Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) BSc BSc (Hons)

St George's, University of London

Healthcare science is one of the fastest-moving areas of the NHS, as well as one of the most exciting, challenging and rewarding. Healthcare scientists play a vital role in the prevention, diagnosis, therapy, monitoring and rehabilitation of patients with a wide range of medical conditions.

St George's Healthcare Science BSc is accredited by the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) and the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). Taught by academics, scientists and researchers, the course provides professional training to equip you with specialist skills and knowledge to test and evaluate the functioning of different body systems, diagnose abnormalities and direct therapeutic intervention and long-term management and care. It offers a unique opportunity to experience both cardiac and respiratory/sleep physiology during your first year, before confirming one of these specialist routes in your second year.

Over the course of three years, you will spend 50 weeks on clinical placement in several different hospitals. This practical experience will build your confidence and competence to produce, analyse and report clinical diagnostics, with a deep understanding of the physical causes of disease or injury and how to evaluate patient conditions and assign the patient along a risk spectrum (known as clinical risk stratification). During these clinical placements you will come across patients with a wide range of cardiovascular (e.g. arrhythmia, heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypertension) and respiratory and sleep disorders (e.g. asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, sleep apnoea and pulmonary fibrosis).

After successful completion of the course, you will be eligible for professional registration and may apply for NHS positions up to Band 5. You will also be eligible to apply for registration with the Academy of Healthcare Sciences (AHCS) and the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP).

Course highlights

• The only course in London to train in both cardiac physiology and respiratory/sleep physiology.

• 50 weeks spent on clinical placements doing work-based training.

• Accredited by the AHCS and RCCP, with eligibility to apply for professional registration with both on graduation.

• Excellent professional and career prospects: many students have healthcare science jobs lined up prior to graduating, with over 90% in work or higher study within six months of graduation.

About St George’s, University of London

Established in 1752, St George’s is the UK’s specialist health university and is dedicated to medical and health sciences education, training and research. We share our site with a major London teaching hospital, which is both on the clinical frontline for a diverse local community and a centre of excellence for specialist conditions. At St George's, you’ll study in a clinical setting with like-minded individuals working across a variety of healthcare professions.