BSc (Honours) Radiotherapy and Oncology
Three years full-time
UCAS code • B822
This course is subject to reapproval
Location • Collegiate Campus
Subject area • Radiotherapy and oncology
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Watch a video of lecturer Jo McNamara talking about radiotherapy and oncology and our radiotherapy courses.
Listen to two of our students talking about the course, the support they have received their experiences on clinical placement.
Read about our Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT)
Watch videos of our graduates talking about our Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT) and the benefits it offers.
View profiles of students on this course
Our health and social care courses place a strong emphasis on interprofessional learning. This means that you train alongside practitioners from other health professions. Find out more.
FInd out more about the teaching staff in this subject area.
At a glance
Become a qualified therapeutic radiographer able to make a difference to the lives of cancer patients through radiotherapy treatment delivery and research. You learn your practical skills under close supervision in hospital based radiotherapy departments and University facilities that include some of the most advanced radiotherapy teaching equipment.
Key points
• Train using state-of-the-art virtual environment equipment.
• Gain confidence and experience with 50% of course spent in a clinical environment.
• Learn from qualified radiotherapy lecturers with experience in specialisms including dosimetry (computer treatment planning) and patient support.
• Further your career with good links to hospitals in the surrounding regions and abroad.
What is radiotherapy and oncology?
Radiotherapy uses high dose radiation to treat cancer. It works by destroying malignant cells in the area that’s treated. Radiotherapy is used in cancer treatment in a number of different ways including • to cure the cancer • to reduce the chance of a cancer coming back after surgery • to control a cancer and reduce its impact on patient health • as part of the wider management of cancer that includes surgery, hormone therapy and chemotherapy.
Oncology is the medical study and a treatment of cancer.
This course
Take advantage of an increasing demand for graduate therapeutic radiographers in the health service and private sector by completing this course. During the course you learn to use radiation equipment, software and systems for treatment and treatment planning to treat cancer patients. You also learn to apply theory to practice and tailor the treatment to the patient by accurately targeting high dose radiation beams and sparing surrounding normal tissues.
Your on-campus training is based at the £13 million purpose-built Robert Winston Building, where you use the state-of-the-art virtual environment for radiotherapy training (VERT). It creates a life-size 3D replica of a linear accelerator (equipment which is used to treat cancer patients) and the potential to walk around the room. We also have 20 networked Eclipse planning computers with specialist staff on hand to teach you radiotherapy planning.
You get real insights into all aspects of radiotherapy with our professionally approved teaching programme. You learn from a lecturing team who are all qualified radiographers many of whom are involved in research at a national level. In addition to this expertise, we invite guest lecturers to share their expertise and skills to enhance the course. You also meet and hear from ex-patients who share their experiences of treatment.
Your studies are put into practice in clinical practice placements that give you essential professional experience and skills. Placements take place at
• St James’s University Hospital, Leeds
• The Royal Derby Hospital, Derby
• Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester
• Lincoln County Hospital, Lincoln
• Freeman Hospital, Newcastle
• Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham
• Queens Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Castle Hill Hospital, Hull
• Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield
• James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough
You are based at one hospital for the majority of your training but at the end of year two you complete a placement at a different training site. This broadens your knowledge and experience of radiotherapy services and your chosen career. In year three you can arrange an elective placement and each year several students complete this in a department abroad.
Radiotherapy treatment, more than most careers, is a profession based around teamworking to plan and safely deliver effective radiation treatment. That’s why as a student, you study interprofessional education modules alongside students from other health disciplines, such as nurses, physiotherapists and diagnostic radiographers. This shared learning experience allows you to develop teamworking skills and understand the contribution different professionals make to the care of cancer patients.
As part of the course you complete a Level 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement which provides you with a certificate from the Royal Society of Public Health. We are currently the only university in the UK that offers this as part of our healthcare courses.
Your student membership fees for the Society and College of Radiographers are paid, enabling you to access all the services they provide.
Key areas of study
Key areas include • radiotherapy physics and equipment • clinical education • using knowledge and evidence to support study and practice • interprofessional practice • principles of radiation oncology.
CPD online
CPD Online, part of our CPD Anywhere™ framework, is being offered free to new graduates of this course for 12 months, as part of our commitment to support your lifelong learning.
CPD Online is an online learning environment which provides information to help your transition into the workplace. It can enhance your employability and provide opportunities to take part in and evidence continuing professional development to help meet professional body and statutory requirements.
For further information, visit the CPD Anywhere™ website at www.shu.ac.uk/faculties/hwb/cpd/anywhere
Find out more about BSc (Honours) Radiotherapy and Oncology
Related courses
You apply for this course through UCAS.
2013/14 academic year
If you are studying a course funded by the Department of Health you will not normally pay any fees yourself, as they will be paid for you by the Department of Health.
