Nathan Maitland-Davies

Why did you decide to apply to study at City, University of London?

I knew Radiography was what I wanted to do so by researching I came across the undergraduate course here at City. I feel City, University of London offers a great experience for all Health Science courses as you are able to study in a wide range of hospitals across London and Essex, broadening your clinical knowledge throughout the 3 years. I attended one of the Selection Days at the University and the location and facilities really stood out from the others that I had applied to.

Why did you choose to study this particular course?

I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in healthcare and Radiography really stood out to me, mainly because there are so many different modalities to learn about, with new and exciting equipment being used in each of these. Diagnostic Radiography has so many different career paths so I didn’t feel like I was restricted to one particular job with studying the course.

What has been your favourite module so far and why?

So far my favourite module has been Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology taken in my first year. This module explains the anatomy of the body in great detail and also contains many diagnostic images to reinforce what is learnt. Anatomy is one of the most important parts of medical imaging and the module helped to explain what to look out for when practising in a clinical setting.

How have you found the teaching on your course?

We have different lecturers teaching different modules that they enjoy. This in turn helps with teaching, as they can naturally make it easy to follow and understand. During the first year we also had many Healthcare professionals visiting the university as guest speakers and delivering a lot of talks on topics related to our study.

How have you benefited from the facilities available at City?

The use of the X-ray suites alongside our lectures were very beneficial in our training. These sessions allowed me to put what I had learnt to practice before going out on our clinical Placement. It helped build confidence and also a better understanding of how imaging in hospitals should be done to ensure patient and staff safety, as well as gaining the most diagnostic images as possible.

What kind of things are you involved in outside of your course?

I am a Student Ambassador for the Radiography course. I get to support the Selection Days where I will talk to prospective students about the course and opportunities it holds.

How have the placements been on your course so far?

I am currently completing my clinical placement at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital as my main clinical site, as well as spending some of my time at other hospitals in the trust and also in Private Hospitals. The most enjoyable part of this I have found is the rotation between different hospitals. Each hospital is slightly different and It is very beneficial to see how different radiographers work, in order to find a way of working that suits you.

I have really enjoyed my time on placement so far, mainly due to the fact that I was treated as part of the team from the first day and always made to feel more comfortable. I am always able to ask for help if I am unsure of anything, as all of the staff are really approachable.

How will your placement help you with your chosen career?

Placement will definitely help me in the future. The option for us to complete some time in a hospital of our choice will really help when applying for jobs. I aim to work in one of the major London trauma centres as part of my elective placement, in the hope that I will soon be able to work there as a qualified radiographer.

What would be your top tip for our applicants?

It is important to focus on the academic side of University but also to take part in the social aspect. Studying in Central London gives you both of these with lots of opportunities for students. If you are struggling with any of the modules, it is good to remember that all of the lecturers are happy to help at any time.