Bachelor of Medical Sonography/Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography
| Rank threshold | ATAR: 77 SR: 77 |
| Duration | 4 years full-time |
| Location | Brisbane and |
| Next start term | Term 1, 2025 |
| Study mode | On Campus |
| Course code | CG91 |
| First-year fee | $9,889 (Indicative) (CSP) |
Overview
Play an integral role in making a difference in the health of individuals, and working in tandem with other health professionals. Combine your passion for helping others with your fascination of medical diagnostics with the Bachelor of Medical Sonography/Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography.
This course is the first of its kind in Australia, allowing you to enter a niche medical profession with no prior degree in health sciences. Medical sonographers take diagnostic images using ultrasonic equipment to create still, video or 3D studies of anatomy and diagnostic data. They scan, analyse and modify images to optimise the information and require highly developed patient care and communication skills.
Throughout your course, you'll learn to apply sonographic knowledge and practical scanning skills in the diagnostic imaging setting. You will develop a high level of skill and proficiency in performing sonographic studies and evaluate your findings to tailor your scans to the individual patient in a safe, caring and effective manner.
Learning from experienced professionals, you'll enhance your communication skills to interact positively with patients and other health professionals in the clinical work environment. Your clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills will be promoted through the use of simulation-based learning techniques and exposure to 'real world' conditions while on clinical practice.
You'll study most of this course on-campus however, your first year is delivered online, with two compulsory two-day residential schools. These residential schools must be attended at your campus of admission.
As a graduate, you can apply to register as 'General Sonographers' with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry.
Study experience
- Fast-Track Option
- Clinical Placements
- Industry Accredited
- Industry Relevant
- Experienced Teaching Team
- Real-World Learning Facilities
Career Opportunities
The Bachelor of Medical Sonography/Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography prepares you to practise as a Sonographer or Ultrasonographer. Employment opportunities may exist in organisations such as:
- public and private hospitals
- clinics
- community health care services.
Australian Sonographers are well regarded globally and there are strong employment opportunities if you are looking to travel and work overseas.
Benefits of being a medical sonographer
- Important part of patient care and wellbeing
- Highly respected, niche health profession
- Excellent remuneration
- Growing shortage of sonographers, in Australia and worldwide
- Opportunity to move into speciality areas of ultrasound and medicine
CQUniversity's Bachelor of Medical Sonography/Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography prepares you for a successful career in sonography by ensuring you have the following attributes:
- high level of practical scanning skills and image evaluation
- clinical decision making and problem solving
- high level communication skills,
- ease in adapting to different environments,
- good eye-hand coordination and,
- a passion for health care.
Structure & Availability
The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.
Available locations
How you'll study
The course is structured so the first year is delivered online, with on-campus attendance required for scheduled residential schools. These residential schools must be attended at your campus of admission. Units with residential schools are marked in the unit list below.
In your second year, you will study across Terms 1, 2 and 3. In your second year, you will have large components of compulsory campus attendance, which must be completed at your campus of admission. During Terms 1 and 2 in your second year, you can expect to be on campus most days each week due to the number of labs and practice sessions.
In your third year, you will have large components of compulsory campus attendance, which must be completed at your campus of admission. Profession-specific units are run as internal units on your campus of admission. You can expect to be on campus most days each week in Term 1 due to the number of labs and practice sessions.
You'll complete your third and fourth clinical placement units in your fourth year. Placements are determined each year based on demand for specific locations from our students and availability from our partners who host our clinical placements. We can not guarantee or indicate where a likely placement will be, so you may need to travel (at your expense) to complete your placement requirements. We endeavour to meet your needs when coordinating and scheduling placements. However, placements are heavily dependent upon availability with partner hosts.
Note: Years 2, 3 and 4 have large components of clinical placement, which will be allocated by CQU's Clinical Academic and Work Integrated Learning teams. You may be required to undertake a clinical placement in a rural or remote location.
Your course
You must complete 24 units (192 credits):
- 1The core structure (24 units)
Unit details
The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.
Course planner
To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and when you will study each unit, check out our course planners.
Additional information
Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 2 - MEDS13006
Students will complete a ten week block placement (400 hours) in a diagnostic imaging facility. Students perform specified general ultrasound studies under the direct supervision of a qualified sonographer, or delegate. Students are supported on-site by a clinical supervisor and by the academic course coordinator and clinical academic at CQUniversity.
Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 3 - MEDS20016
Students will complete a nineteen week block placement (760 hours) in one (or more) diagnostic imaging facilities. Students perform a broad range of general ultrasound studies under the direct supervision of a qualified sonographer, or delegate. Students are supported on-site by a clinical supervisor and by the academic course coordinator and clinical academic at CQUniversity.
Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 4 - MEDS20017
Students will complete a sixteen week block placement (640 hours) in one (or more) diagnostic imaging facilities. Students perform a wide range of general ultrasound studies, progressing to independent practice in preparation for entry to professional practice. Students are supported on-site by a clinical supervisor and by the academic course coordinator and clinical academic at CQUniversity.
Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 1 - MEDS12007
Students will complete a five week block placement (200 hours) in a diagnostic imaging facility. Students perform specified general ultrasound studies under the direct supervision of a qualified sonographer, or delegate. Students are supported on-site by a clinical supervisor and by the academic course coordinator and clinical academic at CQUniversity.
If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.
To ensure that you have the opportunity to attend designated times in our simulation labs and use our ultrasound equipment, this course has strict quota limits that apply to each campus. This means that internal transfers between campuses to our CQUniversity Brisbane campus are not permitted. If you apply for a particular campus of study for this course and wish to transfer to another campus (excluding CQUniversity Brisbane), transfer applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, provided you meet specific requirements. For details, please refer to the 'More Details' section of our student handbook.
Due to accreditation requirements, the Bachelor of Medical Sonography and Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography does not currently permit a deferment and/or Leave of Absence (LOA). In order to meet accreditation requirements, as a student, you must be able to demonstrate continuous enrolment in this course. This means that you must enrol in the units available for you to study in each term, taking into account pre- and co-requisite requirements.
Requirements
To be eligible
For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.
Personal Attributes and Skills
A range of personal attributes will equip you for your studies and future sonography career. This may include:
- an interest and passion for healthcare,
- the ability to think critically and conceptually,
- physical attributes such as good eye-hand coordination, agility, and stamina to execute psychomotor skills,
- high-level communication skills,
- adaptability to different environments, patients and scenarios,
- empathy and compassion,
- resilience.
Student and course profiles
View the student and course profiles for this course and learn about CQU's Undergraduate Profile for Term 1, 2024 via our Institute Profile.
During your study
While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies.
Fees & Scholarships
Indicative first-year fee
The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one full-time academic year (eight units over two terms) for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary, depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the cost-per-unit spreadsheet available on our fees webpage for the approved unit fees. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Understanding your fees.
Commonwealth Supported Places
This course has Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available, and as a domestic student, you'll be offered a CSP, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.
HECS-HELP Loan
You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees.
Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.
We believe a quality education can be for everyone – regardless of background, location, or life circumstances. That's why we offer a variety of scholarships and bursaries that can give you a helping hand with a range of expenses and enhance your employability.
How to apply
How to apply
Select where you'd like to study and your preferred intake
You'll need to choose where you would like to study in the 'choose where you live' selector. This course is only available on campus, so not all states or territories will be listed.
Your application options
Follow these steps
Extra admission information
Prior to applying, take a look at important application dates and learn about our admission considerations, such as information for domestic students with overseas qualifications, indigenous support, and elite athlete, coach and performer support. You should also check out the adjustment schemes that might be available to you and how to access them. You can also explore our offer information to learn more about what happens after you've submitted an application and how to respond to an offer to study with CQU.
Start your application
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