The Medical Imaging program aims to develop graduates who are able to apply their knowledge and practical imaging skills in the diagnostic imaging setting. To enable this ability in graduates, the program is designed to develop a high level of evaluative skill and proficiency in performing radiographic and computed tomography imaging procedures to tailor the procedure to the individual patient in a safe, caring and effective manner.
The program aims to develop high level communication skills so that graduates can interact positively with patients and other health professionals in the clinical work environment. Clinical decision making and problem solving ability will be promoted in graduates through the use of simulation based learning techniques and exposure to 'real world' conditions while on clinical practice.
Diagnostic radiographers are responsible for providing safe and accurate imaging examinations in a wide range of clinical environments using a variety of imaging modalities and techniques so that appropriate management and treatment of patients and clients can proceed. They may function twenty four hours a day and have to be prepared for medical emergencies that may occur during examination and treatment. Radiographers require professional judgement to determine how to achieve the best diagnostic outcome while providing optimal patient care. Radiographers are involved with non invasive and interventional procedures, health surveillance screening and research. As this is a rapidly changing technological field, radiographers need to be adaptable and committed to life-long learning.
Radiographers are employed in public and private health systems. Career prospects in Queensland are excellent reflecting an ageing population and workforce demographic.
Duration | 4 years full-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 192 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | BMedImag |
AQF Level | Level 7: Bachelor Degree |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Rank Threshold | SR 75 | ATAR 75 |
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA you are required to meet the English Language Prerequisite by:
The English Language Proficiency requirements may also be satisfied by (results are to be no older than 2 years from the start of term):
English, Physics, Maths
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | CB26 - Bachelor of Health Science (Imaging) |
Accreditation |
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Compulsory Residential School | Students who select to study some courses via distance education may be required to attend compulsory residential schools. |
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Click here to view all Residential Schools |
- Students are required to undertake a total of 56 weeks of full-time clinical study. Refer to Program Structure for further information. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2024 | 255 |
2023 | 255 |
2022 | 252 |
2021 | 263 |
2020 | 226 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.
Mandatory health requirements include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza (recommended only) and Tuberculosis screening. Additional vaccinations and screening are subject to the site or state health authority. Respirator mask fit testing is also an annual requirement for this course.
Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.
Mandatory security requirements include an Australian Federal Police clearance and working with children check.
Other mandatory requirements include a CPR certificate, student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules.
Course Learning Outcomes | |||||||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning | |||||||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge | |||||||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge with depth in some areas | |||||||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence | |||||||||||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas | |||||||||||
6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship | |||||||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | |||||||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | |||||||||||
KNOWLEDGE Develop an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture in contemporary and historical context using the respectful and appropriate protocols and terminology | |||||||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity | |||||||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 25 | Total credit points: 186 |
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Please note: Each program year includes clinical placement. Students must meet specific pre-clinical health, safety, security and licensing requirements prior to each placement, and must disclose any condition that may put themselves or the public at significant risk whilst on placement. Due to limited availability of clinical placements, some block placements have start and/or end dates that fall outside standard term start and end dates. All students will be required to attend placement at a range of locations and of a range of facility types. As placements are located throughout Queensland and availability is limited in each community, students may be placed at a location that is not of their choosing. Students must prepare financially and personally to relocate for placements. This program is very intensive due to the theory and clinical requirements of the University and external professional accreditation bodies.
Year 1 includes a one week full-time observation clinical placement as a mandatory component of the MEDI11001 Fundamentals of the Imaging Professions course. To be eligible to attend placement, students must have completed all required pre-clinical health, safety and security requirements and must have attended all scheduled laboratory or residential school sessions for both MEDI11001 and MEDI11005 Patient Care in the Allied Health Professions, which is a corequisite course. The placement is scheduled in Week 11 of term only.
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
BMSC11001 | Human Body Systems 1 | |
MEDI11001 | Fundamentals of the Imaging Professions | |
MEDI11005 | Patient Care in the Allied Health Professions | |
ESSC11004 | Study and Research Skills for Health Science |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
BMSC11002 | Human Body Systems 2 | |
MEDI11002 | Physics for Health Sciences | |
MEDI11003 | Relational Anatomy | |
MEDI11004 | Professional Practice |
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
BIOH12008 | Human Pathophysiology | |
MEDI12001 | Radiation Science | |
MEDI12002 | Imaging Science 2 | |
MEDI12003 | Imaging Procedures 1 |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
MEDI12004 | Medical Imaging Clinical Placement 1 | |
MEDI12006 | Imaging Procedures 2 | |
MEDI12007 | Quality Processes for Dose and Image Optimisation | |
MEDI12005 | Imaging Science 3 |
Please note: Extensive learning activity takes place in the clinical simulation laboratories during Terms 1 and 2 of Year 2. This includes students taking turns in the role of patient and radiographer for simulated radiographic procedures. Attendance is required for these laboratory sessions. MEDI12004 Medical Imaging Clinical Course 1 is a five week full-time clinical placement that will commence two weeks prior to the start of Term 2. Students will be on full-time placement during the first three weeks of Term 2. The three theory/lab courses in Term 2 will operate in a compressed format on campus during Weeks 4 - 12 of Term 2.
