Healthcare Science

Healthcare science in cardiac physiology is concerned with the function of the heart and cardiovascular system and with the diagnostic investigations used to assess patients with heart conditions. Cardiac physiologists are Allied Health Professionals who carry out and interpret a wide range of tests including electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, cardiac catheterisation investigations, and ambulatory monitoring, providing the data and assessments on which cardiologists and other clinicians base their decisions. It is a discipline that combines scientific knowledge of cardiovascular physiology with practical clinical skill and patient care.

At Swansea University, this three-year full-time degree is designed to translate an interest in human biology and health into a substantive clinical career. You will study anatomy and physiology with a focus on the cardiovascular system, alongside the scientific principles underpinning the investigations you will learn to perform. Clinical training is integral to the degree, providing the hands-on experience in real healthcare settings that professional competence requires.

Cardiac physiology is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council, and completing an accredited programme is the route to professional registration as a clinical physiologist.

You will develop the scientific understanding, clinical skills, and professional judgment needed to work effectively with patients undergoing investigation and to communicate findings clearly to the clinical teams who rely on your work. The combination of scientific knowledge and patient-facing practice makes cardiac physiology a uniquely rewarding career choice.

Graduates work as cardiac physiologists in NHS hospitals and cardiology units, private healthcare, and research settings. The profession offers structured career progression, including specialist roles in electrophysiology, echocardiography, and pacing. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study or clinical specialist training to develop their expertise further.

The career path is defined by direct contribution to patient care and the diagnosis of conditions that have major implications for individual health.