You may be eligible for an NHS bursary but you will not be eligible for the bursaries and scholarships described in the Sheffield Hallam University Bursary Scheme. For more information on NHS bursaries visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/4002.aspx
For 2013 entry, membership of a professional body is included in the course fee.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
• examinations • assignments • project work • portfolio • poster presentations • continuous assessment of clinical practice
This course is approved by the Health and care Professions Council (HCPC). Graduates are eligible to apply to register with the HCPC and apply to become members of the Society and College of Radiographers. You must be registered with the HCPC in order to practise as a therapeutic radiographer in the UK.
Key Information Set 
Radiotherapy part one (1:44)
Watch a video of academic Jo McNamara discussing studying radiotherapy and oncology at Sheffield Hallam.
Radiotherapy part two (1:48)
Watch a video of academic Jo McNamara discussing studying radiotherapy and oncology at Sheffield Hallam.
Radiotherapy part three (1:36)
Watch a video of academic Jo McNamara discussing studying radiotherapy and oncology at Sheffield Hallam.
Sophie Large (0:39)
Sophie discusses learning about patient and family care, the support she's received from academics and how their industry experience helps with student learning.
Sohpie Large and Racheal Colling (0:58)
Sophie and Rachel talk about their experiences on clinical placement within a hospital and how it will help gain employment following graduation.
Radiotherapy – Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT)
Vert is an award-winning virtual training environment which enables radiotherapy students to interact in a virtual treatment room.
The environment aims to
• enhance students 3D appreciation of anatomy
• give a 3D representation of radiotherapy equipment and a linear accelerator
• allow students to develop skills before going on placement
• reduce demand on live clinical spaces in the NHS
Radiotherapy students gain experience in treating cancer patients during placements in oncology departments. However, these increasingly busy cancer departments can frustrate students’ efforts to learn a multitude of skills concurrently leading them to feel rushed and unable to maximise their learning.
Using state of the art imaging technology, the VERT system creates a life-size 3D replica of a radiotherapy treatment room, allowing students to develop vital practical skills in real-life clinical situations. They can practice in a realistic but completely safe environment before moving on to clinical placements.
VERT (1:31)
Jo McNamara (senior lecturer) explains the benefits of using the 3D Visualisation Suite and state of the art facilities located in the Robert Winston Building, and how students benefit from the hands on experience.
Simon Crimp - VERT (1:18)
Simon Crimp, a BSc (Hons) Radiotherapy and Oncology student, talks about the valuable experience he gains using the Visualisation Suite to practice treatments within a clinical environment before going in to practice.
Sabah Sajjad
BSc Radiotherapy and Oncology, third year
'I chose to study in Sheffield because of the vibrant and friendly atmosphere. The best thing about Sheffield is it has a fabulous city centre and Meadowhall for people who like shopping.
'Sheffield Hallam has high tech facilities available, and provides lectures in an interactive and fun way. The VERT suite provides a hands-on experience of the actual equipment before going to placement.
'The best thing about the course are that the staff are friendly, they take their time to explain things to make sure it is fully understood. I have also made some really great friends on the course.
'Advice I would give to students is be prepared to put in the hard work, but also enjoy yourself.'
Naomi Green
BSc Radiotherapy and Oncology, 2008 graduate
'I chose Sheffield Hallam University because I knew the relaxed and friendly atmosphere would suit me. The campus at Collegiate Crescent is really beautiful, with lots of greenery. It is also a two minute walk from the Botanical Gardens, which is a great place to have your lunch.
'The Robert Winston Building is brand new and state of the art. It's designed especially for health students, which is very important as we demand a lot more than just a lecture theatre! The building has mock wards, houses and surgical theatres, which are helpful in preparing us for clinical work.
'The University also provides a great number of radiotherapy planning computers. We are the only university in the UK to have this facility. In all three years of the course we get to plan different radiotherapy treatments. Being able to have seminars on planning is great, but to actually practise on real medical software is an amazing bonus.
'Working in a radiotherapy department is extremely interesting. You learn a lot - the staff always have the odd story to tell you! I truly believe going away on clinical placement has been the making of me. Since working I have become more confident, patient, a better problem solver and a quicker thinker.'
Profiles
Sabah Sajjad
BSc Radiotherapy and Oncology, third year
Naomi Green
BSc Radiotherapy and Oncology, 2008 graduate
Together in the real world of health and social care
Our health and social care courses place a strong emphasis on interprofessional learning. This means that you train alongside practitioners from other health professions. So, depending on your course you could spend time working alongside
• nurses
• midwives
• operating department practitioners
This gives you a fresh perspective on situations. And it also prepares you for the real world. Collaboration between health professionals is increasing as organisations try to provide a more integrated and effective service. At Sheffield Hallam we understand that by working together we can we give the best possible care.
Staff profiles
Visit the Department of Allied Health Professions website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
