Overview
You will study the complex anatomy and detailed function of the human body in both health and disease. There will be a strong emphasis on learning about the body's structure and functions. There will be a focus on physiology, anatomy, histology, biochemistry and pharmacology. This foundation is essential for anyone pursuing a medical or clinical physiology career.
- Gain practical skills in bioscience techniques such as lung function, exercise and fitness tests, medical imaging (chest X-rays) and electrocardiograms (ECG).
- Develop transferable skills in research, communication, and presentation as well as statistical analysis and interpretation. You'll also enhance your statistical analysis and interpretation skills, which are fundamental to jobs in clinical physiology, or any role.
- Meet physiologists, present your research projects and develop research skills through our partnership with the Physiological Society. You'll gain insights into the latest industry trends, enhancing your employability for physiology roles.
- Take part in external visits such as a day in the dissecting room at St George's Hospital, gaining hands-on experience relevant to your medical physiology career.
This course is in Clearing
Our LLM course is a top choice
UEL’s LLM programme has been recognised as a top choice in the latest PTES survey, achieving 1st place rankings for satisfaction, teaching and more.
What makes this course different

Study abroad opportunities
You will have the chance to apply for a fully funded summer trip to India, as part of the Turing scheme, enhancing your career prospects.

Foundation year
Find out more about our flexible Bioscience and Health Foundation pathways which can prepare you for a number of our bioscience courses.
Explore foundation pathways
Outstanding facilities
Develop your practical skills within our multi-million-pound bioscience laboratories. Part of our £2.4 million investment included refurbished physiology and bioscience teaching laboratories.
Course modules
Our foundation year is a shared year across our health and bioscience courses. It's perfect for you if you want to follow a professional career in physiotherapy, podiatry, or adult nursing, but you don’t have the relevant subjects for direct entry to the degree course.
In your Medical Physiology BSc (Hons), you will develop a strong foundation in key areas of human biology, physiology, and essential scientific skills. The Medical Physiology degree includes modules such as Human Biology, where you will study the anatomical structures and physiological processes underpinning body functions, and Introduction to the Study of Cells, providing insight into cellular structures and biochemical processes.
In Year 2 of the Medical Physiology BSc (Hons), students will deepen their understanding of key physiological, biochemical, and pharmacological concepts essential for medical physiology. The Medical Physiology degree provides a comprehensive exploration of medical microbiology, immunology, and disease processes through the Infection & Immunity Core Module, which covers the basics of microbial infections, immune system components, and vaccines, reinforced with laboratory practical sessions.
In your final year, you'll focus on diseases of the systems of the body, clinical physiology and cellular pathology. You'll specialise in optional subjects such as toxicology, exercise or neuropharmacology. You'll complete a major research project and a group business enterprise project to advance your knowledge and practical skills that you have learned in the Medical Physiology degree.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Your future career
We've worked hard to ensure that this course will be the perfect launch pad for your future career in the medical field. Employers recognise the quality of the scientists we produce at UEL and graduates of our course have gone into jobs at Hammersmith Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital, among others. The thorough grounding you'll receive in physiology and the transferable skills you'll learn will open up many career paths, in hospital clinics and departments, or as part of a surgical team.
Industry links
We are linked with The Physiological Society - offering membership, conferences and skill development. This is particularly valuable as it will provide direct access to a professional network that could help you secure a job in medical physiology.
Graduate employers
Some of our medical physiology graduates have gone on to work for the NHS or pharmacies in London. These roles are just a few examples of the varied medical careers available to graduates with a physiology degree. Example employers are the NHS, universities, research institutes and pharmaceutical companies.
Job roles
Our graduates have gone into a variety of jobs in clinical physiology, medicine, radiography, physiotherapy and teaching. In addition, the industrial and pharmaceutical industries are always on the lookout for physiologists. You could use your degree as a basis for a more general science career, or go into research.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
Further study
You might decide to study for a further degree in a related subject, either an MSc or PhD, such as our new MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology or embark on a research career in the biological or medical fields. There's always the possibility that, with further study, you could become a doctor or dentist.

