Cardiovascular and Respiratory Healthcare
Further your skills and broaden your opportunities in cardiovascular and respiratory healthcare.
Award titles
MSc
Duration: 1 year FT / 2 years PT
(including PG Cert and PG Dip)
Postgraduate Certificate
Duration: 9 months part-time
(standalone course)
Postgraduate Diploma
Duration: 9 months FT / 21 months PT
(including PG Cert)
Key information
Start date: October 2022
Campus: Royal Brompton
Overview
Our programme in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Healthcare is designed for people from a wide range of healthcare backgrounds, including:
- Healthcare Scientists
- Nurses
- Physiotherapists
- Advanced Practitioners
The programme will deepen your knowledge and skills in cardiovascular and respiratory healthcare, enabling you to enhance your career in your chosen field.
You will have the opportunity to discuss new technologies for the prevention, diagnosis and management of ill-health and their impact on the delivery of person-centred healthcare.
Lecturers from a multidisciplinary background will draw on their clinical and research experience at a national and international level to facilitate your learning.
The programme runs successfully through a combination of educational materials and opportunities to interact online alongside more traditional teaching methods. This blended format of delivery consists of teaching sessions (face-to-face or made available online), live webinars, discussion fora, formative and summative assessments administered through our virtual learning environment, and a range of resources to facilitate self-study and progression.
The programme is flexible and available as a full- or part-time MSc, delivered over one or two years.
Graduates go on to pursue a career, in a clinical setting, such as setting up clinical services, or in academia by enrolling on PhD programmes.
Study programme
This programme is made up of three progressional levels (PG Cert, PG Dip and MSc).
You can apply to any level in the first instance. Read more about how this works under 'Choosing your course' in the how to apply section.
The Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma are made up of core and optional taught modules.
The MSc is made up of the Certificate and the Diploma components plus an extensive research project.
Meet our students
Hear from current students and graduates in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Healthcare at the National Heart and Lung Institute on their website or chat to our students online.
Structure
This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
Page last reviewed on 25 October 2021.
Structure
MSc
Core modules
You take all of the core modules below:
Foundations of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences
Module Leader: Dr Rasheda Chowdhury
Provides an overview of cardiovascular and respiratory wellbeing, covering:
- cardiovascular and respiratory anatomy and physiology
- the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and respiratory disease
- acquisition and interpretation of physiological data
Reflections and Evaluation of Clinical Practice
Module Leader: Dr Rasha Al-Lamee
Provides the opportunity to observe good clinical practice in the field of cardiovascular and respiratory healthcare with a view to critiquing it in relation to evidence-based guidelines and reflecting on how to apply improvements in practice.
Study Design
Module Leader: Professor Jennifer Quint
Covers the principles and practice of quantitative and qualitative research, and key issues in critically evaluating methodology. Provides a strong foundation for conducting your own research.
Quality in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Healthcare
This module will critically consider how a focus on safety, effectiveness and the patient experience contribute to the development and delivery of high-quality healthcare services.
Optional modules
You choose three modules from the list below:
- Cardiovascular Health: Prevention and Rehabilitation
- Innovations in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease: Acute and Community
- Managing the Care of Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis (requires previous experience)
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Community Respiratory Care
- Respiratory Failure and Respiratory Support
Research project
You complete an extensive research project assessed by a written dissertation and oral presentation.
The research project can be undertaken in a variety of settings. It will be supervised by a member of the faculty at Imperial.
Your supervisor will provide guidance and support for developing the research question, design of the project and data collection, thesis writing and oral presentation.
We offer four types of project:
- Primary research using quantitative or qualitative methods
- Systematic review or qualitative synthesis of the literature
- An analysis of data from research databases or registries
- Clinical service improvement
Postgraduate Certificate
Core modules
Foundations of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences
Module Leader: Dr Rasheda Chowdhury
Provides an overview of cardiovascular and respiratory wellbeing, covering:
- cardiovascular and respiratory anatomy and physiology
- the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and respiratory disease
- acquisition and interpretation of physiological data
Optional modules
You choose two elective modules from the list below:
- Cardiovascular Health: Prevention and Rehabilitation
- Innovations in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease: Acute and Community
- Managing the Care of Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis (requires previous experience)
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Community Respiratory Care
- Respiratory Failure and Respiratory Support
Postgraduate Diploma
Core modules
Foundations of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences
Module Leader: Dr Rasheda Chowdhury
Provides an overview of cardiovascular and respiratory wellbeing, covering:
- cardiovascular and respiratory anatomy and physiology
- the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and respiratory disease
- acquisition and interpretation of physiological data
Study Design
Module Leader: Dr Jennifer Quint
Covers the principles and practice of quantitative and qualitative research, and key issues in critically evaluating methodology. Provides a strong foundation for conducting your own research.
Reflections and Evaluation of Clinical Practice
Module Leader: Dr Rasha Al-Lamee
Provides the opportunity to observe good clinical practice in the field of cardiovascular and respiratory healthcare with a view to critiquing it in relation to evidence-based guidelines and reflecting on how to apply improvements in practice.
Quality in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Healthcare
This module will critically consider how a focus on safety, effectiveness and the patient experience contribute to the development and delivery of high-quality healthcare services.
Optional modules
You choose three modules from the list below:
- Cardiovascular Health: Prevention and Rehabilitation
- Innovations in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease: Acute and Community
- Managing the Care of Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis (requires previous experience)
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Community Respiratory Care
- Respiratory Failure and Respiratory Support
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
- Blended learning
- Case-based learning
- E-learning
- Journal clubs
- Lectures
- Reflection on clinical practice
- Seminars
- Small group teaching
- Tutorials
Assessment
- Assessed journal club
- Oral presentations
- Practical examination
- Research project thesis and oral presentation (MSc students only)
- Written case study reports
- Written examination
E-learning
- Game-based online activities: Patient Journeys will be included in most specialist optional modules: using theoretically derived case studies and students trial decision-making theory in practice.
