Student Profiles
Tharinath Mahenthirarajah, current student on MSc Biomedical Engineering (March 2012)
“Welcome to Brunel, the home of the father of engineering, Isambard Kingdom Brunel !”
My name is Tharinath and I am currently studying MSc Biomedical Engineering at Brunel University. Having completed my undergraduate studies in Pharmacology and Molecular Genetics I have always had a fascination for science and engineering. Combining my fascination with an ambition to face challenges and breach boundaries, has persuaded me to pursue a postgraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at this prominent institution.
Brunel University is the perfect academic establishment to nurture my ambitions. The course offers a wide range of modules for students to commit and specialise in their area of interest. These are taught by leading experts and pioneers in their respective fields. The course does not only teach biomedical engineering but provides profound knowledge of medical ethics and laws, which form the basis for approval of new devices.
The University, situated in Uxbridge, West London, has a prestigious reputation in the field of Engineering and Design, proudly looking back on a history filled with inventions, excellence and success. Numerous facilities accommodate students to strike the optimal balance between studies and social life. On the one side the library and the computer labs are accessible 24 hours a day, making it easier to access the resources at any time. On the other side the University campus has many other facilities such as a pharmacy, a bank, a supermarket, bars and restaurants.
And if you find that the campus does not hold what you are looking for Uxbridge Town is a convenient walking distance of 10-15 minutes, or can be reached by bus within 5minutes. Located at the heart of the town are two modern shopping centres, various culinary restaurants, high street supermarkets as well as the town’s very own Underground Station (Metropolitan & Piccadilly lines), which grants accessibility to various destinations such as direct travel to Central London within 45 minutes.
Choosing to live on campus has given me the chance to meet fellow students out of my course and gain an insight into other cultures and broaden my personal horizon. Accommodation on campus (en-suite or shared bathroom facilities) come with a common kitchen and are safe and secure, ensuring peace of mind during my time at Brunel.
Recommendations are extended to those students who share a passion and foster an interest towards Biomedical Engineering. This challenging course carries many rewards for students who are enthusiastic and dedicated.
Feras Adnan Alnaimat, current MSc Biomedical Engieering student (March 2012)
I am from Jordan. I studied in Egypt a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering as my first degree. I was attracted to Brunel because the MSc contained many interesting subjects such as medical imaging and fluid dynamics and had very qualified staff in this field. My aim in taking this course is continue my research in the future, and to have a PhD in this field and become an expert.
I am finding a lot of beneficial things to learn in this course, in theory and practice, such as using the abs for electronic with Dr. Mohamed Darwish, and learning to use software such as Matlab with Dr Ashraf Khir and Ansys Computational Fluid Dynamics with Dr. quan Long. The facilities are good and the lecturers are helpful and they have a huge knowledge in their fields. The course involves many activities outside the University such as visiting Hammersmith hospital and others venues. Some specific areas of the teaching I particularly like are artificial organs and medical imaging devices.
In respect to Brunel, the campus is so nice and clean and all facilities are integrated, therefore, we do not have to travel to attend the lectures. Brunel has a very good social life and there are many events and trips to interesting places. Looking to the future, I think the course will give me a better chance to be successful in my PhD research, because it provides a strong background in many topics in the Biomedical Engineering field.
Amulya Pendyala current student on MSc Biomedical Engineering (February 2012)
I am Amulya Pendyala presently pursuing a full time Masters in Biomedical Engineering for the academic year 2011-12. I hail from the southern part of India and possess a Bachelors’ degree in the Bio-medical Engineering branch from SRM University, Chennai, South India.
Immediately, after completion of my B.Tech. I was exploring the possibility of admission into postgraduate Masters in various Universities in the U.K., and was fortunate to get admission offers from quite a few in England as well as Scotland. After serious considerations and comparisons of all my options, my parents and I zeroed in on Brunel University, and believe me, we were not wrong. After coming here and seeing the campus, the infrastructure for the students to study, the accommodation facilities and the environment as a whole, I was not at all disappointed with any one of them.
I find the working culture in my Department extremely cordial and friendly, with all the lecturers and especially our Course Director, Dr. Ashraf Khir, going out of their way to make us, especially the International students like me, feel free to pose questions and clarify all our doubts. But in addition to this, they have helped us understand the subject well, from all perspectives, enabling us to progress further into the course.
For me the experience here has been fantastic. Understanding the culture, norms and regulations prevailing in this country and especially that of this University, was a challenging task, although I consider it an exciting one as well. The best thing about Brunel is its situation in West London as a big asset, as it is here in London, one of the world’s largest cities, where people all over the world believe that everything happens!
