Functional Skills Level 2 for Radiography: University Entry Requirements, Apprenticeships and the 13th January UCAS Deadline

Radiographers take the X-rays, CT scans and MRI images that doctors rely on to diagnose broken bones, cancer, strokes and much more. It is a registered health profession with real demand in the NHS, and the National Careers Service puts the starting salary at around £32,000 a year, rising to around £48,000 with experience, for a typical week of 37 to 40 hours.

If you want to start a radiography degree in 2027, the clock is already running. The UCAS deadline for most 2027 courses is 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027, about ten weeks from today. Almost every course page asks for English and maths at grade 4 (the old grade C). If you do not have those grades, this guide explains which radiography degrees and apprenticeships accept Functional Skills Level 2, which do not, the extra £1,000 a year that radiography students can claim, and how to get qualified in time to apply.

What does a radiographer do?

There are two types of radiographer:

• ✓ Diagnostic radiographers use X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound and other imaging to help find out what is wrong with a patient.
• ✓ Therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver radiotherapy to treat cancer, working closely with patients through their course of treatment.

You could work in a hospital imaging department, an emergency department, an operating theatre, a cancer centre or a community diagnostic centre. To practise in the UK you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which means completing an approved radiography qualification first.

Two main ways into radiography

A radiography degree

Most radiographers qualify through a three year BSc. The National Careers Service says you will usually need four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science, plus three A levels or equivalent including at least one science. Many adults and career changers apply with an Access to Higher Education Diploma in a science or health subject instead.

Universities also look closely at your personal statement and interview. Teesside, for example, encourages applicants to get some work experience and recommends spending time work shadowing in an imaging department before applying.

A radiographer degree apprenticeship

The Diagnostic Radiographer Degree Apprenticeship lets you qualify while you work, often as an imaging or radiography assistant. You need an NHS trust or other employer to take you on and support you.

• ✓ UWE Bristol, Diagnostic Radiographer Degree Apprenticeship (2027/28, January intake): asks for grade C/4 in English and maths “or equivalent” and states “we accept Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English”. You must be employed in a relevant role, and the course typically takes three years.

Employers can set their own requirements on top of the university’s, so check the job advert as well as the course page.

Which radiography degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2?

Here is what current course pages say:

• ✓ University of Leeds, BSc Diagnostic Radiography, 2027 entry: asks for five GCSEs at grade 4/C including maths, English language and science, and accepts “Level 2 Functional Skills Maths and English at a Pass” as equivalent to GCSE grade 4/C.
• ✓ University of Lincoln, BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography, 2027 to 2028 entry: asks for at least three GCSEs at grade 4 including English, maths and science “or equivalent qualifications, such as Functional Skills Level 2”.
• ✓ Teesside University, BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography, 2026 to 2027 entry: asks for five GCSEs at grade 4 (C) including English language, maths and science, and says Functional Skills Level 2 can be accepted in place of English and maths GCSE.
• ✓ Keele University, Radiography (Diagnostic Imaging), 2027 entry: accepts Level 2 Functional Skills Maths in place of GCSE maths. Its Foundation Year route also accepts Level 2 Functional Skills English. For the main route, check with admissions which English qualifications they accept.
• ✗ De Montfort University, BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography: asks for five GCSEs at grade 4/C including English, maths and science and states that “Functional Skills Level 2 qualifications are not accepted for this course”.

Four things to check before you apply

Each university sets its own rules, so check these four things on every course page on your shortlist:

• ✓ Science still needs a GCSE. Functional Skills covers English and maths only. Leeds, Lincoln, Teesside and De Montfort all ask for GCSE science as well, and Leeds normally expects double science. If you do not have it, plan for it now.
• ✓ English and maths can be treated differently. Keele names Functional Skills for maths on its main route. If a page only mentions one subject, email and ask about the other.
• ✓ Access to HE rules vary. Teesside says you do not need GCSE English and maths if you are doing an Access course, while De Montfort says GCSE English and maths are required as a separate qualification alongside an Access diploma.
• ✓ Science matters at Level 3. Lincoln asks Access students for 15 credits in a science related subject, and Leeds asks for at least 15 science credits at Distinction.

If anything is unclear, email the admissions team and ask: “Do you accept Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths in place of GCSE for BSc Diagnostic Radiography?” Our guide to whether universities accept Functional Skills Level 2 goes into more detail, and our guide to Functional Skills Level 2 English or a GCSE equivalency test explains how to choose when a course lists both.

