Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £3,650 for the course
International/EU: £3,720 per 60 credits -
How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
January 2027
Course summary
- Study online with industry-standard DXA viewing software and analysis tools.
- Apply critical understanding of DXA to current and emerging clinical practice.
- Gain practical DXA scanning experience in your existing NHS or private role.
- Apply skills to a defined scope of practice, supported by a clinical supervisor.
- Learn through real-world application, peer collaboration and critical thinking.
On the part-time PGCert DXA in Clinical Practice you’ll gain knowledge of the physical principles of bone densitometry, image analysis, information synthesis and clinical uses of DXA. You’ll use industry-standard viewing technologies and authentic case studies to strengthen your clinical decision-making and analytical skills – preparing you for roles with greater responsibility, autonomy and impact.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
The course expands your knowledge of interpreting scans, applying quality assurance principles, and developing evidence-based clinical decision-making and analytical skills in bone densitometry. As a distance learning course, you’ll access contemporary literature, case studies and recordings of bone biology and metabolism – with online tutor-led discussions to explore clinical cases.
You’ll learn from real DXA cases - including spine, hip and forearm examinations - with specialist knowledge from clinicians, allied health professionals and service users.
You learn through:
- distance learning
- online asynchronous learning materials
- online group discussion
- specialist tutor support
- student-directed learning
- asynchronous discussion forums
- presentations, articles and web resources
- e-lectures and video links
- critical reflection
Assessments are designed for you to demonstrate applied knowledge and leadership in your role. They include formative online activities and summative submissions – designed to develop and evaluate your theoretical knowledge, critical thinking and application to practice – and clinical training and competency sign off within a functioning DXA service in your workplace.
Key themes
Throughout the course you’ll deepen your theoretical understanding of the physical principles of bone densitometry – including radiation physics, equipment, T-scores, Z-scores, artefacts and accuracy.
You’ll deepen your understanding of bone biology and metabolism in the contexts of osteoporosis and fracture risk. You’ll also explore image analysis and information synthesis – such as WHO, FRAX and Q Fracture – as well as clinical uses and limitations of DXA.
You’ll develop under all four pillars of practice to help you towards your career goals – whether that’s leadership in service development, clinical practice in scanning and decision-making, education for radiographers and patients, or the application of evidence-based practice.
Course-level support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled employment through a number of key areas. These include:
- access to academic staff and specialist practitioners in DXA scanning
- structured formative feedback to support your academic development
- peer collaboration within an online professional learning community
- access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources
Applied learning
Live projects
This course is designed to ensure your learning is immediately applicable to your professional context, with an emphasis on contemporary clinical practice, real clinical cases, service development and quality assurance.
You’ll learn through authentic, practice-focused activities – working with industry-standard image viewing software and real clinical case studies through our partner platform Collective Minds Radiology (CMRad). You’ll also have opportunities to engage with a range of problem-solving tasks and enquiry-based learning.
Example projects include critical evaluations of frameworks and workforce challenges, applying diagnostic imaging principles to interpret clinical cases, literature-based or empirical research aligned with health policy or clinical practice priorities, and projects focused on imaging service and patient care improvements.
Networking opportunities
You’ll be able to network with other students, guest lecturers and health professionals throughout the course, enabling you to explore holistic concepts and contemporary issues in health and social care.
Course leaders and tutors
Denise Foulkes
Senior LecturerDenise joined Hallam as a full-time Senior Lecturer in 2015. She has worked for many years as a Senior Reporting Radiographer at a local trust where her roles spanne … Read more
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Module Aim:
This module examines the theoretical principles and clinical use of Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA/DXA) in bone densitometry. It covers the diagnosis of metabolic bone disorders allowing you to develop knowledge, skills and competence in the modality.
You will critically assess relevant UK radiation legislation, with a focus on safety, justification, and dose optimisation. The module also addresses the ethical and practical considerations in scanning frail and paediatric patients, ensuring safe, respectful, and effective care. Service delivery, professional responsibilities, and policy frameworks will be evaluated to support high-quality, patient-centred DXA practice.
Module Content:
Physical principles of bone densitometry to include radiation physics, equipment and key principles, T-scores and Z-scores, artefacts and accuracy.
Radiation protection, safety, QA, legislation and governance
Safeguarding, health promotion and prevention e.g. falls
Image analysis and information synthesis (WHO, FRAX and QFracture)
Clinical uses of DXA and limitations
Epidemiology and clinical presentation of metabolic bone disorders e.g. osteoporosis
Clinical reasoning, service improvement, leadership and innovations
Inclusive and effective patient-centred care to include an MDT approach
Module aim:
This module aims to provide you with a critical understanding of safety, quality assurance, and legal frameworks in medical imaging. It explores the principles of radiation protection, risk management, and ethical responsibilities in the use of ionising and non-ionising radiation.