The learning process at Brunel has been quite a dynamic one. The course is very unique and interesting with lots of interactive teaching. The lecture notes can be easily accessed through U-link (an on-line learning facility) which makes it very easy to download and study. This course has truly given me insights into various softwares like MATLAB and ANSYS and has broadened my understanding on various core subjects like Biomechanics, Fluid mechanics and Medical Image processing.
Brunel lives up to the reputation of providing the best internal security if you need to get around even at night. For a girl student like me, living alone studying in a foreign country, it is indeed heart-warming both to me, as well as my parents back home, to feel secure. More than anything though, Brunel is an institution of high tradition, traditions which we all would like to emulate. The traditions that students take part in here will stay with them forever. I wanted a University that had not only an amazing academic program, but also a fun-filled social atmosphere as well, and am I glad I got the whole package at Brunel!
The culture at Brunel fosters learning and innovation. Brunel’s approach is tailor-made for driving students to understand and adapt to changes with the right atmosphere. It allows me to enjoy the freedom and flexibility to express innovative ideas and receive ample support from the academic staff of my Department and the University management as well. I believe in passing out with flying colors from Brunel, which will fetch me a positive spin in my career.
I take this opportunity to recommend Biomedical Engineering at Brunel to all those students who would like to pursue a Masters course after completing their Bachelors, for safe residing and high learning, which will definitely give them bright and future prospects.
Louis Bornman, current MSc Biomedical Engineering student (February 2012)
I am currently studying for a Masters in Biomedical Engineering at Brunel University. I am originally from South Africa, but also did my undergraduate (Biomedical Sciences) here in the UK.
Since my undergraduate degree, I gained a strong interest in engineering. Biomedical Engineering seemed perfect for combining my molecular background with engineering. Since Brunel University had a great reputation regarding postgraduate study, engineering and employability, it seemed like the perfect place to study.
Brunel has a great atmosphere. The facilities are great for social events and the students seem to be taking maximal advantage of it. There are many sporting and social societies to join. I am currently a member of the shooting society. They organise heavily substituted trips including paintballing, clay pigeon shooting and also shooting with various other rifles. I am also a member of the Christian society. I have made good friends with others at Brunel, with whom I am sure to keep in touch with for the rest of my life.
So far I am really impressed with the course. The course content is mentally stimulating and fits all my needs and interests. The staff are really friendly and enthusiastic. They are willing to help out whenever problems arise, whether they are academic or personal in nature. The course not only increases my knowledge but it is also evidently setting me to achieve my future plans.
On the whole, the Brunel study experience seems to be the best investment I have ever made. An Msc in Biomedical engineering is the perfect course for me, and I have never regretted and probably never will regret my application to the course.
Anup Prabhu Dessai current MSc Biomedical Engineering student (January 2012)
Hello, my name is Anup Prabhu Dessai; I am currently studying MSc Biomedical Engineering at Brunel University. I was awarded a Bachelor degree in Biomedical Engineering from University of Mumbai, India. I chose to come to Brunel as it is exceedingly considered as a great university with a high ranking level of the mechanical engineering Department. And also I liked the structure of the course and the wide subject areas it covered.
From the beginning I found, the course to be very challenging. But the guidance of the lecturers made my studies enjoyable. They are very friendly and always invite students to come and ask questions in case of doubt and this helps a lot. In addition we also get an opportunity to apply ourselves using software’s like matlab, Ansys, fluent etc.
The University library has a great collection of academic books and also the computer labs re of high standards and can be accessed any time. The University’s online virtual learning, u-link is really very handy to access, lecture notes and other course related information by just logging online. Apart from academics services Brunel has many other facilities like a bank, a pharmacy, mini-supermarket, restaurants and not to forget a nightclub where the students can go and relax after all the hard work they put in completing the assignments.
Also Brunel is just 15 minutes walk or short bus ride to Uxbridge, where the town centre is filled with various super-markets, shopping malls, restaurants, multiplex and nightclubs. Travelling to central London is possible via Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines.
Hence, I would recommend applicants who are serious about learning and are passionate about biomedical to come and study at Brunel.
