Further Education in Radiotherapy Programme description

The further education programme in radiotherapy is a full-time programme with a duration of one year. The study programme has a total scope of 60 credits (ECTS). The programme qualifies students for independent work as radiotherapists pursuant to the Regulations relating to Radiation Protection and Use of Radiation (the Radiation Protection Regulations) Section 48 letter e).

The field of radiotherapy is in continuous development. Developments in medical technology are rapid and wide-ranging. New knowledge is being obtained in the areas of oncology, radiobiology and clinical physics. The amount of information about individual patients is increasing, and the available treatment is becoming more and more advanced. This enables more individually adapted treatment that aims to achieve improved life expectancy and/or better quality of life for the patients.

The quality of the available treatment is dependent on the education of radiotherapists who are highly qualified in all areas of the field of radiotherapy. The further education programme in radiotherapy gives the students the necessary basis for working as radiotherapists and a basis for subsequently keeping up-to-date with developments in the field.

Radiotherapists deal with patients in a serious condition, which places great demands on their professional practice. Cancer patients need close follow-up, good information and necessary care. Many patients receive treatment over a long period, and the radiotherapy personnel are often their primary contact.

Radiotherapy is very much an activity where success depends on good cooperation between several disciplines. Improvements in radiotherapy require the different professions to have a good knowledge of each other’s discipline. Radiotherapists must therefore have good knowledge of the work of oncologists and medical physicians.

The programme description was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. The programme description also takes into account the European core curriculum for radiotherapists from the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO).

The programme’s target group is radiographers.

Bachelor’s degree in radiography or other three-year study programme in radiography.

Ranking

If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of places on the programme, the applicants will be ranked according to how many competitive points they have. Competitive points are the sum of grade points and additional points.

Additional points are awarded for relevant work experience to applicants who have practised as radiographers or similar. Additional points are awarded for relevant education to applicants who have other education in radiography or similar. Five additional points can also be awarded to applicants who receive a salary/grant from a radiotherapy centre during the period of study.

Reference is made to the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at OsloMet for more detailed provisions on admission requirements, ranking and the calculation of points.

The purpose of the further education in radiotherapy is to educate patient-oriented, independent and reflective professionals who will engage in interdisciplinary cooperation. The candidates are expected to acquire competence that ensures that they practise their profession in accordance with applicable requirements and guidelines.

After completing the programme, the candidates should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge of oncology and cancer therapy
• has in-depth knowledge of cancer care that is relevant to radiotherapy patients and their next of kin
• has advanced knowledge of the biological aspects that form the basis for radiotherapy
• has advanced knowledge of the physical and technical aspects that form the basis for radiotherapy
• has advanced knowledge of the radiotherapy process, treatment preparations and the clinical pathway involved in radiotherapy
• has in-depth knowledge of quality assurance and control, monitoring and verification in radiotherapy
• has detailed knowledge of laws, regulations and recommendations relating to radiotherapy
• can apply knowledge to new fields in the discipline

Skills

The candidate

• knows how to identify and attend to the patient’s need for care and follow-up in connection with radiotherapy
• knows how to use communication techniques and communicative competence when dealing with patients and their next of kin
• can carry out radiotherapy in accordance with applicable guidelines and procedures in an independent manner
• can critically analyse and assess planned radiotherapy based on physical and biological aspects
• can critically analyse and assess quality assurance and quality control methods in radiotherapy
• can collect, critically assess and refer to information and subject matter in order to structure, formulate and communicate professional arguments
• can analyse and critically assess research results and other sources of information in order to make use of such information in his/her professional practice
• can organise and carry out an independent project based on scientific method(s)

Competence

The candidate

• knows how to treat patients and next of kin with empathy and respect
• can practise the profession in a safe and responsible manner in accordance with legal requirements and ethical standards for professional practice
• can organise, critically assess and quality assure his/her own work
• masters the forms of expression used in radiotherapy and can communicate theories, problems and solutions relating to the field
• can perform evidence-based work to ensure updated professional practice and development
• can initiate and contribute constructively to cooperation with and an understanding of other professions’ expertise and areas of work and responsibility

The programme consists of five mandatory courses:

STRÅL6010 – Scientific Subjects and Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy 

The course covers basic knowledge of radiotherapy: clinical physics, dosimetry, knowledge of equipment/machines and quality assurance.

STRÅL6020 – Oncology and Cancer Care 

The topic covers general and specific oncology, and communication with and care for cancer patients, with special emphasis on the care needs that arise during radiotherapy.

STRÅLPRA – Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy

The course consists of two periods of clinical training (STRÅLPRA-101 and STRÅLPRA-102) and covers treatment planning, performance and quality assurance of radiotherapy, as well as patient care.

STRÅL6110 – Radiobiology and Treatment Planning in Radiotherapy

The course covers treatment plans, treatment planning, assessment of radiobiological effects and quality assurance in radiotherapy. The course is also offered as a master’s degree course to students in the master’s degree programme in biomedicine. This means that the group of students may comprise both further education and master’s degree students.

STRÅL6200 – Thesis

The course consists entirely of a project that concerns a relevant topic in the field of radiotherapy. The courses build on each other with increasing requirements for knowledge and understanding of radiography. All courses conclude in a final assessment/exam

The academic year is 40 weeks long, and the expected workload is 40 hours per week. This includes scheduled activities, students’ own activity and exams.

Study progress

• The following provisions on progress apply to the study programme:

• Students must have passed the course STRÅL6010 before they can take the exam in STRÅL6020.

• STRÅL6020 and the clinical training period STRÅLPRA-101 must be approved before the student can start the clinical training period STRÅLPRA-102.

• STRÅL6020 must be approved before the student can take the exam in the course STRÅL6200.

