Medical Physiology

Medical physiology is the study of how the human body works: how cells generate energy, communicate, and maintain the conditions necessary for life; how tissues and organs specialise to perform their functions; and how the integrated systems of the body, from the cardiovascular and respiratory to the neurological and endocrine, work together to keep us alive and functioning. Understanding normal physiology is the necessary foundation for understanding disease, because to identify what has gone wrong you must first understand what going right looks like.

At King's College London, this three-year full-time BSc provides an advanced course of study in human physiology at the cellular, tissue, and organ system levels. You will develop a thorough understanding of normal physiological function and explore how and why physiological processes become impaired, examining the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to disease. This connection between normal function and pathology is central to the programme, ensuring your physiological knowledge is always related to its clinical relevance, and to how it informs the development of diagnostics and treatments.

King's College is based in central London, close to some of the country's leading hospitals and research institutions, giving you an exceptional environment in which to study a subject so closely connected to medical practice. The programme also includes options to study abroad, giving you the opportunity to gain an international academic perspective on physiology and biomedical science.

You will develop strong analytical and scientific skills alongside your physiological knowledge, working with experimental methods and data that are central to biomedical research.

Graduates go on to careers in biomedical research, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, clinical physiology, and healthcare sciences. Many continue to postgraduate study in physiology, biomedical sciences, pharmacology, or medicine-related fields. The strong research environment at King's and the degree's clinical orientation make it a well-regarded foundation for careers at the interface of science and medicine.