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MEng Biomedical Engineering with a Year Abroad
UCAS code: n/a*
ECTS: 240
Start date: October 2017
Duration: 4 years full-time
Location: South Kensington
*Apply initially for MEng Biomedical Engineering (BH9C)
Biomedical engineering 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 environment.
This stream within the Department of Bioengineering combines the study of biomedical engineering with the opportunity to study abroad in your final year.
You will cover a broad foundation in physics, mathematics, engineering and medical science, then progress to more advanced engineering studies that apply the quantitative aspects of engineering analysis and design to a broad range of biomedical problems.
To apply for this degree, you should initially apply for the four-year MEng Biomedical Engineering (UCAS code BH9C).
What you study
All students follow a common programme of studies for the first two years, after which you have the opportunity to specialise in an Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Biomolecular Engineering pathway.
Whichever pathway you choose, you have the flexibility to take a range of optional modules in an area of biomedical engineering that particularly interests you from other engineering departments.
In the second year, you will take part in an engineering design project as part of the Sports Innovation Challenge, which aims to unleash creativity to improve the sporting and training equipment available to disabled people.
All students have the chance to apply to study abroad during the final year, which counts directly towards your degree. While abroad you will complete a programme of study similar to the programme offered at Imperial. In addition, you are required to complete an independent research project.
Currently there are exchange options to six campuses at top universities worldwide:
Technical University Delft (TUD), Netherlands
ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Grenoble Institute of Technology (INPG), France
University of California (UC), USA
National University of Singapore (NUS)
The University of Melbourne, Australia
The places available at each partner university are normally limited to one or two and are generally only available to students who are on track to achieve at least a 2:1 by the end of year three. You graduate with an MEng Bioengineering with a Year Abroad degree from Imperial College London.
Modules shown are for the current academic year, and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.
Please note that not all combinations of optional modules may be possible due to timetabling constraints.
Our four-year Biomedical Engineering course provides you with the essential fundamentals of the discipline in the first two years.
You will take a combination of core and optional modules in the third year, as well as completing a group project.
You will spend your fourth year at a university abroad, completing a similar programme of study to those on offer at Imperial. It is an integrated year abroad, which means it forms part of your final degree grade.
You take all of the core modules listed below.
Bioengineering in Action
Biomolecular Engineering 1
Digital Logic and Programming
Electromagnetics, Vibration and Waves
Mechanics 1
Medical Science 1
Molecules, Cells and Processes 1
Thermodynamics and Kinetics
Electromagnetics 2
Engineering Design Project
Heat and Mass Transport 2
Manufacturing Technology for Bioengineers
Mechanics 2 Fluids
Mechanics 2 Solids
Signals and Control
Wet-Laboratory Skills 2
Bioengineering pathway
Bioengineering Solutions for Cancer
Biomedical Advanced and Computational Stress Analysis
Biomedical Instrumentation
Modelling in Biology
Probability and Statistics for Bioengineering
You choose two optional modules from the list below.
Biomimetics
Hearing and Speech Processing
Human Centred Assistive and Rehabilitation Devices
Physiological Fluid Mechanics
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
You choose one optional module from the list below.
Business for Professional Engineers and Scientists
Mechanical Engineering pathway
Machine System Dynamics
Manufacturing Technology and Management
Electrical Engineering pathway
Digital Biosignal Processing
Advanced Electronic Devices
Advanced Signal Processing
Design-led innovation and enterprise
You will spend this year abroad. Placements are currently available in:
You will experience a variety of learning styles, which combine theory and practice:
Dry laboratories
Microcontrollers workshop
Wet laboratories
Chemical materials
There are a variety of assessment methods relevant to the learning styles of each module.
You complete a group project in the second and third years, as well as a substantial final year individual project.
Other assessment methods include:
Examinations (in-class, online and written)
Assessed coursework (laboratory, technical and project evaulation including planning)
Oral and poster presentations
You will experience a year abroad following a similar programme of studies at a leading international institution.
The modules you complete while abroad are counted toward your final degree mark.
Progression through the course
To sucessfully complete this course, and receive the award of MEng Biomedical Engineering, there are criteria you must meet each year in order to progress to the next.
Year 1 - at least 40% in each assessment and an average mark of 40% in Electrical Engineering Labs, Vibrations and Waves, Vibrations and Waves and Programming 1
Year 2 - an average mark of 60%* and at least 40% in each assessment
Year 3 - at least 40% in each compulsory module, an average of at least 40% across optional modules, and pass the group project
Year 4** - satisfy criteria for Years 1 to 3, an average of at least 40% across optional modules and at least 40% in the final year project
* the 60% average mark is to proceed on the MEng course
** Year Abroad
Key Information Set (KIS)
Details about how this course is taught and assessed are provided in the KIS (key information set).
