Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

This degree is professionally accredited by: Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM). As well as your main Imperial degree (MEng), you will also receive the award of the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI) on completion of this course.

Bioengineering is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field that applies engineering principles and technology to medical and biological problems. With an ageing population and advances in technology, biomedical engineering plays an integral role in global issues such as healthcare, energy and the environment.

This course aims to provide you with a broad foundation in physics, mathematics, engineering and medical science, through a range of modules designed to help you develop a deep understanding of fundamental engineering principles and an extensive knowledge of how the human body works. As you move through the course you progress to more advanced engineering studies that apply the quantitative aspects of engineering analysis and design to a broad range of biomedical problems.

This degree course adopts a top-down approach to bioengineering focusing on a breath of engineering skills and knowledge to address problems in medicine and biology. All Biomedical Engineering students follow a compulsory programme of study for the first two years, in areas such as mathematics, digital systems, electronics, mechanics, and real-world applications of bioengineering. This is designed to help you develop a deep understanding of fundamental engineering principles, alongside an extensive knowledge of how the human body works.

In the second year, you take part in an engineering design project as part of the Sports Innovation Challenge – aimed at improving the sporting and training equipment available to disabled people. A number of the projects developed by our students were used at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016.

In the third year, you start specialising in your chosen pathway: Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.

You cover core and optional modules and a group project in this year. Whichever pathway you choose, you study a mixture of core and optional modules. You can also take modules from Imperial Horizons, and the Business for Professional Engineers programme, delivered by Imperial College Business School.

Your study reaches Master’s level in the fourth year, including advanced modules from our MSc course in Biomedical Engineering, which we have been teaching since 1991. Studying to this level means that graduates require fewer years of work experience to become a Chartered Engineer. In addition, a major individual project in your final year gives you the chance to showcase your research and project management skills. This begins early in the academic year and runs through until approximately mid-June.

We also offer this course with a Year Abroad and with a Year in Industry. Students interested in these opportunities should apply for this course (BH9C) in the first instance. Transfer to the Year Abroad or Industry options are possible up to the beginning of the third year, on completion of the shared syllabus in years one and two. You need to meet certain academic requirements to be eligible for transfer to the Year Abroad course. If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your Tier 4 visa, but our International Student Support Team are here to help advise and support you.