BSc (Hons) Cardiac Physiology Practice (Apprenticeship)

Develop the fundamentals of professional practice, physiology, and cardiovascular and respiratory science. Learn vital skills to prepare you for a role as a healthcare science practitioner cardiac physiology. Benefit from a hybrid learning approach to benefit you and your employer.

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cardiac physiology students using a manikin

Start date/study mode:

Course codeCID1577

Duration3 years

Course summary

The BSc (Hons) Cardiac Physiology apprenticeship starts by building your understanding of professional practice, physiology, and cardiovascular and respiratory science. You’ll then explore how diseases affect these systems and learn the latest methods for diagnosing and managing them. As you progress, you’ll develop the skills to carry out and interpret key clinical tests, including:

12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
Ambulatory ECG monitoring
Non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) checks
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)
Exercise tolerance tests (ETT).

You’ll also gain experience working in more advanced clinical settings. This includes environments where procedures like cardiac catheterisation and pacemaker implantation are performed. You'll also learn how to use specialist non-invasive techniques, like echocardiography, in practice.

The course is flexible and enables you to access lectures and learning materials online when it suits you and your employer. The course is accredited by the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS)(opens in new tab). Upon successful completion, you’ll be eligible to register with the Academy for Healthcare Science(opens in new tab) as a healthcare science practitioner.

Completion of the apprenticeship also includes the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) registration portfolio as part of your End Point Assessment (EPA). This allows you to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and gain eligibility for employment as a biomedical scientist.

By the end of the course, you’ll have the technical expertise, professional recognition, and clinical competence to work as a healthcare science practitioner or biomedical scientist. You'll make a direct impact on patient diagnosis, treatment, and care within cardiac and respiratory science.

Why Sunderland for Higher and Degree Apprenticeships

Accreditations and approvals

The National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS)

What you'll study

Many of our courses include a range of modules you can choose from. Some options may only be available if you’ve already studied specific modules. If you’re not sure what you need before picking a module, your course leader can help.

Undergraduate module credits should total 120 credits per academic year. If optional modules are available, choose an amount that totals 120 credits.

How you'll learn

The course divides into modules, which provide you with the academic credits required to gain your degree.

You'll study four modules per academic year, two in semester 1 and two in semester 2. Teaching for each module will be one a week during the semester. This means you'll need to take part in formal sessions two days per week. The sessions take the form of virtual lectures and seminars.

At the start of the day, you'll take part in a collective class session. You'll then complete extra exercises and activities during the late morning and early afternoon. Finally, you'll reconvene as a class at the end of the day to discuss what you've done.

You'll attend campus for one week per semester. During this time, you'll take part in laboratory teaching, clinical simulation exercises, and problem-based learning activities.

Work-based learning is delivered within NHS departments. Here, you'll perform a range of procedures within a live hospital environment. This allows you to build your experience working as a healthcare science practitioner.

Since this apprenticeship is approved by a statutory regulator, the EPA for this course has been integrated with the assessment requirements as outlined by the IBMS and HCPC, which include completion and passing of the academic course and completion and passing the verification of the IBMS training registration portfolio.

Entry requirements

Admission is subject to you being employed by, and remaining in employment with, an organisation throughout the duration of the apprenticeship. The employer must confirm you comply with apprentice eligibility criteria.

Our typical offer is 112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of two A Levels or equivalent (for example, 1x AVCE double award) including biology or chemistry. Please note, we don't accept General Studies AS or A Level.

We accept a maximum of 20 points from Level 3 Key Skills qualifications. You also need three passes at GCSE grade C or above. This must include maths and English language, or a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you've studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade, you'll need to achieve a grade 4 or above.

If you've studied an Access to Higher Education course, this must be accredited by the Quality Assurance Agency. We require successful completion of the course, as well as GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English Language (or the equivalent as part of your course).

If English is your second language, we require a minimum of IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 6.0 in each element.

To search for apprenticeships offered by employers in your area go to: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship(opens in new tab).

Fees and finance support

Larger organisations can use their apprenticeship levy and government top-up to pay tuition and professional fees of higher apprenticeships. For smaller employers, the government pays 95%, with the remainder co-invested by the business.

For a discussion around your specific requirements please call 0191 515 3361(opens in new tab) or email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

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Start date/study mode:

UK students

Apprenticeship September 2026
Application deadline is 29 June 2026

To apply for a higher or degree apprenticeship, you must have an employer in place to support you on the course. If you're interested in applying and have an employer in place, please email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab) and we'll send you the relevant application link.

To search for apprenticeships offered by employers in your area go to: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship(opens in new tab).

For a discussion around your specific requirements, or if you're an employer interested in creating a vacancy, please call us on 0191 515 3361(opens in new tab) or email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

Disclaimer

We want to make sure you have clear and accurate information about our courses. Our website always shows the latest updates. If you’ve applied and you're offered a place, we’ll contact you in writing if anything important changes.

For more information, view our programme specifications. These include course content, learning outcomes, and the skills you'll gain.