The KIS is a set of statistics which all universities use to describe how their courses are taught and assessed. This allows students to compare similar courses at different institutions.
The KIS describes the percentage of time which students typically spend in timetabled activity and in independent study for each year of their course as well the percentage of assessment which is exams, coursework or practical. An overview of the KIS is shown in the widget at the bottom of the page and further detail (including a year-by-year breakdown) is available via Unistats.
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis. If your qualifications are not listed here, please see our academic requirements by country page, which gives the minimum entry requirements for a range of international qualifications.
All engineers must use physical principles to understand the problems they are addressing. One major approach is to use mathematical models to describe the processes and systems that they are investigating and to predict their performance. A thorough understanding of mathematics is therefore essential.
In biomedical engineering you will need to apply an unusually broad range of scientific principles, but, as in all other engineering disciplines, a solid understanding of physics is an essential requirement.
The normal A-level requirements are A*AA, to include:
A* in Mathematics
A in Physics
A in Further Mathematics, Chemistry or Biology
AS-level Chemistry and Biology are useful, though not essential, if they have been obtained with at least a grade B at GCSE either individually or as components of Combined Science.
Practical endorsement (practical science assessment)
If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.
38 points overall, to include:
6 in Mathematics at higher level
6 in Physics at higher level
6 in a third subject at higher level
Foreign language requirement
A language qualification may be required for Year Abroad degrees.
English language requirements (all applicants)
All applicants must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for undergraduate applicants.
Places will also be available to those with other equivalent qualifications, e.g. Advanced Placement Tests, European Baccalaureate, some of the national Baccalaureates in the European Union, Scottish Qualifications, Irish Leaving Certificate, and to applicants with appropriate educational experience or other competencies.
See admission of students with other competencies.
The Department of Bioengineering has an admissions policy which ensures that all applications are dealt with in the same way.
If you are likely to meet the entrance requirements and live within reach of London, you will normally be invited to visit the College and see our Department.
You may also be interviewed by one or more members of the academic staff.
When assessing applications, we will consider your examination results (already gained and predicted), your motivation and understanding of biomedical engineering as a career, your potential for leadership and teamwork, your interests and the referee's report.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
Please note: an ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
For more information about the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS), please see the International Student Support website.
Tuition fees and funding
Home and EU students
2017 entry:
Year Abroad:
15% of the relevant fee for that year
The UK government has confirmed that universities that have achieved a 'meet expectations' award – which includes Imperial – will, under the first year of the new Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), be able to raise their fees in 2017. The rise is an inflationary amount of 2.8% to a maximum of £9,250. The measure of inflation used is RPI-X (the retail price index, excluding mortgage interest payments). You should expect the fee to increase beyond 2017 for each year that your course lasts, subject to UK government regulations on fee increases.
The UK government has also confirmed that EU students starting or continuing their studies in the 2017–18 academic year will continue to pay the Home rate of tuition fees for the duration of their course. EU students will also remain eligible for the same government funding support as they are now, including the Tuition Fee Loan. This access to government funding will continue throughout your course, even if the UK exits the EU during this time.
Islands and overseas students
100% of the relevant fee for that year
Please note that the tuition fee amount you will pay may increase each year.
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation. Find out more about fee status assessments.
Home and EU students (with the exception of Graduate Medicine students) can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of their fees each year.
Home students may also be eligible for a Maintenance Loan to help with their living costs.
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study which have to be budgeted for in addition to tuition fees and living expenses. This section provides examples of these and it is possible that all, or some, of these will be relevant to you.
Please note that the cost figures given are based on what such costs were in previous academic years and these are likely to change year to year. However, it is useful for you to be aware of the types of things you may have to pay for and their cost in previous years.
This section details whether the additional costs are essential or optional. Essential costs are highlighted as costs that you will need to pay to fully participate and complete your studies. Optional costs are not essential to your studies and you will be free to opt out of these.
The nature of the academic work you will be completing means you will need to wear protective clothing during practical sessions. The below items are mandatory for all students, which you will need from the start of the course:
Boiler suit (approximately £26.00)
Electronics kit (approximately £12.00)
You can buy both items from the Department during the first week of term. Payment is in cash.
You will need a laptop for some classes and coursework. The laptop must meet a minimum specification. For the 2017–18 academic year this was:
Windows 10 capable
Intel i5/i7 5th Gen processor
256 GB SSD HDD
The Department has a number of laptops available for loan for the duration of your course. A deposit of £100 is required, refundable when you return the laptop at the end of your course.
