BSc (Hons) Medical Physiology and Diagnostics Wolverhampton School of Sciences Ucas code: B122 Location Study mode Duration Start date Wolverhampton City Campus Full-time 3 year(s) 23/09/2019 Wolverhampton City Campus Part-time 5/6 year(s) 23/09/2019 Employability You will be prepared to enter a career as a healthcare practitioner in cardiac physiology or respiratory and sleep physiology in a hospital department, or if you don t take the embedded placement route, you will be qualified to apply for associate practitioner roles within the healthcare industry. This will allow you to build up a portfolio of recognition, which may allow you to become a practitioner. Opportunities also exist, as your career develops, to progress to higher levels within the healthcare science career framework, taking on responsibility for higher level diagnostic tests, training, and management roles. In addition, the award provides an ideal background for graduate entry into the NHS Scientist Training Programme. Currently this award has excellent employability statistics with 100% of graduates in both disciplines being in full time employment within the NHS. Aims This innovative course is designed to provide you with education and training in cardiovascular, respiratory and sleep sciences, and is particularly designed for those of you who are interested in disease processes, diagnosis and improving the quality of life of patients. If so, this might be the course for you, especially if you would like to work hands-on with people, rather than in a laboratory. Following successful completion of your first year, you will be able to apply to transfer onto our accredited BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Physiological Science) practitioner training programme (having satisfied Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health checks). This course has a work-based placement embedded throughout your study, which will allow you to undertake the practical training associated with the role of a healthcare scientist. The first placement, taken at the end of your first year of study, following selection, involves practical training in cardiac physiology, respiratory and sleep science, and you can then choose to specialise in one discipline for the final two years. If you do not transfer at this stage you can continue with your study towards a degree in Medical Physiology &Diagnostics. You will follow one of two pathways, either
Cardiovascular Physiology or Respiratory Physiology and Sleep Science. This will give you the essential skills for you to be able to work as a Healthcare Associate Practitioner, and gain experience in the workplace via this route. This may then allow you to become a practitioner via the newly developing recognition scheme, or it will allow you to apply for entry to the Scientist Training Programme. Opportunities for progression: This innovative course is designed to provide you with education and training in cardiovascular, respiratory and sleep sciences, and is particularly beneficial if you re interested in disease processes, diagnosis and improving the quality of life of patients. If you ve already decided that your ambitions lie within clinical practice then we do offer BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Physiological Science) which is an accredited degree programme as an alternative to the BSc (Hons) Medical Physiology and Diagnostics. BSc Healthcare Science (Physiological Science) is accredited by Health Education England and the Registration Council for Clinical Physiology and opens opportunities for you to undertake clinical placements throughout your time at university, providing excellent employment opportunities on graduation. If you are not certain that a clinical career path is for you, or do not feel able to commit to work-based placement as well as your studies, then Medical Physiology and Diagnostics may be a more suitable course for you. Medical Physiology and Diagnostics provides similar academic content to that within the Healthcare Science programme but without the need to commit to clinical placement and can offer you the opportunity to enter clinical practice on graduation. Medical Physiology and Diagnostics covers the theoretical knowledge required for you to pursue a career as a scientist within a healthcare environment or other areas that require detailed knowledge of human physiology and understanding of disease processes. Knowledge of the normal structure and function of the human body will be developed so that you can appreciate the range of clinical abnormalities that occur as a result of disease. Although the main focus will be either Cardiac Physiology or Respiratory and Sleep Science, depending on your choice of specialist area, the academic provision will not be limited to these areas but will also cover the physiology and pathophysiology of the wider systems to provide an extensive knowledge base. You will consider the diagnostic tests used within your specialist professional area and be able to understand how test results are used to plan subsequent treatment. It will provide you with a comprehensive appreciation of a number of specialisms in physiological sciences through broad experiential components in cardiovascular, respiratory and sleep sciences in order to develop a more holistic view of the
areas contributing to high-quality care. If you pass all of your first year modules in Medical Physiology and Diagnostics gaining 120 credits, and would like to, you will be able to apply to transfer onto our accredited BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Physiological Science) practitioner training programme. Transfer onto the Healthcare Science award will also need you to be successful at interview, to demonstrate that you have the necessary attributes to follow a career in Healthcare and satisfy Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health checks. The Healthcare Science course has work-based placement embedded throughout your study, which will allow you to undertake the practical training associated with the role of a healthcare scientist. The first placement, taken at the end of your first year of study, following selection, involves practical training in cardiac physiology, respiratory and sleep science, and you can then choose to specialise in one discipline for the final two years. If you do not transfer at this stage you can continue with your study towards a degree in Medical Physiology and Diagnostics. You will follow one of two pathways, either Cardiovascular Physiology or Respiratory Physiology and Sleep Science. This will give you the essential skills for you to be able to work as a Healthcare Associate Practitioner, and gain experience in the workplace via this route. This may then allow you to become a practitioner via the newly developing recognition scheme, or it will allow you to apply for entry to the Scientist Training Programme. For more information email sci.eng@wlv.ac.uk Entry requirements 2019 Entry GCSE English and Maths at grade C+/4. No equivalences will be accepted. PLUS EITHER A Level minimum of AA or BCD to include Biology passed with at least grade B Access to HE Diploma Full Award (60 credits), with 45 Level 3 credits of which 36 must be in Science with at least 27 at Distinction and the rest Merit. No pass grades are accepted BTEC QCF Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied Science grade DMM If you've got other qualifications or relevant experience, please contact The Gateway for further advice before applying. International entry requirements and application guidance can be found here Other Requirements Those successful in application will subsequently be required to meet a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check
Students must have studied a minimum of two years post GCSE level. However, it is expected that some applicants will be mature students with work experience, who wish to further their career development. These applicants will be processed through standard procedures, which may involve an interview as part of the process. Please see http://wlv.ac.uk/mature for further information. Those who do not meet the entry requirements may be offered an alternative course. Why Wolverhampton? Specialised course, with lecturer/practitioners delivering much of the material Innovative degree course, with long-standing collaborative support from many local hospital departments Placement opportunities, to enable students to complete practical training in the workplace (dependent upon availability) Opportunity to transfer onto Health Education England (HEE) and registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) accredited degree course (dependent on the availability of placements) Patient and public involvement in delivery of the course Outcomes During this programme of study you will develop a knowledge of anatomy and human development. You will also show an understanding of the integrated function and control of the component parts of the major systems of the human body. You will develop an understanding of cell structure and function at the molecular level, and an appreciation of the interplay of complex molecular events that help to maintain cell homeostasis. You will appreciate disease processes and the use of pharmacological and interventional treatments against them. All students need to be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of physics and signal processing associated with their practice and how information can be recorded, stored and analysed in the concept of clinical physiology. If on placement, you will develop competence in the physiological practical techniques employed within cardiac physiology or respiratory and sleep science and be able to explain the rationale for the investigation and treatment of disease, modification of the investigations, and interpret test results.
You will also be made aware of professional and research issues in clinical physiology including safe and ethical working practices, the importance of communication in a therapeutic relationship and research methodology. Accreditation Students transferring onto the BSc Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) will be studying on a course which is accredited by Health Education England (http://hee.nhs.uk/) and the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP). Discover biomedical sciences facilities Find out more about how you'll study in Biomedical Science &Physiology Course Content Year One The programme of study includes an introduction to the scientific basis of healthcare science including subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, immunology and microbiology. You will then build upon this foundation to focus initially on the theoretical aspects of both cardiac physiology and respiratory and sleep science. All students are required to have an appreciation of good professional practice in the workplace so classes are held which focus on health and safety, patient communication and welfare, clinical governance and ethical practice. Professional practice and patient-centred care are themes that run throughout the three years of the course. During your first year you will also have several placement taster days in both cardiac physiology and respiratory physiology departments. At the end of your first year, if you are successful in gaining a placement, you will, over the summer vacation period, undertake two five week long placements in both cardiology and respiratory departments; this will enable you to experience the dynamics of each discipline so that you can make an informed choice regarding which specialist area you wish to continue to study. In your second and third year, you will specialise in either cardiovascular physiology or respiratory and sleep science so that over the final two years of the course you develop a sound theoretical understanding of the knowledge that is required to support your practice within that discipline. Year Two You will learn about the various diseases which affect the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, consider the tests which are available to confirm their diagnosis, and develop an understanding of the treatments available to help such conditions. Your studies in diagnostics will be supported with the inclusion of physics classes so that you develop an understanding of the physical processes which underpin both clinical investigations and diagnosis of disease.
This year if you are out on placement, you will spend 15 weeks in a clinical placement within a local hospital trust in your chosen specialist area. During your placement you will begin to develop the skills needed to become a competent healthcare science practitioner and you will have an opportunity to put the academic theory that you have covered into practice. If you are not out on placement, you will study systems physiology and pathophysiology in greater detail. Year Three During your final year you will consolidate your knowledge in your chosen discipline with the introduction of the theory required for more advanced clinical procedures. You will focus on recent developments within your specialist area and this will be complemented by your honours project as you undertake your own research. This year if you are out on placement, the placement is extended and you will spend 25 weeks within your chosen discipline area within a hospital setting. If you are not out on placement, you will study advanced human physiology and current perspectives in physiology, to give you a broader view of recent advances in physiological research.