Urvashi Danookdharree, current student on MSc Biomedical Engineering 2011 - 2012
I am Urvashi, doing my MSc in Biomedical Engineering at Brunel University. I am a Mauritian and I did my undergraduate, BSc. (Hons) Medical Science, at the University of Mauritius. I got to know about Brunel via the internet and loved the University profile and its structure. Also I chose this course as it seemed to offer me completely with what I really wanted to learn, and I must not omit that the lecturers’ profiles also seemed so enriching and attractive. I expected to learn new things especially about the imaging process. However this course exceeded my expectations. I got to learn so many interesting things which I didn’t even know existed. I started in September 2011 and the first semester itself has been so fulfilling and adventurous. The University offered us all the resources we needed and we could access the library and some labs 24/7, which helped a lot of students including me for the exams and assignments. The lecturers are always there, if ever we have any questions or problems. One thing which drew my attention from the start, was the efficient structure of the administration, and the ease with which all admin operations were performed within time. In the last semester I was attending Salsa classes which was awesome! This semester we will be visiting a few companies and hospitals for projects. Right now the assignments, though tough, are the most interesting thing for me, as I am getting to learn in detail about a lot of things. I live off campus, but quite close which was my choice, as a room was available on campus for the duration of the course, so I get to have a nice walk in the morning to reach the University. I also hang out with on-campus students and have visited the accommodation on campus, which is so comfortable and secure. Uxbridge is a quiet place with all facilities available within walking range in the University, and all urgent things that we need are available on campus itself like a bank, a pharmacy, and a supermarket… The intranet part of Brunel is quite helpful with all the facilities available to us on line. I stay off campus and I still can do most things from home, like renewing books, accessing my account from home. The dissertation will prove to be very helpful for me to decide my career as we will have the chance to work with qualified people for our thesis. In short I am enjoying my stay in Uxbridge with Brunel providing me with all the raw materials for my future.
If you want a secure future with the best background, Brunel is the perfect choice and I am sure you will not regret it at all if you choose to come here.
Mr Thanugaian Murugian, current MSc Biomedical Engineering student, March 2011
I am currently studying the MSc Biomedical Engineering. I am from Sri Lanka and completed my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation at SRM University in India. I had some personal interest in Biomechanics, but my first degree only included an electronics element in this area. I chose the Brunel Biomedical Engineering course after seeing the course content which promised to give me a good knowledge of the subject I am interested in and allow me to work on software in Biomechanics.
The study environment at Brunel is really good. Talking with my class mates here, I can learn about other cultures and make good friends from different parts of the world as the student body includes students from many overseas countries. The lecturers are really good, and as part of the course we receive real life examples including hospital and company visits which are really informative. The labs are fine and are open for all students to work on their own after the lectures.
My real enjoyment concerns the depth and breadth of the areas we are taught in the biomedical field. We focus on many different areas of research. The biomedical field is wide open and very broad. I love the course and I have a good friends here, whom I intend to keep for life!
Unlike other Universities where we had to carry all our teaching materials with us, the leaning facilities allow us to avoid this. All notes and lectures are available on-line on U-link which we can read from our home at any time. Up until now, I haven’t needed to print any lecture notes. I just download the notes from U-link and study them using my laptop. This reduces the use of paper which in turn saves the trees, it is like a Green Revolution ! Using webmail, we are free to contact the lecturers at any time and they allow us to make appointments to meet them one to one. I am happy that my national festivals like Pongal and Diwali are celebrated here. We are very fortunate to live close to the local town Uxbridge, since it is few miles away from Central London by underground train, and London is one of the busiest and most exciting cities in the world.
I feel that the course has given shape to my future. I now have an idea to do Ph.D. But I might also firstly seek employment. This course has definitely helped me to have many options to take my next step in life.
Vaishnavi Surve, current MSc Biomedical Engieeirng student, April 2011
Hello, I am Vaishnavi, I am currently studying MSc Biomedical Engineering at Brunel University. I was awarded a Bachelors degree in Biomedical Engineering from Mumbai University, India. The course content consisted of electrical biomedical instrumentation, medical imaging and image processing.
As an international student, the most attractive reason for studying in the UK was that a Masters degree was conducted over one year. Brunel University has a very good profile for its School of Engineering and Design, this appealed a lot to me, hence my decision to take up my studies here.
The teaching staff for MSc Biomedical Engineering are always happy to assist with study and personal issues. During the course, a range of topics are covered including biomedical in the mechanical area with biofluid mechanics, finite element analysis, mechatronics, biomedical imaging etc. The lectures are given systematically and lecture notes are uploaded on U-link immediately after the lesson ends to assist with further private study. Help from your professor is also provided during the project selections for your dissertation.
The best thing about Brunel is the campus and local surroundings; from big libraries and labs, computer centre, pubs, hubs, sports centres, job-centres, gym and much more, include a campus store where you can buy most things. The supermarkets in the local town are very close and cater for all nationalities. Central London is just forty five minutes to an hour from Uxbridge (the local town just a 15 minute bus ride from Brunel) by tube. The accommodation on-campus is spacious with central heating and shared kitchens; they are cleaned on a daily basis. Off campus accommodation is also provided close to the University, and there is a housing office located on campus to assist students in finding these off campus properties.
Throughout my studies, I have had excellent support; all staff are enthusiastic and encouraging. Brunel has also received an award for its National placement and Internship. I would recommend Brunel University to students as they would gain good experience and have fun living here.
