Prospective Students

Current Teaching • Courses • Course Advisors • Future Careers

Teaching Style

We teach through a mixture of lectures, practicals, small group tutorials and computer-assisted and self-directed study. Regular tests and assessments ensure that students stay on schedule. Although this is a large Department, it is a friendly one. We encourage students to make contact with teaching staff who are always ready to help them.

Courses (Degrees)

(pdfs to download)
BSc Undergraduate
BBiomedSc in Functional Human Biology

For more information about BSc(Hons) (400 Level); PGDipSci, MSc, PhD click on the link.

For further information about the primary papers that are pre-requisites for continuing study in physiology and the Health Sciences professional courses – Human Body Systems papers – HUBS 191 & HUBS 192, please click on the link.

For further information about physiology for Health Sciences (a second year paper – including Health Sciences for Dentistry, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Human Nutrition) – PHSL 251 – please click on the link.

Course Advisors for 2010

Chris Bolter
Colin Brown
Grant Butt
Pat Cragg
Ged Davis
Kirk Hamilton
Phil Heyward
Brian Hyland
Fiona McDonald
Phil Sheard

Future Careers

Physiology has always formed the basis of progress in medical knowledge, and with recent growth in knowledge of molecular genetics and the sequencing of the human genome, physiologists are even more in demand to explore the functional implications of these new findings. Once the location or sequence of an interesting gene is known, physiological experiments are required to understand the role played by that gene's product in normal functions of the body. In consequence, physiologists are increasingly in demand in biotechnology industries to help elucidate the roles of newly-discovered gene products. In addition, as the pharmaceutical industry uses ever more sophisticated techniques to design drugs that mimic the function of naturally occurring substances, so the demand for physiologists with expertise in testing the biological function of those drugs and treatments increases. The market for well-trained physiologists remains strong in universities, polytechnics, hospitals, in government and agricultural research agencies, and in the supply industries that provide scientific support (equipment and reagent suppliers etc). Also, physiology graduates are well placed to go on to further training in an applied health science (medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, pharmacy).

Training in Physiology has a strong emphasis on providing students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to succeed. In addition to specific relevant knowledge and understanding of modern functional biology, students are given training and guidance in the acquisition, assimilation, and presentation of modern scientific data. These general skills are actively sought by employers, they transcend the boundaries of modern scientific disciplines and ensure that Physiology graduates are in high demand in the workforce.

What sort of jobs do Physiology graduates get?

Physiologists are in demand in the job market! Here is a partial list of some careers being pursued by recent Otago physiology graduates…

• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Pharmacy
• Physiotherapy
• Veterinary science
• Research scientist in industry, Government & universities
• Teacher
• University/polytechnic academic
• Audiology
• Government (Pharmac)
• Healthcare equipment research
• Scientific instrument development/hardware
• Scientific instrument marketing
• Pharmaceutical industry management
• Ophthalmology
• Nursing
• Pharmaceutical industry marketing
• Information technology
• Exercise consultant
• Hospital laboratory manager
• Hospital laboratory technician

In addition to these options being taken by recent graduates, the increasing importance of the role of biotechnology in our society is rapidly creating new opportunities for physiologists in non-traditional career paths such as publishing companies (scientific writers), law firms (interpretation of forensic data or patent applications), public relations firms and consultancies (who need trained scientists to interpret technical information, and present it to clients/investors in a way they can understand). If you can see yourself in any of these roles, a BSc major in Physiology can help get you there! Don’t take our word for it, check out the Otago Science Careers database and see what physiology graduates think of what their degree did for them…