Biokinetics is a recognised and registered profession with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa, that focuses on improving well-being and physical health status through scientific and individualised assessment and exercise prescription. Biokineticists are able to offer specialised exercise rehabilitation to people with orthopaedic injuries, neurological injuries, chronic illnesses, as well as work in sports performance and general health promotion. Our Honours Biokinetics programme gives students the skills required to prescribe scientifically-based exercise and work in all of the above areas. This degree has a strong scientific focus, and students are required to write a dissertation and complete 350 hours of clinical shadowing on top of attending lectures.

Exercise Science is an established area of training and scientific investigation with a large international following. In most institutions, including our own, a multidisciplinary approach is used to acquire an integrated understanding of the effects of physical activity on the body. Exercise Science, Sports and Exercise Medicine, Sports Physiotherapy and Biokinetics courses have been introduced in response to a need expressed by scientists, clinicians and students for proficiency in this field. A combination of physiological, biochemical, biomechanical and clinical expertise is available to assist postgraduate students who are interested in adding to the body of knowledge in this field through original scientific endeavour. At UCT, postgraduate training in Exercise Science can be undertaken at the Honours, Masters or Doctoral level. Our training and research activities are affilated with the Sport Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA).

Nutrition research at UCT involves investigating the association between food/nutrition and well-being, health and performance of humans or the prevention of disease conditions. Students with an academic background in Sciences or Health Sciences may apply for a research Masters or PhD in Nutrition. At UCT, nutrition research focusses on disease conditions such as diabetes, gestational diabetes, HIV, obesity, cardiovascular diseases or adolescent health and sports nutrition.

Dietetitcs is a field in health sciences that focusses on the assessment, diagnoses and treatment of dietary and nutritional problems in individuals or the wider public. Only research master’s and PhD degrees in dietetics are offered at UCT. In dietetics research, the effect of dietary interventions on performance or prevention and treatment of disease conditions is assessed. Furthermore, nutrition status is determined using various methods including dietary intake, anthropometric, clinical and/or biochemical assessments. Dietetics research aims to improve patient care and outcomes by providing a foundation for evidence-based dietetics practice. At UCT, dietetics research encompasses a variety of projects from a public health nutrition focus to therapeutic dietetics and including disease conditions such as diabetes, gestational diabetes, cancer, HIV, obesity, cardiovascular diseases or adolescent health, breastfeeding and sports nutrition.

Neurophysiology is an interdisciplinary area of scientific and clinical training and research, sharing skills and expertise to improve lives and advance our understanding of the human brain. The Division of Physiological Sciences has a cellular and molecular neurosciences lab which focusses on mechanisms of brain injury during infection, and is affiliated with the Neuroscience Institute. Opportunities are available for postgraduate training for Honours, Masters, Doctoral and Postdoctoral students in neuroinfections and neuroinflammation with access to tissue culture, electrophysiology, neurotranscriptomics and advanced imaging techniques. 

Physiology offers opportunities to focus on cardiovascular pathophysiology, a key area linked to systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Aspects of interactions between the cardiac tissue and other cardiac remodelling signalling systems such as neural innervation provide additional components. The facilities available enable the study the heart at organ and cellular levels, through the use of tissue culture, electrophysiological measurements, and molecular assays.

Sleep Science is an emerging global field in human health, encompassing multiple disciplines ranging from basic science to psychology. At UCT, training in Sleep Science at Master’s and Doctoral levels is a Physiology speciality which equips students with practical and scientific research skills aimed at furthering our understanding of healthy sleep as well as the consequences of disordered sleep

Sport and Exercise Medicine provides a thorough understanding of the effects of physical activity on the human body and mind, and to emphasise how this knowledge can be applied to the management of common medical problems in physically active people; to prevent, treat and rehabilitate injuries and other medical problems arising from exercise and sport; to assist in the rehabilitation of those suffering from various chronic illnesses related to lifestyle factors; to promote the physical health, well-being and productivity of the community; and to achieve peak sporting performance in all classes of sports persons.  Research methodology, including statistics and critical scientific thinking, are integral features of the programme, while teaching and lecturing skills are also purposely developed.