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Learn the fundamentals of professional practice, physiology, and cardiovascular and respiratory science. Develop these skills further, learning the pathophysiology of disease to the cardiac and respiratory system, alongside current methods of testing for the presence of disease. By the end of the course you'll be adept at performing and reporting a range of clinical tests.
The BSc (Hons) Cardiac Physiology degree will follow the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) curriculum designed to train prospective healthcare science practitioners in the specialism of cardiac physiology.
Delivered using a hybrid approach that relies predominantly on a distance learning, the course will initially teach you the fundamentals of professional practice, physiology, and cardiovascular and respiratory science. You'll then develop these skills further, learning the pathophysiology of disease to the cardiac and respiratory system, alongside current methods of testing for the presence of disease.
By the end of the course you'll be adept at performing and reporting on a range of clinical tests, including 12 lead ECG, ambulatory ECG recordings, non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), ambulatory blood pressure monitors (ABPM), and exercise tolerance testing (ETT). You'll also be able to perform as a healthcare science practitioner within invasive environments where cardiac catheterisation and pacemaker implantation procedures take place, as well as have an awareness of the practical application of specialist non-invasive techniques including echocardiography.
You'll participate in six weeks of on-campus clinical simulation during the course, with one week of on-campus teaching delivered each semester. You'll also complete an integrated programme of clinical placements within a diagnostic cardiology department for a minimum of 50 weeks over the three year course.
You'll study four modules per academic year, two in semester 1 and two in semester 2. Each module will be taught on one day a week during the semester, meaning you'll be expected to participate in formal sessions two days per week. These sessions will take the form of virtual lectures and seminars, where you'll take part in a collective class session at the start of the day, complete additional exercises and activities during the late morning and early afternoon, and reconvene as a class at the end of the day to discuss what's been completed.
You'll be asked to come onto campus for one week per semester. During this time, you'll participate in laboratory teaching, clinical simulation exercises, and problem-based learning activities.
Work-based learning will be delivered through clinical placement where you'll participate in supervised activities within an NHS Trust. You'll perform a range of procedures within this live hospital environment, allowing you to build on your experience working as a healthcare science practitioner.
Each module will have a combination of summative assessment and formative exercises. Summative work will be in the form of coursework through written reviews, narratives, evaluations, reflection, and oral presentations. Examinations will take place at each stage of the course ranging from multiple choice and single best answer quizzes in year 1, through to short answer and essay questions in years 2 and 3.
You'll also complete a clinical logbook and professional portfolio as part of the work-based learning component. This will involve completing assessments and collecting evidence that will collectively demonstrate your developing knowledge and skills.
Our typical offer is:
| Qualification | Minimum grade |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade: SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement | GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1100/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 2 subjects) ACT (score of 26+) |
If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.
If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.
We would require successful completion of an Access to Higher Education course that is accredited by the Quality Assurance Agency. We would also require a minimum of grade C in GCSE in Mathematics and English Language or the equivalent as part of your course.
If English is your second language, we require a minimum of IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 6.0 in each element.
Shortlisted applicants will participate in a selection interview, which will be conducted by a panel with members from the University of Sunderland, the cardiac physiology workforce, and the Patient Carer and Public Involvement participant (PCPI) group.
If you are successful at the interview stage, you'll be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, along with an Occupational Health Check.
This course is subject to approval.
The annual, full-time fee for this course is:
*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.
Read more about EU fees and funding in our Help and Advice article.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
Successful completion of this course will make you eligible to register as a qualified Cardiac Physiology Healthcare Science Practitioner with the Academy for Healthcare Science, enabling you to work within the NHS.