This page is designed for those students starting the BSc Radiotherapy & Oncology course in September 2026 and preparing for life as a Sheffield Hallam University student. 

Induction 

You will also be invited to lots of social activities in and around University so keep an eye on the Student Union website. 

The first semester is full on, so please prepare to be in Uni 9-7pm Monday to Friday.

Induction Timetable

To help you understand what your first week at university will look like the university will publish induction and welcome schedules. Please see the website here for how to find this towards the end of August.

Your full timetable will be released once you have enrolled and been allocated a seminar group (usually the first week of University).

Academic Calendar

Here is a link to the academic calendar (please be aware this could be subject to change).

Getting Ready for Academic Study

Getting ready for academic study helps students prepare practically and mentally for their first term at university, please visit this guide here on ways to help prepare for academic study. 

Q & A

Starting University can be daunting, so we have created a Q & A package to help you. Please click here. 

Advice for students starting in September from a year 1 student. 

Preparing to come to University

Centralised information from Sheffield Hallam University should appear in your inbox. You may also wish to visit these links;

• Have you thought about accommodation? With this course and the amount of time spent in clinical it may not be advisable to book long term rentals. 

• Start to read around Radiotherapy.  Once you commence the course you will gain electronic access to "Walter and Miller's Textbook of Radiotherapy". This textbook is available electronically and can be accessed free of charge once you commence the course. 

• Please do ensure that you engage with the professional issues emails. Failure to do this may delay enrolment and attending placement. If you require any assistance with regards to any DBS, or Health checks, our team can be contacted on 0114 225 5637 or at hwb-professional-issues@shu.ac.uk

• Speak to the Disability Support Service if you have any reasons for additional support requirements whilst at University, or whilst on clinical placement (0114 225 3964  10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm Monday to Friday; Email disability-support@shu.ac.uk). 

• Ensure you are aware of your responsibilities  and the Student Charter whilst studying at Sheffield Hallam University. 

Collegiate Crescent Campus

We do a majority of our teaching at Collegiate Crescent Campus, so in preparation, keep a copy of this map.  The first semester will be a mainly face to face teaching, with some online live lectures. Your timetable will be released once you enrol, but please note that the first semester is busy! Collegiate is also renowned for very limited parking, so I would always suggest park and ride, public transport or car sharing. 

Getting to know Sheffield and the Surrounding Area

Student Life in Sheffield

Sheffield

The Outdoors in Sheffield

Visit the Peak District

Useful Placement Information 

This section will help inform you about the different placement sites we use for our BSc Radiotherapy and Oncology course. 

Placement hours are typically between 8.30-5pm, with the same breaks as staff have locally in your department. If you work shifts then your weekly number of hours must total 30 hrs per week. This is 8.5 hours per day, minus 1 hour for lunch.

1 day a week you will not attend placement. This allows you time to study, or undertake paid work.

Sheffield 

Weston Park Hospital (WPH) has a Placement Learning Tutor (PLT),  Leah Untisz-Sly (l.untisz-sly@shu.ac.uk). At WPH there is also a dedicated group of radiographers who are committed to student training and education and they are known as the Student Liaison Group. They support students by providing additional mentorship support as well as providing additional learning opportunities in clinical. 

Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield is part of  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. 

Information on getting to placement can be found on the WPH website. Please be aware that parking is very limited around the hospital and is typically pay and display. 

Leeds

The St James's University Hospital (SJUH) has Tejal Bradley-Patel as the Practice Learning Tutor (PLT)(t.b.patel@shu.ac.uk). 

Helen Furlong (Helen.Furlong1@nhs.net) is a specialist radiographer practitioner involved in undergraduate support and is based at St James's.

The trust website is https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/services/leeds-cancer-centre/diagnostic-treatment-services/radiotherapy/

The department is equipped with 10x Elekta linear accelerators (treatment machines) equipped with on-board imaging in use, 3x pre-treatment CT scanners, and a pre-treatment MRI scanner. We deliver a wide range of specialist treatments that include paediatrics,  total body irradiation, brachytherapy, Gamma Knife, chemo-radiation and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). The department is also involved in a large number of national clinical trials.

For information regarding hospital accommodation email leedsth-tr.Residences@nhs.net, The hospital is very limited on on-site accommodation so we encourage you explore other methods of accommodation or commuting.

