Bachelor of Science (BSc)

BSc Medical Physiology with a Modern Language

Develop your language skills while you study medical physiology to enhance your employability.
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: B122 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad
  • Study with a language

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

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Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £34,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Tuition fees are considerably lower for your placement year. Please see the fees page for full details.

Additional expenses

Tuition fees are considerably lower for your placement year. Please see the fees pages for full details.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Students participating in placements outside the UK may be able to apply for funding from the UK's Turing scheme depending on eligibility. Priority will be given to students from low income households.

Course unit details:
Advanced Endocrinology (L)

Course unit fact file
Unit code BIOL31571
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Endocrinology is the study of hormones and their control of a wide range of physiological activities. In this unit you will study the molecular and cellular processes which determine the function and control of the human endocrine system and learn about the defects in these processes which can cause endocrine diseases including diabetes and adrenal dysfunction. You will also look at the clinical treatments for these diseases and current research in the area.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Endocrinology BIOL21261 Pre-Requisite Recommended

Aims

To explore the impact of cell and molecular biological techniques on our understanding of endocrine control mechanisms and endocrine disease.

Learning outcomes

A student completing this unit will have an:

  • Understanding of the molecular and cellular processes which determine the function and control of the human endocrine system.
  • Appreciation of the defects in these mechanisms that underlie the development and progression of endocrine disease.
  • Awareness of current strategies for the clinical management of endocrine malfunction and of current research in these areas.

Syllabus

• Endocrine control of extracellular Ca homeostasis. PTH, vitamin D & calcitonin: production, receptors & roles. Clinical abnormalities of Ca metabolism: Hyper- and Hypoparathyroidism, Osteoporosis & Rickets. Current research on Ca-sensing receptors and their therapeutic potential. • Clinical investigations, consequences & management of diabetes mellitus and hyperinsulinism. • Pituitary hormones in health & disease. Pituitary tumours. • The biology and physiological role(s) of Growth Hormone: interaction with the IGF-I axis. Disorders of growth hormone action; the clinical role of growth hormone replacement therapy. Disorders in the control of IGF bioavailability & their clinical consequences. • Pituitary-adrenal axis: The principal pathologies of the pituitary gland and their molecular basis; the clinical and surgical management of pituitary tumours. The diagnosis and management of adrenal pathologies. Disorders of glucocorticoid signalling; their consequences, diagnosis & management.

Employability skills

Group/team working
Peer assessment of submitted essay plans
Problem solving
Past paper questions
Research
Students directed towards Henry Stewart Talk podcasts and Endotext.org for additional self-directed learning
Written communication
Essay writing in the unit summative assessment. Use of Blackboard in the practice paper

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 5%
Written exam 95%
2-hour written examination (95%), comprising 1 essay from a choice of 5, together with MCQs. Coursework: Two essay plans from a past paper, followed by peer assessment (5%).

Feedback methods

• Marked scripts available, with comments, following marks release • Blackboard Discussion Board - checked regularly by Unit Coordinator.

Recommended reading

 

There are no specific textbooks for this unit, though "Essential Endocrinology and Diabetes" by Richard Holt & Neil Hanley (Wiley-Blackwell, 6th Edition; External Link to book) may be found useful. The Endotext website (requires free login) is also useful for the topics listed above: http://www.endotext.org/.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 2
Lectures 18
Independent study hours
Independent study 80

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Donald Ward Unit coordinator

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