About this course

Biomedical engineers design, develop and deliver the health and wellbeing devices of the future. On this 5-year programme you’ll study key aspects of biomedicine, electronics and computer science with a year in industry. This will give you additional experience and the opportunity to relate your skills and knowledge to current industry practice.

With all economies facing an increase in health spending, engineers and computer scientists have an ever-increasing role to play in inventing solutions for healthcare and treatment. Biomedical engineers work across disciplines to bridge this gap.

You’ll explore topics like:

the creation of diagnostic systems and devices for observing and controlling body functions
the design and creation of electronic circuits, systems, and computer software
the use of simulation, design, and verification tools to aid in the creation of systems, and how to report and comment on results
the specific clinical, safety and ethical implications of biomedical engineering work and routes to commercialization of devices.

This programme includes a year of industrial studies, sometimes known as a placement year, or a year in industry. This is a great way to gain a competitive edge among graduate recruiters by ensuring that you graduate with both experience of contemporary industry operations and connections with potential employers.

You can also tailor your degree to your liking by picking a pathway. These include:

Electronic Systems

You’ll learn to develop engineering solutions to health and healthcare problems, ranging from rehabilitation technologies and implantable sensors to smart signal analysis for wearable healthcare, and rapid testing and diagnostic devices.

You will gain key insight into how to design and develop a wide range of systems, from underlying sensor technology to signal analysis and data interpretation.

Mechatronics for Health

You’ll learn the fundamental science, methods, analysis, and engineering applications to start a career in mechatronic engineering with a focus on medical technology and robotics.

You’ll have the opportunity to design and build intelligent machines and robots as part of your study, which integrate electrical, mechanical and control systems to perform complex tasks.

Digital Health

You'll learn to develop m-health and e-health solutions based on healthcare needs and available technology. You will gain key data science skills that allow you to analyse data, build solutions and communicate results.

As one of the few universities in the UK (United Kingdom) to have a Digital Health research group, you will be taught by academics actively involved in technologies in this area.

Artificial Intelligence

You’ll additionally learn to design and build AI (Artificial Intelligence) programs and systems to solve global healthcare challenges and integrate with Biomedical engineering solutions.

As a highly respected hub for AI research, you'll benefit from a range of specialist modules that few UK universities can match. You’ll also be taught by academics actively involved in the latest advances in AI.

Biomedical Engineering 5 in Five

This short video covers an explanation of what Biomedical Engineering is, why it's an important subject to study, exploring current research and development, careers in Biomedical Engineering and how to become a Biomedical Engineer.

“For me, the speciality of the course was a massive winning point. In my second year, I had a design project looking at remote monitoring of physical therapy exercises for stroke rehabilitation. It was a really fun project, with incorporation from different sides of my course, including physical sensors, software design and machine learning.”
Isabel Howard - MEng Biomedical Electronics, third year student

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Entry requirements

Select additional entry requirements to display

Other requirements

UK students

International students

Other ways to qualify

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Course structure

This is a five-year, full-time course (including the industrial placement). The topics you explore will vary depending on which pathway you choose.

In the early stages you'll take core and compulsory modules in electronics and programming together with a thorough grounding in mathematics. You will also take modules covering the fundamentals of life science.

As the programme progresses, you’ll undertake an individual project, a year of industrial studies and finally a group design project.

Year 1 overview

The first year will introduce you to the fundamentals of biomedical engineering and your chosen pathway. You’ll cover topics like programming, digital systems and microprocessors, maths, electronic systems and sensors, biomedical engineering design and key elements of life science.

Year 2 overview

You'll continue to build upon your knowledge of key topics, with further modules in electronics, programming and fundamentals of cell biology and physiology.

You’ll also apply your knowledge to design a health and wellness monitoring platform within a healthcare technology design project.

Year 3 overview

You’ll undertake an individual project. You’ll also choose from a range of optional modules.

Year 4 overview

You’ll undertake your industrial studies with one of our partner companies.

This will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills that you’ve developed during the early years of your degree. You’ll gain vital experience towards becoming a professional biomedical engineer after graduation.

The year in industry is assessed by academics and industry experts. During the year you will continue to have the support of the University, with regular contact and reduced fees while you are on placement. You will also receive a salary from the company for that year.

Year 5 overview

You'll work on a group design project. This is compulsory, taken over the full academic year and may include students from other engineering disciplines.

You’ll also have the freedom to tailor the degree to your liking by choosing from a wide variety of optional modules.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Modules

Changes due to COVID-19

Although the COVID-19 situation is improving, any future restrictions could mean we might have to change the way parts of our teaching and learning take place in 2022 to 2023. This means that some of the information on this course page may be subject to change.

Find out more on our COVID advice page.

We don't have module information for this course yet. Please check again later.

Learning and assessment

The learning activities for this course include the following:

lectures
classes and tutorials
coursework
individual and group projects
independent learning (studying on your own)

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Careers

You'll graduate with the skills required to work across the health technology sector, from small and large medtech companies, to NHS Digital analyst roles.

The industrial studies year will help you to connect with future employers, add value to your CV or launch your career in a new direction. It will also enable you to develop business and team-working skills in your chosen industry.

You’ll have access to our specialist careers support from our Careers Hub, which coordinates opportunities to connect with employers. This includes things like career fairs, support with job applications, summer internships and more.

Careers services at Southampton

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

UK students pay £9,250.
This course is not available to EU and international students.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Find out how to:

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

How to apply

When you apply use:

UCAS course code: BB98
UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for 2022 entry

What happens after you apply?

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

predicted grades
academic achievements
personal statement
academic reference

We'll aim to process your application within two to six weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Related courses

Biomedical Engineering with Industrial Studies (MEng) is a course in the Electrical and electronic engineering subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:

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