Please be aware that parking is limited around the hospital and is typically pay and display. The hospital site is 1.5 miles away from the railway station and city centre. The number 16 and 42 bus travels between the hospital and city railway station.

Middlesbrough

The PLT for Middlesbrough is Jo Small (j.small@shu.ac.uk). The Radiotherapy Department, located at James Cook University hospital, delivers around 40,000 treatments each year and has a strong national and international reputation as a leading centre in the delivery of cutting-edge radiotherapy, to provide the best treatments and results for patients.

The department is equipped with 6 Elekta linear accelerators with CBCT imaging capabilities, two CT scanners, a superficial treatment unit, and a HDR brachytherapy unit. We also have access to cutting edge technology including Catalyst surface guided imaging system and Clarity ultrasound guided motion management. The machines are split between the main hospital building, and the purpose built Endeavour Unit across the road.

There is onsite accommodation at the hospital, as well as a range of local apartments and hotels available within walking distance of the site. The Radiotherapy team at JCUH, including the Practice Educator team, are approachable and friendly, many of whom have trained themselves with Sheffield Hallam.

We are part of the Northern Radiotherapy Network, and their website has a range of information and videos which showcase the department.

Newcastle

The PLT for Newcastle is also Jo Small (j.small@shu.ac.uk). The Radiotherapy Department at NCCC is the largest department of its type in the region receiving over 4,500 new patient referrals per year. The team provides a regional cancer centre service for the North East and treats patients with rare tumour types from other areas.

 There has been substantial investment in new and replacement equipment to expand and improve our radiotherapy service. The service is equipped with the latest radiation technology including:  7 Varian linacs, 2 Tomotherapy units, Superficial treatment unit and HDR brachytherapy. We utilise the most up to date imaging technology having dedicated MRI, CT and SPECT CT for planning along with CT, KV&MV Cone Beam, Fluoroscopy and ExacTrac imaging available for treatment delivery.

 As a state-of-the-art department, we deliver a wide range of specialist and cutting-edge treatments that include paediatrics & adolescents, total body irradiation, brachytherapy, chemo-radiation, stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy. We provide Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and employ daily Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT).

Our multidisciplinary team of clinical oncologists, medical physicists and therapeutic radiographers are trained to the highest level and aim to provide a radiotherapy treatment that equals the best national and international standards.

 The department is also involved in a large number of national clinical trials working closely with the Sir Bobby Robson Research Unit.

There isn't any on-site accommodation for students in Newcastle, but students can choose from a range of options while they are on placement: 

1. Charlotte House

2. Air BnB

3. house share in local area

Hull - Queen's Centre, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham. HU16 5JQ

The PLT for Hull is Alex Robinson (Alex.Robinson@shu.ac.uk) The radiotherapy department opened in the Queen’s Centre in 2008 and serves a population of 1.2 million people from a catchment area that includes the whole of East Yorkshire and parts of North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The department receives around 3000 patients referrals and we deliver 42,000 episodes of radiotherapy treatment every year. Please view THIS link where you will be able to take a virtual tour  department.

We are a leading department in the UK, delivering world class radiotherapy cancer treatment on six modern state of the art treatment machines called “linear accelerators”. Our machines have advanced x-ray imaging capabilities that enable very accurate treatment delivery through precise targeting and verification of tumour position. We currently have 4 TrueBeam Linacs and two Halcyon linacs. We are also in the process of install Surface Guided Radiotherapy which will allow us to move towards a tattooless process as well as improving the accuracy and reproducibility of our set ups.

The department is a young department with a very welcoming team of radiographers. All staff are trained to support students whilst on placement and we have a full-time practice educator employed. Accommodation is available on site which could allow students to gain extra time in bed in the morning with just a 5mins walk to the department.

Students have the option to work extended hours, completing 3 long days one week followed by 4 days the next. This allows for extra time to consolidate learning and potentially less traveling.

Lincoln

The PLT for Lincoln is Moniek Jansen M.Jansen@shu.ac.uk

Lincoln Radiotherapy Department is comprised of three Varian Truebeam linear accelerators, one CT scanner and a brachytherapy theatre. Research is highly valued at Lincoln and we take part in a number of clinical trials. We are national leaders in surface guided radiotherapy (SGRT) and are a tattooless department. We offer open face shells for our head and neck patients, as well as scheduled adaptive radiotherapy. We are the regional lead for prostate brachytherapy, providing both high dose rate (HDR) treatment and low dose rate (LDR) radioactive seed implantation. Our brachytherapy team also treat gynaecological cancers.   

