Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography
Course code T77
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About this Course
Please note this course commences in 2027. A sonographer is a highly skilled medical imaging professional who operates an ultrasound machine to perform diagnostic medical sonographic examinations.
The demand for ultrasound as a first line investigation has increased across all care settings, creating a shortage of sonographers in Australia.
In this course, you’ll acquire knowledge and skills in applied anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, application and operation of ultrasound imaging systems, ultrasound image recognition and comprehension, patient assessment, and more.
On successful completion of this course you will fulfill the requirements for registration with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry.
All applicants are required to have completed a Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science (T78) at ECU.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level
This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Graduate Diploma Award.
Course code
T77Entry requirements
ECU admission and English language requirements apply.
See Course Entry for further information.
Admissions
Fees
Domestic fee paying - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $27,300
See Fees and Scholarships for further information.
Availability & Campus
| Location | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Joondalup | FT | |
| Mount Lawley | ||
| South West | ||
| Online |
Timetable
This course has a modified timetable. See Course Notes.
About this Course
Please note this course commences in 2027. A sonographer is a highly skilled medical imaging professional who operates an ultrasound machine to perform diagnostic medical sonographic examinations.
The demand for ultrasound as a first line investigation has increased across all care settings, creating a shortage of sonographers in Australia.
In this course, you’ll acquire knowledge and skills in applied anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, application and operation of ultrasound imaging systems, ultrasound image recognition and comprehension, patient assessment, and more.
On successful completion of this course you will fulfill the requirements for registration with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry.
All applicants are required to have completed a Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science (T78) at ECU.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level
This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Graduate Diploma Award.
Course code
T77CRICOS code
112688JEntry requirements
ECU admission and English language requirements apply.
See Course Entry for further information.
Fees
International students - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $41,450
See Fees and Scholarships for further information.
Availability & Campus
| Location | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Joondalup | FT | |
| Mount Lawley | ||
| South West | ||
| Online |
Timetable
This course has a modified timetable. See Course Notes.
Course Entry
Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.
-
Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- Bachelor degree; or
- Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.
All applicants are required to complete a Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science (T78).
-
International students and internationally schooled applicants (other than those students schooled in a recognised country) are required to provide an English language test approved by ECU with a score equivalent to the following minimum requirements:
- IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 7.5 (with no individual band score less than 7.0), or
- Pearson English Test (PTE) Academic with a minimum overall score of 72 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
- TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 102 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:
• 24 for listening
• 24 for reading,
• 27 for writing, and
• 23 for speaking
Note:
English tests must be completed within 2 years of the proposed course commencement date and additional requirements may apply in relation to acceptable number of test sittings.
Recognised countries for English language purposes are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or the United States of America. The medium of instruction must be English.Minimum English standard requirements for this course may also be satisfied with one of the following:
- Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
- Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
- University Preparation Course;
- Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
- Aboriginal Student Intake Test;*
- AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree; or
- Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent).
Course Entry
Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.
-
Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- Bachelor degree; or
- Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.
All applicants are required to complete a Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science (T78).
-
International students and internationally schooled applicants (other than those students schooled in a recognised country) are required to provide an English language test approved by ECU with a score equivalent to the following minimum requirements:
- IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 7.5 (with no individual band score less than 7.0), or
- Pearson English Test (PTE) Academic with a minimum overall score of 72 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
- TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 102 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:
• 24 for listening
• 24 for reading,
• 27 for writing, and
• 23 for speaking
Note:
English tests must be completed within 2 years of the proposed course commencement date and additional requirements may apply in relation to acceptable number of test sittings.
Recognised countries for English language purposes are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or the United States of America. The medium of instruction must be English.Minimum English standard requirements for this course may also be satisfied with one of the following:
- Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
- Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
- University Preparation Course;
- Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
- Aboriginal Student Intake Test;*
- AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree; or
- Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent).
Course Details
Semester availability
Semester 1: Study full-time at Joondalup
Course Structure
T77|3
For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.
Student handbookCourse notes
Important course notes
-
Students require to attend a minimum of 3 days per week clinical placement from January to November of the year of enrolment including the mid-semester and end of semester breaks.
-
Students complete two 40 CP units, totaling 3 days per week attendance in a clinical placement site over 48 consecutive weeks during the enrolled year.
Attendance requirements
Students may be required to undertake part of their placement in a rural or regional setting.
Students must attend a minimum of 3 days/week at any clinical placement sites.
Clearances and/or Risk Management Protocols Required
To be eligible to undertake clinical practice and fulfill their duty of care, students are required to complete risk management protocols on commencement of the course and carry out amendments in subsequent semesters, as appropriate. Risk management protocols include, but are not restricted to:
Certificate of National Police Clearance
Current WA Department of Health Criminal Record Screening Clearance Card
Current First Aid Certificate
Evidence of immunisation status as per the Department of Health schedule, more information at https://www.health.wa.gov.au/articles/f_i/immunisation-in-wa
MRSA clearance if worked in, or been admitted to, a health facility outside of Western Australia in the 12 months prior to enrolment Working with Children Check, more information at www.workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au
Due to the practical nature of the Medical Sonography professions and protection of the public, there are inherent requirements applicable to this course that may impact upon the success of some potential students. Applicants and students with a disability or other issue likely to impact on their ability to perform in practice are encouraged to contact the Access and Inclusion Service to discuss their situation.
