Degree course in Imaging and radiotherapy tecniques [L/SNT3] D. M. 270/2004
General information
Qualification awarded
With this Bachelor’s Degree, students obtain the qualification of Undergraduate in Medical Radiology Techniques for Imaging and Radiotherapy.
Level of qualification
First level
Specific admission requirements and specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning
The Degree Course in Medical Radiology Techniques for Imaging and Radiotherapy is a nationwide limited access course.
To be eligible, students must be in possession of a Secondary School diploma or other equivalent qualification, obtained abroad and recognized as valid. The student is required to have an adequate level of knowledge in core subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology.
Profile of the programme
Undergraduates of the Degree Course in Medical Radiology Techniques for Imaging and Radiotherapy are, in accordance with the Law of 10th August 2000, no. 251, Article 3, paragraph 1, operators of health professions in the technical areas of diagnosis and assistance under the jurisdiction of the Decree of the Ministry of Health, September 26th, 1994, no. 746 and subsequent amendments and additions; they are responsible for the acts within their competence and are authorized to carry out investigations and radiological activity in compliance with the radiation protection standards.
Graduates in radiological diagnostic techniques are qualified to carry out, in accordance with the provisions of Law 31st January 1983, no. 25, independently or in collaboration with other health professionals, on medical prescription, all operations that require the use of sources of both artificial and natural ionizing radiation, thermal, ultrasonic energy, magnetic resonance imaging, and interventions for physical or dosimetric protection; they may participate, in accordance with their skills, in the planning and organization of work within the structure they operate in; provide their expertise in direct collaboration with radiodiagnostics physicians, with nuclear medicine physicians, with radiotherapists and with health physicians, according to diagnostic and therapeutic protocols pre-defined by the head of the structure; they are responsible for the acts within their competence, in particular, checking the correct functioning of equipment, solving minor problems and implementing programmes to monitor and control quality assurance according to pre-defined indicators and standards; they carry out their activities in public and private health facilities, as employees or freelance; help train support staff and directly contribute to updating their professional profile and research. In the training of the aforementioned professional figures, universities guarantee adequate training in ionizing radiation protection.
Qualification requirements and regulations
The Bachelor Degree in Medical Radiology Techniques for Imaging and Radiotherapy has a duration of 3 years, during which the student must acquire 180 credits. Formative activities are organized on a six-monthly basis, and developed through lectures, tutorials, practical work and seminars, training and final exam, broken down as follows:
- Fundamental formative activities: 28 ECTS
- Core subjects: 127 ECTS credits of which 60 ECTS credits intended for vocational training.
- Related formative activities: 1 ECTS credit;
- Electives: 6 ECTS credits;
- Laboratories for vocational training within the specific SSD (Scientific Disciplinary Sector) of the profile: 3 ECTS credits
- Other activities such as computer science, seminars, etc: 6 ECTS credits
- Final examination and English: 9 ECTS credits.
All aspects of the organization and management of the degree course are described in the appropriate Academic Regulations, available on the website of the degree course at www.med.unipg.it/ac/rad
Key learning outcomes
According to the above educational programme, graduates in this degree class must achieve the professional skills listed below and specified by the competent ministerial authority. Students achieve their skills through theoretical and practical training, which also includes the acquisition of behavioural skills, obtained in the specific work context, so as to ensure, by the end of the course, full mastery of all required skills and their immediate applicability in the workplace. Particular importance, as an integral and qualifying part of vocational training, covers practical training and internships, carried out under the supervision and guidance of specially assigned professional tutors, coordinated by a professor of the highest level of training provided for each professional profile and corresponding to the rules defined at European level if any.
Undergraduates, according to the above educational programmes, must achieve the competencies laid down in the specific professional profiles referring to areas identified by the decree of the Ministry of Health. In the health care profession of Technical Radiology Imaging and Radiotherapy, graduates are health workers under the jurisdiction of the Decree of the Ministry of Health, September 26th, 1994, no. 746 and subsequent amendments and additions; they are responsible for the acts within their competence and are authorized to carry out investigations and ionizing radiation treatment, in compliance with the radiation protection standards set by the European Union.
The graduate should be able to apply the scientific and experimental method to the study of anatomical, physiological and technological phenomena relevant to the profession, demonstrating his/her ability to use the main foundations of the basic disciplines applied to the technological problems of diagnostic imaging; be able to understand the diagnostic and therapeutic prescriptions of the medical specialist, the indications of the specialist Physician, and implement them; be aware of the biological risks related to their professional activities and be able to optimize the application processes of competence through supervision, updating and by adapting their professional tasks to technological development.
