Healthcare Science

Cardiac physiology is a clinical healthcare science discipline concerned with the investigation and monitoring of the heart and circulatory system. Cardiac physiologists use a range of diagnostic techniques, including electrocardiography, echocardiography, ambulatory monitoring, and electrophysiology, to identify and assess conditions such as arrhythmias, heart failure, valve disease, and coronary artery disease. It is a field in which scientific precision and patient care are inseparable, and one that sits at the forefront of medical technology.

This three-year full-time Healthcare Science degree with a specialism in Cardiac Physiology at the University of Leeds carries a typical entry tariff of 136 points, reflecting the scientific rigour the programme demands. Cardiac physiologists work in a fast-paced, stimulating environment, combining patient care, diagnostics, and problem-solving to deliver person-centred care, and the profession is fast-moving and continually evolving as the course itself notes. You will study cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, the principles of cardiac investigation techniques, clinical measurement science, and the evidence base that underpins diagnostic practice.

A substantial proportion of your time will be spent in clinical placement settings within the NHS, where you will learn to carry out and interpret investigations on real patients under qualified supervision.

Graduation from an accredited Healthcare Science degree typically leads to registration with the Academy for Healthcare Science and eligibility to apply for roles as a cardiac physiologist within the NHS. Cardiac physiologists work in cardiology departments, catheter laboratories, cardiac rehabilitation services, and cardiac surgery units. Experienced practitioners often develop particular expertise in areas such as pacing and devices, echocardiography, or electrophysiology, and many progress into senior clinical roles, management, education, or research.

Postgraduate study and continuing professional development are integral to a career in this rapidly advancing specialty.