More information can be found at https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/medical-and-health-sciences/placements/inherent-requirements
Professional practice rules
The practice education/fieldwork component of the course needs to comply with the Professional Accreditation Standards for the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR).
Students will be registered with ASAR as student sonographers prior to commencing their clinical placement and have to complete their accredited degree (4 years comprising: 3 years of Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science and one year of Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography) within 5 years of registration.
Course learning outcomes
- Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, evaluate and synthesise specialised medical sonography information in diverse clinical situations.
- Communicate advanced medical sonography knowledge, theory and best-practice evidence to a variety of audiences.
- Demonstrate initiative, accountability, self-management and high level, independent judgement in professional practice.
Professional Recognition
CourseAccredited by: ASAR: Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry
This course is part of a 4-year offering accredited by Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR). Prior to the first clinical placement, students will need to apply to be an Accredited Student Sonographer. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science (T78) and the Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography (T77), students are eligible to upgrade their status to be an Accredited Medical Sonographer.
Course Details
Semester availability
Semester 1: Study full-time at Joondalup
Course Structure
T77|3
For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.
Student handbookCourse notes
Important course notes
-
Students require to attend a minimum of 3 days per week clinical placement from January to November of the year of enrolment including the mid-semester and end of semester breaks.
-
Students complete two 40 CP units, totaling 3 days per week attendance in a clinical placement site over 48 consecutive weeks during the enrolled year.
Attendance requirements
Students may be required to undertake part of their placement in a rural or regional setting.
Students must attend a minimum of 3 days/week at any clinical placement sites.
Clearances and/or Risk Management Protocols Required
To be eligible to undertake clinical practice and fulfill their duty of care, students are required to complete risk management protocols on commencement of the course and carry out amendments in subsequent semesters, as appropriate. Risk management protocols include, but are not restricted to:
Certificate of National Police Clearance
Current WA Department of Health Criminal Record Screening Clearance Card
Current First Aid Certificate
Evidence of immunisation status as per the Department of Health schedule, more information at https://www.health.wa.gov.au/articles/f_i/immunisation-in-wa
MRSA clearance if worked in, or been admitted to, a health facility outside of Western Australia in the 12 months prior to enrolment Working with Children Check, more information at www.workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au
Due to the practical nature of the Medical Sonography professions and protection of the public, there are inherent requirements applicable to this course that may impact upon the success of some potential students. Applicants and students with a disability or other issue likely to impact on their ability to perform in practice are encouraged to contact the Access and Inclusion Service to discuss their situation.
More information can be found at https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/medical-and-health-sciences/placements/inherent-requirements
Professional practice rules
The practice education/fieldwork component of the course needs to comply with the Professional Accreditation Standards for the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR).
Students will be registered with ASAR as student sonographers prior to commencing their clinical placement and have to complete their accredited degree (4 years comprising: 3 years of Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science and one year of Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography) within 5 years of registration.
Course learning outcomes
- Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, evaluate and synthesise specialised medical sonography information in diverse clinical situations.
- Communicate advanced medical sonography knowledge, theory and best-practice evidence to a variety of audiences.
- Demonstrate initiative, accountability, self-management and high level, independent judgement in professional practice.
Professional Recognition
CourseAccredited by: ASAR: Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry
This course is part of a 4-year offering accredited by Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR). Prior to the first clinical placement, students will need to apply to be an Accredited Student Sonographer. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science (T78) and the Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography (T77), students are eligible to upgrade their status to be an Accredited Medical Sonographer.
Fees and Scholarships
Fees
- AUD $27,300 - Domestic fee paying estimated 1st year indicative fee 1
Note
1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for the individual units you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.
Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.
Scholarships
ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.
Find a scholarshipCareer Opportunities
For the past 2 decades, Medical Sonography has been in the Occupations in Demand list of Australian Federal Government skilled migration program (https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019C00855) Sonography remains the most cited job vacancy in most national and international job seeking websites.
Possible future job titles
Medical Sonographer, Sonographer
Similar courses to consider
- Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science
Students must complete the Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science before they can enroll in the GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY COURSE (T77).
Fees and Scholarships
Fees
- AUD $41,450 - International students estimated 1st year indicative fee 1
Note
1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, and has been calculated based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for each individual unit you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.
Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.
Scholarships
ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.
Find a scholarshipCareer Opportunities
For the past 2 decades, Medical Sonography has been in the Occupations in Demand list of Australian Federal Government skilled migration program (https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019C00855) Sonography remains the most cited job vacancy in most national and international job seeking websites.
Possible future job titles
Medical Sonographer, Sonographer
Similar courses to consider
- Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science
Students must complete the Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science before they can enroll in the GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY COURSE (T77).
Need some help deciding what to study?
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Quick guide to uni-speak
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The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.
-
ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.
-
CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.
-
A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.
-
Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.
-
If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.
-
-
-
If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.
Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.
-
Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.
-
A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.
-
We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.
-
These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.
-
An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.
-
Quick guide to uni-speak
-
-
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.
-
ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.
-
CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.
-
A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.
-
Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.
-
If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.
-
-
-
If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.
Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.
-
Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.
-
A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.
-
We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.
-
These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.
-
An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.
-
Do you have any questions about the Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography?
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Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.
Course Entry
There's more than one admission pathway into an ECU course. It depends on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience.
Fees & Scholarships
Course tuition fees can change, but we can give you an estimate of your costs. If you're eligible, a scholarship or student loan can help too.
Applying
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ECU Experience
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