Physiology

Physiology is the science of how the body works. While disciplines such as anatomy describe structure and biochemistry examines molecules, physiology is concerned with function, asking how individual cells, tissues, organs and systems operate and how they are coordinated to maintain life. It is an integrative science in the deepest sense, because understanding how a whole organ or an entire body functions requires you to draw together knowledge from the molecular level all the way up to the whole organism.

That capacity for integration puts physiology at the centre of the biological and medical sciences, and it makes physiologists people who can think across multiple levels of biological organisation at once.

At Aberdeen, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study physiology in a different academic and scientific environment and broaden your perspective on the field. Across the programme you will study the major systems of the human body, including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, endocrine, neural and musculoskeletal physiology, developing your understanding of how each system operates and how they interact to maintain homeostasis. Laboratory work is an important part of your training, developing the experimental and data analysis skills that are essential in both research and clinical careers.

Physiology graduates are well positioned for a wide range of careers in biomedical research, healthcare and the life sciences industry. Many graduates pursue further professional training in medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, pharmacy or other allied health professions. Others move into pharmaceutical and biotechnology research, clinical laboratory science or science communication.

Academic research at doctoral level is a common next step for those who want to pursue a career in science, and physiology sits close enough to clinical medicine that research in this field frequently has direct translational relevance.