Majed Alqhtani MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2011
My name is Majed Alqhtani, I am from Saudi Arabia and possess a Bachelor degree in a Biomedical Engineering from King Saud University. I am working in Saudi Food and Drug Authority as a Biomedical Specialist and have been awarded a scholarship from my government. Currently, I am a student in the MSc Biomedical Engineering course.
I chose Brunel for many reasons, one of the main reasons is that Brunel University is highly ranked in the United Kingdom and it is recommended from the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Brunel has excellent facilities, infrastructure, and access to learning services and of course a nice location in west London.
Frankly, the Biomedical Engineering course at Brunel is rich with composed knowledge and has good sources in Engineering, health sciences and many applications such as Lift Ventricle assistance devices. In Brunel, I learnt and I am still learning so much in this field, and I now have good background knowledge to add to my experience and success, this benefited me when we visited the Penlon factory in Oxford City and Hammersmith hospital in London. I am so proud because I am now an expert in some software programs which are useful applications that can be applied in everyday life such as CFD and Matlab software.
Tutors are helpful, supportive and friendly; they are trying to help students gain information and develop their knowledge. They also assist at a personal level by advising students on problems that they face. They have showed me how best to manage my time and I have gained a lot of respect for them.
Finally, I strongly recommend everyone who plans to study MSc Biomedical Engineering to come and study at Brunel.
Shavini Wijesuriya MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2011
Hello, my name is Shavini Wijesuriya. I have lived in England, London since I was 2 years old, but I am mixed race with my main roots in Sri Lanka. I did my BSc in Southampton University in Biomedical Sciences.
Why I chose Brunel and the course ? Brunel is highly regarded as a great engineering university. Therefore as I was studying biomedical science, the engineering area of my knowledge needed to be developed and I wanted a top engineering university to help broaden my understanding. I also liked the structure of the course and the areas which it covered. Biomedical engineering is a bridge to a wide variety of disciplines, therefore I wanted a course that would cover enough information on these broad areas competently.
My aim taking this course was firstly to develop my understanding and learn new skills and secondly, with this new knowledge I would find a more practical way of implementing science and pushing the boundaries of research, especially in areas which I find interesting.
The course is not for anyone that isn’t serious about learning, and for me, it has been a massive leap for a person with no engineering background. However that should not dissuade anyone from taking the course. It is definitely challenging, however the topics are interesting and I like a challenge, so being able to become competent in new fields is quite rewarding. The course is very compact and a lot is demanded from you, so time management is essential. However the lecturers are quite approachable and will help you without hesitation if needed. There is definitely a closer relationship with lecturers at Masters level on this course compared to my experience at undergraduate level, which I appreciate. Also the relative smaller class sizes compared to my UG classes greatly helped, as you get more attention from lecturers, so you can understand the lecture much better. I have also noted that lecturers strive to implement new ways of explaining topics, be it through guest lecturers, props or stories from personal experience in that area. They also gave us the opportunity to go on trips to Hammersmith hospital as well as to a medical company for a more hands on way of learning the theory. Lecturers further worked on trying to make the students feel more welcome with parties and social gatherings when the term ended and after thesis presentations.
At the moment I am enjoying just learning and becoming more competent in new software taught on the course such as MATLAB, Ansys and Orcad. I am also enjoying just spending time with people on the course who are all from different backgrounds, cultures and countries.
Brunel campus is good in the way that all the facilities are together on the campus. Uxbridge is also quite nice, although as I have grown up around this area the newness experienced by others has not really affected me.
I knew when I decided to choose this course that it would be a massive challenge and I have no regrets on choosing it. I have learnt a great deal and am continuing to learn. My future plans are still quite open in my opinion, hopefully finding a good job in this unfavourable economic climate will be easier with a Masters, and I have the opportunity to enjoy as well as do something significant.
I would encourage applicants who are serious about learning and are able to maintain a cool head and develop their time management skills to take the course. Obviously they should also be interested in the topics which are explained briefly in the masters overview. It is definitely a challenge but highly rewarding at the same time.
Mohammad Ghrawi MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2011
I'm a postgraduate student here and prior to this I attended an English course at Brunel in 2009. I'm from Saudi Arabia and studied a Bachelors degree in Biomedical engineering at King Saud University, Riyadh, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
I chose the MSc biomedical Engineering at Brunel University because of the high ranking level of the Department in research and the course itself, which was considered one of the best courses in the UK and was also approved in my country. I wish to complete my study to provide me with the knowledge to progress in responsibility in the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) as a senior biomedical engineering. Further I want to complete a PhD degree if I have chance.
The course is very useful and I have learned new software like CFD and Mat lab, which has enhanced my understanding of the most common problems associated with the subject. In addition, there are many visits to industrial companies and guest lectures, which provide a wide range of knowledge, and especially the practical application of this knowledge in a real world setting for all students.
