理学研究生文凭（PGDipSci）是一个为期一年的课程，以本科科学学位为基础。该文凭包括论文和研究主题，可以全日制或兼读制。它仅通过论文提供进入理学硕士（MSc）学位的机会。在《生理学》中，您将研究动物如何运作，如何在不同的环境中运动，消化，排泄，繁殖，循环血液，呼吸和生存，以及它们的神经系统如何检测，解释和学习。奥塔哥（Otago）特别强调人体的功能。对单个器官，其细胞和膜的研究纳入了生物化学，生物物理学和分子生物学的相关学科。
Physiology is the study of how our bodies work at the molecular, cellular, and organ systems levels.Understanding human physiology is therefore a key part of knowing ourselves. And of course, knowing what's normal is crucial to understanding the abnormalities that lead to disease, and enabling development of effective treatments.A university-level understanding of how the body works is an excellent preparation for a wide range of career options. Some Physiology graduates go on to higher degrees in Physiology because they wish to become full-time researchers and academics, designing their own research and leading research teams. Other graduates use their Physiology degrees to gain access to a wide range of jobs where employers are looking for specific knowledge of human biology, including as laboratory research technicians, advisors to TV and movie productions, in medical technology companies, aviation and space medicine research, hospital sleep laboratories, and marketing pharmaceuticals to name just a few.