Studies & Degrees in Radiodiagnosis
Radiodiagnosis is the medical use of images to find out what is wrong with a patient. The official Spanish training programme defines it as the medical specialty that studies the internal organs and structures of the body, their anatomy and their pathological changes, using images obtained with ionising or non-ionising radiation and other sources of energy. In English-speaking countries the same field is usually called diagnostic radiology or clinical radiology; "radiodiagnosis" is the name used in India, Spain and much of continental Europe.
The field began with the discovery of X-rays in 1895 and now covers plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and image-guided procedures. In Spain the older specialty of electroradiology was split in 1984 into three: radiodiagnosis, radiation oncology and nuclear medicine.
Two routes: doctor or imaging professional
People enter this field by two different routes, and it is worth being clear about which one a course belongs to.
- Radiologist (doctor). The radiologist decides which examination is appropriate, interprets the images and writes the report, and may also carry out image-guided treatments. This route requires a medical degree followed by a specialisation in radiodiagnosis.
- Radiographer or imaging technician. This professional operates the equipment, positions and looks after the patient, and checks the quality of the images. The route is a degree or vocational diploma in diagnostic imaging, without a medical degree.
Qualifications and levels
Medical specialisation. In Spain, radiodiagnosis is a four-year residency open to graduates in Medicine, according to the official programme published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado. In the United Kingdom, NHS Health Careers explains that doctors complete a two-year foundation programme after medical school and then specialty training in clinical radiology, which takes a minimum of five years; interventional radiology is the only sub-specialty. In India, universities award postgraduate medical qualifications (MD, MS and postgraduate diplomas) to medical graduates; the University of Delhi has a Department of Radiology, Radiotherapy, Radiodiagnosis & Radiation Medicine within its Faculty of Medical Sciences.
Degrees in radiography. In the United Kingdom, a diagnostic radiographer needs an approved degree or master's in diagnostic radiography. Degree courses take three or four years full time, and graduates must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before practising. The Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Delhi lists a B.Sc. (Medical Technology) Radiography and an M.Sc. (Radiography & Medical Imaging Technology) among its courses. In the United States, radiologic technologists typically need an associate's degree, and most states require a licence or certification.
Vocational training in Spain. The Spanish qualification is the Técnico Superior en Imagen para el Diagnóstico y Medicina Nuclear, a 2,000-hour higher vocational training (FP) diploma. Students learn to obtain images with X-ray, MRI and nuclear medicine equipment and to assist with ultrasound. Modules include plain and special radiology techniques, CT and ultrasound, MRI, radiation protection and patient care.
Short and online courses. Continuing-education courses can update knowledge, but they do not replace a clinical qualification. Before enrolling, ask the provider what recognition the certificate has and whether it gives access to regulated work with patients.
Where to study radiodiagnosis
SpainExchange lists four schools for this subject, one each in India, Spain, Ukraine and Russia: the University of Delhi; Formación Universitaria, a distance-learning institution based in Seville; Bukovinian State Medical University in Chernivtsi; and Rostov State Medical University in Rostov-on-Don. Bukovinian State Medical University states that it teaches in Ukrainian and, for foreign students, in English.
Because the medical route is a postgraduate specialisation, the practical questions for an international applicant are whether the country recognises their medical degree, how residency or postgraduate places are allocated, and in which language patients are seen. For the technical route, check that the programme includes supervised practice in a hospital imaging department and that it is the qualification the national regulator asks for.
Careers
Radiologists work in hospital imaging departments and private clinics. Graduates of the Spanish FP diploma work as imaging or radiodiagnosis technicians in radiodiagnosis and nuclear medicine units, research centres, forensic institutes and veterinary centres, according to TodoFP.
In the United States, radiologic technologists and technicians held about 234,200 jobs in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment of radiologic and MRI technologists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 15,300 openings a year.
Frequently asked questions
Is radiodiagnosis the same as radiology?
In practice, yes: radiodiagnosis is the name used in Spain, India and other countries for diagnostic radiology. Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine are separate specialties; in Spain they have been separate since 1984.
Do I need a medical degree to study radiodiagnosis?
To become a radiologist, yes: the specialisation is open only to medical graduates. To work as a radiographer or imaging technician you need a degree or vocational diploma in diagnostic imaging instead.
How long does the specialisation take?
Four years of residency in Spain, and a minimum of five years of specialty training after the two-year foundation programme in the United Kingdom. Other countries set their own durations.
What does an imaging technician study in Spain?
The 2,000-hour higher FP diploma Técnico Superior en Imagen para el Diagnóstico y Medicina Nuclear, which covers radiology techniques, CT, ultrasound, MRI, nuclear medicine and radiation protection.