Radiography students get an extra £1,000 a year

In England, radiography is one of the courses covered by the NHS Learning Support Fund, run by the NHS Business Services Authority. Eligible students can receive a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, which is not means tested and does not need to be paid back.

Radiography also qualifies for the Specialist Subject Payment, an extra £1,000 per academic year. The NHSBSA lists both diagnostic and therapeutic radiography as eligible. There is also Parental Support of £2,000 per academic year if you have parental responsibility for a child and meet the rules. Check the NHSBSA guidance for full eligibility.

Why the Ofqual regulated part matters

Not every online “Level 2” certificate is a regulated qualification. Universities that accept Functional Skills mean the Ofqual regulated Functional Skills Level 2 qualification, not a short course certificate.

At Functify Learning, your Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications are awarded by Highfield and regulated by Ofqual, and we are a Highfield Approved Centre. Functify is part of Geek School Tutoring, which has taught more than 1,000 students since 2013.

How long does it take to get Functional Skills Level 2?

That depends on where you are starting from.

• ✓ You feel confident: book the exam. With Functify Learning your exam is booked within 5 days and your certificate usually arrives within 10 days of your result.
• ✓ You are rusty: a 5 Day Revision Course from £19.99 gets you exam ready in about a week.
• ✓ You have been out of education for years or failed before: a live 10 Week Course from £197 per subject, in a small group of no more than 10 learners, with a mock exam included.

Not sure which group you are in? Take our free Functional Skills pass quiz at quiz.functifylearning.co.uk. It tells you whether to book now or revise first.

Your ten week plan to the UCAS deadline

Here is a realistic timeline from Tuesday 3rd November:

1. This week: shortlist three to five radiography degrees or apprenticeships and note exactly what each asks for in English, maths and science. Take the free pass quiz.
2. By mid November: start a 5 Day Revision Course, or book a £35 mock exam per subject to find any gaps. Ask a local imaging department about work shadowing, and if you need GCSE science, find out where you can sit it.
3. Late November to early December: book your exam and sit it online from home, with technical setup support beforehand.
4. December: receive your certificate, finish your personal statement and add your qualification to your UCAS application.
5. By 6pm on Wednesday 13th January 2027: submit your UCAS application.

How much will it cost?

At Functify Learning:

• ✓ English Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ Maths Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ English and maths together: £250, instead of £320 booked separately
• ✓ Mock exam: £35 per subject
• ✓ Klarna available at checkout on orders of more than £35

For a full breakdown, read our guide to how much a Functional Skills Level 2 exam costs in 2026. If you are weighing up other health careers, see Functional Skills Level 2 for physiotherapy and Functional Skills Level 2 for occupational therapy.

Functional Skills Level 2 for radiography: frequently asked questions

Can I become a radiographer with Functional Skills instead of GCSEs?

Often, yes, for English and maths. Leeds, Lincoln and Teesside list Functional Skills Level 2 as an accepted alternative for their diagnostic radiography degrees. You will still need A levels, an Access course or another Level 3 qualification, and usually GCSE science.

Does Functional Skills replace GCSE science for radiography?

No. Functional Skills covers English and maths, not science. Most radiography degrees, including Leeds, Lincoln, Teesside and De Montfort, ask for GCSE science at grade 4/C as well.

Do all radiography degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2?

No. De Montfort University states that Functional Skills Level 2 is not accepted for its Diagnostic Radiography degree. Always check the course page for each university you apply to.

Can I do a radiography degree apprenticeship with Functional Skills?

Some programmes accept it. UWE Bristol accepts Functional Skills Level 2 in maths and English for its Diagnostic Radiographer Degree Apprenticeship. You also need an employer, and employers can set their own requirements.

When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 radiography courses?

UCAS says applications for most 2027 undergraduate courses should arrive by 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027.

Is there extra funding for radiography students?

Yes. In England, eligible radiography students can claim the NHS Learning Support Fund Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year plus a £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment, because both diagnostic and therapeutic radiography are on the specialist subject list.

Can I sit Functional Skills Level 2 online from home?

Yes. You sit the exam online from home, and we help you set up your laptop, camera and connection beforehand.

Get your Level 2 sorted before the UCAS deadline

Book your English or maths exam today, sit it from home around work or childcare, and have your certificate ready for your radiography application. Not sure where to start? Message us on WhatsApp and we will point you in the right direction.