The programme’s learning outcomes cover a broad spectrum. This requires varied and complex work and teaching methods in order to support students’ learning process. The work methods promote learning processes that build on the students’ own activity and responsibility for their own learning. Students are expected to use problem-solving work methods and develop their ability to work both in groups and independently. A good learning outcome is first and foremost dependent on the students’ own effort. This applies both to benefiting from teaching and academic supervision and to independent work in the form of theoretical studies and practical skills training. Independent work includes both cooperation with fellow students and individual work.

The following work and teaching methods are used in the course: lectures, seminars, skills training, lab exercises, clinical training, self-study, project work and other independent or group assignments. The students may also be taken on excursions.

The students will receive regular supervision and feedback throughout the study period, both in connection with theoretical tuition, written assignments and clinical training.

Lectures

Lectures will primarily be used to introduce important subject matter. The purpose of the lectures is to highlight connections and main elements in topics, and to communicate relevant issues. The theoretical tuition will take place at Oslo University Hospital (OUS) – the Norwegian Radium Hospital.

Seminars and workshops

Seminars and workshops are used to focus on a specific topic and require active participation by the students. The seminars are led by the course lecturer and are a forum for discussing and communicating issues in the field of radiography.

Written assignments 

The students will work continuously throughout the study period on written reports and project assignments, individually and in groups. The thesis is a project that students work on over time in groups. Presentations in plenary sessions to fellow students, lecturers and others may also be relevant. The work will give the students experience of presenting their own knowledge, experience and opinions, in writing and orally. Students will receive feedback on their written assignments from the supervisor and/or fellow students.

Skills training and lab exercises

Skills training and lab exercises take place in smaller groups. In clinical practice in radiotherapy, skills training will take place in different modalities where the students acquire skills through clinical training and reflection. In clinical physics and dosimetry, lab exercises will be carried out and tuition will be provided in how to conduct different measurements and calculations.

Clinical training

Clinical training ensures that the students participate in real-life activities that provide insight into and experience of issues that arise in a radiotherapist’s area of work. The students will be given an opportunity to test, process and develop knowledge obtained through other work methods.

Clinical training will take place in the course STRÅLPRA Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy, worth 15 credits. The students will undergo placements for the purpose of developing new knowledge, skills and general competence through direct contact with the professional field. Based on theory and experience gained earlier in the study programme, the students will immerse themselves in theoretical and practical knowledge that is important in the professional field.

Clinical training can take place at any one of the radiotherapy centres in Norway. Students may be assigned placements outside Oslo. Reference is made to the course description for STRÅLPRA for more information about the organisation and content of the clinical training.

The literature used in the study programme will mainly be international specialist and research literature in English. Clinical training may be conducted abroad by arrangement. The study programme will facilitate international guest lectures.

Required coursework is all types of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for being permitted to take the assessment/exam and/or complete periods of clinical training. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the respective course descriptions.

The programme has coursework requirements in the form of compulsory attendance and project assignments.

Compulsory attendance

The minimum attendance requirement for the introduction to the study programme, skills training, lab exercises, seminars, workshops, presentations of different types of work and scheduled group and project work is 80 per cent. This is to ensure that the students achieve sufficient competence and skills of vital importance to patient safety. The minimum attendance requirement for the clinical training periods is described under ‘Assessment/exam forms’ below.

If a student exceeds the maximum absence limit, the lecturer will consider whether it is possible for the student to compensate for the absence by meeting alternative requirements, for example by submitting individual written assignments. If it is not possible to compensate for the absence, the student must take the course the next time it is taught. Whether or not it is possible to compensate for absence depends on the extent of the student’s absence and which activities he/she has missed.

Project assignments

In the courses STRÅL6010 and STRÅLPRA, the students will carry out individual project assignments relating to scientific subjects and care in radiotherapy, respectively.

Project assignments that are not approved must be reworked before re-submission. If the project assignment for STRÅL6010 is not approved on re-submission, the student cannot take the ordinary exam in the course. The student is entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If the assignment is not approved after three attempts, the student must take the course the next time it is taught.

The project assignment in the course STRÅLPRA must be approved before the final assessment in STRÅLPRA-102. The students have up to three attempts to have the assignment approved. If the assignment is not approved after three attempts, the student will not receive a final assessment and must take the course the next time it is taught.

The assessment arrangements are intended to assess the students regularly throughout the programme in order to promote learning, while also providing information about study progress and the results achieved to the programme and the student. The assessment of exams and clinical practice is in accordance with the applicable provisions set out in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.

Detailed information about the exam will be provided in the guidelines for the individual exams well before the exam date.

Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description.

The grade awarded for a written exam can be appealed, cf. Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and Section 7-3 (2) of the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. For a group exam, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidates who submitted the appeal. This means that all members of the group do not have to participate in the appeal.

Assessment of clinical training

The practical course STRÅLPRA consists of two periods of clinical training: STRÅLPRA-101 and STRÅLPRA-102. The grade pass or fail will be awarded for each training period. Credits are awarded on completion of both training periods.

The coursework requirements must be met in order to receive a final assessment in the course. To pass the clinical training, the student must have met the compulsory attendance requirements and achieved the learning outcomes for the course.

The student must attend at least 90 per cent of the scheduled activities in clinical practice. The student will be allowed to make up for absence of between 10 and 20 per cent by agreement with the clinical training supervisor. Absence in excess of 20 per cent means that the whole period must be retaken. This leads to delayed progress and must be seen in conjunction with the student’s individual education plan.

Programme description:

Adopted by the department board at the Department of Health Sciences on 28 March 2001

Latest amendments approved by the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences on 27 January 2021

The programme description applies to students starting the programme in 2022.