You are viewing Australian and NZ students' course information. Change to view international students' course information.
Overview
- Please watch our course videos, especially our radiation therapy video with Gaby Gibson, when considering the Bachelor of Radiation Therapy, as it is a professional degree, providing graduates with a highly specialised qualification.
- Study anatomy; medical physics; patient health-care needs; professional communication techniques; and ethical, legal and accountability issues, before specialising in photon therapy, electron therapy and megavoltage therapy.
- Your knowledge of cancer and medical radiation and underpinning theories is combined with clinical placement learning where you will practice your communication, caring and technical skills with real patients.
- Prepares you for a career as a radiation therapist in a major hospital or private institution, treating cancer patients and planning and delivering prescribed radiation doses.
- Graduate eligible for provisional accreditation by the Australian Institute of Radiography.
- Information for international students only: This course is only available to international students who have completed post-secondary qualifications in radiation therapy. Admission will be subject to successful completion of sufficient clinical placement experience in these qualifications.
| QTAC course code | 418192 |
| QUT course code | CS41 |
| Attendance | Full-time |
| Course duration | 3 years full-time |
| Start month | 2013 February |
| Deferment | You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year. |
| Delivery | |
| Faculty |
|
| Course contact |
Student Business Services (SBS) Admissions:
|
| CRICOS code | 073449G |
| Careers |
|
Other courses you may be interested in
Details
Why choose this course?
Radiation therapists help cancer patients through a challenging part of their lives. They not only plan and deliver highly accurate radiation treatment but also provide emotional support and care for patients. Typically a patient receiving radiotherapy will see the radiation therapist every day for several weeks and you will need to be able to demonstrate empathy and a caring nature towards a wide range of patients. Overwhelmingly, radiation therapists find that being at the forefront of patient care at this critical time in their patients’ lives, is a rewarding experience.
Please watch our course videos, especially our radiation therapy video with Gaby Gibson, when considering studying the Bachelor of Radiation Therapy, as it is a professional degree, providing graduates with a highly specialised qualification. This course is not designed as a bridging course for a different career.
QUT has designed the course in consultation with clinical staff from radiation oncology departments to ensure you have advanced knowledge of new treatment techniques and equipment used in the workplace.
This course provides excellent graduate employment opportunities.
Course summary
The course features academic teaching concerning cancer, use of medical radiation and underpinning theories, combined with clinical placement learning where you will practise your communication, caring and technical skills with real patients.
During first year you will develop a solid grounding in anatomy and medical physics along with introductory knowledge of patient healthcare needs; professional communication techniques; and ethical, legal and accountability issues. Introductory studies in medical radiation and radiotherapy techniques are complemented with practical sessions using equipment in clinical departments. You will learn a range of skills including patient data acquisition, radiation dosimetry and the basic techniques of treatment delivery including beam direction and beam defining devices.
You will begin studies in complex techniques like photon therapy, electron therapy and megavoltage therapy, including techniques for specific sites. The use of computer software to assist with the optimisation of isodose distribution will be covered along with issues related to the interaction of radiation with tissue, dose measurement, and related quality assurance procedures. During this year you will complete practical exercise in clinical departments and undertake your first clinical placement period.
In final year you will continue to develop your skills through clinical placements in hospitals and practical classes using equipment in clinical settings. You will cover the techniques of medical imaging used in the detection of cancer, along with future directions of three-dimensional treatment planning. You will progress to more complex and specialised techniques for child patients and patients with communicable diseases and learn important information about the biological effects of ionising radiation and the philosophy and protocol in radiation protection and quality assurance.
Career outcomes
As a radiation therapist in a radiotherapy department of a major hospital or private institution, you may become a member of a team treating cancer patients and be responsible for planning and delivering prescribed radiation doses.
Student registration
QUT automatically registers students enrolled in this course with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia in accordance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009. Details about student registration are available from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency at www.ahpra.gov.au.
Professional recognition
Provisional accreditation by the Australian Institute of Radiography is being sought. Full accreditation requires the completion of an additional professional development year of clinical experience.
Units
All course structures
Entry requirements
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course we assume you have sound knowledge in these areas:
- Physics
- Maths B
- English
We assume that you have knowledge equivalent to four semesters at high school level (Years 11 and 12) with sound achievement (4, SA).
Course requirements
Working with Children Check: Blue Card
A Blue Card will be required if the placement component of this course involves working with children or young people. There's no cost if you apply through QUT.
Submit your Blue Card application to the QUT Student Centre as early as possible - ideally, as soon as you've received your offer.
If you don't receive your Blue Card before the start of a unit that requires contact with children, you may be unable to participate and your grades may be affected. You may also still have to pay fees for the unit.
How to apply for a Blue Card
First aid
Students are required to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate (or equivalent) which includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to the commencement of their first placement.
The certificate is to be updated every 3 years with the CPR component updated every 12 months.
Students will need to cover this cost.
Vaccination
You will be required to undertake clinical experience in healthcare settings. As a result, you will have direct patient contact during the placement and may be exposed to blood and body fluids of patients. Consequently you must be vaccinated for Hepatitis B and must provide a post vaccination pathological report or similar certification showing proof of immunity prior to undertaking the first clinical placement.
Students will need to cover this cost.Off-campus placements
Students will be required to undertake placements off campus and will need to cover travel and accommodation costs.
Clinical placements with Queensland Health
Students undertaking a clinical placement in a Queensland Health facility are required to complete The Essentials component of the student orientation package.
Course fees
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.
2013: CSP $4,100 (indicative) per Semester (48 credit points) (subject to annual review)
Student Services and Amenities Fee
You'll need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
Find out if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan
Scholarships and financial support
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
You may also be eligible for Centrelink payments
Apply
How to apply for Bachelor of Radiation Therapy
You apply through QTAC for all our undergraduate courses.
Are you ready to submit your application?
You're ready if you've:
- Found all the courses you want to apply for - you can apply for up to 6.
- Checked important dates.
- Checked you meet the entry requirements.
- Checked your course costs and if you're eligible for financial support.
All done? Then you're ready to apply.
Important: Make a note of the QTAC code for this course (418192) because you'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.
After you've submitted your application to QTAC
If you've studied before or if you have at least two years' work experience, you may want to apply for credit for prior learning.