Doing the Medical Physiology degree at UEL helped shape me into the clinician I am today. The course gave me a strong foundation to pursue my master's in Audiological Science with Clinical Practice at UCL. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the course and I met some amazing people as a result. I will always be grateful to UEL for giving me a chance and guiding me in the right direction to get me to where I am today."Dianne Gunuwardena
Clinical Audiologist
How you'll learn
The physiology course is taught by staff with a range of expertise. Course Leader Dr Mohammed Meah is researching the body's response to stress and is an author of books on laboratory skills in biosciences and statistics. Dr Geoff Webb has authored several books on nutrition. Dr Prashant Ruchaya is an expert on stem cells. Dr Roger Carpenter is an exercise specialist and Mr Rane Ranesinghe is a very experienced anatomist. These experts will guide you through the physiology course and help you excel.
To ensure you have an insight into the industry, we organise external visits such as a day in the dissecting room at St George's Hospital. We have a range of guest speakers visiting. Our close association with The Physiological Society will help you meet physiologists, present your research projects and develop research skills. These experiences are crucial for preparing you for a career in physiology.
Some of our students have presented their research at the Society's meetings, while others have received grants, enabling them to attend specialist courses in 'in vivo' and 'in vitro' experimentation.
Your final-year research projects will be your showcase for future employers, demonstrating your ability to generate and interpret new data on subjects such as the cause and diagnosis of diseases.
In your extensive lab studies, you'll benefit from the specialised equipment at our Stratford campus, particularly relating to cardiovascular and respiratory research.
You'll develop transferable skills in research, communication, and presentation as well as statistical analysis and interpretation. You'll complete a first aid course and develop a business enterprise in biosciences presented in a dragons' den-style event. You will do short placements either at UEL or abroad. You will have the chance to go on external visits to enhance your learning and employability. All of these experiences are designed to give you the best start for your career in medical physiology or the wider science field.
Guided independent study
Our innovative Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) approach enhances face-to-face learning by providing students with scheduled on-campus contact hours and additional learning opportunities. Through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), students can access course materials and resources beyond their scheduled hours. We offer access to industry-standard technology and specialised spaces to prepare students for their future careers. Dedicated time for activities and development, along with a holistic approach to learning, fosters academic, personal, and professional growth. Students benefit from career support through on-campus and virtual Career Zones, personalised support services, and a dedicated online portal, Track My Future (TMF).
Academic support
Students are supported with academic or subject-related queries by a programme director, module leaders, academic advisers (you’ll have an academic adviser from the teaching team as soon as you arrive with us), and university central support services.
Dedicated personal tutor
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, academic tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help you achieve your potential.
You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs feature centralised helpdesks.
UEL provides support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Workload
The approximate percentages for this course are:
Year 1: 180 Hours - Taught Sessions, 60 Hours - Practical/IT Workshops, 960 Hours - Independent Learning
Year 2: 195 Hours - Taught Sessions, 55 Hours - Practical/IT Workshops, 950 Hours - Independent Learning
Year 3: 178 Hours - Taught Sessions, 72 Hours - Practical/IT Workshops, 950 Hours - Independent Learning
Your timetable
Each year you will spend up to 250 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
Class sizes
The approximate size of classes on this course is between 15 and 25 students.
How you'll be assessed
We'll assess you with a mixture of coursework and exams. Coursework includes essays, research reports, group and seminar presentations and a final-year project. Most of the assessment in your first year is by coursework and we'll give you as much feedback as possible.
In your third year, you'll either take five core modules or undertake a work placement. We'll assess you accordingly.
- Year 1 - 58% Portfolio/Coursework, 42% Laboratory/Practical/ICT
- Year 2 - 42% Written Exam/Timed Assessment, 42% Portfolio/Coursework, 16% Laboratory/Practical/ICT
- Year 3 - 53% Portfolio/Coursework, 38% Written Exam/Timed Assessment, 9% Laboratory/Practical/ICT
You'll always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 14 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face-to-face assessments.
Campus and facilities
Our campus and the surrounding area
Our historic Stratford campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford's thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, and just 15 minutes from London's West End.
Stratford’s facilities include a state-of-the-art library and learning centre, the majestic great hall and specialist laboratories and computing services. The School of Childhood and Social Care, and Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science are housed in new buildings. There is also a campus restaurant and bookshop, and a Students' Union café-bar.
Westfield Stratford City - Europe's largest indoor shopping mall - is just one of Stratford's attractions, alongside many other shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There are two multiscreen cinemas, a theatre, an arts centre and much more.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
What our students say

My experience on the Medical Physiology course was invaluable. The course enhanced my growth on a professional and personal level. My education was supported by Dr Meah, Dr Samir, and the teaching team. From this, I was able to secure a 1st class honours qualification and find my passion. This allowed me to progress to become a paediatric respiratory physiologist within the Guys & Thomas NHS Hospital Trust. I am most grateful for the teaching I received on this course."
Dilini Samaranayaka
2021 graduate
UEL provided a valuable opportunity for me to be a part of a community and set the foundation for me to pursue my career in Audiology.
Thivany Kanagarajah
BSc Medical Physiology, 2019