The labs and the facilities are great. The administration in the school is good, cooperative, and is much appreciated.
The most enjoyable part of the course is the joint projects we do in the student groups and the taught academic material, which makes the course attractive, up to date and relevant to industry.
Brunel University provides many facilities for student like the Library and teaching materials and resources, the restaurants and a popular coffee shop. It also provides many useful lectures about possible courses and activities for students. As I mentioned above, I want to complete my study and get a PhD degree at Brunel.
Daniel Egyir MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2011
My name is Daniel Ransford Egyir from Ghana, West Africa. I did my first degree at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in BSc Geodetic Engineering. A degree quite unrelated to the biomedical engineering field that I am studying at the moment.
My ambition from childhood was to study science, and for that matter work in the medical field to help improve the health of humans. Despite this ambition I began to study engineering as my first degree. But with my earlier aim still in mind, I made a decision to pursue this field for my Masters degree, hopefully giving me the opportunity to work in the medical field post graduation. Searching on the internet and reading both medical and engineering journals, and attending open days at various institutions to get more information and knowledge about which course to pursue, I came to the conclusion that I should study biomedical engineering.
I chose Brunel University because of the high standards used for admitting students to its graduate programs, and more importantly, because of the excellent academic resources and infrastructure that the University had. Brunel attracts a high volume of applicants to study postgraduate programmes because the University has an excellent reputation in the field of taught and research programmes. This has therefore made the University the best among the good ones, and that is the reason why I chose to further my education at Brunel University.
My aim for studying this course was to successfully complete an MSc that would allow me to impart the knowledge that I have acquired over the years and through a prospective career experience to future generations. Moreover, I would be happy in the future dealing with problems confronting both the biomedical engineering and the health care sector, especially problems affecting deprived regions in the world such as my own country Ghana, and other parts of Africa. My intention was to help bridge the gap between technology and the health sector in these regions.
The University has everything to help students acquire the necessary knowledge to achieve their grades, and moreover equip them with the knowledge and skills to enter the job market. The lecturers are helpful and dedicated to their work. They provide help even to the point of making sure that your social life is well combined with your academic work. The Course Director especially is like a father to me. I have been motivated by his words of advice, and I credit him for making me stand firm with my decisions in terms of focusing on the course. Although I did not arrive at Brunel with the usual academic background to study the course, the lecturers made it possible for me study this course to the point of acquiring an in depth understanding of each module.
I shall therefore take this opportunity given me through this medium to encourage future applicants to undertake this course, because it will raise your confidence to a very high level in terms of what you learn, and thus help prepare you for the future.
Mandy Cheng MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2009
"I chose Brunel for several reasons. The location was away from the hustle and bustle/distractions in Central London, but still easily accessible to all the benefits/convenience of the capital. The campus had lots of facilities and resources catered for students, as well as lots of extracurricular activities available. As a student for a second time round, it is nice to be in a university that doesn't just look after your academic side of things, but the actual wellbeing of its students. The course itself covers a wide range of topics that appealed to me. It appears to have an equal weight between the medical and the engineering element, which is an advantage to me as a biologist. And also Brunel's reputation in the engineering industry.
All the staff (the ones I had contact with) from day one, have been so friendly and helpful, some of which actually went out of their way in helping me with my particularly difficult application owing to problems accessing my qualifications on time.
My overall experience has been very positive so far - our small class makes the experience with lecturers a lot more personal. It's nice that lecturers remember who we are !! - this has been particularly important to me with my non-engineering background, I have been able to get all the help I need, and it makes me feel a lot more confident and supported. Most lecturers are easily accessible and are very proactive in helping us with any difficulties in our course, so even during my moments of shyness I still have the opportunity of getting help. Apart from the lecturers, with the huge number of students in this university as a whole, I thought it would be easy to feel lost and invisible, but here I feel that most of the staff that we have regular contacts with (the postgraduate staff) have always managed to make me feel welcome - it's nice to be recognized, and treated as an individual, even when I am just one of thousands of students, which I know from personal experience, is something that not every university can achieve, even with their smaller number of students.
Another great aspect of Brunel, is that with a personal tutor that I can regularly check in with, I feel that I am being looked after. This was particularly important to me at the beginning of the course, when everything was still strange and confusing! And being able to have regular contact with my personal tutor has helped me to overcome a lot of issues I had (academically and personally), that I would otherwise not have been able to address fully, if it was a once in a blue moon meeting.
In respect to the course and teaching, the variety of modules keeps it interesting. And I enjoy the close interaction with the staff and lecturers (so sad, I know); student feedbacks/inputs from staff are valued. If I was asked what is the best thing about Brunel at this time I would say the staff and lecturers!! (again, so sad, I know !!!)
