The honours degree programmes run over two years, part-time. It is the only honours degrees offered in Radiography in South Africa. It delivers a quality education that provides the means for each student to intensify their knowledge and skills and become leaders in the radiography profession. The Department of Radiography enjoys and has a comprehensive academic support system based on its association with the Faculty of Health Sciences which offers a variety of professional degrees in health sciences. The honours degree in Diagnostic Radiography is an in-depth study of some specialised procedures and imaging modalities. The honours degree in Radiation Therapy and Nuclear Medicine allow for qualification in these two disciplines of radiography as well as specialisation in some aspects through research. 

On completion of the honours degree, the student can proceed to MRad and PhD in the field of choice

Diagnostic Radiography 

The annual offering of the selected modules is dependent on the number of students who apply for the specific selective module.  If there are less than five students applying for a selective, the student/s will be advised as to whether the selective will be offered in the following year of study, or if there is a need to change the selective for which they have applied.

Radiation Therapy and Nuclear Medicine 

Applicants are urged to contact the Department to discuss securing clinical training sites prior to registration. There are a number of HPCSA approved clinical training departments for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine.  The reason for this limitation is that these specialisations in radiography are only available at the tertiary level hospital in the public health sector, and a limited number of privately owned radiation therapy and nuclear medicine departments.

Admission criteria for all Honours programmes 

National students

 A candidate must:

• be in possession of a degree or a three-year diploma in Radiography
• have achieved an overall average in the final year of the undergraduate programme of 60% in the major subjects
• have a current registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa
• have completed community service in the specialisation in which the undergraduate qualification was obtained.
• have completed a research module at undergraduate level with a minimum of 16 credits.

Prospective students who did not obtain their undergraduate radiography qualification at the NQF level seven (7) will be expected to sit for an entrance examination – the pass mark is 60%.

Prospective students who did not complete a research module at undergraduate level with a minimum of 16 credits will be expected to complete an introduction to research methodology module offered at the University of Pretoria, School of Healthcare sciences (the module is offered during the first six months of the year). This module is offered in the first semester of the year. applicants are welcome to register for an equivalent module in any institution prior to being admitted into the B Rad Hons programme.

International students

Students:

• will be registered as students with the Health Professional Council of South Africa after the registration with the University of Pretoria is completed. (N.B. This registration does allow the student permission to be employed to practice in any of the specialisations in radiography in South Africa. The registration as a student will allow the student to develop clinical experience in the modules for which the student is registered in the honours programme, whilst practicing under supervision).
• have to submit an evaluation by the SA Qualifications Authority (SAQA) together with their application form to the University of Pretoria.  The web address for the online application is : Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications
• must ensure that they have obtained their Medical Insurance membership (see information on the University of Pretoria webpage: www.up.ac.za  under “INFORMATION FOR:  INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS”).  Students are not permitted to register until confirmation of Medical Insurance membership is confirmed.
• requiring accommodation in the University residence must ensure that their request for residence is clearly stated in the study application form.  It is the responsibility of the student to follow-up and confirms with Student residence as to whether placement has been secured or not.  In the event of the student not being able to access university residence, it is the responsibility of the student to secure their own residence.
• will also be expected to travel between hospitals e.g. Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Kalafong Hospital.

Master’s degree

Master’s degree quality assurance process

• The student is expected to present his/her research idea to the Departmental postgraduate research committee.  The research idea will be accepted, if not, the student will be provided with guidance to revise or change the research idea.  The student will also be assigned a study leader and register as a UP student.
• Within the process of developing the research protocol, the student will be expected to attend a relevant TNM 800 course which will assist with protocol refinement.
• A departmental defence of the research proposal will be conducted.
• The research proposal will be submitted to the School of Health Care Sciences – Postgraduate committee for a peer review and evaluation.
• The research topic will be submitted for approved by the School of Health Care Sciences Academic Advisory Committee.
• Thereafter, the protocol is presented to the Faculty of Health Sciences Ethics Committee for final permission to commence data collection.
• Research data collection and completion of the research dissertation takes place under the guidance of the study leader.
• The completed research dissertation is examined by an examiner within the University of Pretoria and a second examiner outside of the institution.

Application for Master’s degree

Admission criteria for all Master’s programmes:

• Subject to the stipulations of General Regulation G.62, the applicant must hold a Bachelor of Radiography Honours degree in the specialisation category in which they intend to embark on the Master’s degree.
• Applicants who are not in possession of a Brad: Honours degree need to present a copy of research conducted and their academic record of the degree which they have completed.  Proof of publications and/or presentations at an accredited professional congress is also beneficial to the submission.  It is at the discretion of the Head of Department as to whether the applicant will be required to complete a specified academic bridging programme as a pre-requisite to registration for the Master’s programme.
• The applicant must be registered with HPCSA in a specialisation in Radiography, or as a student (in the case of international applicants) in order to be allowed to conduct research and data collection in South African health care institutions.
• For students who are not registered with the HPCSA, they will do their data collection in their native countries. It is recommended by the department that the student identifies a co-supervisor in the native country who will oversee the data collection and analysis processes. Continuous communication and collaboration with a supervisor who has been assigned in the department will be maintained.

Application for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): Radiography

Admission criteria

• Subject to the stipulation in General regulations G.54 and G.62, a candidate must be in possession of a Master’s degree in Radiography or an equivalent
• All students enrolling for the PhD (Specialisation in Radiography) must enrol for the TNM 800 (Exemption will be granted if it had been passed during the MRad)
• The PhD is conferred by virtue of a thesis (RAD 990) and, unless the Dean decides otherwise, an examination on the field of study covered by the thesis is (RAD900).