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Sports Cardiology MSc/PgDip/PgCert

Different course options

Full time | St George's, University of London | 1 year | 09-SEP-24

Study mode

Full time

Duration

1 year

Start date

09-SEP-24

Key information
DATA SOURCE : IDP Connect

Qualification type

MSc - Master of Science

Subject areas

Sports Studies Cardiology

Course type

Taught

Course Summary

The only programme of its kind in the UK and Europe, our MSc is taught by world-leading experts from the Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions and Sports Cardiology at St George’s NHS Foundation Trust - one of the UK’s top multidisciplinary clinics dedicated to sudden cardiac death prevention and one of few centres globally specialising in sports cardiology.

Course overview

Sudden cardiac death is the leading medical cause of death in athletes and sadly at least 12 apparently fit young people die in the UK each week from an underlying, undiagnosed heart condition. Around 80% of these individuals have no prior symptoms and therefore cardiac screening is the only way to determine if they are carrying a hereditary heart defect.

A rapidly evolving subspecialty in cardiology, more sports cardiologists are needed to work with patients - especially athletes - to monitor, check for risk of and prevent cardiac complications. This is done by assessing family history, medical background and conduct tests such as echocardiogram (ECG) or measuring the heart rhythm during exercise.

This course will be of interest to a broad range of physicians and allied health professionals wishing to learn more about sports cardiology and inherited cardiac conditions, including cardiac physiologists, cardiac physiotherapists, nurses and sports scientists. This course may be suitable for highly motivated medical students with the opportunity to register for an intercalated MSc.

It offers a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive range of expertise in sports cardiology, including cardiovascular evaluation, cardiac screening, cardiac rehabilitation and exercise prescription and the management of athletes and individuals with heart disease. Specialist optional modules allow you to tailor your study to match your interests, for example, in emergency response planning in sport arenas or interpretation of genetic testing in inherited cardiac conditions.

You will also cement your practical skills for the evaluation of athletes of different demographics and sporting disciplines, as well as healthy sedentary young individuals and patients with heart disease.

Careers

Sports cardiologists evaluate a wide range of individuals, including young athletes (with symptoms or as part of cardiac screening), athletes with inherited cardiac conditions, older recreational athletes with coronary artery disease and individuals who simply want to take up exercise as part of improving their general wellbeing.

The lack of dedicated training means that, currently, physicians with no formal training in sports cardiology perform the majority of these evaluations. Given the complexities of the field, individuals with limited knowledge and experience are likely to resort to numerous, costly and often redundant investigations, which has huge implications for health services around the world. In the professional sporting world, such practice has the potential for causing delays in an athlete’s clearance for competition, unwarranted anxiety and potentially false disqualification.

Our Sports Cardiology MSc aims to address the lack of structured training in the field and enhance the qualifications of physicians, physiologists, physiotherapists, nurses and sports scientists who are committed to training in cardiology, sports medicine or exercise physiology by providing them with a unique degree and highly sought-after set of skills.

Modules

In this module students will gain insight into phenotypes, investigative modalities and management of cardiac conditions predisposing young individuals to sudden cardiac death. They will appraise different primary and secondary prevention measures with particular emphasis on pre-participation cardiovascular screening. Students will explore different perspectives and practices around the globe. They will critically appraise the potential benefits and risks of a widespread screening programme and its application in different populations. They will evaluate the advantages and limitations of different screening modalities, including the psychological impact of screening and associated ethical and legal considerations.
Research Project/Thesis (60 Credits) - Core

Tuition fees

UK fees
Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

£15,250

International fees
Course fees for EU and international students

For this course (per year)

£25,200

Entry requirements

You should have or be expected to achieve, a minimum of a second class degree (2:2) in a life science subject. For healthcare graduates, a pass is required. All degrees must be awarded before 1 August on the year of entry for September start. It is highly desirable for applicants to have practical experience in a healthcare role.