Overall, the course has provided me with the knowledge and the experience which has helped me build up the confidence (both academically, and as a person) that I had been lacking from my undergraduate degree in Medical Studies. And this confidence, I am sure, will help me in my future career as well as in life to become an all-rounded person."
Ashwatha Rajamani MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2008
After completing my undergraduate course in Biomedical Instrumentation Engineering at a reputed University in my home country, I had to choose an advanced course to meet my future career aspirations from many Universities around the U.K. and other countries. Considering various aspects of the available advanced courses such as, course duration, fee structure, location of the University, I perceived that Brunel University fitted the bill for my particular needs.
Teaching and Learning at Brunel
Brunel has an excellent reputation for engineering studies. Furthermore, the Biomedical Engineering MSc has a course content designed with much care and detail to be competitive and relevant to the present and future needs of industry. It provides students, through a motivational teaching approach to innovation, research and applied technology, exposure to real-life situations and eminently fits graduates with the skills and knowledge for jobs in the real world. From the beginning, I found the course very demanding and arduous, but the guidance of the lecturers made my studies enjoyable. Brunel’s forte is the delivery of high quality teaching which produces graduates with the skills and knowledge sought after by industry. The highly qualified academic lecturers, all having a wealth of experience in the areas they are teaching, understand the needs of students and persevere to enable students to overcome difficult concepts and grasp the essentials to progress. Students are encouraged to raise questions to clarify any tough point before proceeding further. The course work is also of a varied nature, touching all necessary aspects of the biomedical field in the modules taught. Assignments help develop a range of perspectives of the taught subject, while enhancing the students' analytical skills and problem solving abilities. Assignments are very challenging and interesting and bring out the innate talents of the students.
Guest lecturers from different Universities enhance the curriculum and add to the charm of learning, as they stimulate the student audience. I have also attended a few seminars which proved enlightening and were lively gatherings. Another important aspect of the Brunel learning experience is the emphasis placed on enhancing graduate employability by exposure to external guest lecturers, drawn from relevant industries, who have first hand knowledge about the skills required for the industry.
However technically talented a student might be, occasionally students may lack communication skills. In order to improve communication skills the Brunel Language Centre helps students improve their written and spoken language. Apart from English Language, the Centre also offers free classes in many international languages like German, French, Italian etc. Doesn't this sound wonderful? Support is also made available to students for academic and transferable skills by one-to-one tuition, online guidance and interactive web-based learning resources.
I have found the lecturers are very kind and understanding and are always ready to help students in selecting specialised fields of study, suitable assignments and career paths. After coming to Brunel I developed an interest in upgrading my further studies to Doctorate level (PhD). I intend to do my dissertation in space medicine. As students' ideas are very much welcomed, one of my lecturers patiently listened to my suggestions and agreed to help me realise my ideas, as one of his friends is working for ESA. This attitude of my lecturer made me feel proud of the Brunel culture. As a result of this experience I feel Brunel has an environment conducive for learning, self-growth and achieving one’s individual aims.
Facilities and Brunel Life
The Brunel library has a large stock of academic books, videos, DVD's, CD’s and audio cassettes, many of which can be borrowed. The School’s laboratory facilities are also of high quality. We have opportunity to use the library and laboratories around the clock. Life at Brunel is an experience in itself, as the environment is safe and secure with all facilities close to one another. My classmates are from various countries and come from diverse disciplines. This diversity encourages the exchange of ideas and facilitates the solving of intricate problems. Group tours are arranged to expose students to life in the Capital as well as around the country. One such trip was to Stonehenge, a world-famous prehistoric site, which was a thrilling experience for us all. We have also visited Cambridge and Oxford where everyone enjoyed the beauty of these places. Being the Student Representative of my Department, I am provided with the opportunity to interact with my peer group and help meet their needs. This student role has helped me gain confidence and leadership qualities.
Of all the London universities, Brunel has the best sporting facilities. There are also art, dance, drama and music clubs. There are many events taking place quite frequently. Having trained in Indian classical dance and a few western dances, I have taken advantage of the dance training offered at Brunel.
Why choose Brunel?
The MSc in Biomedical Engineering at Brunel provides students with excellent employment potential, while being less costly in terms of general subsistence living than Universities that are located in the Centre of London. The quality of education is commendable. I strongly recommend the Mechanical Engineering Subject Area and the Biomedical Engineering MSc to all new applicants for the reasons enumerated above".
Jaya Nemchand MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2008
I chose Brunel because of its reputation in the Biomedical field and the choice of modules available on the course. Being awarded a Brunel International Scholarship also made Brunel very attractive.
