Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science

Bachelor

A sonographer is a highly skilled medical imaging professional who operates an ultrasound machine to perform diagnostic medical sonographic examinations. The demand for ultrasound as a first line investigation has increased across all care settings, creating a shortage of sonographers in Australia.

Key details

Degree Type

Bachelor

Duration

3 years full-time, 5 years part-time

Course Code

T78, 112687K

Domestic Fees

$9,900 per year / $29,700 total

International Fees

$39,300 per year / $117,900 total

About this course

A sonographer is a highly skilled medical imaging professional who operates an ultrasound machine to perform diagnostic medical sonographic examinations.

The demand for ultrasound as a first line investigation has increased across all care settings, creating a shortage of sonographers in Australia.

In this course, you'll acquire knowledge and skills in applied anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, application and operation of ultrasound imaging systems, ultrasound image recognition and comprehension, patient assessment, and more.

This course is part of a 4-year offering accredited by Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR). Prior to the first clinical placement, students will need to apply to be an Accredited Student Sonographer. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science (T78) and the Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography (T77), students are eligible to upgrade their status to be an Accredited Medical Sonographer. The Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography will commence in 2027.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree Award.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- AQF Diploma or equivalent;
- Undergraduate Certificate;
- Successfully completed 0.5 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
- University Preparation Course;*
- Indigenous University Orientation Course; or*
- Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment.*
* Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.
International students and internationally schooled applicants (other than those students schooled in a recognised country) are required to provide an English language test approved by ECU with a score equivalent to the following minimum requirements:
- IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 7.5 (with no individual band score less than 7.0), or
- Pearson English Test (PTE) Academic with a minimum overall score of 72 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
- TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 102 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:
  * 24 for listening
  * 24 for reading,
  * 27 for writing, and
  * 23 for speaking
Note:
English tests must be completed within 2 years of the proposed course commencement date and additional requirements may apply in relation to acceptable number of test sittings.
Recognised countries for English language purposes are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or the United States of America. The medium of instruction must be English.

Minimum English standard requirements for this course may also be satisfied with one of the following:
- Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
- Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
- University Preparation Course;
- Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
- Aboriginal Student Intake Test;*
- AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree; or
- Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent).

Applications for this course are not accepted through ECU's Experience Based Entry Scheme.

Study locations

Joondalup

What you will learn

Apply broad medical sonographic knowledge and theory in a range of clinical and practical scanning situations.
Critically analyse and interpret sonographic information to diagnose clinical conditions and factors which impact upon the diagnostic formulation.
Use creative thinking techniques to anticipate challenges and generate solutions in medical sonography contexts.
Use digital technologies and information literacy to access, evaluate and synthesise information from multiple sources.
Communicate sonographic knowledge and ideas clearly, coherently, sensitively and with independence with patients and colleagues.
Interact professionally and respectfully with patients and colleagues, demonstrating a global outlook and support for cultural diversity, including delivering culturally secure services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.
Work collaboratively to initiate social, sustainable, safe and ethical practices for positive client outcomes.
Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and judgement for own learning and quality improvement practices.

Apply broad medical sonographic knowledge and theory in a range of clinical and practical scanning situations.
Critically analyse and interpret sonographic information to diagnose clinical conditions and factors which impact upon the diagnostic formulation.
Use creative thinking techniques to anticipate challenges and generate solutions in medical sonography contexts.
Use digital technologies and information literacy to access, evaluate and synthesise information from multiple sources.
Communicate sonographic knowledge and ideas clearly, coherently, sensitively and with independence with patients and colleagues.
Interact professionally and respectfully with patients and colleagues, demonstrating a global outlook and support for cultural diversity, including delivering culturally secure services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.
Work collaboratively to initiate social, sustainable, safe and ethical practices for positive client outcomes.
Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and judgement for own learning and quality improvement practices.

Career pathways

For the past 2 decades, Medical Sonography has been in the Occupations in Demand list of Australian Federal Government skilled migration program (https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019C00855) Sonography remains the most cited job vacancy in most national and international job seeking websites.

Possible future job titles

Medical Sonographer, Sonographer

Courses you can consider if you are interested in progressing further in this area.

Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography

Edith Cowan University (ECU)