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Duration

Three years, full-time

Application Deadline

31 January 2024 (2024 entry)

Location

St George's, University of London

UCAS Code

B120, institution code S49

Start dates

September 2023, September 2024

Apply via UCAS

Students on our Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) BSc (Hons) will be able to work as a Clinical Physiologist when they graduate.

As a Clinical Physiologist, you will play a vital role in the prevention, diagnosis, therapy, monitoring and rehabilitation of patients with a wide range of medical conditions. This programme is unique as it allows you to experience both cardiac and respiratory/sleep physiology before choosing your speciality in either cardiac physiology or respiratory/sleep physiology. Over the three years of the degree, you will spend 50 weeks on placement, learning and focusing on the clinical skills.

St George’s is the only UK university based on a hospital site, which specialises in medical and health sciences education, training and research. You will study in a clinical setting, adopting a patient-centred approach from the outset and mixing with the many different healthcare students and professionals you will go on to work with.

On graduation, you will be eligible to register with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) and work as a Clinical Physiologist.

Previous graduates have undertaken further work-based learning, including the NHS funded Scientist Training Programme, accredited by the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS).

Read more information about our courses and university services terms and conditions.

Highlights

  • Accredited by AHCS with eligibility to apply for professional registration with both on graduation.
  • Clinical experience in both cardiac physiology and respiratory/sleep physiology during the first year with the choice to specialise in either route.
  • Students will perform and interpret a wide range of cardiac and respiratory/sleep diagnostic tests on patients including electrocardiograms (ECG), blood pressure monitoring, cardiac stress tests, assisting with invasive cardiology procedures (e.g angiography), spirometry, measurement of gas exchange and overnight sleep studies.
  • 50 weeks spent on placement in a variety of clinical settings within leading NHS clinical physiology departments from as early as the second semester.
  • Cutting-edge facilities include a pathology museum, and Anatomy suite, which enable you to learn clinical skills and practice techniques in a safe environment.
  • St George’s is the only UK university based on a hospital site.
  • A specialist university, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals – our expertise and learning focuses on healthcare, science, medicine and the many medical professions to build your multidisciplinary understanding and context.

Course info

With an ageing and increasingly obese population, healthcare scientists are in increasing demand. Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of premature death worldwide; in the UK alone, one in four of us will die from heart disease and one in five from lung disease. With a strong desire to identify novel therapies and improve our understanding, rapid advances in science and technology make healthcare science one of the most exciting, challenging and rewarding areas of the NHS.

During clinical placements you will come across patients with a wide range of cardiovascular (e.g. arrhythmia, heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension) and respiratory and sleep disorders (e.g. asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, sleep apnoea, pulmonary fibrosis). You will perform, analyse and interpret a wide range of cardiac and respiratory/sleep diagnostic tests on your patients including electrocardiograms (ECG), blood pressure monitoring, cardiac stress tests, assisting with invasive cardiology procedures (e.g angiography), spirometry, measurement of gas exchange and overnight sleep studies.

Healthcare scientists are involved in 80% of all clinical decisions in the NHS. The diagnostic tests that you perform, analysis and interpret will ensure patients have the correct diagnosis, medications and improve their quality of life.

Taught by academics, scientists and researchers, our accredited Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) BSc (Hons) 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 and sleep physiology before confirming one of these specialist routes in your second year.

Your learning begins with a broad foundation of knowledge about all of the body systems and the disease processes that affect them, becoming highly specialised by the second and third year.

Over the course of three years, you will spend 50 weeks on clinical placement in several different hospitals, most of which are in London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent, which specialise in cardiac, respiratory/sleep or both. 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).

You will treat a wide range of patients of all ages and disabilities (visual, hearing, communication, physical disability, learning disability, mental health issues), as well as patients who are anxious, scared or do not speak English. The tests you perform will often rely on patient cooperation and sometimes maximal effort. Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills – being able to explain difficult concepts in a jargon free manner and checking understanding – are therefore essential to perform high quality and reliable clinical measurements. You will also need to take medical and drug histories prior to performing tests, checking for contraindications to ensure the correct tests are performed, and performed safely.

Learn more about studying at St George's

If you're looking to start your studies in 2023 or beyond, sign up for our free intro email series by clicking the button below.

Introduction to Healthcare Science BSc (2022 entry)

This webinar will give you an introduction to the Healthcare Science BSc degree at St George's, University of London, to begin studying in 2022.

“One of the best things about this course is that most of your time is spent on placement which is a brilliant opportunity to learn on the job. You’re treated as part of a clinical team, which comes with real responsibilities. It’s a great way to put your knowledge into practice. ”

- Mariam

Healthcare Science BSc (Cardiac Physiology)

“I found the eight-week placement programme in my first year so beneficial. You do four weeks in respiratory and sleep, and four weeks in cardiology in a hospital environment, which allows you to see how each differs and what’s really involved. It’s a great way to help you decide which one you’d prefer to specialise in for the next two years.”