We are proud to offer radiographer led review clinics, a late effects service and a Macmillan Specialist support in the radiotherapy department. We are currently developing a team of site-specific radiographers to provide specialist support to our patients.  

We are a friendly department with low staff turnover and we are committed to delivering high quality training for the future workforce. All our treatment and pretreatment radiographers are trained student mentors. We have a dedicated Practice Educator, whose role it is to support students throughout their three years with us. 

Lincoln is beautiful cathedral city and in recent years, the presence of the university has led to vast development, meaning there is excellent shopping, a number of independent restaurants and buzzing nightlife.  

There is accommodation available on site, with the possible option of staying in University of Lincoln halls or in the event that hospital accommodation is unavailable. Your PLT can provide you with more information if required.  

United Lincolnshire Hospitals

Derby

Keeley Rigby  hwbkr2@exchange.shu.ac.uk is the Practice Learning Tutor (PLT).

The Royal Derby hospital provides a radiotherapy service for patients from Derby city and the surrounding areas: serving a population of around 700,000 people.  The Radiotherapy department has 4 state of the art radiotherapy treatment machines Varian TrueBeam with surface guided technology (ALIGN-RT). The department also has a CT Simulator and a brachytherapy service. There is also a treatment machine to deliver superficial X-Ray treatment called Xstrahl. 

The department has specialist support and information radiographers, there is a Macmillan information lounge, and complementary and holistic therapy services are offered on site.

The hospital is accessible by good public transport links (rail and hopper bus) and there is on-site pay and display parking. There is the potential to stay in hospital accommodation which is a short walk away, this needs to be booked in advance via the Practice Educatorat Derby. Standard working hours in the department for students is 7.5hr days, usually: 8:30am-4:30pm.  The option of early or late shifts may be available depending on capacity and referrals within the department. 

Diverse placements are offered at Derby such as: pre-treatment, planning and physics, data input, Macmillan information lounge, brachytherapy, nuclear medicine, outpatient clinics, mould room, research and review radiographer roles, and MDT meetings. We also offer our students the opportunity to visit the Park centre in Nottingham and Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield.

Nottingham

Jakub Thornley J.Thornley@shu.ac.uk is the Practice Learning Tutor (PLT).

The City Hospital is part of the wider Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The other main hospital that is part of this trust is the Queens Medical Centre (QMC). The Radiotherapy service is based at the City Hospital. It is unlikely that you will ever need to visit the QMC. Nottingham University’s Hospital Main Website - http://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ 

The Radiotherapy department is split over two sites on the City Hospital campus (approximately a 5mins walk between them). Both departments have the latest / up-to-date equipment, enabling the department to offer a range of advanced and contemporary radiotherapy techniques. This includes; Volumetric Modulated radiotherapy (VMAT), Tomotherapy, Image Guided Radiotherapy, Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR), and Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) techniques. It also has a radiographer-led brachytherapy service, and has an award winning Information & Support team, led by a specialist team of radiographers who offer a range of services to their patients. 

Students also attend short placements at the Genesis Care cancer centre at the Park Hospital (see link above in the Derby section), nearby to the City Hospital. This small centre also utilises a range of advanced radiotherapy techniques, further adding to the range of radiotherapy approaches/work environments available to you.

Leicester

Laura Jaques (Binks) is the PLT for Leicester (lb2136@exchange.shu.ac.uk). Our Radiotherapy Department is a busy and modern department dedicated to delivering high quality and compassionate cancer care to our service users across Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland. The department is based in a purpose-built unit on the ground floor of the Osborne Building at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. We are currently going through the final stages of our linac replacement program on the path to becoming a five linac department. This will comprise of four Varian Trubeam linear accelerators and a Varian Halcyon 

We have around 2300 new referrals to the service each year, and an annual workload of around 33,500 fractions (attendances / treatments).

 Our department treats 120-145 patients each day on our linear accelerators  and plans patients on our two radiotherapy planning CT scanners.

We deliver many different treatment types varying from standard rapid arc treatments, SABR ,TBI , & Electron Treatments. Alongside this we also have superficial treatments on our Xstahl Machine .

We are also very proud to be the host for the East Midlands Operational Delivery Network, which is being developed to ensure that all patients across the East Midlands have equal access to modern radiotherapy treatment.