Medical Ultrasound (Sonography)

The delivery of this programme is supported by academics with a wealth of experience in medical ultrasound (sonography) education both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

At the heart of modern healthcare, sonography is an essential diagnostic tool. Our research-led Medical Ultrasound (Sonography) course will give you the essential skills required to work as a sonography practitioner (sonographer) in clinical practice. Sonographers are highly skilled professionals whose work spans many medical disciplines, not just obstetrics. Due to a growing demand for ultrasound examinations, existing education models have had to adapt to cover the undergraduate training of sonographers to successfully grow the workforce.

Currently our BSc (Hons) Medical Ultrasound is the only CASE-accredited, (Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education) direct entry, undergraduate programme in the UK, from which if successful, you are eligible to voluntarily register as a sonographer with the Register of Clinical Technologists.

The programme duration is three years where you will be allocated to one clinical placement. You’ll receive comprehensive training in both technical knowledge and professional skills, and gain an understanding of medical ultrasound’s scientific, technical and professional concepts. Our course has a strong focus on practical abilities, improving your motor skills and decision-making through simulation activities and clinical placement.

It is an exciting time to join the sonography workforce with excellent employment prospects and a bright future ahead.

The course duration is three years where you will be allocated to one clinical placement. You’ll receive comprehensive training in both technical knowledge and professional skills, and gain an understanding of medical ultrasound’s scientific, technical and professional concepts. Our course has a strong focus on practical abilities, improving your motor skills and decision-making through simulation activities and clinical placement.

It is an exciting time to join the sonography workforce with excellent employment prospects and a bright future ahead.

Why choose Leeds?

• The clinical/theory ratio is approximately a 50:50 split, giving you considerable valuable hands-on experience. Set in a fast-paced and dynamic working environment, clinical placements are undertaken within departments across the Yorkshire and Humber region and beyond, in both small and large hospitals. For your placements you will normally be allocated to one clinical department for the duration of the programme to foster a sense of belonging to the team you join.

• You will undertake a research project in your final year to develop your evaluation skills and your ability to question practice.

• You will complete an electronic portfolio using PebblePad each year to develop your reflective writing skills and prepare you for continuing professional development (CPD) when you are a qualified sonographer.

• The core Medical Ultrasound teaching team are qualified sonographers with decades of combined experience and expertise across a range of specialties.

Year 1
Your first year of study will introduce you to medical ultrasound, providing you with its most essential skills. These include hand-eye coordination, ultrasound technique and medical ultrasound pattern recognition. You’ll also develop an understanding of medical ultrasound’s basic physical principles.

Bodyworks Eve® simulations systems, the ScanTrainer® simulation system and other ultrasound equipment will be on hand to help with your training. Teamwork, communication and the principles of patient care will be developed at this time as well.

Year 2
Your second year will build upon your existing skills to further develop your understanding of medical ultrasound. You’ll undertake a variety of ultrasound examinations in obstetric and gynaecological contexts, as well as more general medical situations.

Other areas of study include imaging techniques that complement medical ultrasound (like projection radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) and learning how we combine imaging techniques to help us in diagnosis. Your understanding of ultrasound’s physical principles and your teamwork, communication and patient care skills will also receive a boost.

Year 3
The third year of the course will explore medical ultrasound’s more challenging and specialist aspects. You’ll learn how to evaluate and adapt ultrasound technique to help you with diagnosis, and you’ll develop a greater degree of independence and professional responsibility. You’ll also prepare for graduation and voluntary registration at this point.

We use a range of assessment methods on this course, which provide you with multiple ways to show off your knowledge and skills. Each method is designed to be fair and inclusive, allowing you to demonstrate what you’re capable of and take your strengths into account.

In each assessment you’ll need to demonstrate the knowledge and application of standard concepts, as well as your emerging skills. You’ll also need to show you can conduct independent, in-depth enquiry and demonstrate some creativity. Evaluating and criticising received opinion is another essential skill in this course.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education