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University of South Australia (UNISA)

Adelaide , South Australia ,Australia

Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography (General)

If you are a medical radiation or other allied health professional and want to broaden your career prospects, this graduate diploma may be for you.

General sonographers require highly developed technical skills and a strong understanding of physics, anatomy and pathology for the examination of body parts such as internal organs, blood vessels, musculoskeletal systems, reproductive organs and pregnancies.

In just two years of part-time study you will extend your knowledge, practical skills and understanding of this specialised area. Practical learning is a major focus, with students embarking on 2,200 hours of ultrasound training and associated clinical placements.  

This graduate diploma is only offered online, with attendance at an on-campus final clinical assessment required. It can only be studied part-time over a minimum of two years.

Completion provides credit toward the Master of Medical Sonography (General).

Through a combination of theory and practice you will gain advanced technical skills and a strong understanding of health science, physics, anatomy and pathology. 

The courses studied will develop your knowledge, clinical expertise, critical thinking and the analytical skills needed for a successful career as a medical sonographer. 

You will be required to complete 2,200 hours of ultrasound scanning experience (verified by an ASAR accredited sonographer or equivalent).

Campus Information

Adelaide- City East

Study in the heart of the city centre, in an area rich in history and culture. City East is home to modern health science facilities.

Intakes

  • Feb
  • July

Application Processing Time in Days: 14

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Teaching and Research

UniSA has an excellent reputation in teaching and learning and an enviable record of achievement in graduate employability. Our teaching focuses around preparing students to be work-ready through relevant and industry-informed curricula. UniSA ensures its teachers motivate, challenge and stimulate students’ learning, with our research activity informing our teaching across our broad discipline profile.

Teaching and learning excellence are at the centre point of our promotion criteria, performance management practices, and approaches to rewards and recognition for our academic staff.

Research at UniSA is inspired by challenges and opportunities, partnered with industry and communities, and underpinned by excellence. Our academics engage in interdisciplinary teams to translate their research into meaningful outcomes. Contributing to a research environment that is vibrant, responsive and outward-facing are the University’s research themes. The themes link our research strengths and address local and global socio-economic needs:

  • An age friendly world
  • Transforming industries
  • Scarce resources
  • Cancer
  • Healthy futures
  • Transforming societies

Our flagship institutes and strategic alliances include the Future Industries Institute, Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, Sansom Institute for Health Research and the Centre for Cancer Biology. Further information about our enterprising research and research centres and concentrations can be found at our Research page.

Industry Connections

Real solutions don’t happen without great partnerships. We have partnered with local icons and international heavyweights to drive the advancements behind a better society. Across the University, we seek to match our research capability and strengths with the opportunities, challenges and needs of our partners, and maximise the mutual benefits of engagement.

With a growing presence on Adelaide’s cultural calendar and as a partner across arts, culture and sporting events, we’re acting on a social mission to enrich our society. Our campus spaces stimulate and foster creativity and innovation, support new models of learning, support our enterprise researchers and connect with the community.

Professional staff

As a professional staff member you get exposure to the research and teaching at UniSA, and work closely with leading academics who through research and teaching, are shaping the professionals of the future.

Professional staff support both staff and students, and this ranges from career advice services to students, finance, HR, marketing, facilities and management, research support – all of these areas are critical to supporting the day-to-day operations of departments and the university as a whole. There are numerous benefits and opportunities for personal development at UniSA.

There is a current shortage of specialised sonographers in Australia and New Zealand.1 Sonographers require developed technical skills and a strong understanding of health science, physics, anatomy and pathology for examination of body parts such as internal organs, blood vessels, musculoskeletal systems, reproductive organs and pregnancies. As a graduate, you can find work as an accredited medical sonographer in metropolitan, rural and remote locations, across settings including: 

  • hospitals  
  • private practices
  • tertiary education providers. 

PSW Opportunity

NA

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

Applicants are required to meet the following criteria:

  • Complete a letter of support confirming a training position within a General ultrasound department that will be supervised by an accredited medical sonographer who is registered with ASAR (Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry); AND EITHER
  • A Bachelor Degree or higher in an approved Field of Education (FOE), and completion of the prerequisite courses at a Bachelor level or higher within the last 10 years (or prior completion with evidence of clinical application of prerequisite knowledge); OR
  • A Graduate Certificate in Medical Sonography Principles and Theory (General); OR
  • Current registration with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (or overseas equivalent, where accreditation was awarded following completion of a recognised degree)

All applicants are required to complete the Additional Information Form and provide supporting evidence.