Master of Science in Physiology

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PHYSIOLOGY

The Master of Science in Physiology is a two-year programme, designed to train medical physiologists with relevant knowledge and skills in research and teaching.

Programme justification

The Master’s programme is intended to produce in-depth specialized personnel in the field of medical physiology, in order to meet the prevailing national and international high demand for professional Physiologists. The world is currently research-driven and so the programme is also designed to produce knowledgeable personnel in carrying out impactful research and publications related to human conditions and aimed at improving life. There is a need for continuity of medical training, due to the increase in the world population and hence more demand for health professionals. The need for trained physiologists is better appreciated when one considers the spread of medical schools across the region and obvious staffing problems in light of increasing student numbers in such schools. There are over 12 medical schools in the country but only 3 of these offer a Master of Science in Physiology. New undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are emerging in the majority of medical schools thereby further increasing the demand for physiologists to train their students.

Career and employment opportunities (for the graduates of the programme)

Specialised physiologists have a variety of opportunities for employment: they are in high demand in Higher educational institutions in Uganda where the number is very limited and therefore the Universities have to request for them outside the country with the purpose of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students offering courses with Physiology.  Physiologists are needed too in medical and research institutions with specialised services, to work as members of multidisciplinary teams; and they can also work in agencies concerned with climatic stress and population control. The degree will also lay a foundation for Doctoral studies. Due to the characteristics of Physiology as biomedical science, it is the foundation for the understanding of Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and other specialties, therefore Physiologists will be able to co-supervise research in various areas of the health sciences.

Overall Aim of the Programme

The future Physiology graduate shall be able to master the general and basic phenomena related to all the living systems with a comprehensive approach, and also will understand the specific mechanisms, showing detailed knowledge and understanding from the systemic level to the cellular level reaching the molecular mechanisms implicated in the various functions understudy, to finally be able to comprehensively integrate all functions in the body as a whole.

Specific objectives

  1. To train physiologists with teaching skills to increase the number of physiology lecturers in the country.
  2. To train research-oriented physiologists since research is at the core of scientific innovation.
  • To establish strong links with other Physiologists the world over in order to foster collaboration.

1.5.5 Innovations

The process of curriculum review has improved the course content and delivery means for courses of teaching skills and Pathophysiology so as to make them better appreciated. Among the aforementioned opportunities for Physiologists in the region, the function of teaching university students both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels is the first and probably the most sought after. Aspects of Pathophysiology have been included since it is relevant to understand the link between normal physiology and disease states which is of critical significance for students enrolled in undergraduate programmes under the Faculty of Medicine as well as for postgraduates enrolled in Master of Medicine programmes.

1.5.6 Programme Duration

The period of study for the MSc. The degree is 2 years (four semesters) on full- time basis. The maximum time allowed shall be 4 years. The MSc. programmer is based on lectures, coursework, practicals, self-learning, and research.

1.5.7 Admission Requirements

The minimum entry requirements shall be

  1. Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) or it’s equivalent with at least 5 passes
  2. Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) or its equivalent with at least 2 principal passes.
  3. An honors degree from an accredited degree-awarding institution
  4. Candidates who have a Pass degree should have at least a Postgraduate Diploma with at least a credit from an accredited degree-awarding institution

Specific requirements shall be

  1. An honors degree in Medicine and Surgery OR
  2. An honors degree in Health Sciences or Biological Sciences such as., Human Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, or Nursing and relevant field experience

2.0 The Curriculum

2.1 Curriculum Structure

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1

Course code

Course name

Status

LH

PH

TH

CH

CU

PHS 7101

General & Renal Physiology

Core

30

-

60

60

4

PHS 7102

Blood & Cardiovascular Physiology

Core

30

-

60

60

4

PHS 7103

Physiology Practical I

Core

15

60

-

45

3

PHS 7104

Basic & Applied Teaching skills

Core

40

-

40

60

4

MPH 7101

Epidemiology

Core

45

30

-

60

4

MPH 7102

Biostatistics

Core

30

42

18

60

4

MPH 7103

Research Methods and Survey Design

Core

45

-

-

45

3

Total Credit Units

26

 

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2

Course Code

Course name

Status

LH

PH

TH

CH

CU

PHS 7201

Digestive System, Nutrition & Metabolism

Core

30

-

60

60

4

PHS 7202

Endocrinology & Reproduction

Core

30

-

60

60

4

PHS 7203

Excitable Tissues & Neurophysiology

Core

45

-

60

75

5

PHS 7204

Respiration, Sports & Environmental Physiology

Core

40

-

40

60

4

PHS 7205

Physiology Practical II

Core

-

120

-

60

4

Total Credit Units

21

 

YEAR 2 SEMESTER 1

Course code

Course name

Status

LH

PH

TH

CH

CU

PHS 8101

Research Proposal Writing

Core

-

150

-

75

5

PHS 8102

Pathophysiology

Core

15

60

60

75

5

Total Credit Units

10

 

YEAR 2 SEMESTER 2

Course code

Course name

Status

LH

PH

TH

CH

CU

PHS 8201

Dissertation

Core

-

150

-

75

5

Total Credit Units

5

 

  1. Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) or its equivalent with at least 5 passes
  2. Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) or its equivalent with at least 2 principal passes.
  3. An Honors degree from an accredited degree awarding institution
  4. Candidates who have a Pass degree should have at least a Postgraduate Diploma with at least a credit from an accredited degree awarding institution.

Additionally, for international applicants:

  1. Applicants whose first language or medium of instruction is not English, must provide evidence from a recognized English language training institution that they have sufficient command of English language.
  2. Applicants should have their documents verified by NCHE.
  3. Applicants should have their degree certificate and transcript translated and converted into an equivalent of Ugandan Universities’ CGPA

An honors degree in Medicine and Surgery

OR

An honors degree in Health Sciences or Biological Sciences i.e. Human Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry or Nursing and relevant field experience

Code

PROGRAMME

DURATION

UGANDAN STUDENTS

 

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

 

 

 

 

TUITION (SHS.) per Semester

FUNCTIONAL FEES (SHS.) per year

 TUITION (SHS.) per Semester

 FUNCTIONAL FEES (SHS.) per year

MMSC

Master of Science in Physiology

2

1,400,000

1,270,000

2,800,000

2,540,000

Other Fees    
ITEM Ugandan International
NCHE 20,000 USD. 50
Smart ID Card 33,000 USD. 10
Application Fees Undergraduate 50,000 USD. 50
Application Completion programmes 80,000 USD. 50
Application Fees Postgraduate 50,000 USD. 50
Application Fees PHD 100,000 USD. 100
Certification Fees 3,000  
Graduation Fees 20,000 USD. 50
Transcript Fees 25,000 USD. 50
Certificate Fees 25,000 USD. 50
Partial Transcript 20,000 USD. 10
Convocation 10,000 USD. 50
Retake Fees 30,000 USD. 10
Application Fees for Change of Programme 10,000 USD. 10
Replacement of Admission Letter 10,000 USD. 10

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