UCC College Calendar

General

The MSc in Radiation Therapy is a full-time programme, which runs over two calendar years, with three 12-week semesters from the date of first registration. This programme confers eligibility for a graduate to apply for registration with CORU on the register "Radiographers" under division "Radiation Therapist" and work within the Republic of Ireland.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the following:

Candidates will hold a minimum of an honours bachelor's degree, NFQ Level 8, minimum Second Class honours, in Sciences, or a Health Sciences related discipline e.g. Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health, Health Promotion, General Science, Neuroscience, Biomedical Science, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Medicine, Genetics, Nutrition, Physiology, Sports Science, Social Science, Anatomy or equivalent to any of the above.
Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on:
a. Educational qualifications.
b. Academic achievements outside of curriculum, e.g. publications, conference presentations.
c. Contributions beyond academia.
d. Motivation: Applicants will submit a motivation statement as part of this application process. The motivational statement should be no longer than 800 words and will:
* explain their motivation to become a Radiation Therapists,
* outline their research aspirations in Radiation Therapy and
* indicate how their previous degree will contribute to their research and the practice of Radiation Therapy.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview and each applicant will be scored by an interview panel on the basis of:
a. Communication skills and motivation,
b. Clinical and academic qualifications and interests,
c. Knowledge of the field.
All applicants accepted onto the programme will need to have evidence of appropriate vaccinations for working in hospital environments.
Applicants whose first language is not English must have a minimum IELTS of 7.0 with scores in no individual section less than 7.0.

Garda Vetting
Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer, on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Fitness to Practise
This programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.

Programme Requirements

All modules are compulsory. Students will take modules to the value of 60 credits per year as outlined below.
Upon satisfactory completion of all modules in the first year to the value of 60 credits, students may proceed to the second year of the programme. On successful completion of all modules in the second year, to the value of 60 credits, students may graduate with an MSc (Radiation Therapy).

Year 1

Students take 60 credits:
RA6004 Principles of Research and Research Methodology (10 credits)
RA6101 Biological Sciences for Health Professionals (10 credits)
RA6102 Treatment Planning, Localisation and Verification (10 credits)
RA6103 Medical Radiation Science and Radiobiology (10 credits)
RA6105 Professional Practice in Radiation Therapy 1 (10 credits)
RA6106 Professional Practice in Radiation Therapy 2 (10 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Year 2

Students take 60 credits:
RA6010 Image Service Provision and Healthcare Management (5 credits)
RA6012 Research Dissertation (20 credits)
RA6107 Advanced Imaging and Radiation Science Application (10 credits)
RA6108 Professional Practice in Radiation Therapy 3 (10 credits)
RA6109 Professional Practice in Radiation Therapy 4 (10 credits)
RA6111 Communication and Psychology (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Three Year Rule
Candidates must pass Year 1 of the MSc in Radiation Therapy within three calendar years of the date of first registration for first year, before registering for Year 2 of the programme. Failure to comply with this rule will mean the student is ineligible to progress to the second year of the programme. Similarly, candidates must pass Year 2 of the MSc in Radiation Therapy within three academic years of the date of first registration for the second year. Failure to comply with this rule will mean the student is ineligible to continue studies on the MSc in Radiation Therapy.

Exit Awards
Students who graduate with an exit award will not be eligible to apply for registration with CORU on the register "Radiographers" under division "Radiation Therapist" and work within the Republic of Ireland. Student taking an exit award cannot subsequently register for the remainder of the Masters.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Radiation Science (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
Students who successfully complete taught modules to the value of at least 30 credits (from RA6004, RA6101 and RA6103) may choose to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Radiation Science.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Radiation Science (NFQ Level 9, Major award)
Students who successfully complete taught modules to the value of at least 60 credits (from RA6004, RA6010, RA6101, RA6102, RA6103, RA6107 and RA6111) may choose to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Radiation Science.

Exit Award: MSc in Applied Radiation Science (NFQ Level 9, Major award)
Students who successfully complete taught modules to the value of at least 90 credits (from RA6004, RA6010, RA6012, RA6101, RA6102, RA6103, RA6105, RA6107 and RA6111) may choose to exit the programme and be awarded an MSc in Applied Radiation Science.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for MSc (Radiation Therapy) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

Demonstrate the professional attributes, leadership and clinical skills required to deliver Radiation Therapy in a variety of clinical settings and will possess the academic skills to critically evaluate the evidence underpinning current therapy practices;
Evaluate and demonstrate ongoing commitment to the professional and caring values which underpin a safe and high-quality clinical service;
Critically evaluate the organisation and management of patient care in a variety of therapy contexts in order to identify ways in which clinical services may be enhanced;
Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and respond to complex and changing clinical situations in a professional manner;
Apply in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of key clinical and professional issues in the practice of Radiation Therapy and apply clinical leadership and autonomous professional practice commensurate with a CORU registered Radiation Therapist;
Synthesize the evidence base for clinical practice through intelligent and critical analysis of original research sources;
Apply an understanding of the ethical and confidentiality rules governing professional practice of Radiation Therapy and comply with all relevant professional statutory and regulatory body standards, rules of professional conduct and regulations, and demonstrate a critical understanding of the theory and processes by which these standards are maintained;
Develop a strategy for ongoing personal and professional development and demonstrate critical understanding of the theory and practice of CPD and reflection;
Demonstrate a reflective approach to professional practice decision-making and be responsive to the needs of service users;
Apply a holistic approach to the development of professional competencies within the multi-professional environment to become a safe reflective practitioner.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MSc (Applied Radiation Science) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

Possess the academic skills to critically evaluate the evidence underpinning current therapy practices;
Evaluate and demonstrate ongoing commitment to the professional and caring values which underpin a safe and high-quality clinical service;
Through critical analysis of audit, and clinical and academic evidence, be able to critically evaluate the organisation and management of patient care in a variety of therapy contexts in order to identify ways in which clinical services may be enhanced;
Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and respond to complex and changing clinical situations in a professional manner;
Apply in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of key clinical and professional issues in the practice of Radiation Therapy;
Through intelligent and critical analysis of original research sources, be able to synthesize the evidence base of clinical practice;
Conceptualise an understanding for ongoing personal and professional development and demonstrate critical understanding of the theory and practice of CPD;
Evidence a self-reflective approach to professional practice decision-making and be responsive to the needs of service users.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Radiation Science (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

Possess the academic skills to critically evaluate the evidence underpinning current therapy practices;
Evaluate and demonstrate ongoing commitment to the professional and caring values which underpin a safe and high-quality clinical service;
Through critical analysis of audit, and clinical and academic evidence, be able to critically evaluate the organisation and management of patient care in a variety of diagnostic imaging contexts in order to identify ways in which clinical services may be enhanced;
Through intelligent and critical analysis of original research sources, be able to synthesize the evidence base of clinical practice;
Conceptualise an understanding for ongoing personal and professional development and demonstrate critical understanding of the theory and practice of CPD;
Evidence a self-reflective approach to professional practice decision-making and be responsive to the needs of service users.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Radiation Science (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

Possess the academic skills to critically evaluate the evidence underpinning current therapy practices;

Evaluate and demonstrate ongoing commitment to the professional and caring values which underpin a safe and high-quality clinical service;

Through critical analysis of audit, and clinical and academic evidence, be able to critically evaluate the organisation and management of patient care in a variety of diagnostic imaging contexts in order to identify ways in which clinical services may be enhanced;

Through intelligent and critical analysis of original research sources, be able to synthesize the evidence base of clinical practice;

Conceptualise an understanding for ongoing personal and professional development and demonstrate critical understanding of the theory and practice of CPD.