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 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 are expected to have achieved the following overall 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
• is capable of applying 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
• has practical skills that are reflected in their independent performance of radiotherapy
• is capable of critically analysing and assessing planned radiotherapy based on physical and biological aspects
• is capable of critically analysing and assessing quality assurance and quality control methods in radiotherapy
• knows how to identify, assess and refer to information and subject matter in order to structure, formulate and communicate professional arguments
• is capable of analysing and assessing research results and other sources of information critically in order to make use of such information in their professional practice
• is capable of organising and carrying 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
• is capable of practising the profession in a safe and responsible manner in accordance with legal requirements and ethical standards for professional practice
• is capable of organising, critically assessing and quality assuring his/her work
• masters the forms of expression used in radiotherapy and is capable of communicating theories, problems and solutions relating to the field
• is capable of performing evidence-based work to ensure updated professional practice and development
• has the ability to cooperate 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 practical 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 practical training period STRÅLPRA-101 must be approved before the student can start the practical training period STRÅLPRA-102.
• STRÅL6020 must be approved before the student can take the exam in the course STRÅL6200.

The literature used in the study programme will mainly be international specialist and research literature in English. Practical 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 practical training. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the relevant course description.

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 patients’ safety. The minimum attendance requirement for the practical training period 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. Students are 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.

More detailed requirements for written work, deadlines etc. are found in the teaching plan.

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

The coursework requirements must be met in order to receive a final assessment in the course. To pass the practical 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 practical 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 2021.