You will have the chance to indicate whether you wish to take part in the laptop loan scheme when contacted by the Department in the September before you start your course.
If you choose to borrow a laptop, you will be sent an invoice for the deposit amount which is payable online before the start of term. A variety of payment methods are available.
The Imperial Bursary is available to any Imperial Home undergraduate student (except Graduate Medicine students) whose household income falls below £60,000 per year.
It is designed to ease the cost of London living by providing support on a sliding scale, from £2,000 up to £5,000 per year.
As long as your household income remains below £60,000 you will automatically qualify for a bursary for every year of undergraduate study.
The bursary is paid on top of any government loans to which you are entitled and does not need to be paid back. Find out more about the Imperial Bursary.
Our President's Undergraduate scholarships are available to all undergraduate applicants studying an undergraduate degree for the first time who have applied to the College by 15 October.
They're worth £1,000 for each undergraduate year of study. There are up to 112 awards available for students starting their studies in 2017–18.
A wide range of other scholarships is also available. Find out which scholarships you may be eligible for by using our scholarships search tool.
To find out more about the range of financial support available please see our Fees and Funding website.
UCAS Apply system
To apply to study at Imperial you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
The UCAS code for Imperial College London is I50.
All applications which include choices for medicine at Imperial must be submitted to UCAS by 18.00 (UK time) on 15 October 2016 for entry in October 2017.
The deadline for other courses at Imperial starting in 2017 is 18.00 (UK time) on 15 January 2017.
Students at a school/college registered with UCAS
All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU and international institutions are registered with UCAS.
To make it clear which school or college you are applying from you will need to ask one of your teachers or advisers for the UCAS buzzword. You will need to enter this in UCAS's Apply system when you register.
See our How to apply section for further guidance.
Independent applicants and students at schools/colleges not registered with UCAS
If you're applying independently or from a school/college not registered with UCAS you will still need to use UCAS's Apply system. You will not need a UCAS buzzword.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Tracking your application
Once you've completed your application and it's been submitted through UCAS's Apply system, you can use UCAS' Track system to follow its progress and manage your choices.
Professional accreditation and associateship
This degree is professionally accredited by the:
Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)
Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)
This quadruple accreditation will prepare you for a career in the rapidly growing field of bioengineering. It also provides a technical foundation for careers in mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, materials engineering and medical physics.
It leads to a Master's level qualification in biomedical engineering and the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI).
What our graduates do
Forbes ranks biomedical engineering as the best job in Engineering and IT (ten-year forecast estimated from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics). The quadruple accreditation of our degrees will not only prepare you for a career in the rapidly-growing field of bioengineering, but also provides a technical foundation for careers in mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, materials engineering and medical physics.
Recent graduates of the Department have become:
Device Development Engineer, Roche
Bioengineer, DePuy Orthopaedics
PhD student, Stanford University, USA
Research Scientist, IBM Research - Africa
Clinical Engineer, NHS
Information for offer holders for 2017
This section lists the changes that have been made to information about this course on this page since the UCAS application process opened on 1 September 2016.
All core modules are displayed on this page; the optional modules represent an indicative list of those that are likely to be available rather than all optional modules that will be offered every year. As a result, the changes recorded only apply to the modules displayed on this page rather than all available.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
18/08/2017 – 18/08/2017 – the module titled Physiological Imaging and Monitoring has been amended to Bioengineering Solutions for Cancer.
18/08/2017 – the module titled Physiological Imaging and Monitoring has been amended to Bioengineering Solutions for Cancer
18/08/2017 – the modules titled Introduction to Robotics, Introduction to Bioinformatics, Transport Systems for Biological Processes and Artificial Intelligence have been withdrawn
18/08/2017 – the modules titled Control Systems and Signals and Systems have merged into Signals and Controls
18/08/2017 – the modules titled Programming 1 and Logic and Digital Systems have marged into Digital Logic and Programming
18/08/2017 – the module titled Heat and Mass Transport has been amended to Thermodynamics and Kinetics
18/08/2017 – the module titled Medical Device Certification is now available in the Electrical Engineering stream
18/08/2017 – the module titled Electromagnetics 1 and Mathematical Tools, Vibrations and Waves have merged into Electromagnetics, Vibrations and Waves
For more information about these changes, please contact the Department using the contact details in the left hand column. Keep checking back for future updates.
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Admissions Tutor
Liam Madden
E: be.ugadmissions@imperial.ac.uk
Visit the Department of Bioengineering website