- Online chapters including: filmed lectures, animated diagrams, quizzes, voice overs, collated resources, discussion boards, reflective logs and case studies.
- Online platform including: introductory videos, self-tests, a primer setting out pre-reading and key concepts and frequently asked questions drop-box for module leader.
Course timetable
All modules are taught using blended learning (a combination of face-to-face and online teaching) to provide flexibility for you to balance your study with work.
The majority of optional modules consist of 30 hours of face-to-face teaching and up to three weeks of distance learning and independent study.
Events, tasters and talks
Find out more about studying at Imperial by meeting us at a virtual event. From webinars and study fairs to drop-ins and open days. Join us throughout the year for a range of events.
Explore all of our upcoming events.
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Admissions
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in a relevant medical, biomedical or healthcare subject.
Applicants who do not meet the academic requirements above but who have substantial relevant clinical experience may be admitted following completion of the ‘special case procedure’.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the higher College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
How to apply
Application deadlines
We will start considering applications in December. We consider applications in batches and make a proportion of offers at a set point each month, starting from January.
It takes four to six weeks to process an application and make a decision. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to interview.
Please note that there is not a set application deadline for this course but we strongly encourage candidates to apply before 1 July.
Choosing your course
This course is divided into three progressional levels of study:
- PG Certificate (PG Cert)
- PG Diploma (PG Dip)
- MSc
Each level of study has its own separate entry point; you can apply to any level in the first instance.
Read more about Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and MSc degrees
Making an application
Apply online
All applicants must apply online.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can usually choose up to two courses.
Application fee
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for taught Master's applications (excluding MBAs)
- £135 for MBA applications
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
ATAS certificate
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Further questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions. Answers cover COVID-19, English language requirements, Visas and more.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
Find out more about fees and funding opportunities.
Tuition fees and funding
Home rate of tuition
2022 entry
MSc
Full fee - £13,000
Top-up fee* - £2,600
Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip)
Full fee - £10,400
Top-up fee* - £3,900
Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert)
Full fee - £6,500
* If you have already completed one of the above qualifications and are moving on to the next level of study, e.g. you've already completed the PG Cert and want to study the PG Dip, you will only need to pay the top-up fee for the course you’re applying for.
You may apply to enter this programme at any level of study.
If you enter the MSc, without having studied the PG Cert or PG Dip, then you will pay the full fee listed for the MSc.
If you enter at the PG Cert or PG Dip level and return in future academic years to complete a higher award, you will pay the top-up fee advertised in the year of your return, instead of the full fee for your chosen course.
If you continue uninterrupted from one award to the next, you will pay the relevant top-up fee, plus any annual inflationary increases applied to the entry fee. This applies to applicants who originally entered for a PGDip or MSc. This does not apply to those who have completed a PGCert or PGDip and are re-entering for a higher award.
The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value for April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
You could be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government if you apply for the MSc in the first instance.
PG Cert and PG Diploma students are not eligible for the Master's loan since each of these programmes are not worth 90 ECTS credits, which is one of the eligibility criteria for this loan.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
UKCISA has also provided some information in response to Questions for students starting their course from the 1 August 2021.
Overseas rate of tuition
2022 entry
MSc
Full fee - £37,800
Top-up fee* - £7,560
Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip)
Full fee - £30,240
Top-up fee* - £3,900
Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert)
Full fee - £18,900
* If you have already completed one of the above qualifications and are moving on to the next level of study, e.g. you've already completed the PG Cert and want to study the PG Dip, you will only need to pay the top-up fee for the course you’re applying for.
You may apply to enter this programme at any level of study.
If you enter the MSc, without having studied the PG Cert or PG Dip, then you will pay the full fee listed for the MSc.
If you enter at the PG Cert or PG Dip level and return in future academic years to complete a higher award, you will pay the top-up fee advertised in the year of your return, instead of the full fee for your chosen course.
If you continue uninterrupted from one award to the next, you will pay the relevant top-up fee, plus any annual inflationary increases applied to the entry fee. This applies to applicants who originally entered for a PGDip or MSc. This does not apply to those who have completed a PGCert or PGDip and are re-entering for a higher award.
The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value for April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2022.
You could be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government if you apply for the MSc in the first instance.
PG Cert and PG Diploma students are not eligible for the Master's loan since each of these programmes are not worth 90 ECTS credits, which is one of the eligibility criteria for this loan.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
UKCISA has also provided some information in response to Questions for students starting their course from the 1 August 2021.
Additional costs
This section outlines any additional costs relevant to this course, which are not included in your tuition fees. It is possible that all, or only some, of these will be relevant to you.
Please note that the figures provided are usually based on the cost in the most recent academic year. These are likely to change from year to year. However, it is useful for you to be aware of the types of things you may have to pay for and their approximate cost to help you budget for student life at Imperial.
This section indicates whether any additional costs that apply are mandatory or optional. Mandatory costs are those that you will need to pay to fully participate in and complete your studies. Optional costs are not essential to your studies so you will be free to opt out of these.
| Description | Mandatory/optional | Guide to cost |
|---|---|---|
| Stethoscope | Optional | £85 |
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2021-22 entry, the maximum amount is £11,570. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies.
See what opportunities you may be eligible for.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
Got a question?
Enquiries
E: cardioresphealth@imperial.ac.uk
Read more about the NHLI and our research in the National Heart and Lung Institute.
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