Brunel has been a good experience overall to date. The lectures are very interesting and what makes it more interesting is having guest lecturers from industry coming to speak about their specialist subject. It gives you another feel, not being in a simple Classroom, but being more interactive and thinking on your own. The lecturers themselves have been very understanding, helpful and supportive. They always invite students to come and ask questions if you are still in doubt and it helps a lot.
About the course generally - I am enjoying mostly everything about the course as it was something that I have always wanted to study. Brunel has good facilities available, with the laboratories accessible 24hrs a day, which helps. Also, the campus is always very lively and secure.
With a world known reputation, Brunel is the best choice and I am sure will prove to be a stepping stone towards my future plans in the biomedical field. I would encourage applicants to come to Brunel and join Biomedical Engineering, because of its reputation, the fact it is accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and has the best of lecturers. The lectures are simply non-comparable and its simple indulgence if you are passionate about biomedical.
NurulWahida MatAron MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2008
Currently I’m working on finishing my MSc in Biomedical Engineering at Brunel University where I am receiving an excellent education. Studying Biomedical Engineering has enabled me to pursue my career interests. I find its unique mix of engineering, medicine and life science very exciting. It is a fast growing area with tremendous potential for research and also an increasing number of applications in today’s world of medicine and technology. I enjoy being challenged, so I have taken heavy course loads and a variety of classes related to Biomedical Engineering during my study at the University of Malaya, Malaysia, where I pursued an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering. I feel the courses I have taken now at Brunel, have helped focus my interests and will prepare me for my future career. I am particularly interested in the application of biomedical technology in developing implanted biomedical devices and other medical products and software. My parallel areas of interest are the design and fabrication of Biomaterials and determining the mechanical, transport and biocompatibility properties of implantable artificial materials and the applications of Biomedical Instrumentation.
This MSc in Biomedical Engineering at Brunel University is a one-year programme with an up-to-date course syllabus, that has exposed me to multiple areas in the Biomedical Engineering field. Not only I have I been challenged in the classroom, but I’m able to participate in Biomedical Engineering research projects which prepared me both technically and personally for the challenges of a graduate school. The personal attention lecturers provide and the relationships with the School are great. This course is well-known in the Biomedical Engineering field in Malaysia where I came from, and has had a lot of promotion at University level there. As Brunel has an outstanding research profile, and an excellent reputation especially in the engineering field, I chose Brunel to do my MSc. I found that the education that I have received here at Brunel far surpasses that received by many of my peers from other Universities.
Brunel University offers me more than the great reputation of a fine School, but also a large student body with diverse interests, and many activities, both academic and non-academic, to participate in. With the help of Brunel University, I will be successful after my studies and be able to make a name and place for myself in society.
After I earn my Masters degree, I intend to start work on my PhD, also in the Biomedical Engineering field at Brunel. Later, I would like to work in the area of research and development and also realise my long range objective, which is to acquire a teaching position with a College or University in my home country. I strongly recommend to all new applicants Brunel as a University to pursue Biomedical Engineering and especially to my juniors and friends who have the same interests as me.
Nana Odom MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2008
My decision to pursue a postgraduate degree in a science field was influenced by the need for young women in Ghana to enter into a science or engineering career. Also having studied a BSc in Physics at the University of Science and Technology in Ghana and taking some modules in medical physics, I gained awareness of the application of physics and engineering in medicine and this appealed to me. I also saw the need for expertise in this area in the near future especially in a developing country like Ghana.
Brunel was my first choice as I wanted to further my studies in an institution with a very high reputation in research and engineering teaching. Also I was seeking a University that produces capable graduates who are well placed in today’s global labor market. Furthermore, I sought a course which aimed at meeting the high demand for medical engineers in the health sector and medical device / equipment producing companies. I also was attracted by the course’s mission statement which I read on the course web page.
I have now finished term one and the modules I have already taken reflect the current trend in my chosen study area and have relevance to the industry. The course has been designed to take me straight into my career path whether in industry or research and provided me with many options, one of which is to pursue a PhD.
My Course Director, Dr Ashraf Khir, has been supportive not only in academic issues but also in pastoral / social matters. I would also like to comment on the immense help and great teaching skills of the lecturers, which makes the course much more interesting. The School has accessible learning resources and facilities, designed to make learning easy for students. As an international student, the Anson prize which was awarded to me helped reduce my financial burdens.
My class comprises students from different cultures and so we study in a multicultural environment. Students also come from differing engineering and science backgrounds and so we have different approaches to problem solving. My fellow students relate well and support each other in all aspects. I use every available opportunity to learn from my course mates and its significance cannot be over emphasised.
I have not regretted coming to Brunel University and would recommend it to any one who is considering taking an engineering degree in the UK.
