Undergraduate study in Radiation Therapy

Overview of the Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (BRT)

The Bachelor of Radiation Therapy is a three-year full time programme designed to produce radiation therapists qualified to use radiation to treat disease. Most patients receiving radiation therapy are cancer patients. It is a highly skilled profession and, because cancer affects so many people, qualified radiation therapists are in demand. A degree in radiation therapy is a great choice; it combines a variety of learning from health science to technology, patient care and teamwork. Radiation therapy offers a challenging, satisfying and life-long career.

The first year of the course is spent studying academic papers including anatomy and imaging; cancer cell biology; health and human behaviour; healthcare communication; radiation technology; radiation therapy and oncology; radiation therapy planning concepts. Students also spend one week in a clinical department to see first hand what it is like.

In the second and third years, students continue to learn at the Wellington campus, and also in clinical placements to gain experience with a range of equipment and techniques, taught in two semester blocks. Currently clinical placements occur throughout New Zealand in cancer centres in Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

At the beginning of second year, students also have four weeks of work experience in an oncology department before starting the clinical paper.

How to apply

Applications for the Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (BRT) open on 1 August and close on 15 September. To apply, visit:

Study Radiation Therapy at Otago

In the Ready to Enrol box, you should choose “Applications for Health Sciences Undergraduate Professional programmes, Dunedin, 2025” (even though the Radiation Therapy programme is based in Wellington). This will take you to your eVision application portal, where you will need to select Radiation Therapy from the list of programmes.

The course in detail

The course is full-time and takes three years of study to complete. In addition to the academic papers, there is a large component of clinical work within the degree, particularly in the second and third year.

First year

This year is spent at the University of Otago, Wellington campus in a class of about 30 students. During this first year, students spend two weeks in the clinical environment of a radiation oncology department.

Students complete the following papers:

• RADT 121 Radiation Therapy Practice I
• RADT 122 Anatomy and Imaging
• RADT 123 Radiation Therapy and Oncology I
• RADT 124 Radiation Therapy Planning Concepts I
• RADT 125 Healthcare Communication
• RADT 126 Health and Human Behaviour
• RADT 127 Radiation Technology I

Second year

The whole of the first semester is clinical, and then all of the second semester is taught at the Wellington campus.

Students complete the following papers:

• RADT 211 Radiation Therapy Practice II
• RADT 212 Principles of Research
• RADT 213 Advanced Healthcare Communication
• RADT 214 Radiation Technology II
• RADT 215 Radiation Therapy and Oncology II
• RADT 216 Radiation Therapy Planning Concepts II

Third year

The first semester is taught on campus in Wellington and the final semester is a clinical placement.

Students complete the following papers:

• RADT 311 Radiation Therapy Practice III
• RADT 312 Liberature Analysis
• RADT 313 Professional Development
• RADT 314 Radiation Therapy and Oncology III
• RADT 315 Radiation Therapy Planning Concepts III