Advanced Medical Imaging
MSc/PgDip/PgCert
3 good reasons to study Advanced Medical Imaging at Salford
1.
Our modules will enable you to extend your role within diagnostic imaging and learn how to think like advanced practitioners
2.
Choose modules which support your service need as well as your own professional development
3.
Our strong research record will ensure your learning is grounded in current evidence and provide you with exciting opportunities to be part of our research activities
Course Summary
This course aims to develop qualified health care professionals to meet the challenge of specialist, advanced and consultant practitioner status in the field of medical imaging within a rapidly evolving health service.
You can further your professional development by taking a PGC in skeletal reporting, CT head reporting, all aspects of Ultrasound, or Mammography. Alternatively you could take a single module in a specific area, including Barium swallow and VF, CTC, cardiac stress testing or HSG - please enquire for other areas. Qualified sonographers can develop niche areas of practice such as vascular and breast imaging. If you want to develop ultrasound competencies in MSK, abdominal, obstetrics and gynaecology scanning then you should follow the MSc in Ultrasound Imaging route.
We have a wide range of options for breast imaging including mammography (equivalent to the College of Radiographers' postgraduate certificate in principles and practice of mammography); mammogram image interpretation; MRI breast reproting; interventional procedures; and breast ultrasound. Pick and choose your preferred options and modules to build a bespoke Masters qualification focused around breast imaging.
Matt McCarthy
Radiographer, University Hospital of Wales
The teaching and support on the barium swallow course was great. I found the whole course was excellent and I have learned a great deal. We are going to further expand the Radiographer-led barium swallow service in Cardiff, so two of my colleagues would like to apply for the course.
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Course Details
This is a part-time course which enables you to continue working in your clinical placement, so that you gain the necessary practical experience while learning the academic information to develop your skills. It provides a highly flexible approach to developing competence in niche areas of practice.
Course Structure
Advanced Medical Imaging runs part-time giving you the chance to exit with the following awards:
- Postgraduate Certificate: two (30 credit) modules over one year or 18 months
- Postgraduate Diploma: four (30 credit) modules over two years
- Master of Science: four (30 credit) modules plus the dissertation module (60 credits) over three years
Your module choice will depend on your practice area and the profile of your award which should be discussed with the course team prior to commencement to establish a Negotiated Learning Agreement. This means your course is tailor-made to meet your exact learning requirements.
Students can opt to take a medical imaging specialism pathway in year 1 and 2. Details of these routes can be seen at the bottom of the page.
Year 1 and 2
Provides a negotiable and flexible route towards achieving advanced skills over just one semester. You are guided in the delivery of a set of negotiated learning outcomes which are then demonstrated through portfolio and viva assessment. Typical applications for APMI are:
- Barium Swallows
- Videofluoroscopy
- CTC
- Proctography
Like the APMI module, the Screening and Diagnosis module provides a negotiable and flexible route towards achieving advanced skills but it extends over two semesters and is therefore ideal for areas of practice where referrals are fewer. You will be guided in the delivery of a set of negotiated learning outcomes which are then demonstrated through portfolio and viva assessment. Typical applications for S&D are:
- Interventional breast procedures
- Breast ultrasound
- Cardiac stress testing
- HSGs
- GI procedures (for those students intending to go on to undertake reporting in this specialism - you will need to enrol on the Fundamentals of Radiological Reporting after you have completed the Screening and Diagnosis module)
For more information on this module, please see our course sheet here.
This module can be taken in September (evening attendance) or February (day time attendance). It is aimed at all health care professionals and will prepare you to undertake a research project/Dissertation in the future.
The module will explore topics such as research philosophy, literature review and critical analysis, developing research questions, research design, methods and analysis.
You may also consider taking the Research Methods (OT) module which allows you to study following a fully distance learning model. This can be useful for those who live a long way from the university and find travelling to Salford on a regular basis difficult.
Year 3
Dissertation (60 credits)
Medical imaging specialism pathways
Our most commonly requested options include the development of skills and competencies to meet aspects of medical imaging. Please find your specialism below and find out how you can tailor the course modules to meet your practice needs.
- Principles of Ultrasound Imaging (qualified sonographers will be exempt from this module)
- Screening and diagnosis
- Fundamentals of Mammography Practice
- Advanced Technique in Mammography Practice
- Fundamentals of Radiological Reporting
- Radiologyl Image Interpretation
- Advancing Practice in Medical Imaging
Year One
- Screening and Diagnosis
Year two
- Fundamentals of Radiological Reporting
- Screening and Diagnosis
This is not an exhaustive list. We can accommodate most needs although the more specialised your requirement the more self-directed your route will be through the course.
Entry Requirements
Entrants must be appropriately qualified practitioners. Graduate healthcare professionals with a minimum degree classification of 2:1 may apply directly.
