Thanks for visiting TopUniversities.com today! So that we can show you the most relevant information, please select the option that most closely relates to you.
Thanks for sending your response.
Your input will help us improve your experience.
Thanks for sending your response.
Your input will help us improve your experience.You can close this popup to continue using the website or choose an option below to register in or login.
Like many branches of engineering, biomedical engineering/bioengineering degrees are interdisciplinary, drawing on fields such as electrical, chemical, materials and mechanical engineering.
These engineering fields are combined further with life sciences and medical subjects such as molecular biology, with the aim of using advanced engineering principles to create new tools and solutions for healthcare.
Most undergraduate biomedical engineering courses will start with this broad, interdisciplinary approach along with a healthcare focus, which may allow you to switch engineering disciplines at the end of the first year if you wish to. You’ll also apply the foundations of biomedical engineering by becoming familiar with the key concepts and terminology of human anatomy and physiology, as well as cell biology, thermodynamics, biomechanics and computing and design for medical engineers.
As the course progresses, you’ll study other modules on engineering and biomedical subjects such as engineering mathematics, mechanics, biomaterials, electronic engineering, engineering design, and human anatomy, physiology and neuroscience. You’ll also get opportunities to tailor your degree by following a particular biomedical engineering track or choosing from a set of optional modules. Some universities’ biomedical engineering degrees will be structured around credits, with each module valued as one credit.
You’ll apply what you’ve learned through practical activities such as laboratory work, computer simulation sessions and hospital visits. Many universities also offer links to the biomedical engineering industry as part of their courses, possibly in the form of internships and placements, enabling you to gain the skills required for biomedical engineering careers.
You’ll gain a good understanding of human physiology and the biological functions of the body, with a combination of individual and group project work, as well as laboratory work.
Undergraduate biomedical engineering degrees typically take three or four years to complete, depending on where you study. Some are offered by the university’s faculty of medicine, giving you more opportunities for contact with professionals in the health sciences.
Entry requirements
You’ll need to demonstrate that you have good prior background knowledge of the key subjects involved in biomedical engineering: mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics. In the UK, for example, you will need strong A Levels, with mathematics and physics usually the most desired subjects. You’ll usually need to submit a personal statement/statement of purpose and may also be asked to attend an admissions interview.
Biomaterials science incorporates features of medicine, biology, chemistry, tissue engineering and materials science to look at the ways in which materials can be applied to treat a wide range of disabilities and illnesses. You’ll gain an understanding of how different classes of materials interact with the many tissues of the human body, giving you a key insight into biomedical applications such as stem cell differentiation, drug delivery and the development of new materials for implants and prosthetics. This specialization could be for you if you’re interested in combining bioengineering, the physical sciences and research in your career.
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the study of how mechanical methods relate to the structure or mobility of living organisms. If you choose to specialize in this subject, you’ll examine the structure, function and mechanical properties of various tissues in biological systems, such as blood vessels, muscles, skin, brain tissue and more. You will also gain an understanding of stability and control of mechanical systems, as well as how to apply what you’ve learned to the design of medical devices or prosthetics for treating health conditions – ideal for those interested in pursuing careers or further study in this field.
Biomedical devices and systems
If you’re keen to help create state-of-the-art new medical devices and innovative bioengineering systems, this option could be for you, giving you an awareness of the background analysis and assessment tools needed for the process of developing robust designs. You’ll study the techniques of novel imaging and tomography, advanced biosensors, biomedical instrumentation, control systems, bioimaging, computational vision and robotics solutions.
Rehabilitation engineering
Rehabilitation engineering studies the ways in which technical solutions in engineering are designed, developed, adapted, tested, evaluated, applied, and distributed to help people with disabilities improve their quality of life. This specialization will prepare you for professional healthcare roles in this field, exploring the essentials of health science and mechanical engineering, while encouraging you to research and create new developments.
Other possible specializations within biomedical engineering courses include: neural engineering, engineering physiology, cell transplantation, rehabilitation engineering, biosignaling, computational modelling and biomedical optics.
Biomedical engineering is a fast-growing industry, with biomedical engineering roles predicted to grow by 72% in the US alone by 2018, while the median pay of a biomedical engineer in the US in 2015 was an impressive US$86,220.
Upon graduating from your biomedical engineering degree, you will have gained a number of specialized, technical skills sought after by employers, which suit a range of biomedical engineering careers. These include roles in medical equipment manufacturing, scientific research and development, pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, equipment testing and field servicing, and more.