- Derek

Healthcare Science BSc (Respiratory and Sleep Physiology)

Tuition fees

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Home (UK) tuition fees

Academic Year

UK (per academic year)

Total fee*

2023/24

£9,250

£27,750

*Tuition fees for Home (UK) students are determined by UK Government Policy. Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. Fees for second and subsequent years are likely to increase annually in line with UK inflation as measured by the Retail Price Index (RPI-X) and subject to maximum regulated fee rates set by the UK Government.

International (including EU) tuition fees

Academic year

International (per academic year)

Total fee*

2023/24

£18,250

£54,750

For more information, see our fees and funding pages, and read the UK government information about fees and funding.

*Tuition fees for international students are set by St George’s, University of London. Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. Fees for second and subsequent years are likely to increase annually in line with UK inflation as measured by the Retail Price Index (RPI-X). They will not normally increase by more than 5 per cent each year, except when the rate of inflation is significantly more than that projected in the preceding year.

Additional costs

The table below highlights the additional course-specific costs related to this degree. Visit the additional course-related costs for more information on general costs to consider alongside your studies.

Additional cost 

Description

Clothing

Students will need to purchase black trousers and shoes for placements. The University will provide scrub tops.

Travel to placements

We operate a travel bursary scheme which covers travel from students’ term time address to their placement site. This is calculated based on the best value journey using public transport. If you choose to travel via a different means, then these costs would not be reimbursed.

Bursaries will cover travel costs within London Zones 1 to 6 only, with the exception of when students have been placed outside of these zones, for example East Surrey Hospital in which case payments will cover full travel costs.

To qualify for bursary payments, you will need to be up to date with tuition fee payments and have satisfactory attendance. 

No additional assistance will be provided for resit placements, additional placement weeks required to make up time missed or to complete outstanding clinical work.

Should you choose to travel by car, no additional travel or parking costs will be considered.

 

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Clubs, Societies and Community Projects at St George's

Visit the Students' Union website

Students' Union

As a student at St George's you're also automatically a member of our Students' Union, which offers over 120 clubs, societies and community projects.

Find out more

Aviation & Space Medicine Society

We provide specialist clinical knowledge of aviation and space medicine, through lectures, forums and tutorials.

Find out more

Cheer & Gym Society

The Firebirds are an all-inclusive level 1 cheer team who stunt, tumble, jump and dance both competitively and recreationally.

Find out more

Afro-Caribbean Society

The Afro Caribbean Society (ACS) aims to empower people from a variety of backgrounds by bringing people together to appreciate the culture and heritage of different African and Caribbean countries.

Find out more

Marrow

Marrow is a voluntary student organisation that works with Anthony Nolan to recruit potential donors onto the stem cell register. We organise donor recruitment clinics here at St George's and also raise charitable funds to run the events and support the charity.

Find out more

Henry Gray Anatomy Society

If you are interested in Anatomy, Surgery, or just want to further your anatomical education, then this is the perfect society for you!

Find out more

Athena SWAN Student Network

Our Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) chapter is a student society that fundamentally promotes racial diversity and the equality of all genders within STEMM career advancement.

Find out more

Yoga Society

Namaste! The Yoga Society is one of the most active societies at St George's, with students and staff taking part in the three weekly yoga sessions.

Find out more

Craft Society

This is the home of all different crafts at George's. We meet every Monday in the Dragon Bar from 5pm to craft. We welcome everyone, experienced or not and are always happy to teach!

Find out more

Vegan and Vegetarian Society

We hope to create a community for vegans, vegetarians & anyone interested in moving towards a more cruelty free lifestyle and to provide support in adopting a plant based lifestyle.

Find out more

Catholic Society

We're a family of Catholic (and non-Catholic) students from St George's who gather occasionally to pray the rosary, share stories, food and encouragement.

Find out more

Christian Union

We are a group of Christians from multiple denominations - united around the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our mission and aim is to build each other up in our faith and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the St Georges community.

Islamic Society

Our aim is to help students develop academically, socially and most importantly spiritually as they progress through university.

Find out more

St George's Jewish Society

The Jewish Society aims to be a family away from home for all of the Jewish students on campus! We are warm, welcoming and inclusive, and invite anyone from any background to join us.

Find out more
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Please scroll down for 2024 entry criteria.

Entry Criteria: 2023 Entry

To be eligible for the Healthcare Science BSc programme, you must meet the requirements outlined under Entry Qualifications, Other Academic Requirements, and Non-academic Requirements below.

Entry Qualifications

With the exception of GCSEs, all qualifications must have been completed within the previous five years, including the year of application.

View all Close all

A Levels

If you are applying on the basis of A Levels, you must meet both the A Level and GCSE requirements below.

Grades

BBB

Subjects

Including Biology or Human Biology and one other science subject (including Maths). General Studies is not accepted.

Contextual admissions

At St George’s, we want to attract students who share our mission to improve the health of society, regardless of their background. That’s why our Contextual Admissions schemes take into consideration additional information from your application, like the school you attended or the area you live in or if you have been in care, to make the admissions process fairer. Further details on Contextual Admissions are available here.

Additional information

Resits may be considered. Accepted science subjects include: Applied Science, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Psychology and Maths.

GCSEs

Grades

Five subjects graded 4 (C) or above

Subjects

Five subjects which must include English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award).

Additional information

We accept resits of GCSEs. We do not accept Adult Literacy and Numeracy or Functional Skills instead of GCSEs.

International Baccalaureate

If you are applying on the basis of International Baccalaureate, you need to meet both our Higher Level and Standard Level requirements, as outlined below.

Award

Full Award Diploma

Scores

Overall score of 32

Subjects

15 points at Higher Level, including a minimum grade 5 in Biology.

At Standard Level, a minimum score of 4 must be attained in Maths and English, if at least a 4 (C) has not previously been attained in GCSE/IGCSE Maths and English. For Maths, we accept both Mathematics: analysis & approaches and Mathematics: applications & interpretations. For English, we accept A (language & literature) or B (language).

Access Diploma

If you are applying on the basis of an Access Diploma, you must meet both the Access Diploma and GCSE requirements below.

Award

Full award diploma (in a science subject)

Scores

60 credits at level 3 (45 graded and 15 ungraded)

Subjects

45 science related credits. 21 credits at Distinction and 24 credits at Merit.

Additional information

 Accepted science subjects include: Applied Science, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Psychology and Maths. The course should be QAA recognised.

GCSEs

Grades

Three subjects graded 4 (C) or above
Subjects English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award)

Additional information

We accept resits of GCSEs. We do not accept Adult Literacy and Numeracy or Functional Skills instead of GCSEs.

Other UK Qualifications

Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma

If you are applying on the basis of a Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma, you must meet both the Diploma and GCSE requirements below.

DDM 

Must be in Applied Science.

5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above. Subjects must include English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award).

Pearson BTEC Diploma

If you are applying on the basis of a Pearson BTEC Diploma, you must meet both the Diploma and GCSE requirements below.

DM with a Biology A Level at grade B

Must be in a science or healthcare subject.

5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above. Subjects must include English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award).

Cambridge Pre-U Diploma

If you are applying on the basis of a Cambridge Pre-U Diploma, you must meet both the Diploma and GCSE requirements below.

M2, M2, M2

Three principal subjects including Biology.

5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above. Subjects must include English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award).

Scottish Highers

If you are applying on the basis of Scottish Highers, you must meet the Highers, Advanced Highers and National 5 requirements below.

Highers: BBB including Biology

Advanced Highers: BB

English Language and Maths National 5 at grade C or higher is required.

UK Undergraduate Degree

If you are applying on the basis of a degree, you do not need to meet our GCSE or Level 3 (A Level) requirements.

2:2 Honours

Must be in a science subject.

Other

Please contact us.

Other Academic Requirements

View all Close all

English Language

If you are applying from outside of the UK, you will need to meet the English language requirements outlined here. This is a group 1 course.

Non-academic Requirements

View all Close all

Nationality

Citizens of the UK, or those with indefinite leave to remain in the UK, can apply for this course.

Personal Statement

Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of clinical physiology, and an interest in a clinical career.

Work Experience and Insight

We understand the challenges for our prospective applicants for medicine and allied health courses trying to gain work experience at this time, particularly in clinical settings.

In response to the government’s social distancing guidelines, which have a significant impact on all areas of life, we have chosen to relax our work experience requirements for prospective applicants for our courses which would normally require these.

Despite the relaxed requirements, we still require our applicants to have an understanding of the realities of working as a healthcare professional and to show they have the necessary skills and attributes for their chosen career. Online resources can give you valuable insight into working in the healthcare sector and outline the wide range of careers and courses available. You can find a number of suggested resources for each of our courses here.

 

 

Occupational Health Check

Should you receive an offer to study at St George’s, you will be required to complete a health check and be declared fit to study and practise by the Occupational Health (OH) department before you begin your studies.

The following vaccinations are mandatory for all healthcare students before you begin your studies:

  • MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Diphtheria
  • Pertussis (whooping cough)
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Tetanus
  • Covid-19 (double vaccination)

As part of the process, you will also be screened by the OH team for Chickenpox, Tuberculosis, HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

We do not currently require you to have been vaccinated against
Covid-19, but we strongly recommend that you get double vaccinated
before the start of your studies, unless medically exempt.

When admitting candidates to study and practise as a health practitioner, we have an obligation to both patients and to the individual student. Candidates who are concerned about a health issue are advised to contact us.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check & Additional Declarations

This course will include work with children and vulnerable adults, so you will be required to submit a series of declarations.

If you are invited to an interview, we will request some additional information from you, regarding your criminal record, educational history and employment history. You will also have the opportunity to make any other declarations that you’d like us to be aware of. We may not able to consider applicants who were suspended from previous study/work due to fitness to practise issues or failure in assessments/examinations.

If you are made an offer, you will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. More information about this is sent to applicants as part of the admissions process.

Entry Criteria: 2024 Entry

To be eligible for the Healthcare Science BSc programme, you must meet the requirements outlined under Entry Qualifications, Other Academic Requirements, and Non-academic Requirements below. Citizens of the UK, or those with indefinite leave to remain in the UK, can apply for this course.

Entry Qualifications

With the exception of GCSEs, all qualifications must have been completed within the previous five years, including the year of application.

View all Close all

A Levels

If you are applying on the basis of A Levels, you must meet both the A Level and GCSE requirements below.

Grades

BBB

Subjects

Including Biology or Human Biology and one other science subject (including Maths). General Studies is not accepted.

Additional information

Resits may be considered. Accepted science subjects include: Applied Science, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Psychology and Maths.

GCSEs

Grades

Five subjects graded 4 (C) or above

Subjects

Five subjects which must include English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award).

Additional information

We accept resits of GCSEs. We do not accept Adult Literacy and Numeracy or Functional Skills instead of GCSEs.

International Baccalaureate

If you are applying on the basis of International Baccalaureate, you need to meet both our Higher Level and Standard Level requirements, as outlined below.

Award

Full Award Diploma

Scores

Overall score of 32

Subjects

15 points at Higher Level, including a minimum grade 5 in Biology.

At Standard Level, a minimum score of 4 must be attained in Maths and English, if at least a 4 (C) has not previously been attained in GCSE/IGCSE Maths and English. For Maths, we accept both Mathematics: analysis & approaches and Mathematics: applications & interpretations. For English, we accept A (language & literature) or B (language).

Access Diploma

If you are applying on the basis of an Access Diploma, you must meet both the Access Diploma and GCSE requirements below.

Award

Full award diploma (in a science subject)

Scores

60 credits at level 3 (45 graded and 15 ungraded)

Subjects

45 science related credits. 21 credits at Distinction and 24 credits at Merit.

Additional information

 Accepted science subjects include: Applied Science, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Psychology and Maths. The course should be QAA recognised.

GCSEs

Grades

Three subjects graded 4 (C) or above
Subjects English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award)

Additional information

We accept resits of GCSEs. We do not accept Adult Literacy and Numeracy or Functional Skills instead of GCSEs.

Other UK Qualifications

Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma

If you are applying on the basis of a Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma, you must meet both the Diploma and GCSE requirements below.

DDM

Must be in Applied Science.

5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above. Subjects must include English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award).

Pearson BTEC Diploma

If you are applying on the basis of a Pearson BTEC Diploma, you must meet both the Diploma and GCSE requirements below.

DM with a Biology A Level at grade B

Must be in a science or healthcare subject.

5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above. Subjects must include English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award).

Cambridge Pre-U Diploma

If you are applying on the basis of a Cambridge Pre-U Diploma, you must meet both the Diploma and GCSE requirements below.

M2, M2, M2

Three principal subjects including Biology.

5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above. Subjects must include English Language, Maths and Science (Double or Triple Award).

Scottish Highers

If you are applying on the basis of Scottish Highers, you must meet the Highers, Advanced Highers and National 5 requirements below.

Highers: BBB including Biology

Advanced Highers: BB

English Language and Maths National 5 at grade C or higher is required.

UK Undergraduate Degree

If you are applying on the basis of a degree, you do not need to meet our GCSE or Level 3 (A Level) requirements.

2:2 Honours

Must be in a science subject.

Other

We accept other qualifications on a case-by-case basis. If you are applying with qualifications not listed above, or a combination of level 3 qualifications, your application will be considered.

If you would like further information, please contact us.

Contextual Admissions

At St George’s, we want to attract students who share our mission to improve the health of society, regardless of their background. That’s why our Contextual Admissions schemes take into consideration additional information from your application, like the school you attended or the area you live in or if you have been in care, to make the admissions process fairer. Further details on Contextual Admissions are available here.

Other Academic Requirements

View all Close all

English Language

If you are applying from outside of the UK, you will need to meet the English language requirements outlined here. This is a group 1 course.

Non-academic Requirements

View all Close all

Nationality

Citizens of the UK, or those with indefinite leave to remain in the UK, can apply for this course.

Personal Statement

Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of clinical physiology, and an interest in a clinical career.

Work Experience and Insight

We understand the challenges for our prospective applicants for medicine and allied health courses trying to gain work experience at this time, particularly in clinical settings.

In response to the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have chosen to relax our work experience requirements for prospective applicants for our courses which would normally require these.

Despite the relaxed requirements, we still require our applicants to have an understanding of the realities of working as a healthcare professional and to show they have the necessary skills and attributes for their chosen career. Online resources can give you valuable insight into working in the healthcare sector and outline the wide range of careers and courses available. You can find a number of suggested resources for each of our courses here.

Interview (MMI)

If you meet the entry requirements above, you will be invited to attend a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). This will usually be in-person, however we can also offer remote MMIs for international applicants.

You can find further information about this process on our MMI Guidance page, however please note that some of this information may change for those applying during the 2024 application cycle.

Occupational Health Check

Should you receive an offer to study at St George’s, you will be required to complete a health check and be declared fit to study and practise by the Occupational Health (OH) department before you begin your studies.

The following vaccinations are mandatory for all healthcare students before you begin your studies:

  • MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Diphtheria
  • Pertussis (whooping cough)
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Tetanus
  • Covid-19 (double vaccination)

As part of the process, you will also be screened by the OH team for Chickenpox, Tuberculosis, HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

We do not currently require you to have been vaccinated against Covid-19, but we strongly recommend that you get double vaccinated before the start of your studies, unless medically exempt.

When admitting candidates to study and practise as a health practitioner, we have an obligation to both patients and to the individual student. Candidates who are concerned about a health issue are advised to contact us.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check and Additional Declarations

This course will include work with children and vulnerable adults, so you will be required to submit a series of declarations.

If you are invited to an interview, we will request some additional information from you, regarding your criminal record, educational history and employment history. You will also have the opportunity to make any other declarations that you’d like us to be aware of. We may not able to consider applicants who were suspended from previous study/work due to fitness to practise issues or failure in assessments/examinations.

If you are made an offer, you will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. More information about this is sent to applicants as part of the admissions process.

Recent Engagement in Education

Due to the demanding nature of the programme, it is important that applicants can demonstrate recent engagement in education. If the qualifications that you are applying on the basis of (e.g. Level 3 or degree level qualifications) were awarded more than five years ago (e.g. before summer 2019), it may still be possible for us to consider your application. In this case, we would look at supplementary level 3 qualifications, or relevant work experience, that you have undertaken within the last five years.

These applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, following submission of a UCAS application.

The time on the programme is split approximately 50/50 between university based learning and clinical placements. You should be prepared to travel for your placements across Greater London and surrounding areas.

Year 1

In Year 1, you’ll be introduced to the scientific knowledge underpinning the field of physiological sciences. From the start, the programme is explicitly designed as a preparation for clinical practice, slanted towards medically relevant information and clinical context. You will undertake 10 weeks of clinical training, divided between different sites to give you a variety of experiences, working in both cardiology and respiratory/sleep departments before selecting your speciality preference at the end of the year. During placements, you will perform (under supervision) a range of routine cardiac and respiratory procedures, including electrocardiograms (ECG), blood pressure, spirometry and pulse oximetry.

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will start to develop a range of essential patient skills, such as maintaining dignity and confidentiality, developing effective observational and communication skills, learning to appreciate cultural and ethical issues, as well as health and safety, such as infection control procedures. As part of the University’s Essentials for Allied Health Professionals programme, you will work with students on other health courses – physiotherapists, occupational therapists, therapeutic and diagnostic radiographers, for example – so you can begin to appreciate the concept of multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

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Year 1 modules

 

Module

Taught

Scientific Basis of Healthcare Science 1

Taught

Scientific Basis of Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Sleep Science

Taught

Professional Practice 1

Taught

Scientific Basis of Healthcare Science 2

Clinical

Clinical Training/Placements

Year 2

In year two, you will focus on your specialism, deepen your knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology of common cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), syncope (fainting), sleep apnoea, heart attacks, heart failure and irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). This is reinforced by 15 weeks of speciality-specific training on placement, during which time you will build on your existing clinical skills and undertake more advanced procedures, such as measurement of gas exchange, lung volume and sleep studies (respiratory/sleep) or ambulatory ECG and blood pressure monitoring and assisting with cardiac exercise tests (cardiology).

Interactive sessions cover the highly skilled diagnostic techniques, methodologies and interpretation required for clinical practice. For example, calibration of equipment is required to ensure patients get accurate and reliable test results and receive the correct diagnosis, treatments and interventions.

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Year 2 modules

 

Module/placement

Taught

Pathophysiology of Common Cardiovascular and Respiratory Conditions

Taught

Instrumentation, Signal Processing and Imaging

Taught/Clinical

Cardiology Specialism:

  • Clinical Training/Placements
  • Cardiac Physiology

or

Respiratory/Sleep Specialism:

  • Clinical Training/Placements
  • Respiratory and Sleep Physiology

Taught

Research Methods

Taught

Professional Practice 2

Taught

Scientific Basis of Healthcare Science 3

Year 3

The final year focuses on the application of skills and final preparation for practice, so you graduate with the knowledge, experience, professionalism and clinical competencies required of a clinical practitioner.

You will spend 25 weeks on clinical placement, providing the hands-on experience needed to build real expertise, undertaking yet more advanced clinical procedures. In cardiac physiology, this includes diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterisation, Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM), device implants and optimisation of these implanted devices. In respiratory/sleep physiology, it involves setting up, analysing and interpreting sleep studies and initiating life changing treatments, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in patients with sleep apnoea.

The Dissertation is an integral part of the year three programme, you will undertake data collection/analysis and write up your clinical audit/research project. Previous students have covered a fascinating array of subject matter: from the effect of BMI on lung function to manual versus automated analysis of sleep studies in the diagnosis of sleep apnoea; and from exercise testing for Grown Up Congenital Heart Disease (GUCH) to one student’s service evaluation of a renal transplant stress echo service, results of which she presented at the prestigious British Society of Echocardiography’s 2020 Conference.

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Year 3 modules

 

Modules/placements

Taught/Clinical

Cardiology Specialism:

  • Clinical Training/Placements
  • Applying Cardiac Physiology to Practice

or

Respiratory/Sleep Specialism:

  • Clinical Training/Placements
  • Applying Respiratory and Sleep Physiology to Practice

Taught

Research Project

Taught

Professional Practice 3

Placement

The variety, volume and quality of clinical placement opportunities is what students tell us they like most about our course – you will sample professional life in hospitals specialising in your chosen specialism. You will gain experience of working as part of a team, demonstrating professional behaviour and performing (under supervision) a range of cardiac and respiratory/sleep procedures, beginning with routine procedures and culminating in more advanced, highly skilled techniques by the end of your course.

As a student, you will be allocated a hospital placement to attend in several clinical blocks throughout each of the three years. You will spend a minimum of 30 hours per week, usually over four days. We also build in teaching sessions during these blocks.

  • Year 1: 10 weeks,
  • Year 2: 15 weeks,
  • Year 3: 25 weeks,

On placement, you are supervised by experienced physiologists/scientists and trained mentors. You receive support from your university clinical placement co-ordinators/specialist lecturers who will visit you regularly.

You will be provided with a free student uniform, and we contribute to travel expenses to some placement sites (depending on the distance).

Below is a list of hospitals that offer clinical placements*

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Cardiac placements

  • Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

  • Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  • Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  • Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Woolwich)

  • Royal Surrey County Hospital (Guildford)

  • St Bartholomew's Hospital, Bart's Health NHS Trust

Cardiac and Respiratory/Sleep placements

  • East Surrey (Redhill)

  • Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust

  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

  • King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  • North Middlesex University Hospital

  • Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

  • Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

  • St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Respiratory/Sleep placements

  • Great Ormond Street Hospital (Paediatric placement)

  • Homerton Hospital

  • Whipp’s Cross University Hospital

Apprenticeship

The BSc (Hons) Physiological Sciences (Healthcare Science) degree is a three-year integrated apprenticeship degree programme.

Contextualised for workplace occupational competency, it combines academic and work-based learning through employment. The curriculum is a blend of employer-defined knowledge, skills, behaviours and values that are integral to and assessed as part of the degree.

Completion of the degree demonstrates that the apprentice meets the outcomes of the Healthcare Science (HCS) Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard, giving assurance that apprentices graduating from these programmes are fit to meet the future needs of employers and patients.

Apprentices without Level 2 English and Maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and Maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

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Highlights for employers

  • Course content covers both cardiac physiology and respiratory/sleep physiology.

Highlights for employees

  • Gain a BSc (Hons) in Healthcare Science while on your apprenticeship journey.

  • At least 20% of the time in off-the-job training.

  • Employment in a job with legal and contractually acceptable terms and conditions.

  • Entry to a recognised occupation and a guaranteed starting salary point up to NHS Band 5, with clear training and progression.

  • Eligibility for professional registration with RCCP or AHCS on successful completion.

We are the only course in London to train in both cardiac and respiratory/sleep physiologist, this programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge for a career as a clinical physiologist, in either cardiac or respiratory/sleep speciality.

Teaching methods include lectures, face to face and online; seminars, tutorials, case-based learning, data interpretation exercises, group work, computer-aided learning, clinical skills training in simulated environments and clinical placements. You will have anatomy tutorials in the Anatomy suite during your first year and spend time working with the specimens in our extensive pathology museum. Case based learning (CBL) allows small groups to work together (with a facilitator) to discuss and debate clinical cases (e.g., kidney disease, diabetes, heart/lung disease etc), and review patient history, medication, diagnostic tests and test results to identify the correct diagnosis.

Small group tutorials in the final year are conducted with external Clinical Scientists who are specialists in their field, providing you with an opportunity for Q&As with some of the UK's leading scientists, working at the cutting-edge of healthcare science.

On placement, you’ll build a portfolio of clinical and professional skills and competencies, to the standard expected for professional registration.

One of the many benefits of studying at St George’s is the opportunity to study and work with students on other healthcare-related courses, including medicine, physiotherapy, diagnostic and therapeutic radiography, to lay the foundation for future practice as part of a clinical multidisciplinary team.

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Our expertise

You’ll be taught by staff with a background with experience of leading specialist cardiac, respiratory and sleep services. Where possible, current clinical physiology practitioners will also share their experiences: guest lectures have previously covered interpretation of sleep studies, paediatric lung function, hypoxic challenge testing, tilt testing for heart conditions and introduction to echocardiography and implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Our teaching draws on the wealth of experience of our placement collaborators and alumni, who present masterclasses and workshops that enrich your learning. In previous years, the Royal National Institute of Blind People has highlighted to students' best practice when dealing with blind patients.

On placement, you will be supervised, mentored and assessed by practising physiologists. Some of our placement sites also have STP and HSST scientists, who have to teach as part of their programme.

Assessment methods

We use a range of assessment techniques, chosen to match the competencies being learned and tested within each module. These include written exam papers, academic coursework (essays, posters, presentations, reflective writing), the final year project dissertation (including clinical viva), clinical assessments that take place during placements and a portfolio of clinical work.

We use some formative assessments early on, including an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in Year 1 prior to starting placement, to help you to develop your skills, and provide interactive learning resources to help you judge your own understanding of some of the more difficult material. Clinical Training modules are pass-fail, but marks for the other modules accumulate to give your final degree classification.

Martyn Bucknall

Admissions Tutor

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Cynthia Simon

Cynthia Simon

Course Director

I am the current course director for the Clinical physiology programme.

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While the St George’s programmes are recognised by many different countries, applicants are advised to check with their own individual national authorities if they wish to practise in their chosen country.

As a Healthcare Scientist your role can develop and progress to working as an advanced practitioner, leadership and managerial roles. The services provided can range from working independently, performing and analysing complex diagnostics, such as echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, advanced sleep studies or allergy testing, to being part of an emergency on-call multidisciplinary team in a heart attack centre.

Your training will equip you with the skills to navigate a range of patients from Newborns to young adults and elderly patients; those with impairment or communication challenges. It prepares you to become a highly professional member of an amazing highly skilled team.

On completion of this degree, you will be eligible for professional registration with the AHCS and to apply for NHS positions up to Agenda for Change (AfC) Band 5 in your chosen field. Career prospects are excellent with opportunities for career progression within the NHS through professional practice and development into Senior Healthcare Science roles, as well as progression into management, education and training, or academic career pathways.

Careers advice and skills for employability are embedded into our teaching. These include sessions on applying for jobs (CV writing, interview preparation), applying for STP programmes and professional registration.

Previous students have undertaken further study such as graduate entry medicine, Physician associate and other masters' programmes. This degree is an entry qualification for application to the Scientist Training Programme (STP), a three-year programme of work-based learning, supported by a university accredited master’s degree, which several of our students have gained places on.

Cardiac Physiology

Cardiac Physiologists and Scientists perform diagnostic procedures to investigate cardiac pathology. From the basics of ECGs and ambulatory ECG/blood pressure monitoring and exercise stress tests, up to the complex cardio-pulmonary exercise tests, echocardiography and electrophysiology testing. They work within a multidisciplinary team to provide urgent and elective coronary intervention, implant of devices to manage heart rhythm disturbances and independently run clinics for chest pain, syncope, arrhythmias, valve clinics and cardiac rhythm devices. In many units they are involved in research projects and also run their own research leading to a professional doctorate.

Respiratory and Sleep Physiology

As a practitioner specialising in respiratory and sleep physiology, you will undertake a wide range of routine and highly complex diagnostic procedures on your patients, including spirometry, measurement of gas exchange, exercise testing, blood gas analysis, allergy testing and sleep studies. Patients (including children) may be referred to you for many reasons, including low oxygen levels, abnormal chest X-rays, shortness of breath, suspected sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnoea), pre-operative assessment (e.g., for lung cancer or transplantation) or suspected respiratory diseases such as emphysema, COPD, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and asthma.

In addition to diagnosis, practitioners are also actively involved in the treatment of patients. This includes set up and initiation of ventilation devices in patients with sleep apnoea or respiratory failure and assessment, prescription and monitoring of home oxygen therapy in patients with low oxygen levels.

Careers

  • Healthcare Scientist/Clinical Scientist
  • Clinical Trials/Research

Career Profiles

Our courses can lead students to a diverse range of career options. Read about the experiences of St George's alumni and see where this course could take you.

Facilities

St George’s is the only UK university, which specialises in healthcare education and is based on a hospital site, namely St George’s Hospital, where the Channel 4 television series 24 hours in A&E is filmed. We offer a unique opportunity to study and work alongside the full range of clinical professionals and their patients. Based in the thriving multi-cultural hub of Tooting in South West London, our location has the added advantage of being just a short tube ride from Central London and all the city lifestyle has to offer.

St George’s Hospital has a leading respiratory and sleep service, which provides services for both adult and paediatric placements. In addition to offering placements, members of the clinical team undertake specialist teaching sessions for students on advanced sleep studies (polysomnography) and non-invasive ventilation used to treat respiratory failure.

We also have a range of specialist health and academic facilities to support your learning, listed below.

Anatomy suite

The Anatomy suite is where present and future healthcare professionals and scientists in the hospital and University learn or refresh their anatomy knowledge directly from the human body, through access to cadaveric material and models, and plastinated (preserved) specimens. 

Pathology museum

Our on-site museum houses a collection of over 2,000 pathological specimens, including a number of original specimens donated by Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie in 1843. This space is used for small group tutorials by students across all of our courses as an educational tool to help you understand the mechanisms of disease.

Clinical cubicles

We have a large number of clinical cubicles to help students across many courses build their skills in physical examinations, while getting used to a clinical environment, reflecting our hands-on approach to student development. We have four clinical skills rooms used for teaching communication and clinical skills. Each room is equipped with a ward style set up including beds, skeletons and mannequins for teaching. In the first year, we will use these cubicles to practise routine skills, such as performing ECG, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, spirometry, checking for vital signs, and resuscitation techniques. Using the latest patient manikins, or your fellow students, you can recreate healthcare scenarios and learn to solve problems prior to going out on placement.

Library and learning technology

Our modern health sciences library offers a wide range of books, e-books, academic journals and other resources to support you. You will also have access to online resources, such as the Canvas virtual learning environment

and our Hunter discovery service to help you find the information you need. The library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and comprises silent, quiet and group learning areas, as well as four group discussion rooms.

IT facilities

We have five computer suites housing 260 workstations. Three of these suites are accessible 24 hours a day. It’s easy to find a free space with our handy real-time computer locator. We also have 75 self-service laptops available. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole campus, including all accommodation. You can use these resources to access your course materials, discussion boards and feedback through Canvas.

Student support

Whether you are heading off to university straight from school or college, or returning to education as a mature student, we want to ensure your experience is positive from the outset. At St George’s, you’ll be welcomed by a multicultural student and staff body of different ages, ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds, all with one thing in common – an interest and passion in healthcare, science and medicine.

Students frequently tell us they greatly appreciate the diversity of our student and staff body, as well as the patients who access healthcare services in the borough of Tooting. We attract a substantial number – over two-thirds – of ‘mature’ students, aged 21 or over when they start; many have family and caring responsibilities.

We offer a full range of academic support and student services across all institutes, departments and faculties, some of which are listed below. We take pride in offering a transformative educational experience underpinned by cooperation and collaboration between staff and students. Our innovative Student-Staff Partnership Grants (SSPGs), for example, provide funding for small projects led jointly by students and staff.

Academic personal tutor

On arrival, you will be allocated a personal tutor – someone with whom you can have regular contact, who you ask questions and discuss problems with, both academic and personal. The main purpose of a personal tutor is to monitor your progress, pick up and help you resolve any problems, whether academic or welfare related. Even if they don’t have the answer they will point you in the right direction towards the best people to deal or support you with specific problems.

Induction programme

Within your first week at St George’s, you’ll take part in an induction programme to help with your orientation and introduce you to various study skills, including interprofessional learning and use of the Anatomy suite. Additional sessions provide advice and guidance about the Registry, Students’ Union, personal tutor system, safety, occupational health and sexual health awareness.

Academic staff support

You’ll have access to your lecturers, usually by arrangement via email.

Clinical placement support

We have service level agreements with most placement sites and the specialist cardiology and respiratory/sleep lecturers act as clinical placement co-ordinators. They work closely with placement sites to ensure all students receive high quality training and mentoring whilst on clinical placements, and will visit students during placements to support and monitor progress.

Mums and dads scheme

‘Mums and dads’ is a buddy scheme organised by the Students’ Union. Every fresher (first year student) has the choice of being assigned a ‘parent’ from the year above in their respective course. The returning student then acts as a ‘go to’ for advice about courses and university life, providing an additional support system during your first year, both academically and socially. They have been in your position and know the struggles of starting university; they also know all of the best pubs, clubs, restaurants, gyms and will help introduce you to your new St George’s family.

Student Life Centre

Our Student Centre team can help you with every aspect of student life: finances, accommodation, exams and assessment, academic procedures, admissions, international queries, disability and wellbeing, even finding your way around – whatever it takes to make you feel at home. Each course has a designated contact within the student centre to link to and your personal tutor can signpost you to relevant support, including a confidential counselling service.

Careers service

Our careers service works to support current students and recent graduates to find and maintain the career of their dreams. We work with careers tutors from each course area to ensure that careers activities specific to your programmes and future profession come to you.

Apply for this course through UCAS (the University and College Admissions Service) by the UCAS January deadline in the year of entry. There are no upper age limits, so we welcome applications from mature students.

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Application checklist

You must provide:

  • full details of your Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) qualifications with grades
  • full details of your Level 3 (A Level or equivalent) qualifications with achieved/predicted grades
  • a personal statement (more information about this document is available on the UCAS website)
  • an academic reference from your current or most recent institutions with predicted grades

Deferred entry

We will consider applications from applicants who wish to defer entry by a year, provided you plan to use the time constructively. If you are offered a place on the course and subsequently decide to defer, you must inform us by 1 June of the year of application.

After application

Acknowledgement emails are sent out as soon as we receive your application. Please make sure that your email account is able to accept communications from St George’s as we will mainly communicate with you via email.

Make your application stand out

Read our guidance for highlighting your skills and building a strong application.

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Duration

Three years, full-time

Application Deadline

31 January 2024 (2024 entry)

UCAS Code

B120, institution code S49

Apply via UCAS
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