Program overview
Physiology is the science of how living organisms work—from how cells transmit signals, to how the heart pumps blood, to how the brain controls behavior. As a graduate program under the broader field of biology, it emphasizes experimental design and mechanism exploration. Core courses include Advanced Physiology, Neurobiology, Cardiovascular Physiology, Endocrine Physiology, and Electrophysiological Techniques. You'll spend plenty of time in the lab conducting animal model experiments, cell culture, molecular assays, and even learning cutting-edge techniques like patch-clamp and optogenetics. Who is this program for? If you're curious about "why the body works the way it does," enjoy hands-on experiments, and don't mind dissection and animal handling, this major will suit you well. Chinese universities offer distinctive directions in physiology, such as Peking University's neurophysiology, Fudan University's metabolic physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University's exercise physiology, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology's respiratory physiology. Many labs collaborate with hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, giving you exposure to real clinical problems.