MSc/PgDip/PgCert Radiotherapy Planning

Course structure

Distance learning – typically three years
Starts September and January

Typical modules may include

Course structure

The postgraduate certificate (PgCert) is achieved by successfully completing 60 credits.
The postgraduate diploma (PgDip) is achieved by successfully completing 120 credits.
The masters (MSc) award is achieved by successfully completing 180 credits.

Postgraduate certificate core modules

Fundamentals of radiotherapy planning (30 credits)
This module enhances your existing treatment planning knowledge and skills in order to evaluate the impact of 3D planning methods on the process of radiotherapy planning. It promotes critical analysis of the radiotherapy planning process in the context of professional practice. It also offers you the opportunity to enhance and deepen your knowledge and understanding of radiotherapy planning and associated technological developments, to develop a critical evidence-based approach to your practice.

Image guided radiotherapy (15 credits)
Imaging is now an integral part of the radiotherapy process and is essential in ensuring that radiotherapy is planned and delivered in the most accurate way possible. Imaging plays a vital role in helping us maximise the potential of radiotherapy, implement advanced techniques safely, and ensure the best clinical outcomes for cancer patients. Embracing the move towards 4D adaptive radiotherapy, you explore the use of imaging throughout the whole radiotherapy pathway (localisation, planning and delivery). You also explore the fundamental principles and best practice associated with a range of current and future imaging modalities. You develop a critical understanding of the evidence base underpinning these advances and how these may impact on the patient, the service and individual practitioners.

Plus a further 15 credits from the optional modules list below.

Postgraduate diploma core modules

Advanced radiotherapy planning (30 credits)
This module explores and evaluates technological innovations, new developments and future research avenues in all areas of radiotherapy planning. By the end of the module you are able to effectively use the evidence base to critically appraise the impact of technological innovations and improved planning methods on the treatment planning process, appraise the clinical impact on patient quality of life and critically evaluate the appropriateness and applicability of innovations and advanced planning techniques to clinical practice.

Research methods for practice (15 credits)
This module will allow you to develop a critical understanding of a range of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and apply their use to specific health care scenarios. You are encouraged to critically appraise the appropriateness of a range of study designs and data collection and analysis methods, in relation to a specific research question(s).

Plus a further 15 credits from optional module list below.

Masters

Dissertation (60 credits)
This module provides an opportunity to conduct a project that is of importance to your professional practice and of relevance to your own workplace or organisation, with the ultimate aim of influencing and impacting on the care provided to those using this service.

Optional modules

Personalised study module or work-based learning for service development (15 credits)
The work-based learning module provides you with the opportunity to apply your academic and developing professional skills in a real world environment. You propose and undertake a package of work which directly relates to your scope of practice and/or client group.

For the personalised study module, you propose and undertake a package of work that is reflective of a more personal and individual area of interest. It may still be of relevance to your professional role, but this need not be informed and guided by priorities specific to your workplace.

Technical advances in radiotherapy (15 credits)
This module provides you with an opportunity to extend and enhance your knowledge of key technical advances that are influencing and continually evolving the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer. This includes both current and future advances in topics such as • advanced immobilisation and breath hold techniques • proton therapy • stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) • intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) • image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) • functional and biological targeting. You develop a critical understanding of the key principles and evidence base underpinning these advances and how these may impact on the patient, the service and individual practitioners.

Breast cancer radiotherapy (15 credits)
The aim of this module is to provide you with specialist knowledge of the planning and delivery of adjuvant radiotherapy for early stage breast cancer. For those individuals working within or towards advanced or consultant practice roles, this module has been designed to help you develop the skills necessary for this level of practice. In particular, the module is designed to enhance entrepreneurial skills, which can be used by an individual to innovate within an organisation, developing and implementing novel solutions to organisational problems.

Prostate cancer (15 credits)
This module aims to enable an in-depth understanding of the current knowledge and evidence based findings on prostate cancer and its management. Content is patient-centred, with specific reference to the patient journey and the physical and psychological impact of the disease and its management. Contemporary issues and approaches related to patient management and care are discussed and critical reflection and evaluation of own and others clinical practice is encouraged.

Optional modules continued

Head and neck cancer (15 credits)

This module aims to develop an in-depth, critical understanding of the current knowledge and evidence based findings on head and neck cancer and its management. It has a clear emphasis on how the disease and its treatment impacts both physically and psychosocially on those affected. Areas covered include • diagnosis of head and neck cancer • treatment of head and neck cancer (all stages) • the physical and psychosocial impact of head and neck cancer and its treatment • the care of those affected.

Expert practice (30 credits)

With the support of your workplace this module aims to formalise and validate your development as an expert practitioner. The module encourages you to take ownership of your advancing professional practice and academic learning to support the development of your expert clinical practice. As part of this development you critically reflect on non-standard and difficult/challenging cases and the decisions you make. You also demonstrate an in-depth understanding of inter-patient differences and how these influence your decisions. You develop a critical understanding of the legal, ethical and professional frameworks underpinning your practice and the influence these have on your role and responsibilities as an expert practitioner.

Brachytherapy: principles to practice (15 credits)

The module aims to provide the theoretical underpinning for the principles and practice of brachytherapy, and enable individuals to develop a critical understanding of the rationale for its use and its benefits. Limitations and practical issues will be discussed and, with reference to relevant research, the impact of brachytherapy on the overall management of specific cancer sites. It covers • physical and theoretical principles of brachytherapy • rationale and benefits of brachytherapy • practical application and protocol considerations • impact on the service and practical implementation • role for specific cancer sites • influence on clinical outcomes and care of the brachytherapy patient.

Fundamentals of radiotherapy and oncology practice (15 credits)

This module enables you to develop an in-depth understanding of the core, fundamental principles underpinning current and future practice within the specific discipline of radiotherapy and the wider field of oncology. You learn about cancer cell biology and how cancer treatments affect the growth and development of cancer, individually and in combination with each other e.g. chemo-radiation regimes. In terms of radiotherapy, you develop a critical understanding of the impact and influence of radiobiological principles/issues on radiotherapy practice, and their wider role in the multi-modality management of cancer.

You also learn about future developments in the clinical and medical treatment of cancer and are encouraged to reflect upon contemporary issues and related policy and guidance impacting on and influencing the delivery of these cancer treatments and services. You are encouraged to critically reflect on the impact of these principles, practices and issues upon working practices, patient outcomes and service delivery.

Further information about all modules is available on our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) website.