Here's what you'll learn during your studies

The program builds on the skills you acquired during your bachelor’s degree and your professional experience, and specifically develops them further over the course of five semesters. In the process, you’ll combine diagnostic expertise with quality, technology, science, and management. 

• Image Analysis and Report Writing: You will further develop your skills, ranging from the systematic analysis and interpretation of chest/lung, abdominal, and skeletal X-rays to the structured preparation of radiology reports. In the process, you’ll learn to describe and evaluate image quality and abnormalities in a nuanced way, incorporate clinical information, and assess its clinical relevance. As the program progresses, you will apply these skills to a variety of cases, in clinical case discussions, and during clinical rotations under the mentorship of specialist physicians. 
• Quality and Patient Safety: Building on your prior knowledge, you will deepen your expertise in radiation protection and dose management. This is followed by quality management and technical quality assurance, as well as process and risk management. In this way, you will learn to systematically analyze factors influencing quality and patient safety and to derive optimization measures. 
• Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies: You will first learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. Building on this, you’ll explore the possibilities and limitations of artificial intelligence in diagnostic radiology and learn to use AI-supported applications in a critical, transparent, and quality-oriented manner for image acquisition, image analysis, and report generation.
• Communication, Management, and Leadership: You will expand your skills in multi- and interprofessional communication, process and change management, leadership, and self-leadership. In doing so, you’ll learn to reflect on your professional role, help shape projects and processes, incorporate diverse competencies within a team, and advocate for decisions grounded in professional expertise. 
• Science and Evidence-Based Practice: You will develop your scientific competencies, ranging from academic skills to evidence-based practice and research methods, all the way to planning and conducting your own research project. In your master’s thesis, you will ultimately work independently on a research question related to advanced practice in diagnostic imaging.

What You Should Bring

To be admitted to the program, you must hold a professional license as a radiologic technologist and a relevant college degree from a recognized domestic or foreign postsecondary educational institution. This includes, in particular, a bachelor’s degree in radiologic technology or an equivalent degree, such as one from a former academy for radiologic technology services in Austria, lasting at least 6 semesters. 

If you have completed a two-year training program in radiologic technology, you must also have a relevant bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree requiring at least six semesters of study, such as in medical technology, computer science, electrical engineering, educational sciences, or psychology. Comparable international degrees may also be recognized. The program director will determine the equivalence of other qualifications on a case-by-case basis. One year of relevant professional experience in conventional X-ray is advantageous but not a mandatory requirement. In addition, English proficiency at the B2 level and, if German is not your native language, German proficiency at the B2 level are required. 

Here's how the program is structured

The five-semester master’s program is designed to be taken while working and combines approximately 70% online instruction with 30% in-person instruction. Online courses generally take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In-person instruction takes place in blocks lasting several days, from Thursday through Saturday, at the Mitte Campus in Klagenfurt (three blocks from the first through the third semester and four blocks in the fourth semester). The fifth semester focuses on the master’s thesis and the master’s examination. Supervision appointments are arranged individually. In the fourth semester, you’ll complete a two-week internship at a radiology facility. In addition, the independent analysis and documentation of patient cases throughout the course of study—beginning at the end of the second semester—is an ongoing component of the program. You should take this case work into account when planning your study schedule.

Further Studies

Upon successful completion of the master’s program, a wide range of opportunities for professional and academic advancement will open up to you. For example, you can pursue a doctoral program and further deepen your knowledge in research and academia. At the same time, the program qualifies you for challenging roles in diagnostic radiology as well as for positions in development, management, and teaching.

General Information About the Program

For more information on admission requirements, the training contract, nostrification and recognition, the admissions process, examination regulations and grading, ECTS credits, and the academic calendar, please refer to the General Study Information.