Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) BSc

Discover the rewarding career of a clinical physiologist, working with patients to improve their quality of life through diagnostic tests, innovative therapies and specialised care.

On this three-year degree, the only London course offering training in both cardiac and respiratory/sleep physiology, students will build a strong foundation in human anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and pathophysiology. Over the course of the degree student will spend 50 weeks on placement gaining hands-on experience.

In Year 1, students gain a foundational understanding of physiological sciences, with a focus on clinically relevant information. The programme is designed to prepare students for clinical practice, with 10 weeks of clinical training at various sites, including cardiology and respiratory/sleep departments. By the end of the year, you will select your specialty. During placements, students will perform routine cardiac and respiratory procedures like ECGs, blood pressure measurement, spirometry, and pulse oximetry under supervision.

Year 2 focuses on students' chosen specialism, to deepen knowledge of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, heart attacks, heart failure and sleep apnoea. Students undertake 15 weeks of specialised placement experience and practice more advanced procedures, such as measuring gas exchange, lung volume, and sleep studies (respiratory/sleep), or ambulatory ECG and blood pressure monitoring, and assisting with cardiac exercise tests (cardiology).

In Year 3, students will focus on applying skills to prepare for professional practice. 25 weeks are spent on clinical placement, performing advanced procedures like cardiac catheterisation, device implants, and CPAP therapy for sleep apnoea. Dissertation will involve clinical audit or research, with opportunities for data collection and analysis.

Upon graduation, students will be eligible to register with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) and apply for NHS clinical physiologist roles.

"This is a modular degree that begins with a broad foundation of knowledge about all of the body systems and the disease processes that affect them but becomes highly specialised by the third year.

Year one combines an introduction to the biomedical knowledge underpinning healthcare science as a whole, and especially the field of physiological sciences. From the start the course is explicitly designed as a preparation for clinical practice, slanted towards medically relevant information and clinical context. During this year you will undertake 10 weeks of clinical training, divided between different sites to give you a variety of experiences. You will work in both Cardiology and Respiratory/Sleep departments at this stage.

At the end of year one you will select your speciality preference, either Cardiac Physiology or Respiratory/Sleep Physiology. Thereafter your learning will be divided between modules that are common to both strands and specialist modules that are specific to your choice.

In year two you will learn about the pathophysiology of common diseases affecting both the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, taught by clinicians and researchers who specialise in these subjects and aided by time spent working with the specimens in our extensive pathology museum. You will learn to understand the scientific basis for the complex instruments that Clinical Physiologists use, calibrate and quality assure. You will also receive training in the research skills necessary for successful completion of your third-year audit/research project. Most importantly, the
specialist modules cover the detailed physiology of your chosen system (Cardiac or Respiratory/Sleep), in interactive sessions delivered by our core staff of registered Cardiac and Respiratory/Sleep Physiologists. They will cover the highly skilled diagnostic techniques, methodologies and interpretation required for clinical practice, reinforced by 15 weeks of speciality-specific training in your designated clinical placement site.

Year three focuses on developing your ability to apply everything that you’ve learned so far to the practice of Clinical Physiology. University-based teaching will focus on developing your specialist academic skills, while 25 weeks in the clinical workplace will complete your clinical training, providing the hands-on experience needed to build real expertise. You will complete and write up your clinical audit/research project. The third year will see you transform from a student to someone who has the knowledge, experience, professionalism and clinical competencies required of a Clinical Physiology Practitioner."

You can find further information about the modules you can expect to study on this course on our website:
https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/prospective-students/courses/undergraduate/healthcare-science#accordion848491-header640908

"This course uses a mix of assessment methods to ensure every student can showcase their strengths, including:

Clinical portfolio
Case reviews
Clinical practice assessments
Essays
Exams
Oral and poster presentations
Reports
Research projects

Assessments will reflect real-world challenges, helping you apply what you’ve learned. Both formative and summative assessments are used, so you will receive feedback and opportunities for improvement.

You can find detailed information about assessment methods for this course on our website:
https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/prospective-students/courses/undergraduate/healthcare-science#accordion848491-header640908

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• The Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP)