Medical Physiology BSc

Program Overview

Medical Physiology BSc

Key Information

• Course type: Single honours
• Delivery mode: In person
• Study mode: Full time
• Required A-level: AAA
• Duration: Three years, or four years with a year's study abroad
• Application status: Open
• Start date: September 2025
• Application deadline: 29 January 2025
• Optional study abroad

Course Description

The Medical Physiology BSc degree provides an advanced course of study on how cells, tissues, and organ systems function, and how together they carry out the activities needed for life. The course focuses on understanding normal human physiology, how and why it might be impaired, and the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to disease. Studying a Biomedical Science degree with us means that you will be able to enjoy the flexibility to choose your degree after your first year with our Common Year One curriculum.

Key Benefits

• Taught in one of Europe's largest centres for medical and professional healthcare education
• Teaching by internationally renowned scientists and researchers
• One of the UK's best graduate employment rates
• Career opportunities through international exchanges
• Contemporary approach based on our history of pioneering discoveries

Course Essentials

The Medical Physiology BSc course will give you a sound introduction to the mechanisms that underlie the function of the body in health and disease, at the cellular, tissue, organ, and whole human levels. This course forms part of the suite of 'Common Year One' courses within the School of Bioscience Education.

Base Campuses

• Guy's Campus: The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
• Waterloo Campus: Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Special Features

• Optional study abroad: On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King's Global Mobility Office.

Regulating Bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students.

Entry Requirements

Subject Requirements

• Required subjects: A-level (or equivalent) grade A in Biology and Chemistry
• Preferred subjects: No preferred subjects

A-Levels

• Required grades: AAA
• Must include grade A in Biology and Chemistry.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

• 36 points overall or an aggregate score of 18 from three Higher Levels.
• Must include grade 6 in Higher Level Biology and Higher Level Chemistry.

Alternative Accepted Qualifications

• Select an alternative accepted qualification: Access to HE Diploma, BTEC Nationals/CTECs, Cambridge Pre-U, European Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

Standard Requirements

• The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall: 36 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, with 9 at Merit.

Contextual Requirements

• The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall: 30 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, with 15 at Merit.

International Applicants

Equivalent International Qualifications

• Select a country: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australasia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia (Czech Republic), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Home Fee Status Students, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Helena, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

English Language Requirements

English language band: D

Selection Process

Contextual Consideration

We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements.

Deferrals

Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.

Foundation Courses

Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme.

Graduates

Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application.

Teaching Methods

Teaching on this course takes place in lectures, seminars, and tutorials and through practical laboratory work.

Assessment

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations.

Structure

Courses are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 360 credits.

Required Modules

You are required to take:

• Biochemistry (15 credits)
• Chemistry for the Biosciences (15 credits)
• Genetics and Molecular Biology (15 credits)
• Cell Biology & Neuroscience (15 credits)
• Fundamentals of Physiology (15 credits)
• Fundamentals of Anatomy and Developmental Biology (15 credits)
• Fundamentals of Pharmacology (15 credits)
• Skills for the Biosciences (15 credits)

Employability

Graduates from the School of Bioscience Education are equipped with a variety of transferable skills.

Destinations

Recent graduates have found employment within the following job roles and companies:

• Research Project Co-ordinators
• Food Scientists
• Company Managers
• Business Analysts
• Scientific Copy Editors

Tuition Fees

Full-time Tuition Fees UK

The UK tuition fee for the academic year is currently £9,535 per year.

Full-time Tuition Fees International

The International tuition fee for the academic year is £35,800 per year.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course-related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Graduation costs
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

Program Outline

It combines intensive classroom learning with hands-on laboratory experience, offering students a comprehensive understanding of the human body's intricate workings.

Objectives:

• Provide students with a thorough understanding of the principles of human physiology, covering cellular, tissue, organ, and whole-body levels.
• Equip students with the knowledge and skills to analyze and interpret physiological data, identify and solve physiological problems, and communicate their findings effectively.
• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, enabling students to adapt to new situations and challenges in the field of physiology.
• Foster a scientific mindset and encourage students to pursue further research and exploration in the realm of medical physiology.
• Equip graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue careers in medical research, healthcare, public health, and other related fields.

Program Description:

This program delves deeper into the mechanisms underlying human physiology than standard physiology courses. It examines how the body functions in both health and disease, focusing on the physiological processes that contribute to maintaining health and the pathological mechanisms that lead to various diseases. The program features a dynamic curriculum that offers a variety of learning experiences, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical laboratory work, and research opportunities. Students will actively engage with the material through research projects, presentations, and other interactive activities.

Outline:

Content:

The Medical Physiology BSc program encompasses a vast range of topics related to human physiology, covering the following key areas:

• Cellular Physiology: This section explores the fundamental functions and processes occurring at the cellular level, including membrane transport, signaling pathways, cell division, and cell death.
It examines the coordinated interactions between cells within these tissues and their contributions to organ function.
• Organ Physiology: This segment focuses on the individual functions of various organ systems, such as the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system, and endocrine system.
It explores the regulatory mechanisms that control these systems and their interactions with other organ systems.
• Whole-Body Physiology: This section examines the integrated functioning of the human body as a whole, studying how different organ systems interact to maintain homeostasis and respond to challenges.
It addresses topics such as metabolism, temperature regulation, fluid balance, and acid-base balance. It analyzes the causes, consequences, and progression of various pathological conditions, examining how these conditions affect the body at the cellular, tissue, organ, and whole-body levels.

Structure:

The program is structured over three years, with each year consisting of two semesters. In the first year, students gain a solid foundation in the fundamental principles of physiology, covering topics like cellular physiology, tissues, and introductory organ systems. The second year allows greater flexibility, retaining core physiology modules while offering a selection of neuroscience, cell biology, and physiology library project options. The final year reflects the diverse research interests of the academic staff, with modules covering aspects like neuroscience, developmental biology, physiology of extreme environments, cardiovascular and muscle physiology, endocrinology, and reproduction.

Course Schedule:

The specific course schedule may vary slightly year to year, but generally, students can expect to take around four to five modules per semester. Each module typically involves a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and practical laboratory sessions. The program also offers opportunities for students to participate in research projects and complete independent study modules.

Individual Modules:

The program comprises a variety of modules, each focusing on specific aspects of physiology. Some of the key modules include:

• Biochemistry: This module provides a foundation in the essential biochemical processes that underlie cellular function and metabolism.
• Chemistry for the Biosciences: This module explores the fundamental principles of chemistry relevant to biological systems, covering topics such as organic chemistry, thermodynamics, and kinetics.
• Cell Biology & Neuroscience: This module examines the structure and function of cells, focusing on the nervous system and its role in controlling body functions.
• Fundamentals of

Full time tuition fees UK: The UK tuition fee for the 2024-25 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap. Full time tuition fees International The International tuition fee for the 2024-2025 academic year is £33,450 per year. Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions. All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling.