Studying Physiological Sciences will broaden your knowledge of the important organ systems of the human body, including how they function in health and disease. You will develop specialist knowledge from a range of optional modules to suit your interests, which include pathophysiology and therapeutics, cardiac physiology, blood science and the physiology of sport and exercise.
Depending on the availability of suitable placements, and subject to interview, you may be able to switch from a degree in Physiological Sciences to Healthcare Science, specialising in one of the following areas:
Cardiac Physiology: Healthcare Science Practitioners in this field are responsible for performing and interpreting a wide range of diagnostic tests including Electrocardiographs (ECG), ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitors, and exercise stress tests. Qualified staff also monitor patients during invasive tests such as coronary angiograms and percutaneous coronary intervention. They also ensure the optimal function of implantable devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardiovertor defibrillators (ICDs).
Audiology: Audiology is a challenging and expanding field involving the study of hearing and balance. As a healthcare profession, audiology involves assessment, management and therapeutic rehabilitation of people with hearing and balance problems, and associated disorders. If you have a particular interest in biological sciences, psychology, physics and electronics as well as speech and language development, you may find that audiology has a lot to offer.
The course includes a series of integrated clinical placements each year in an approved clinical training laboratory. If you would like to follow this route, then you would apply for BSc (Hons) Physiological Sciences, then apply for one of the areas above when you start the course. For further information about Healthcare Sciences (Life Sciences) see our Help and Advice article.
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BSc (Hons) Physiological Sciences
Year 1 (national level 4)
Core modules:
Optional modules (choose one):
Year 2 (national level 5)
Core modules:
Optional modules (choose three):
Year 3 (national level 6)
Core modules:
Optional modules (choose four):
BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Cardiac Physiology)
Year 1 (national level 4)
All core modules:
Year 2 (national level 5)
All core modules:
Year 3 (national level 6)
All core modules:
BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology)
Year 1 (national level 4)
All core modules:
Year 2 (national level 5)
All core modules:
Year 3 (national level 6)
Core modules:
NHS salaries for staff working in healthcare science range from around £21,000 to around £80,000 per year. At entry level, the work involves obtaining diagnostic data from patients and working as part of a multidisciplinary team that also includes doctors, nurses and radiographers.
Employment prospects are very good for Sunderland graduates in subjects allied to medicine.
Potential employers include the NHS, medical research institutions, clinical laboratories, drug companies, molecular biology companies and other organisations where a strong science background is an advantage.
If you choose this degree you will be well-prepared to apply for roles as a healthcare science practitioner within the NHS, with a specialism in cardiac physiology or audiology.
Our course provides significant amounts of work-based learning, with unpaid placements amounting to 10 weeks in year 1, 15 weeks in year 2 and 25 weeks in year 3.
Insurance-Single: 300 GBP/year
