: £11,590 for the course -
How long will I study?
2 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
January 2026
Course summary
- Study with a team of qualified radiographers involved in research at a national level.
- Explore cancer causes, progression, and care strategies for effective management.
- Learn to deliver radiotherapy, specialist care and support to people with cancer.
- Develop your communication, research and health promotion skills.
- Understand the impact of cancer and integrated care approaches to meet individual needs.
This challenging and supportive course has been developed in partnership with employers and professional bodies. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a therapeutic radiographer with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You’ll develop your personal and professional skills as an autonomous reflective practitioner, fit for employment in a wide range of health, social care, and voluntary and independent sector environments.
How you learn
While specialising in radiotherapy, you’ll have opportunities to learn with, from and about practitioners from a range of health and social care professions. This offers an in-depth understanding of person-centred care and patient pathways.
You’ll spend a significant time working in a radiotherapy department, with most of your academic study undertaken through distance learning. This means you could locate closer to your practice placement than Hallamm if you’d like to study from home, or anywhere you wish! This may help you manage travel and accommodation costs and your home life.
You’ll study at Collegiate Campus for short periods of time to offer support and practical experience including induction to the course and study methods, mandatory training and a range of simulated practice workshops to prepare for and consolidate practice placement learning.
You learn through:
- Distance learning using learning packages, live online lectures and seminars
- Face-to-face seminars and simulated practice workshops in short periods of attendance at university
- Regular live support sessions on digital platforms
- Tutor and self-directed study
- Practice-based learning
- Plenty of contact with tutors, the course leader and academic advisers
Key Themes
You will delve into the intricacies of cancer aetiology, epidemiology, pathology and histology, gaining a deep understanding of the origins, spread and cellular characteristics of cancer. We emphasise health promotion and cancer prevention strategies – equipping you to advocate for proactive measures in healthcare.
You'll also explore anatomy, physiology and oncology across various body systems – examining cancer presentation, diagnosis, progression, staging, and grading.
Understanding treatment modalities used in cancer management is crucial, including insights into radiotherapy technology, its biological effects and safe practices. Additionally, we address the profound physical, psychological and psychosocial impacts of cancer, highlighting personalised care approaches.
Through critical engagement with contemporary evidence-based practice and research, you'll gain insights into practice development, fostering independent learning for ongoing professional growth. You’ll also build your professional attitude, communication skills and ethical awareness – ensuring you're adept at providing personalised care within legal and ethical frameworks.
Course Support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate-level employment through a number of key areas, including:
- Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development
- Access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
- Industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
- Support during online live module activities, with periods of on-campus activity to get together with your peers and tutors, and to support you through simulated practice
- Tutorials with the teaching team, a personal academic adviser and mentors in practice, as well as regularly schedule post-placement debriefs
Course leaders and tutors
Sarah Smith
Senior LecturerSarah is a Senior Lecturer in Radiotherapy and Oncology and Course Leader for the MSc in Radiotherapy and Oncology.
Applied learning
Live Projects
Applied learning means that when you do start work, you can dive in and make things happen.
You'll be taught by professionals who are active in their field of practice and research, providing cutting edge, interprofessional practice knowledge and experiences. You’ll also hear from patients who share their experiences of treatment and care.
You’ll develop key research skills and undertake projects to evaluate and develop health services. Previous examples have seen our researchers designing a bra that could make radiotherapy more dignified, encourage exercise and lifestyle changes, and help to better target treatment to the breast for those undergoing breast cancer treatment.
You'll gain real-world skills through simulated practice workshops and practice placements in a radiotherapy department. These learning experiences are designed to help you apply theory to practice, developing critical and ethical approaches to become life-long, competent professionals.
Work Placements
You’ll undertake a range of practice learning experiences, helping you to build your skills, confidence, creativity, resilience, integrity and curiosity. These will take place in different practice learning environments, reflecting the range of interprofessional, collaborative ways in which services are currently delivered. This will include simulated learning and virtual placements alongside real-world experience.
The university will ensure that the practice learning element of your course is compliant with the requirements of the Professional and Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) governing the radiotherapy profession.
Networking Opportunities
In addition to the course's in-house expertise, we invite guest lecturers who are leaders in their field.
There are many opportunities to help us spread the word about radiotherapy and the profession of therapeutic radiography – from outreach to schools and colleges, to support at open days and careers fairs, and through participation in the Rad Chat podcast series.
Future careers
You’ll be an autonomous reflective practitioner who’s fit for employment in a wide range of health, social care, and voluntary and independent sector environments.
By the end of the course, you’ll have demonstrated the requirements that confer eligibility to apply to register as a professional therapeutic radiographer with the Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) – qualified to work in radiotherapy departments throughout the UK and overseas.
Previous graduates have gone on to work in specialist areas including:
- Radiotherapy treatment, planning and delivery
- Patient information, review and support services
- Research
- Teaching
- Management
- Quality assurance
- Equipment design and sales
Where will I study?
You study this course online from any location
Equipment and facilities
During the course you’ll work with:
- Our anatomy training equipment
- Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training (VERT) equipment
- Dedicated treatment planning and verification software
- Specialist radiotherapy apparatus, e.g immobilisation and patient positioning devices, linear accelerators and pre-treatment imaging, quality assurance and verification equipment
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want – with support as a distance learning student via the specialist library services. These include access to a wide range of journals and research databases through 24-hour library services.
Entry requirements
All students
An honours degree recognised in the UK at 2.2 or above in a related healthcare subject or science including psychology, sociology, biology, health sciences, sport sciences, engineering and humanities.
Or
A professional qualification at degree level including teaching, nursing, social work or an allied health profession.
And
GCSE's in
*GCSE Science equivalents
**GCSE Math's equivalents
***GCSE English equivalents
- Science at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalents**
- English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents***
- OCR Science level 2
- Science units gained on a level 3 BTEC or OCR National Diploma or Extended Diploma qualification
- Science credits gained on Access to Higher Education Diplomas (at least 12 credits at level 2 or 6 credits gained at level 3)
- Science equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
- Level 2 Key Skills/ Application of Number/ Grade D at GSCE Maths/ Level 2 Maths credits from an Access course
- Maths equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
- Level 2 Literacy
- Level 2 Key Skills
IELTS
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 overall and a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent. If your level of English language is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider an appropriate Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve the required level of English. Please note that the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) require IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5 for registration.
Helping your application succeed
Experience
Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care. It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.
Reference
You must provide a reference from a current or recent employer or educational institution.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an online interview. To confirm your identity on the day please bring a valid form of photo ID with you, preferably a passport or photo driving licence.
View our interview guidance to ensure you understand the interviews process and how you can prepare for this.
Course enrolment - professional requirements
Before enrolling you must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission declaration form provided during the admissions process:
- unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
- involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
- involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
- enrolment on a health or social work professional course at another University
In addition
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
- you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
- you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) (PDF, 38.1KB) as part of the application process
- if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
- where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Professional Issues Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
Occupational Health Screening
You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.
Immunisations
You must undertake a programme of immunisations as required by the Department of Health and meet the immunisation and immunity requirements of placement providers. This will be provided by the University free of charge. Please obtain details of your immunisation history from your doctor so you can submit this during your Occupational Health Screening.
Pre-course Day
After completing the above professional checks, if you reside in the UK it is important for you to make every reasonable attempt to attend a Pre-Course Day event to undertake the next stage of the professional requirements for your course. The pre-course day is also a good opportunity to meet fellow applicants on the health & social care courses who will be starting their studies at the same time as you, as well as some current students and teaching staff. We will look forward to welcoming you on the day.
Other professional suitability information
Your full enrolment on your course will be confirmed when the Professional Issues Team have verified that your Enhanced DBS Disclosure (and overseas criminal record check where relevant) indicates that you are suitable to work with vulnerable groups including children and clearance from your health screening has been received.
If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please tell the Professional Issues team immediately by calling 0114 225 5637 or emailing HWB-Professional-Issues@shu.ac.uk.
Disability support
We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions, learning difficulty or disability you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and take part without disadvantage both in University and on placement.
You can contact our University student support staff and explore any issues you may have.
The Disability Disclosure booklet provides information for students on health and social care courses and will help you understand the importance of disclosing your disability at the earliest possible stage. This is so you can be assessed for the support you may require to succeed on the course.
Open day
Our open days give you an opportunity to chat to our teaching staff and current students. You can explore the campus and view our facilities, as well as asking any questions you may have. To book your place at one of our open days, please follow this link University open days.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Evaluating Research Methodologies
Fundamentals Of Oncology & Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy & Oncology 1
Ronc Pr Competency In Practice 1
Final year
Compulsory modules
Creating Original Practice
Evaluating Complexity In Practice
Radiotherapy & Oncology 2
Ronc Pr Competency In Practice 2
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £11,590 for the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £11,590 for the course.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 165.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
