Radiography goes far beyond X-rays and it has various branches with the two main ones being: diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy. Diagnostic imaging encompasses a wide range of modalities, such as, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine and, of course X-rays. Radiotherapy also known as radiation treatment is the controlled use of high energy X-rays to treat many different types of cancer.
Radiography is constantly changing with technological developments taking place both in diagnostic imaging and treatment modes. The radiographer needs to have a high level of theoretical knowledge and clinical ability. Radiographers require an understanding of the science behind the techniques as well as a great deal of anatomy, physiology, diseases processes and patient care.
The undergraduate course equips the students with the knowledge and skills needed by radiographers to work in the health sector. Graduates would be able to meet current and future needs of the workforce within hospitals and industry to support the development, introduction, implementation and evaluation of new technology, practice and advanced techniques in these fields.
The B.Sc. (Hons) Radiography offered by our University is a four-year course, with years one, two and three being mainly academic, whilst the fourth year is solely dedicated to supervised clinical practice in both medical imaging and radiotherapy. During this year students may undertake a period of clinical experience in an approved centre abroad.
On completion of the course, the graduate will have the skills necessary to image and treat conditions. Moreover successful completion of the course allows the candidate to be eligible for registration with the Council for the Professions Complimentary to Medicine.
The Department of Radiography also offers a number of courses at postgraduate and M.Sc. Level. These include separate routes in Computerised Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nuclear Medicine and Vascular Ultrasound. Other routes are being developed in the future.
In 2011 the first Ph.D. student registered with the Department.
Who are Radiographers?
Radiographers are healthcare professionals professionally accountable to the patients’ physical and
psychosocial wellbeing, prior to, during and following medical imaging examinations and/or
radiotherapy. Radiographers are key-persons in radiation safety of patients, their representatives and others while performing duties in Medical Imaging and/or Radiotherapy. Being part of a multidisciplinary team,radiographers work closely with other healthcare professionals to deliver the best care and/or
treatment, while also being attentive to applying scientific and technological knowledge to ensure the safe and responsible delivery of ionising radiation.
In Medical Imaging, diagnostic radiographers work with several medical imaging devices and
modalities, such as X-rays, Computed Tomography (CT), Fluoroscopy, Nuclear Medicine,
Mammography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Ultrasound, among others, so as to
contribute to the diagnosis of various conditions or pathologies. Given the benefits of medical
imaging across healthcare, radiographers are assigned duties in medical imaging departments,
accident and emergency, operating theatres, health centres, dental, forensics, bone density and the
national breast screening unit. Additionally, they can find employment in the private sector.
In Radiotherapy, therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver ionising radiation to treat patients with
cancer. Therapeutic radiographers also provide patient care and information, being key players in
the management of radiotherapy side effects. In Malta, therapeutic radiographers work mainly in
Oncology Departments such as Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC). Radiographers may also take on other roles, including those relating to practice development, management, radiation protection, health and safety, research, education, and more.
The BSc (Hons) Radiography programme at the University of Malta
The BSc (Hons) Radiography programme is designed to prepare graduates with the scientific and
technological knowledge, skills and expertise required to be dually qualified to work and practice in
both Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy. Indeed, graduates from this programme are generally
granted with state registration by the respective competent authority, thereby allowing them to
practice as radiographers.
The 4-year programme is divided into theoretical and practical components. The theoretical
component includes topics relevant to radiography, such as anatomy, physiology, pathology,
radiation safety, radiation physics, medical devices, digital health, basic life support and research
methods, amongst others. The practical component includes clinical training, whereby each student
is required to perform approximately 2,000 hours in various placements across medical imaging and
radiotherapy, so as to be able to gain the necessary knowledge, skills and competences required to
fulfil radiographers’ roles and responsibilities.
During the programme, students will also have the opportunity to embark on an ERASMUS+ mobility
for a 2-month period at one of our partner institutions in Europe.
Following the successful completion of the BSc (Hons) radiography programme, there are
opportunities for graduates to follow postgraduate programmes, including Masters and PhD, offered by the Department of Radiography at the University of Malta.
Get to know more about this course.
