Cardiac physiologists record and analyse physiological data to diagnose and treat cardiac disease. They play an essential role in healthcare, saving many lives and improving many more. Cardiac physiologists in hospitals deal with patients first-hand, meaning they need not only highly specialised knowledge and excellent analytical abilities but good people skills.
Our biomedical and biological science courses have a burgeoning international reputation, due to our world-class research in areas including biomarkers, public health and biomodelling. The university is home to the Centre for Investigative and Diagnostic Oncology, which has pioneered techniques for cancer diagnosis and treatment, including our breakthrough in the development of a vaccine for bladder cancer.
Our teaching and research facilities surpass those at some UK medical schools, and our course will provide you with both in-depth practical experience and comprehensive, up- to-date theoretical knowledge. Our specialist clinical physiology laboratory houses a wide range of diagnostic equipment and is run by experienced practitioners. As well as attending practical classes in the lab, you'll be able to use it for independent study and research, and will have access to specialist journals.
In our partnership with Saracens Rugby Club, you’ll have access to the fantastic resources at StoneX Stadium, including the brand new £23 million redevelopment project of the West Stand which offers state-of-the-art facilities as a top educational and high performance centre for teaching and research excellence. With some of the most advanced equipment in the UK, you will be able to utilise the new specialist spaces, simulation suites, specialist labs, plus much more.
Please note: this programme will not lead to a qualification as a Healthcare Scientist (Cardiac Physiologist).
For further information please follow the links below:
If you do not wish to study the full MSc, you can apply to the PGDip where you study only eight modules, omitting the dissertation.
*Please note this course is subject to review.
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This module is concerned with the knowledge and understanding of electrophysiology required to safely contribute to treatment and diagnosis of patients with cardiac arrhythmias.
This module equips students with the knowledge and understanding required to safely contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with abnormalities of cardiac rhythm.
This module aims to provide you with the underpinning theory of ultrasound and imaging plus the advanced knowledge of echocardiography required for current clinical practice.
Module aims to develop students' skills in planning and execution of an analytical, laboratory-based study and critical evaluation of real research results drawing on their acquired knowledge from other modules. In addition, the module aims to develop students' communication skills to enable them to communicate their findings in written and oral form.
The module aims to provide students with current theories and approaches to leadership and management in order they can bring about effect positive change in the team or organisation that they lead or manage.
The module aims to provide insight into a range of ethical and legal issues that relate to professional practice, to research with human and animal subjects and to human reproduction, particularly various forms of reproductive technology. It will also aim to give students a broad overview of the relevant current UK ethical and legal regulations for research using human tissues. The module will further explore the ethical issues present in the rapidly developing area of genetic technology, including genetic testing and selection, genetic engineering, and the concept of genetic disease. After an introduction to basic ethical theory and legal principles, the focus of the module will be on exploring ways in which, by applying theoretical considerations to practice, ethical and legal issues can be critically analysed and addressed.
The module aims to provide students with the tools required to design effective and efficient experiments and to test scientific hypotheses. The module will also equip students with the tools necessary for statistical analysis in a hypothesis testing context.
This module aims to provide students with a specialised body of current knowledge in the field of medical diagnostics and the differing forms of imaging used in modern cardiology.
The student will gain confidence in the interpretation of diagnostic information and become familiar with specialised and advanced modalities, from simple angiography to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The module will lead students towards a greater understanding of both old and new methods for diagnosing cardiac disease.
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we've learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning. Please regularly check this section of the course page for updates.
This programme will be delivered in a blended learning format using in person and live interactive teaching sessions via a number of learning platforms such as Kaltura, newrow Adobe Connect or Zoom. Learning may be supplemented by pre-recorded lectures, demonstration of diagnostic techniques or data analysis activity where you can access the information at any point. Practical sessions will be on campus and in person. This wide range of teaching and learning approaches are used to build up your skills and knowledge.
You will take part in online and in person case-study based discussions, in person workshops and in-class activities. You will supplement all this with your own guided and independent reading. The mix of delivery modes will be varied and suitable to the content being delivered.
Assessments will include case study based theoretical exams. Other methods of assessment will include written assignments, data analysis, and online presentations. You’ll receive regular feedback on your work, including your assessed work, and will also be asked to evaluate your own work.
For your dissertation, you'll design, conduct, and critically evaluate the results of your own independent, analytical research project. You will carry out an observational study, and can base your project at your workplace if you’re in relevant employment. You will present your findings through a written report and a presentation to your tutors and fellow students.
We have developed new approaches to teaching and learning for the 2023/24 academic year, and have resumed the majority of our teaching on campus.
We are currently reviewing our approach to teaching and learning for 2023 entry and beyond. We've learned a lot about how to give you a quality education - we aim to combine the best of our pre-pandemic teaching and learning with access to online learning and digital resources which put you more in charge of when and how you study. We will keep you updated on this throughout the application process.
Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.
This information is likely to change slightly for 2022 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Learning structure: typical hourly breakdown in 2023/24 | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: | 8 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | 4 hours |
Tutor set learning activities | Average hours per week, per level: | 3 hours |
Outside of these hours, you’ll be expected to do independent study where you read, listen and reflect on other learning activities. This can include preparation for future classes. In a year, you’ll typically be expected to commit 1200 hours to your course across all styles of learning. If you are taking a placement, you might have some additional hours.
Definitions of terms
Support
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
Our course will provide qualified cardiac physiologists with advanced knowledge and skills required to work in the NHS. You'll be equally well-qualified to do a PhD and move onto a career in research (for which an MSc is increasingly becoming a requirement), developing new techniques for diagnosing and treating heart problems. If you're already working in cardiology, our MSc will help you progress to a more senior position.
As well as in-depth knowledge of your subject, our course will provide you with many transferable skills. It will improve your research, data collection and interpretation, IT, numeracy, communication, presentation, teamwork and problem-solving skills, as well as your confidence and your ability to work under your own initiative and manage your own time.
Graduates can progress into careers in organisations such as:
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: September 2023
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Code: PGB121
Start: September 2023
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Code: PGB120
