Access to HE Diploma (Radiography)

Yes — the Access to HE Diploma is a QAA-regulated Level 3 qualification accepted by UK universities as the standard mature student entry route for radiography degree programmes. Online delivery makes no difference to the award’s academic recognition. Most radiography programmes specify a grade profile combining Distinctions and Merits — particularly in the physics and biology units — as well as GCSE science requirements. Confirm the specific conditions with your target institutions before you enrol.

Most BSc Diagnostic or Therapeutic Radiography programmes require 120–128 UCAS points from an Access to HE Diploma, GCSE Maths and English at grade 4/C or above, and usually a science GCSE (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics) at the same level. Many programmes also require evidence of relevant healthcare work experience or shadowing in a radiology department. Some universities conduct interviews as part of the selection process. Check individual university admissions pages for precise requirements.

You need to be aged 19 or over, hold UK residency, and have GCSE Maths and English at grade 4/C or equivalent (Functional Skills Level 2 is also accepted). A science GCSE is strongly recommended, particularly as most radiography degree programmes require it for entry. Relevant healthcare or scientific work experience is valued but not a formal requirement for the Access course. Our admissions team will review your application and advise on your suitability before you commit.

Most learners complete in 9–12 months, studying around 10–15 hours per week. The course is fully self-paced with no fixed term structure or mandatory attendance, so you can work faster or take up to 24 months depending on your circumstances. Many learners work in healthcare support roles and use the self-paced format to fit study around shift patterns. You can begin at any point in the year.

No — the course is 100% portfolio and assignment assessed. Scientific units are assessed through written reports, worked problems, and a scientific investigation — not timed examinations. All submissions are made online through our learning platform and assessed by your personal tutor, who provides detailed feedback within 5 working days. Units are graded at Pass, Merit, or Distinction.

Diagnostic radiographers produce medical images — using X-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine techniques — to help clinicians identify disease and injury. Therapeutic radiographers (also called radiation therapists) plan and deliver radiotherapy treatments to cancer patients, working closely with oncologists and medical physicists. Both roles require an HCPC-registered BSc degree and offer comparable NHS pay scales. The Access to HE Radiography diploma provides the scientific foundation appropriate for both degree routes.

The Radiography pathway covers four core areas: Physics (atomic physics, medical imaging, X-ray imaging, electricity, waves, motion, energy and forces), Biology (cells, the cardiovascular system, the musculoskeletal system, and genes), Chemistry (matter: particles and formulae, and the mole concept), and Mathematics (algebra, numerical methods, and numerical data analysis). A scientific investigation unit ties together the experimental and analytical skills needed for degree-level radiography study.

You can earn up to 144 UCAS points — equivalent to three A-levels at the highest grades. The exact total depends on your grade profile across all 16 units. Most radiography programmes require around 120 UCAS points, equivalent to a Merit–Distinction profile. Some programmes specify a minimum number of Distinction credits in scientific units, so check the specific conditions at your target universities early in your studies.

Yes — the Access to HE Diploma qualifies for an Advanced Learner Loan from Student Finance England. The loan covers the full tuition fee with no money required upfront, and repayments only begin when your earnings exceed the relevant income threshold. If you complete a UK undergraduate degree, the loan is written off in full. We also offer a monthly payment plan from £99 per month. Our enrolment advisers can help you identify the right funding route.

Most radiography degree programmes strongly recommend — and many effectively require — evidence of relevant healthcare experience, ideally including observation or work shadowing in a radiology or medical imaging department. Even a short period of volunteering in a hospital environment, or working as a healthcare assistant, can significantly strengthen your application. We recommend beginning to arrange relevant experience alongside your Access to HE studies if you have not already done so.