Graduates must attain the professional skills indicated and specified for the profile; the attainment of skills occurs through theoretical formation and the acquisition of behavioural skills, as well as through appropriate practical formative activities and stage. The stage must conform to European standards, both in terms of duration and typology of activities planned and carried out.
The graduate must:
- know the general principles of pathology with respect to the effects of ionizing radiation and radiological nuclear medicine and radiotherapy techniques;
- know the main incidences and radiographic projections and learn about the various procedural techniques for diagnostic imaging;
- know the general principles of computer science and computer applications used in radiology, with reference to the archiving of images, reports and clinical and health care data;
- know the methods of diagnostic and therapeutic use of radiation and radioactive tracers, and apply the main radiation protection standards;
- know the sources of ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation used in diagnosis and / or radiotherapy;
- know the relative units of measurement, the main structural and operative features of the equipment used;
- know and use appropriate technologies and materials in order to produce X-ray images and radiation therapies and acquire the technical knowledge to assist in the execution of ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
- know the general principles of the interaction of radiation with living systems, radio protection procedures, environmental decontamination, use of radionuclides and marking of radio compounds;
- acquire the knowledge of systems of detection, storage and remote transmission of images (post-processing);
- know both static and dynamic techniques of nuclear medicine investigations; acquire knowledge for the performance of radiotherapy treatments such as the preparation and use of shielding and contention systems of the patient.
The graduate should know how to interact with the production network of both public and private health care.
The graduate must:
- participate in the planning and organization of work within the structure he/she operates in, in accordance with his/her skills, by using the versatile expertise acquired, to collaborate with radiodiagnosis experts, with nuclear medicine physicians, radiotherapists and health physicians, according to diagnostic and therapeutic protocols pre-defined by the head of the structure;
- be responsible for the acts within their competence, in particular, checking the correct functioning of equipment, solving any minor problems, implementing programmes to monitor and control quality assurance according to pre-defined indicators and standards;
- contribute directly to the relative updating of their own professional profile and research;
The graduate must:
- have developed, in the organization of the curriculum, personal, scientific, cultural and practical experiences, related to the profession of Undergraduate in Medical Radiology Techniques for Imaging and Radiotherapy (TRMIR), also achieving his/her own personal inclinations or cultural and professional interests;
- know the main regulations with regard to radiation protection according to the contents of
Annex IV Legislative Decree, May 25th, 2000, 187. b);
Undergraduates must develop their skills of autonomous study and analysis useful for the constant updating of their professionalism, and for the training of students on this Degree Course.
Examination regulations, assessment and grading
Individual examinations are held orally before a board of at least two professors. Other possible methods of assessment (eg written examinations, finals or ongoing assessment, seminar presentations) will appear in the descriptions of each course. The tests for individual courses are evaluated on a scale thirty, and where appropriate, with honours. The final mark is based on the results of each course and the final exam includes a written presentation of research work and its discussion in a graduation session before a board of at least 7 professors and is marked on a scale of 110, and where appropriate, with honours.
Graduation requirements
The final qualification is obtained upon attainment of 180 credits, passing the qualifying test to become a registered professional, and upon approval of a written paper.
Mode of study (full-time, part-time, e-learning, ...)
Full-time study, at least 75% attendance of lectures and 100% of professional training activities, are strongly recommended.
Students must follow courses according to the subsequential and established study plan, defined in the Academic Regulations; the legal duration of the study programme is 7 years. There are no individual study plans.
Occupational profiles of graduates with examples
The professional figure in the labour market, predominantly in radiological facilities where radiant (natural or artificial), thermal, ultrasonic and magnetic resonance imaging energy is used (nursing, radiology centres, private or National Health System radiology clinics).
Graduate Radiographers for medical imaging and radiation therapy can carry out their activities in public or private health facilities, authorized according to the legislation in force, as employees or freelance. In particular, they may operate in: departments and diagnostic services for imaging and radiation therapy, working in hospitals and non-hospital NHS structures, and private clinics and Institutions for hospitalization and care; manufacturing industries and sales agencies operating in the field of diagnosis for imaging and radiation therapy; university and extra-university research centres in the biomedical field.
Access to further studies
Access to further studies under Doc 07/07 CNVSU, Annex 1, for achieving didactic autonomy in art. 1 of the Law of 15th May 1997 no. 127 and subsequent amendments and additions, the Universities issue:
a) Degree of 180 ECTS, certified professional and which allows him/her to pursue further study (Law 1 February 2006, no. 43):
- first-level Vocational Master:
- in management or coordination functions
- for specialized functions
b) Master’s Degree of 120 ECTS credits, of class SNT 3.