Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Radiations)

RMIT has a multidisciplinary approach to medical radiations, with the option to study all medical radiations disciplines at degree level.

Areas of specialisation include nuclear medicine, medical imaging and radiation therapy with a focus on supervised clinical practice to ensure you're job-ready.

This degree allows you to enrol directly into one of three specialised streams:

Through medical images such as x-rays, MRI, and ultrasound, radiographers assist in the diagnosis and care of patients. This degree combines knowledge of physical and biomedical sciences with technical expertise and patient care.

Nuclear medicine uses very small amounts of radioactive materials to diagnose and treat disease. Common nuclear medicine applications include cardiac stress tests to analyse heart function, bone scans for orthopaedic injuries, and lung scans for blood clots.

Radiation therapy is one of the main treatment options for patients diagnosed with cancer, and contributes to the high cancer cure rates in Australia. Radiation therapists combine knowledge of the physical and biomedical sciences in order to design and verify appropriate treatment plans, as well as conduct research.

Radiography or medical imaging includes X-rays, CT scans, digital subtraction angiography, MRI and ultrasound.

Radiographers use medical imaging techniques to help diagnose and manage disease or injuries. They combine knowledge of physical and biomedical sciences with technical expertise and patient care.

Nuclear medicine uses very small amounts of radioactive materials (radiopharmaceuticals) to diagnose changes in the body and treat disease.

Radiopharmaceuticals are detected using special cameras (gamma camera technology and positron emission tomography) that work with computers to provide images. During treatment, the radiopharmaceuticals go directly to the organ being treated.

Nuclear medicine technologists work closely with patients and other health professionals in the treatment of disease. They carry out tests, which may include cardiac stress tests to analyse heart function, bone scans for orthopaedic injuries and lung scans for blood clots.

Radiation therapy is one of the main treatment options for patients diagnosed with cancer.

Radiation therapists work closely with doctors to design, plan and administer radiation treatment for cancer patients. They use highly sophisticated equipment to work out the dose required for each patient and then deliver the treatment to their patients.

Graduates are employed in either the public or private healthcare sectors as:

• nuclear medicine technologists;
• radiation therapists;
• or diagnostic radiographers.

Graduates can undertake further study in the specialist fields of MRI, CT, ultrasound, position emission topography (PET), and specialist areas in radiation therapy.