You will examine relevant legislation, regulatory compliance, and governance within clinical environments through analysis of current policies, quality systems, and real-world case studies. This will enable you to lead in promoting safety of service users, staff and the wider public, and continuous improvement across clinical services.
Module content:
Legal, ethical and professional frameworks governing practice.
Human factors
Risk and safety
Duty of candour
Governance processes (audit, incident learning, Quality Improvement)
Delivering measurable safety improvements.
Incidents and near misses
Promoting safety in the four pillars of practice
Elective modules
Aims
This module explores principles of formative and summative assessment, examining their design, purpose, and impact on learner progression. You will explore inclusive assessment strategies, constructive alignment, and equity in practice. The module also introduces feedback models and strategies that develop feedback literacy, promote learner independence, and shape professional identity. You will engage with quality assurance processes, institutional frameworks, and wider policy drivers to inform your own practice. Through critical reflection, you will develop strategies to enhance fairness, coherence, and sustainability in assessment and feedback across diverse learning environments.
Indicative content:
Principles of assessment in health and social care education
Formative and summative assessment: design, application, and impact
Inclusive assessment and equity in practice
Constructive alignment
Feedback models in practice
Feedback strategies in contemporary practice
Assessment and feedback in professional identity formation
Quality assurance, policy, and institutional framework(s)
This module introduces students to leadership within health and social care, focusing on developing self-awareness and reflective practice. Students will explore leadership and management theories, assess their leadership style using diagnostic tools, and create a development plan aligned with personal and organisational goals.
Module Content
You’ll study topics such as:
Key leadership and management theories in health and social care
Leadership challenges and strategies in professional practice
Understanding followership and its role in effective leadership
Self-assessment using leadership diagnostic tools
Personal leadership reflection and development planning
Ethical, inclusive, and values-based leadership
This module aims to facilitate your reflection and critical appraisal of underpinning theories of learning, teaching and assessment of adults that enables the design, delivery and evaluation of education. The emphasis is on exploring how educational concepts and theories are implemented and how they impact on your professional practice in the health and social care setting.
Indicative content
Lesson planning and evaluation
Theories of adult learning and teaching in higher education
Teaching strategies
Assessment and feedback
Learner support
M level academic writing
Engagement with the HEA UKPSF and other professional body requirements as appropriate.
This module enables you to explore the pedagogical foundations of simulation-based education in health and social care. You will examine how experiential learning, scenario design, and structured debriefing techniques can enhance learner development, support reflective practice, and build critical thinking. You are encouraged to apply inclusive and psychologically safe approaches when designing simulation activities that mirror real-world challenges and promote service improvement.
Throughout the module, you will critically reflect on the role of simulation in advancing quality assurance, patient safety, and educator development. You will consider the responsibilities of the simulation educator and how to lead and facilitate meaningful simulation experiences that engage diverse learners.
Indicative content
Pedagogical foundations of simulation-based education
Simulation and quality improvement
Patient and service user safety
Inclusive simulation practice
Role of the simulation educator
Structured debriefing models
Scenario design and learning alignment
Leadership and facilitation in simulation
Future careers
You’ll graduate with a range of transferable skills – including critical thinking, clinical expertise, leadership capability, and the ability to contribute to education and workforce development. The course prepares you for roles with increasing levels of responsibility and autonomy, such as:
- DXA operation
- osteoporosis specialist roles
- bone densitometry
- practice education
- leadership roles
- quality governance
- public health roles
The course supports progression into roles in NHS Trusts, universities and public health.
Equipment and facilities
This is a blended, fully online course which contains both synchronous and asynchronous components. You’ll need regular access to a PC, laptop or Mac with internet connectivity, and the digital literacy to engage with Microsoft Teams and Blackboard.
On this course you use:
- our Blackboard virtual learning environment
- Microsoft Teams for live sessions and collaboration
- industry-standard image viewing software
- digital academic library resources
You’ll also need access to a functioning DXA service within your workplace to contextualise your academic work and reflect on real-world practice, with your employer signing off your clinical training and competency.
Where will I study?
You study this course online from any location
Entry requirements
All students
Applicants will hold either a relevant degree qualification at 2:2 or above in a relevant regulated profession (e.g. HCPC, NMC) or have held at least 5+ years clinical experience as a qualified regulated professional
Relevant professional registration with e.g. the Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council
Recognition of prior learning will be considered for credits achieved from other accredited programmes. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
As part of your application, you are required to complete a clinical agreement form which includes details of your employing NHS Trust and confirmed arrangements for clinical supervision, including details of your appropriately qualified clinical supervisor
You need to provide one supporting reference from the department offering clinical placement to confirm your suitability to train in DEXA.
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'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2026/27 is £3,650 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
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 distance learning study in 2026/27 is £3,720 for 60 credits
Scholarships and financial support
Find information on scholarships, bursaries and postgraduate student loans.
International scholarships up to £3000 ›
Alumni scholarships up to £2000 ›
Postgraduate loans for UK students ›
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, 277.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
