What were you doing before you came to study at City St George's?
Before I started my time at City St George's, I was a sixth form student preparing for my A-Levels (Maths, Biology, and Physics) during the COVID-19 lockdown.
How did you develop an interest in this subject area, and why did you choose to study this course?
I wanted to have a career in healthcare, but I knew that medicine was not for me for several reasons, such as the extensive exams and the high level of autonomy expected of me, which makes me a bit anxious.
I researched different careers and tried to find one with the right balance—i.e. no night shifts, no weekend work, working with medical technology, and being part of a team rather than an independent clinician.
Why did you choose to study at City St George's?
I know that NHS hospitals prefer to employ staff who trained at their hospitals as students, and City St George’s has very good rapport with many large London Trusts, which would make finding a job easier. Also, as a student who lives at home, it made commuting to placement sites much easier. Since some placements may require me to live away temporarily, it was reassuring to know that I would not have to pay for temporary accommodation out of pocket (as it can be claimed back) while maintaining my main residence.
What has been your favourite thing about studying this course?
I like how the course is examined in various formats, making it fairer for everyone. For example, oral exams allow me to explain my ideas more clearly, while coursework reports give me the flexibility to complete assignments around my other commitments.
What is your favourite thing about studying at City St George's?
One of the best things about studying at City St George’s is its central location, which makes it easy to explore London. Being close to great food spots, greenery, and other social activities means there’s always something to do after lectures or clinical placements. The student community at the university holds frequent events, making it easy to connect with people from different courses and build a strong social network.
How have you found the teaching and facilities on your course?
I really like the teaching, particularly the strong emphasis on professional practice. What is relevant to real-life healthcare scenarios is prioritised. We also have simulation rooms where we can practice using the same medical technology as in our hospital placements, without the pressure of working with actual patients.
Where have you been on your clinical placements, and what have you enjoyed most about these experiences?
All of my placements have been at large NHS Trusts. This has meant that there is a lot of interdisciplinary work between different professionals, for example, clinical oncologists work in the same department as us, so if we need a consultation, we can easily request their assistance.
Larger hospitals also often invest more in specialist training, allowing us to learn from highly skilled professionals; for example, instead of patients being sent back to their doctor for review, a specialist skin reaction radiographer can assess them and prescribe medication.
How will these experiences help you with your future career?
A key takeaway from my hospital experiences is learning how to communicate effectively with different people. For example, when speaking with patients and their families, it is important to avoid jargon and to give them the opportunity to ask questions. When communicating with colleagues, clarity and conciseness are essential to maintaining a professional and efficient working relationship.
What would be your advice to students about to start their first placement experience?
First impressions count - there is a high chance that once you qualify, you will be working with the same people who trained you. Be punctual, keep your uniform clean and in line with guidelines, and bring the necessary personal equipment (so you don’t have to borrow from other radiographers and risk forgetting to return items).
Be proactive with administrative tasks, and even if staff seem busy or uninterested, remember that their priority is patient care, but they are still invested in teaching you. Whenever there is a gap in the appointment timetable, ask if you can practice using the machines under supervision - this removes the time pressure you would normally have when working with real patients.
Keep a notepad on you to jot down unfamiliar terms and techniques, and follow up on them when you get the chance.
Have you overcome any challenges during your studies?
A major challenge I faced was balancing hospital placement blocks with revision for upcoming exams. After working a full shift, I still needed to dedicate hours to academic study, which was mentally draining. A good way to manage this is to use the hospital library during free periods (such as when sharing a machine with another student or when there are long gaps between patient appointments) to stay on top of revision.
What kind of things are you involved in outside of your course?
I am really interested in MedTech and Digital Health, which aligns with my decision to pursue radiography. This field focuses on how technology can drive advancements in healthcare, from improving digital health records to developing new diagnostic imaging devices.
I am part of the National MedTech Foundation, which gives me access to conferences, research opportunities, and networking events to broaden my skill set. Programmes like this have shown me that my degree does not limit me to just working clinically.
What do you plan to do after you graduate, and how has City St George's helped prepare you for this?
I plan to practice clinically as a treatment radiographer. I am excited about the rotational placements offered by many hospitals, which allow radiographers to gain experience in different specialisms within therapeutic radiography, such as CT imaging, physics planning, and brachytherapy. Advancing in a healthcare career requires continuous professional development (CPD), and rather than jumping straight into a master’s degree, I know that hospitals invest in their staff by offering CPD courses free of charge to help them upskill.
What would be your advice to anyone considering studying this course?
I would recommend organising a clinical work experience day in a hospital radiography department to shadow radiographers and observe their responsibilities. This experience can help you determine if this career is truly for you and expose you to key terminology and scenarios that will be useful for interviews and personal statements.
A good way to arrange this is by contacting universities that offer radiography courses and asking for the education lead’s contact information for their partner hospitals.
Date of interview: