-
Dreaming of a career in healthcare? A degree in Healthcare Science is your gateway to an exciting, multidisciplinary field!
Why choose this course?
-
The only London course offering training in both cardiac and respiratory/sleep physiology.
-
50
weeks of placement gaining hands-on experience in clinical physiology departments.
-
Graduates eligible to register with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) and apply for NHS clinical physiologist roles.
Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) BSc (Hons) degree Course overview
Before specialising in cardiology or respiratory/sleep physiology, you will build a strong foundation in human anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and pathophysiology.
We will also focus on developing your professional communication skills, as interacting with patients, carers, and staff is crucial in a clinical environment. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on how you communicate and act before starting your placements.
Expanding your expertise
As you gain experience on placements, your knowledge will continue to grow, enhancing your cardiology or respiratory/sleep expertise. In your final year, you will learn about advanced clinical procedures and their practical applications.
Alongside your placements, you'll complete a research project to address real healthcare challenges. Recent projects have explored topics like treatment outcomes for atrial fibrillation, comparing tilt testing with carotid sinus massage for unexplained dizziness, and the impact of electronic nicotine delivery systems (VAPS) on respiratory disease.
Structure
Course content
Over the course of the programme, you will undertake 50 weeks of clinical placement. You will need to be prepared to travel across Greater London and surrounding areas for placements.
Year 1
In Year 1, you will gain a foundational understanding of physiological sciences, with a focus on clinically relevant information.
The programme is designed to prepare you for clinical practice, undertaking clinical training at various sites, including cardiology and respiratory/sleep departments. By the end of the year, you will select your specialty.
During placements, you will perform routine cardiac and respiratory procedures like ECGs, blood pressure measurement, spirometry, and pulse oximetry under supervision.
You will also develop essential patient care skills, such as maintaining dignity, communication, and health and safety procedures like infection control.
The programme includes collaborative learning with students from other allied health courses, helping you understand multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
Year 2
Year 2 focuses on your chosen specialism, where you will deepen your knowledge of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, heart attacks, heart failure, and sleep apnoea.
During your Year 2 placement weeks, you will gain more specialised 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).
Interactive sessions will teach you diagnostic techniques and methodologies, such as equipment calibration to ensure accurate test results and appropriate patient care.
Year 3
In Year 3, you will focus on applying your skills and preparing for professional practice. During your Year 3 placement weeks, you will perform more advanced procedures like cardiac catheterisation, device implants, and CPAP therapy for sleep apnoea.
You will also undertake more complex tasks, such as interpreting sleep studies and optimising cardiac devices.
Your Dissertation will involve clinical audit or research, with opportunities for data collection and analysis.
Previous projects have explored topics like BMI's impact on lung function, sleep apnoea diagnosis methods, and exercise testing for congenital heart disease.
Year 1
-
Science of Healthcare
-
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sleep Science
-
Professional Practice 1
-
Clinical Training/Placements
Year 2
-
Pathophysiology
-
Instrumentation, Signal Processing and Imaging
-
Cardiology Specialism or Respiratory/Sleep Specialism
-
Research Methods
-
Professional Practice 2
Year 3
-
Cardiology Specialism or Respiratory/Sleep Specialism
-
Research Project
-
Professional Practice 3
Download course specification:
Teaching and assessment
We share our site with one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals, giving you the opportunity to learn in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Studying at our Tooting site, we’ll get to know you and help you reach your potential. You’ll be part of interactive group sessions, and our academics are always on hand if you need extra support.
Our teaching staff includes experienced clinicians who have worked in healthcare, allowing you to learn from professionals with real-world expertise.
Teaching approach
We understand that everyone learns differently. On this course, you will experience a variety of teaching methods, including:
- Clinical placements
- Clinical skills sessions
- Computer-based learning
- Guest lectures
- Group work
- Lab-based sessions
- Lectures and online learning
- Patient interaction
- Practical workshops
- Seminars
- Simulations and tutorials
Assessment methods
We use 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.
Expert teaching
You will be taught by staff with expertise in specialist cardiac, respiratory, and sleep services. Guest lectures from clinical physiology practitioners will further enrich your learning. Previous topics have included:
- Sleep study interpretation
- Paediatric lung function
- Hypoxic challenge testing
- Tilt testing for heart conditions
- Introduction to echocardiography
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillators
Masterclasses and workshops from our collaborators and alumni, such as those from the Royal National Institute of Blind People, provide additional insights and best practices.
Clinical placements
Over the course of the programme, you will complete 50 weeks of clinical placement. Year 1 will involve placements across hospitals specialising in cardiac and respiratory/sleep physiology.
After selecting your specialty, you will stay at the same site in Year 2 and 3. Throughout your placements, you will be supervised and mentored by practicing physiologists, gaining hands-on experience and confidence in evaluating patient conditions.
Fees and funding
Fees for year 2026 / 27
Home/UK
£9,790
International
£20,510
Our undergraduate fees are set in line with the maximum permitted by the UK Government and may increase in subsequent years in line with government policy.
Funding options
LSF Travel and Accommodation Support
From the 2025–26 academic year, new and continuing students on the undergraduate Healthcare Science course will be eligible for travel and dual accommodation expenses (TDAE) through the Learning Support Fund (LSF).
The latest LSF rules for 2025–26 are now available and take effect from September 2025. Check your eligibility here.
Other resources
Explore up-to-date information about funding options, available financial support and typical living costs.
- There are no fee waivers available for this course
- Means tested support is available for 2026/27 entry.
Additional expenses
Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses.
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.
Career
When you graduate, you will be eligible for professional registration with the AHCS and ready to apply for NHS positions. Students of the course may also be able to apply for the Scientist Training Programme (STP) after graduation. Please note that the programme is competitive entry and places are not guaranteed.
Your role will vary depending on your chosen specialism:
- Cardiac Physiology: You will perform diagnostic tests like ECGs, cardio-pulmonary exercise tests, and electrophysiology. You will assist with urgent and elective coronary interventions, monitor heart rhythm devices, and independently run clinics.
- Respiratory and Sleep Physiology: You will conduct diagnostic procedures such as spirometry, allergy testing, and sleep studies. You will work with patients referred for abnormal chest X-rays or suspected sleep disorders and may set up devices for sleep apnea or monitor home oxygen therapy.
As a healthcare scientist, you can advance to roles like advanced practitioner or consultant physiologist. Your training will allow you to support patients of all ages, including those with impairments or communication challenges.
How to apply
This course is currently open for 2026 entry applications. The UCAS application deadline is 14 January 2026.
You will be able to apply through your school or college using the Apply system, which enables you to submit your application directly to the UCAS website.
You can apply to up to five universities or institutions on the form. The UCAS code for City St George's, University of London is C60.
Please take care to enter the correct course code when applying, particularly for subjects with a Foundation year or with BEng (Hons) and MEng (Hons) or BSc (Hons) and MSci (Hons) options.
UCAS has implemented an 'invisibility of choices' policy so that, on the initial application and while you are receiving decisions, each institution can see only their entry and not those of other institutions you have chosen. This ensures that your application for a course at City St George's is considered solely on your academic and personal qualities.
There is an application fee for some students when submitting their application form, please see the UCAS website for more details.
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.
When to apply
Your application for entry in September 2026 should arrive at UCAS between September 2025 and 31 January 2026. Applications that arrive after the UCAS deadline in January will be considered only at City St George's discretion.
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.
Contacting UCAS
Website: www.ucas.com
Address: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ
Telephone:
- from inside the UK 0871 468 0468
- from outside the UK +44 (0)871 468 0468
For callers with hearing difficulties:
- from inside the UK use the Text Relay service on 18001 0871 468 0468
- from outside the UK dial +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) and then ask the operator to dial 0871 468 0468.
Our students
Gain further insights into our courses through our students.
Ask a student
Want to find out more about student life? Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any question you have