Biomedical Engineering MSc

About the Course

The MSc course in Biomedical Engineering draws on the wide experience of academic staff at Brunel in the School of Engineering and Design that ranges from the development of equipment and experiments for use in space, to research carried out in collaboration with hospitals, biomedical companies and research institutions.

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Aims

This programme has a strong research and development emphasis. It aims to provide an overall knowledge base, skills and competencies, which are required in biomedical engineering, research activities and in related fields. Students will develop expertise in advanced product development and research.

Enquiries

Initial enquiries to:

Marketing and Recruitment Officer
School of Engineering and Design
Email sed-pg-admissions@brunel.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)1895 265814 / 266633

Course Director: Professor Ibrahim Esat

Special Features

Brunel recognises that scientific understanding is just one part of medical engineering. The course also addresses commercial, ethical, legal and regulatory requirements, and extensive industrial contacts fulfil its contextual elements.

Accreditation

Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE). This will provide a route to Chartered Engineer status in the UK.

Course Content

As well as giving a solid scientific understanding, the course also addresses commercial, ethical, legal and regulatory requirements, aided by extensive industrial contacts.

Students who successfully complete the course will have acquired skills that are essential to the modern biomedical and healthcare industry, together with the expertise required to enter into management, product innovation, development and research.

Taught modules are given in a short course format. The order in which they are taken may also be adjusted to suit individual needs.

All students take the compulsory foundation modules. They may then continue to take the core programme, or select modules covering a particular theme that is relevant to their own interests or those of their sponsoring organisation.

Typical Modules (all core)

Biomechanics and Biomaterials
Main topics include: review of biomechanical principles; introduction to biomedical materials; stability of biomedical materials; biocompatibility; materials for adhesion and joining; applications of biomedical materials; implant design.

Biofluid Mechanics
Main topics include: review of the cardiovascular system; the cardiac cycle and cardiac performance, models of the cardiac system, respiratory system and respiratory performance, lung models, physiological effects of exercise, trauma and disease; blood structure and composition, blood gases. oxygenation, effect of implants and prostheses, blood damage and repair, viscometry of blood, measurement of blood pressure and flow; urinary system: anatomy and physiology, fluid and waste transfer mechanisms, urinary performance and control, effects of trauma, ageing and disease; modelling of biofluid systems, review of mass, momentum and energy transfers related to biological flow systems, fluid mechanics in selected topics relating to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems; measurements in biomedical flows.

Innovation and Management
Main topics include: company structure and organisation will be considered (with particular reference to the United Kingdom), together with the interfacing between hospital, clinical and healthcare sectors; review of existing practice: examination of existing equipment and devices; consideration of current procedures for integrating engineering expertise into the biomedical environment. Discussion of management techniques; design of biomedical equipment: statistical Procedures and Data Handling; matching of equipment to biomedical systems; quality assurance requirements in clinical technology; patient safety requirements and protection; sterilisation procedures and infection control; failure criteria and fail-safe design; maintainability and whole life provision; public and environmental considerations: environmental and hygenic topics in the provision of hospital services; legal and ethical requirements; product development: innovation in the company environment, innovation in the clinical environment; cash flow and capital provision; testing and validation; product development criteria and strategies.

Biomedical Engineering Principles
Main topics include: bone structure and composition; the mechanical properties of bone, cartilage and tendon; the cardiovascular function and the cardiac cycle; body fluids and organs; organisation of the nervous system; sensory systems; biomechanical principles; biomedical materials; biofluid mechanics principles, the cardiovascular system, blood structure and composition, modelling of biofluid systems.

Biomedical Instrumentation and Signal Processing
Main topics include: biomedical instrumentation; biomedical signal processing.

Design and Manufacture
Main topics include: design and materials optimisation; management and manufacturing strategies; improving clinical medical and industrial interaction; meeting product liability, ethical, legal and commercial needs.

Artificial Organs and Biomedical Applications
Main topics include: audiology and cochlear implants; prostheses; artificial limbs and rehabilitation engineering; life support systems; robotic surgical assistance; telemedicine; nanotechnology.

Dissertation
The choice of Dissertation topic will be made by the student in consultation with academic staff and (where applicable) with the sponsoring company. The topic agreed is also subject to approval by the Module Co-ordinator. The primary requirement for the topic is that it must have sufficient scope to allow the student to demonstrate his or her ability to conduct a well-founded programme of investigation and research. It is not only the outcome that is important since the topic chosen must be such that the whole process of investigation can be clearly demonstrated throughout the project. In industrially sponsored projects the potential differences between industrial and academic expectations must be clearly understood.

Careers

Students who successfully complete the course will have gained the skills that are essential for the modern biomedical and healthcare industry, together with the expertise required to enter management, product innovation, development and research.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £5,800 full-time

International students: £15,000 full-time

Read about funding opportunities available to postgraduate students

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements

A UK first or second class Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification usually in engineering or other appropriate science and technology subject areas. Other qualifications and relevant experience will be assessed on an individual basis. 

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.