Year 3 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
MEDI13001 | Science and Instrumentation 3 | |
MEDI13002 | Imaging Procedures 3 | |
MEDI13004 | Medical Imaging Clinical Placement 2 | |
MEDI13006 | Imaging Procedures 4 |
Year 3 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
MEDI13005 | Medical Imaging Clinical Placement 3 | |
NURS13117 | Research in Health Care |
Year 4 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
MEDI14001 | Transition to Independent Practice | |
MEDI14002 | Medical Imaging Clinical Course 4 |
Year 4 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
MEDI14005 | Medical Imaging Clinical Practicum |
Number of units: 1 | Total credit points: 6 |
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Available units | ||
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Students must complete 1 from the following units: | ||
MEDI14003 | Image Interpretation of Spine and Extremities | |
MEDI14004 | Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
This is an accelerated four year degree. The course structure provides a learning pathway for students to complete the degree at the end of Term 1 of their fourth year. This is accomplished by students studying across all three terms of the academic year during Years 1-3. Students will be required to enrol in one or more units in each of those years during Term 3. Please see the Course Structure for further information.
Students may complete Year 1 of the course through either full-time or part-time study and either on campus or by distance (with attendance at on-campus residential schools in Term 2). Years 2 - 4 are available only as fulltime study. Students will be required to study on-campus in Terms 1 and 2 of Year 2 and Term 1 of Year 3.
Clinical Placement:
Students undertake clinical placement units in Years 2 - 4 of the course. Students must meet specific pre-clinical health, safety, security and licensing requirements prior to each placement, and must disclose any condition that may put themselves or the public at significant risk whilst on placement. Some block placements have start and/or end dates that fall outside standard term start and end dates.
All students will be required to attend placements at a range of locations and of a range of facility types. As placements are located throughout Queensland and availability is limited in each community, students may be placed at locations that are not of their choosing. Students must prepare financially and personally to relocate for placements, and are responsible for the associated costs. In accordance with course accreditation standards of the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia, students must, over the four years of the course, attend blocks of placements in at least two different communities (one of which must be regional and rural) and in a range of facilities that is sufficient to provide the scope and volume of clinical experience needed to meet all course and external accreditation requirements.
Whilst on placement, students will perform imaging procedures on and provide hands-on care to people who may be ill or injured. Students will need to be physically fit, able to stand and walk for extended periods, lift, stretch, carry heavy loads and have sufficient visual acuity and contrast sensitivity to assess fine detail of images and perform safely in a range of lighting conditions. Students will undergo clinical assessments on their performance of imaging procedures, professional behavioural and technical skills.
Clinical Simulation Laboratory Learning
Years 1 - 3 of the course include hands-on learning in the clinical simulation medical imaging laboratories on campus during most terms. Students must demonstrate professional behaviours including regular attendance and meeting the course dress code during clinical simulation laboratory sessions. During simulations of imaging procedures, all students will participate in role play as radiographer and patient. These essential learning activities may require partial removal of clothing from arms and legs as required for the simulation and will involve touching and being touched by peers. If a student is unable to participate, it may impact the student's ability to attain required skills and complete unit assessments.
Student and Graduate Registration
As per Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, all students enrolled in this course will be placed on the student register of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) for the duration of their course. Education providers are obligated to notify AHPRA of any student impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm.
Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Medical Imaging course, graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Medical Radiation Practitioner with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (MRPBA). Such registration is required for practice in Australia as a diagnostic radiographer. To be accepted for registration with the MRPBA, graduates are required to disclose any criminal history, physical and/or psychological impairment and to meet the published standard of English language proficiency. For further information on these requirements, applicants are advised to consult the MRPBA’s published information at http://www.medicalradiationpracticeboard.gov.au.
Computing Requirements
It is a requirement of enrolment in this course that students have access to the CQUniversity website. Students may be required to undertake various components of study in the course using email and the Internet.
It is strongly recommended that students have access to a broadband connection or higher to access online student resources that would include but not limited to, email, internet, video streaming; and electronic assessment submission.