Biomedical Engineering

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Course Overview

Biomedical Engineering is a relatively new branch of engineering that involves the use of cutting-edge technologies to help improve human healthcare. Biomedical engineers are involved in the design and creation of medical devices, implants such as stents, instruments and materials for clinical use. They also apply their engineering skills to problems in human biology and are at the forefront of developments in human medicine in the 21st century, enabling the medicial profession to diagnose and treat disease, and repair or replace damaged living tissue.

This degree programme was developed as a result of the need within the biomedical industry for highly skilled personnel. Locally based biomedical companies, of which there is a significant cluster, were involved in its design. It therefore remains highly relevant to the needs of industry while giving students a full training in engineering design principles and their application to human biology in an interdisciplinary environment. Related, relevant subjects that are covered over the course of the degree programme include biomedical instrumentation, tissue engineering and biomechanics.

If you want an interesting career that involves the application of engineering principles to medicine and biology, this may suit you. Biomedical engineers assist clinicians to analyse and solve problems in biology and medicine, therby helping to sustain or improve life. Both traditional and modern engineering principles and new technology are used. Biomedical engineers are also challenged to ensure that advances in technology keep pace with the advances in medicine and that the diagnostic, life-support or life-enhancing tools they create remain compatible with the human body.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Additional Requirements

Course Outline

Year 1

• Engineering Calculus
• Engineering Mathematical Methods
• Engineering Mechanics
• Engineering Chemistry
• Engineering Physics
• Fundamentals of Engineering
• Engineering Graphics
• Engineering Design
• Engineering Computing

Year 2

• Human Body Structure
• Introduction to Biomedical Engineering
• Biomedical Electronics and Instrumentation
• Engineering Calculus
• Engineering Algebra
• Engineering Statistics
• Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
• Strength of Materials
• Theory of Machines
• Engineering Drawing (CADD II)
• Workshop Practice
• Engineering Computing
• Electronic Engineering Laboratories

Year 3

• Biomaterials
• Human Body Function
• Biomedical Production and Environmental Services
• Mechanical Analysis and Design
• Fluid Dynamics
• Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
• Metals and Metals Processing
• Automated Systems
• Design Office
• Communications
• Polymer Technologies Laboratory
• Service Learning and Ethics

Year 4

• Tissue Engineering
• Finite Element Methods in Engineering Analysis
• Medical Implant and Device Design
• Biomechanics
• Elements of Pathology
• Surgical Practice
• Professional Engineering Project (PEP)
• Plus a choice from a number of other courses

Year 5 - Optional

Why should I do a 5^th year to obtain a Masters qualification in Engineering?

A Masters degree qualification (ME) from the College of Engineering and Informatics at NUI Galway helps you to distinguish yourself in a competitive job market. It enables you to develop specialist skills you will need to succeed at the highest levels in your chosen field. It is part of an integrated (Bachelors + Masters) 4+1 programme of study, which is accredited by the Engineers Ireland under European Framework Standards. This means that the Master of Engineering degree is recognised internationally to be equivalent to accredited engineering degree programmes in many other countries (for example ABET accredited Engineering Degree programs in the United States). These 5 year qualification satisfies the requirements to allow you to apply for a Chartered Engineer title, which is a badge of excellence for the Engineering profession that is awarded for knowledge and competence. Thus with a 5 year Masters Degree in Engineering from NUI Galway, you will be able to have your qualification recognised if you want to secure high value employment in many of the world's leading Engineering/Technology companies.

Follow chosen course of Engineering to Masters level.

The programme is delivered over one academic year and consists of 40 ECTS (approx. 8 modules) of taught modules, involving the ongoing and world-class biomedical research at NUI Galway, and a 20 ECTS thesis project. This medical device based project is conducted in partnership with the highly successful BioInnovate programme and focuses on developing advanced technical knowledge and skills and real-world implementation of these in terms of innovation, commercialization and business development.

The taught component consists of modules (5 or 10 ECTS) in our core areas: biomechanics, biomaterials, and medical devices.  Students take 25 ECTS in biomedical engineering specific modules and 15 ECTS in transferrable skills modules. Students make their choices for each semester after attending introductory lectures in each module.

Details for Masters level can be found here.

The advanced Biomedical Engineering modules are:

• AY872 Financial Management 1
• BME4101 Biotransport
• BME4103 Engineering Analysis for Regulatory Approval
• BME500 Advanced Biomaterials
• BME501 Advanced Finite Element Methods
• BME502 Advanced Tissue Engineering
• BME504 Biomedical Engineering Project/Thesis (ME)
• BME5100 Advanced Computational Biomechanics
• BME5101 Mechanobiology
• BME6101 Computational Methods in Engineering Analysis
• EE502 Bioinstrumentation Design
• IE446 Project Management
• IE450 Lean Systems
• MD507 Stem Cells and Gene Therapy II
• ME3104 Introduction to Regulatory Affairs (online module)
• ME432 Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• ME5106 Advanced Manufacturing
• ME516 Advanced Mechanics of Materials
• ME521 Research Methods for Engineers
• ME572 Human Reliability
• MP410 Non-linear Elasticity
• REM502 Translational Medicine
• REM508 Basic and Advanced Immunology

Details for Year 5 modules can be found here.

Further Education

Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, suitably qualified students have the option to enrol and continue their studies to Masters or PhD level.

Students can advance to Masters level (ME) through our one year taught Masters programme (September-June) that builds on the successful completion of their undergraduate programme, subject to a sufficient standard (2nd Class Honours minimum). This programme is an integrated follow-on to the BE programme and is designed to meet Engineers Ireland’s criterion for Level 9 degrees, providing graduates with a route to Chartered Engineering status that will be recognised worldwide.

Masters degree education is becoming increasingly the norm internationally in Engineering, and this programme strengthens the ability of our graduates to compete nationally and internationally at the highest level for employment in industry and other sectors of the economy.

In our PhD programme students develop highly innovative state-of the-art solutions to current problems in Biomedical Engineering, frequently leading to new medical devices or strategies for treatment of disease. Biomedical Engineering research at NUI Galway involves a high level of interaction with the Hi-Tec R&D sector of the medical device industry.

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Career Opportunities

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

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Course Fees

Fees: EU

Fees: Tuition

Fees: Student Contribution

Fees: Student levy

Fees: Non EU

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