Program Overview

Physiology: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

The Physiology: Biological and Biomedical Sciences program is a 4-year full-time course that leads to a B.A. (Moderatorship) Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8). The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the function of living things, from molecular and cellular physiology to the function of organs and systems.

Overview

Physiology is the study of the function of living things, spanning the spectrum of biology from molecular and cellular physiology to the function of organs and systems. The program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the human body and its functions, as well as the skills to design experiments, make accurate measurements, and analyze data.

Course Details

• The program is a 4-year full-time course that leads to a B.A. (Moderatorship) Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8).
• The CAO points required for the program are 545 (2024), and the CAO code is TR060.
• The program is part of the School of Medicine and has strong teaching and research links with other disciplines in the school, such as physiotherapy and clinical medicine.

Admission Requirements

• To see admissions requirements for this course, view the main Biological and Biomedical Sciences course page.
• All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language.
• Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Fees

• For a full list of undergraduate fees, click on the relevant link.

Graduate Skills and Career Opportunities

• Graduates of the program can use their general scientific training and specialized knowledge of physiology to find employment in a wide variety of jobs.
• Some graduates may pursue further training in physiology and become research scientists in hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, or universities.
• Others may undertake further study in health-related fields such as medicine or physiotherapy.

Your Degree and What You’ll Study

• In the first two years, students will study biology, chemistry, and physics subjects common to all students in the Science program.
• In the third year, students will study the physiology of all body systems, from the cellular and tissue level to how each system integrates with other systems.
• In the fourth year, students will study advanced modules in physiology that draw directly from the research ongoing in the department.
• Students will also undertake an individual Capstone research project, where they will work alongside a Trinity Professor in their research laboratory.

Study Abroad and Internship Opportunities

• Many students undertake research internships in Trinity or other universities during the summer vacation.
• Students have won scholarships from the Wellcome Trust, Physiological Society, or Health Research Board to work in research laboratories between Year Three and Year Four.

Research Areas

• The Physiology Department has major strengths in neuroscience, cell biology, and exercise physiology.
• Recent research projects have looked at reprogramming stem cells to cure Parkinson’s disease, assessing the influence of premature birth on hypertension later in life, using exercise training to improve blood vessel health in diabetes, and assessing biomarkers of brain health in athletes playing contact sport.