Sudhakar Rao MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2008
I am currently studying for an MSc in Biomedical Engineering at Brunel University. I was attracted to the course because of my interest in Biomedical Engineering which developed initially from being selected for an internship at Texas Tech University in the summer of 2006. I had previously never been keen on biology and was a true to form mechanical engineering student, mainly interested in jet engines and working for BMW automotives. Aiding postgraduates in the development of a system that could actually benefit people at a primary level sounded extremely rewarding. I continued this work during my final year at UCD and sought to further my studies in the field. The scale of Brunel's reputation for industry was a big selling factor in my choice to study here; most other universities in the UK and Ireland are predominantly focussed on bioengineering as opposed to biomedical engineering. The study experience at Brunel has been good to settle in so far, in truth the dissertation and research part of the MSc is where I’m most keen on, but the taught programmes and class work have been thoroughly enjoyable and provide a great deal of motivation and enthusiasm. I really like the industrial and clinical aspects of the course, to be taught by a variety of staff from academic and clinical backgrounds is a massive benefit as I was unsure which road to take at postgraduate level should I be seriously interested in either. I feel this course will stand me quite well in the future and aid significantly in my future career plans. The campus is very well laid out, and I've come to appreciate that fact more so, from living in Borough Road hall with fellow post grads, the location is also extremely convenient for travel to central London and Uxbridge town itself. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to be a part of the cutting edge of modern engineering and is up for a new challenge and a great experience.
Nithinkrishnan Gopalakrishnan MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2008
While I was persuing my Bachelors degree in Bio-Engineering at the School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University in India, I decided to do my masters in Biomedical Engineering, a combination of traditional engineering topics with a special aim towards modern medical applications. The graduate program offered at Brunel is one such package which comes with the right balance which encouraged me to select Brunel.
The course offers the flexibility required for such a vast and rapidly changing field, providing adequate opportunities to do valuable research work within stimulating environment and a strong Department base. International education brings the ideas of many people from different countries to one place of learning. Being exposed to different views and ideas has helped me learn the subject matter more effectively. The academic staff are approachable and very easy to talk to about any worries or difficulties - they really encourage you to do your best.
A striking feature of the University is the well-planned and comprehensive infrastructure provided for both students and the Department. I get a chance to work in a diverse environment and am well informed of future technologies since the School of Engineering and Design carries out research in collaboration with hospitals, biomedical companies and research institutions. Ultimately, this will help me to analyse and identify the area which I am best suited to specialise in. Being awarded the Anson prize has encouraged me to study the course with renewed enthusiasm and given me strong motivation to achieve.
Student life at Brunel is extremely fascinating and has helped me establish cross cultural relationships and be an integral part of the global community. It is a meeting ground of many social lives and cultural ideas.
In all, I have very much enjoyed my experience at Brunel so far and I have no doubt that Brunel is a University that furnishes an education that will serve me well in establishing my career in the biomedical engineering arena. Coming to Brunel has been an invaluable experience – there is so much support for International students in the University. With no hesitation, I strongly recommend this course for all Biomedical engineering enthusiasts.
Mahmoud Arman MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2008
I am currently studying the MSc course in Biomedical Engineering. Two main reasons attracted me to join the course at Brunel University. The high ranking of the University in the engineering field and the modules on the course. Other University modules focused more on Bioengineering.
Concerning the teaching and facilities : the lectures are interesting and lecturers are very supportive and helpful. I enjoyed learning how to use a number of design softwares; the lecture room facilities are useful in aiding the teaching. The availability of 24 hour computer labs have enabled me a lot to do my work any time of the day or night.
Everything a student needs is available on the Brunel campus. The accommodation, restaurants and computer labs are all close to one another. I finished a BSc degree in Medical Physics and I think that the MSc in Biomedical Engineering will help me a lot in understanding the medical field from the engineering point of view. Also I believe it will offer me an excellent future career. I would recommend this course to anyone who is intending to enhance his/her education background and guarantee an excellent future career in the medical field.
Mohamad El-Binni MSc Biomedical Engineering Graduating September 2008
I’m from Palestine, where I gained my degree in Physics with Honours at the Beirut Arab University in Lebanon.
I was one of the fortunate students that got the opportunity to come and study at Brunel University. I was keen on studying in the UK, especially in a University that has an excellent reputation like Brunel. I see Brunel’s strengths in that it has an internationally diverse student population and the course has excellent interaction between students and professors. That is the core of Brunel. A University that appreciates diversity and this is reflected in the class room through the way the lecturers respect our different cultures and traditions.
Indeed, I chose the Biomedical Engineering field to be of service to people by solving severe and complex problems of medical care. This field has a bright future due to the growth of the health care industry.
I strongly recommend students to complete their studies in this interesting field at Brunel.