Read on for a selection of biomedical engineering careers to consider upon graduating.
Biomedical engineer
Biomedical engineers help to develop advanced healthcare by applying engineering and materials technology. As a biomedical engineer, you’ll work with a range of medical, administrative and technical staff (and maybe even patients themselves, particularly if you work as a clinical engineer). Your responsibilities will vary depending on your employer and environment, but generally you’ll research, design and develop new medical products; test and monitor equipment through quality assurance checks; liaise closely with other medical professionals; arrange clinical trials of medical products; and train technical or clinical staff, amongst other tasks. You’ll need excellent technical and communication skills for this role, and may need to undertake a certified training program following your biomedical engineering course.
Chemical engineer
Another role you could pursue after your biomedical engineering degree is that of a chemical engineer, in which you’ll work to change the chemical, biochemical and physical state of raw materials into useful everyday products, such as fuel, plastics and food. You’ll use your knowledge of maths and science to examine problems and find solutions, and will need strong management skills in order to oversee projects, budgets and people. Chemical engineers work in a number of industries, including oil and gas, energy, water treatment and food, but biomedical engineering graduates might prefer roles within the pharmaceutical industry.
Rehabilitation engineer
Rehabilitation engineering is a relatively new career sector, in which biomedical engineering innovations are being used to improve the lives of people with disabilities. In this role you’ll work alongside other health professionals, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to design, build and test custom-made assistive technology such as artificial body parts, wheelchairs and robotic aids. For this career you’ll need good interpersonal communication skills, attention to detail, good team working skills and a practical mind.
Mechanical engineer
Mechanical engineers provide resourceful solutions to the development of processes and products in a range of industries and products. As a mechanical engineer, you might work on all stages of a product, from the first stages of research to final implementation in its intended setting. You’ll manage projects using engineering principles and techniques, ensuring that safety and financial checks are considered.
While the medical and healthcare sector might be most relevant for biomedical engineering graduates, your skills could also be of use in industries such as construction, water supply, power and manufacturing.
We spoke to Enej Zrimsek, a master’s student from Slovenia at the University of Antwerp, to learn more about some of his tips for making a new country feel like home while studying abroad.
To learn more about why humanistic education is crucial, particularly in the current era of digital transformation, we spoke to Sophie Anaya Levesque, Director of Institutional Communication at Universidad Iberoamericana.
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Biomedical Engineering Degrees
Share via
Share this Page
Save
Table of contents
Like many branches of engineering, biomedical engineering/bioengineering degrees are interdisciplinary, drawing on fields such as electrical, chemical, materials and mechanical engineering.
These engineering fields are combined further with life sciences and medical subjects such as molecular biology, with the aim of using advanced engineering principles to create new tools and solutions for healthcare.
Most undergraduate biomedical engineering courses will start with this broad, interdisciplinary approach along with a healthcare focus, which may allow you to switch engineering disciplines at the end of the first year if you wish to. You’ll also apply the foundations of biomedical engineering by becoming familiar with the key concepts and terminology of human anatomy and physiology, as well as cell biology, thermodynamics, biomechanics and computing and design for medical engineers.
As the course progresses, you’ll study other modules on engineering and biomedical subjects such as engineering mathematics, mechanics, biomaterials, electronic engineering, engineering design, and human anatomy, physiology and neuroscience. You’ll also get opportunities to tailor your degree by following a particular biomedical engineering track or choosing from a set of optional modules. Some universities’ biomedical engineering degrees will be structured around credits, with each module valued as one credit.
You’ll apply what you’ve learned through practical activities such as laboratory work, computer simulation sessions and hospital visits. Many universities also offer links to the biomedical engineering industry as part of their courses, possibly in the form of internships and placements, enabling you to gain the skills required for biomedical engineering careers.
You’ll gain a good understanding of human physiology and the biological functions of the body, with a combination of individual and group project work, as well as laboratory work.
Undergraduate biomedical engineering degrees typically take three or four years to complete, depending on where you study. Some are offered by the university’s faculty of medicine, giving you more opportunities for contact with professionals in the health sciences.
Entry requirements
You’ll need to demonstrate that you have good prior background knowledge of the key subjects involved in biomedical engineering: mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics. In the UK, for example, you will need strong A Levels, with mathematics and physics usually the most desired subjects. You’ll usually need to submit a personal statement/statement of purpose and may also be asked to attend an admissions interview.