We welcome applications from those with alternative qualifications and/or significant relevant clinical experience, subject to approval through a process of Accreditation of Prior [Experiential] Learning (AP[E]L).
For the clinically related modules, you must have access to a relevant imaging caseload and the support of an appropriately qualified mentor. The University of Salford cannot undertake to find a clinical placement for you.
Please note, this course is not suitable for international applicants.
Accreditation for Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
English Language Requirements
Students whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English – IELTS – a minimum overall score of 6.5 in any component is required with no element below 6.
Suitable For
This course will appeal to a variety of health care professionals engaged in current practice including radiographers, radiologists, vascular technologists, midwives, speech and language therapists, pysiotherapists and medical and nursing staff.
For the clinically related modules, you must have access to a relevant imaging caseload.
Applicant profile
You will hold a degree in BSc (Hons) in Diagnostic Radiography or other health care professional qualification, 2:1 or above. For the clinically related modules, you will also have access to a relevant imaging caseload and support of a clinical mentor. Regrettably the University of Salford cannot undertake to find a clinical placement for you.
Teaching
The course is delivered by:
- Classroom based lectures
- Tutorials
- Seminars and student discussion groups
- Skills lab based practicals
- Self-directed study
- E-based learning
- Work based learning, some modules include visits to Centres of Excellence
Assessment
Assessment methods are designed to suit a variety of learning styles and include;
- Assignments
- Viva Voce
- Exams
- Portfolio
- Objective structured assessment
- Poster presentation
The percentage depends on the individual modules.
Postgraduate Staff Profile
Course leader - Dr Leslie Robinson
Leslie is a Senior Lecturer in the Directorate of Radiography, who has experience in both undergraduate and post-graduate leadership. She holds a doctorate of education and is interested in learning and teaching and student support. She is particularly interested in the use of Digital Technologies and their use in learning and health. Her clinical background is in MRI and CT scanning. She is supported in the delivery of the AMI programme by a team of clinical and academic staff with a wide range of expertise and skills and who are nationally renowned in their respective fields. Seek profile
http://www.seek.salford.ac.uk/profiles/ROBINSON851.jsp
Specialist lecturers and support
Teaching is delivered by clinical and academic experts, many of whom are Advanced and Consultation practitioners themselves, and are considered national experts in their field. All students have access to a personal tutor who will help them derive their own learning outcomes to ensure they are relevant and appropriate for developing clinical competence.
Employability
Career Prospects
Most students have been seconded from and return to their work in the National Health Service with advanced practitioner status, and a number have gone on to become consultant practitioners. Students will also be supported to apply for Advanced Practitioner Accreditation with the College of Radiographers.
THE SUCCESS
Emma
Radiographer, Royal Bolton Hospital
I am finding the FRR module useful as I continue to build on my knowledge which may not have been as great if I had only done the one module. The time spent with other HSG advanced practitioners has been particularly useful as this has given insight into both reporting and HSG technique once having some experience myself.
The audit that we have completed has been the most useful tool and as I am currently writing my reflective on this I can safely say that this has taught me a lot about my reporting practice and where I need to gain more knowledge and experience.
Alumni Profile
“The support network from the tutors was fantastic. Being so far from University I used email as a point of contact and I could always guarantee that my email would be responded to quickly. I also found the resources were really good, and if I could not get access to any journals etc. the online support from the library was fantastic.”
Claire Johnson, MSc Advanced Medical Imaging, 2015 graduate
Links with Industry
The radiography directorate has a very successful history of developing advanced practice, and this course has strong links with imaging departments, mostly within the UK National Health Service. It is also supported by the North West Medical Physics Department. This means that all your learning will be relevant to current practice and will ultimately benefit your patients through development of your clinical skills and enhanced knowledge.
Further Study
The University is committed to your continuing professional development and offers a range of short courses and study days aimed at health care professionals throughout the year.
Fees and Funding
Fees 2016-17
| Type of Study | Fee |
|---|---|
| Part-time | UK/EU: £3,050 for year 1 |
NHS Funding
Many of our modules are funded for employees of NHS Trusts within the NW region by direct funding through the CPD-Apply system. If your Trust is part of the North West SLA agreement, you must first contact your CPD Lead to agree funding. You may then apply through the NHS CPD Apply system.
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We offer awards to help you study through our:
- Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Scholarship
- University of Salford student loyalty discount
- Country bursary scheme for International students only
There are also other sources of funding available to you.
For more information please see our funding section.
Facilities
The Radiography Directorate has first class facilities including a sonography suite with several ultrasound machines, a 16 slice CT scanner with a range of tissue-equivalent phantoms and two computerised radiography rooms. We also have high specification digital monitors so that we can link all our imaging facilities with a PACS system to enable real-life image viewing and reporting, and these are of diagnostic quality suitable for our breast imaging, sonography and reporting courses.
