About this program
MSc Medical Engineering
The master's programme in Medical Engineering covers the broad and interdisciplinary field of Medical Engineering, exploring the merits and limitations of the technology used in clinical and preclinical applications. Students choose a specialisation in Computer Science, Electronics or Physics, and further specialise in Biomechanics, Health Systems or Imaging. Professionals with experience in both technology and medicine face vast career opportunities.
Medical Engineering at KTH
This is a two-year programme (120 ECTS credits) given in English. Graduates are awarded the degree of Master of Science. The programme is offered at KTH Campus and KTH Flemingsberg in Stockholm by the School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (at KTH). The school has many relevant research collaborations with the globally recognised Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset. Students are strongly encouraged to spend at least a term at another university (in Sweden or abroad) through an exchange programme.
The master’s programme in Medical Engineering will give you expertise in the merits and limitations of the technology currently used in clinical and preclinical applications. You will also acquire the necessary knowledge to improve and develop medical technologies of the future.
Medical Engineering is a broad and interdisciplinary field. The programme is divided into three tracks to help you choose a coherent study plan that fits your background knowledge and aspirations. The tracks are Computer Science, Electronics, and Physics. In addition to the track, you will choose one of three specialisations in different Medical Engineering application areas. These are Biomechanics, Health Systems, and Imaging.
The Computer Science track helps students with a strong interest in computer science to train their ability to use state-of-the-art computer-science tools in Biomechanics, Imaging or Logistics and management of Health care. Computer simulations of brain damage occurring in car crashes, automatic segmentation of lesions in medical images with neural-network-based algorithms or optimised workflow design in a hospital ward through computer simulations are a few examples of applications in this track for the different specialisations.
The Electronics track help students with a strong interest in Electronics to train their ability to use state-of-the-art electronics tools in Biomechanics, Imaging or Logistics and management of Health care. Designing and producing sensors that track and measure human movement, efficiently reading out and processing signals from an imaging detector or studying the behaviour of staff and patients using electronic devices can be typical applications in this track for the different specialisations.
The Physics track help students with a strong interest in Physics or Mathematics to train their ability to use state-of-the-art tools from Physics or Mathematics in Biomechanics or Imaging. Modelling of human movement, optimisation of imaging protocols or design of new imaging systems are some examples of applications in this track for the different specialisations.
During the first year of the programme, students from all tracks and specialisations take mandatory courses in Statistics, Simulations, Signal Processing and Theory and Methodology of Science. Also, all students take a Project Carrier course where the theory and practice from the four mandatory courses is applied in projects specific to the chosen track and specialisation. Please note that the Project Carrier course constitutes 50% of the first year, showing that the programme focuses on applying advanced engineering tools in real practice.
The second year of the master's is devoted to elective courses within the track and specialisation and the final degree project. Students are also required to take one course from a list of conditionally elective courses selected by our faculty.
Admission requirements
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree or comparable qualification equivalent to a Swedish bachelor's degree from an internationally recognised university is required. Students following longer programmes that have completed courses equivalent to a bachelor's degree are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students in the final year of undergraduate studies may apply and, if qualified, be conditionally admitted. These applicants must include a written statement according to the instructions given by University Admissions. Students in the final year of a bachelor's programme at a Swedish university do not have to provide a written statement to, if qualified, be conditionally admitted. However, students at Swedish universities must have completed 150 ECTS credits in their programme by 1 February.
English proficiency
English language proficiency equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6 is required. You can meet the requirement by achieving the minimum required score in the following internationally recognised English tests:
- IELTS Academic/IELTS UKVI: An overall score of 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5
- TOEFL iBT: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) on written test, a total score of 90. We accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition and Paper Edition. We do not accept TOEFL ITP, TOEFL iBT MyBest, Institutional TOEFL, TOEFL Essentials, or the revised TOEFL Paper-delivered Test.
- Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments: the University of Michigan, Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)
- Pearson PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online: Score of 62 (writing 61)
- Cambridge ESOL: C1 Advanced (CAE), minimum overall score 180 (points awarded since 2015), or Cambridge English certificate level C1, minimum score 180, or Cambridge English: Advanced
Completed upper secondary and university studies in some countries can also fulfil the requirement.
Specific requirements for Medical Engineering
A bachelor’s degree corresponding to 180 ECTS within Engineering Physics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics or equivalent. The degree must include courses in Mathematics, Physics, Computing and Electronics equivalent to at least 60 ECTS. The 60 ECTS must include at least 25 ECTS in Mathematics, 15 ECTS in Physics, 10 ECTS in Computing and 5 ECTS in Electronics.
Does this course require proof of English proficiency?
The TOEFL iBT® test is accepted by 11,500 universities and higher education institutions in over 160 countries. Book your test today!