Read about five marvels of biomedical engineering!
Biomaterials and tissue engineering
Biomaterials science incorporates features of medicine, biology, chemistry, tissue engineering and materials science to look at the ways in which materials can be applied to treat a wide range of disabilities and illnesses. You’ll gain an understanding of how different classes of materials interact with the many tissues of the human body, giving you a key insight into biomedical applications such as stem cell differentiation, drug delivery and the development of new materials for implants and prosthetics. This specialization could be for you if you’re interested in combining bioengineering, the physical sciences and research in your career.
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the study of how mechanical methods relate to the structure or mobility of living organisms. If you choose to specialize in this subject, you’ll examine the structure, function and mechanical properties of various tissues in biological systems, such as blood vessels, muscles, skin, brain tissue and more. You will also gain an understanding of stability and control of mechanical systems, as well as how to apply what you’ve learned to the design of medical devices or prosthetics for treating health conditions – ideal for those interested in pursuing careers or further study in this field.
Biomedical devices and systems
If you’re keen to help create state-of-the-art new medical devices and innovative bioengineering systems, this option could be for you, giving you an awareness of the background analysis and assessment tools needed for the process of developing robust designs. You’ll study the techniques of novel imaging and tomography, advanced biosensors, biomedical instrumentation, control systems, bioimaging, computational vision and robotics solutions.
Rehabilitation engineering
Rehabilitation engineering studies the ways in which technical solutions in engineering are designed, developed, adapted, tested, evaluated, applied, and distributed to help people with disabilities improve their quality of life. This specialization will prepare you for professional healthcare roles in this field, exploring the essentials of health science and mechanical engineering, while encouraging you to research and create new developments.
Other possible specializations within biomedical engineering courses include: neural engineering, engineering physiology, cell transplantation, rehabilitation engineering, biosignaling, computational modelling and biomedical optics.
Read our guide on how to apply to university abroad
Biomedical engineering is a fast-growing industry, with biomedical engineering roles predicted to grow by 72% in the US alone by 2018, while the median pay of a biomedical engineer in the US in 2015 was an impressive US$86,220.
Upon graduating from your biomedical engineering degree, you will have gained a number of specialized, technical skills sought after by employers, which suit a range of biomedical engineering careers. These include roles in medical equipment manufacturing, scientific research and development, pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, equipment testing and field servicing, and more.
Read on for a selection of biomedical engineering careers to consider upon graduating.
Biomedical engineer
Biomedical engineers help to develop advanced healthcare by applying engineering and materials technology. As a biomedical engineer, you’ll work with a range of medical, administrative and technical staff (and maybe even patients themselves, particularly if you work as a clinical engineer). Your responsibilities will vary depending on your employer and environment, but generally you’ll research, design and develop new medical products; test and monitor equipment through quality assurance checks; liaise closely with other medical professionals; arrange clinical trials of medical products; and train technical or clinical staff, amongst other tasks. You’ll need excellent technical and communication skills for this role, and may need to undertake a certified training program following your biomedical engineering course.
Chemical engineer
Another role you could pursue after your biomedical engineering degree is that of a chemical engineer, in which you’ll work to change the chemical, biochemical and physical state of raw materials into useful everyday products, such as fuel, plastics and food. You’ll use your knowledge of maths and science to examine problems and find solutions, and will need strong management skills in order to oversee projects, budgets and people. Chemical engineers work in a number of industries, including oil and gas, energy, water treatment and food, but biomedical engineering graduates might prefer roles within the pharmaceutical industry.
Rehabilitation engineer
Rehabilitation engineering is a relatively new career sector, in which biomedical engineering innovations are being used to improve the lives of people with disabilities. In this role you’ll work alongside other health professionals, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to design, build and test custom-made assistive technology such as artificial body parts, wheelchairs and robotic aids. For this career you’ll need good interpersonal communication skills, attention to detail, good team working skills and a practical mind.
Mechanical engineer
Mechanical engineers provide resourceful solutions to the development of processes and products in a range of industries and products. As a mechanical engineer, you might work on all stages of a product, from the first stages of research to final implementation in its intended setting. You’ll manage projects using engineering principles and techniques, ensuring that safety and financial checks are considered.
While the medical and healthcare sector might be most relevant for biomedical engineering graduates, your skills could also be of use in industries such as construction, water supply, power and manufacturing.
Discover what else you can do with an engineering degree
Undergraduate Studies
QS World University Rankings by Subject
Recommended articles