Learn moreProgram content
Year 1
Students without a bachelor's degree in medical technology must read HL1007 Medical Engineering, Basic Course in year 1 and therefore study AK2036 in study year 2.
Students in the Physics track with Biomechanics specialisation who want to to read the course: Introduction to Biomechanics SE2121, can apply for an exemption from the Advanced Project Carrier (CM2017) course.
Mandatory courses
- Theory and Methodology of Science with Applications (Natural and Technological Science) (AK2036) 7.5 credits
- Signal Processing and Data Analytics in Biomedical Engineering (CM2013) 7.5 credits
- Simulation Methods in Medical Engineering (CM2014) 7.5 credits
- Project Carrier Course for Medical Engineers, part 1 (CM2015) 15.0 credits
- Project Carrier Course for Medical Engineers, part 2 (CM2016) 9.0 credits
- Project Carrier Course for Medical Engineers, part 3 (CM2017) 6.0 credits
- Statistics for Medical Engineering (CM2018) 7.5 credits
- Medical Engineering, Basic Course (HL1007) 6.0 credits
Year 2
The sum of mandatory and conditionally elective courses should be at least 60 credits, not counting the master´s thesis.
The following specializations are included:
Biomechanics
Health Systems
Imaging
At least one of the conditionally elective courses in the following list must be taken:
Students must also choose one of the following Degree project courses:
- Degree Project in Medical Engineering, Second Cycle (HL205X) 30.0 credits
- Degree Project in Technology and Health, Second Cycle (HL207X) 30.0 credits
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the institute website for more information.
Tuition
The full program tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens studying this program is SEK 342000.
Qualification
Sustainable development
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge and tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Medical Engineering are:
- 3 Good Health and Well-being
- 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
- 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
In the programme, students will study and learn how the human body functions both under normal and abnormal conditions and what techniques are available for preventing, diagnosing and curing various diseases. The programme offers courses that deal with the economic and social aspects of technology, as well as ethical issues surrounding technology and healthcare. Courses are offered in anatomy/physiology, economics and entrepreneurship, ergonomics and sustainable development.
Students will receive training in how to communicate with medical staff, as well as in looking at technological solutions from their perspective. Specific courses in medical technology aim to develop technical solutions that focus on technical, medical, economic and social aspects.
During their degree project or during any of the strongly encouraged internship courses, students will typically work on developing healthcare technology where it is used or manufactured (for example hospitals or industry). Students can also choose to work on developing healthcare in developing countries and ensuring that care is organised in an economically and socially sustainable way.
Continuing studies
Professional roles where the combined knowledge of technology and physiology is needed, for instance, manufacturing technology used in healthcare, in research and development or as a project leader. Other roles include safety issues in the vehicle industry or sports technology or as consultants in healthcare organisations or hospitals.
Career paths
Healthcare is becoming increasingly dependent on technologically advanced tools, and an ageing population requires technical aids. Economic and demographic changes are demanding structural reforms in society and healthcare. This demand generates the need for professionals with an understanding of both technology and medicine.
The master's program in Medical Engineering trains your ability to produce and develop medical technology as part of a project group, in private companies or in healthcare. A broad professional role makes it possible to work in areas such as technical development, sales or administrative project management, depending on competence and personal interest.
The labour market mainly consists of small enterprises specialised in specific products, and the expanding field also offers good possibilities to start one's own business. Graduates of the program have had as their first occupation jobs as diverse as PhD students, engineering consultants or programrs for companies in various technical fields, support engineers, quality control engineers or sale consultant for clinical-related companies. Prominent research centres that hired our former students are ETH, EPFL, UCL, CERN and KI. The list of large companies contains Siemens, Philips, GE, Elekta, Maquet, Johnsons & Johnson, SAAB, and Skandia, among others. Examples of small and medium companies consistently hiring the program's graduates are Elekta, RaySearch, Episurf, HotSwap, Sectra and Tobii. Last but not least, hospitals and public organisations with an interest in healthcare are also typical employers of our former students.
Videos
About this institute
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Since its founding in 1827, KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical...
Why study at KTH Royal Institute of Technology
KTH Royal Institute of Technology is the largest and highest-ranked technical university is Sweden and ranks among the top ten in Europe. With a strong focus on internationalization, the KTH campus is an arena for bringing highly talented students, teachers and researchers together to share perspectives from around the globe.
Sustainable development is a natural aspect of Swedish society and an integral part of KTH's operations and spirit. KTH is ranked 42 among universities world-wide when it comes to meeting the sustainable development goals, according to THE University Impact Ranking 2022. One of KTH's most important goals is that all graduates have up-to-date knowledge and tools to move society in a more sustainable direction. For each of our master's programmes, you can read about how the programme relates to the sustainable development goals and what knowledge and tools you will acquire to contribute to a more sustainable society.
