Engineering - Biomedical Engineering

Course Overview

The MSc in Biomedical Engineering is designed to give an advanced educational experience in biomedical engineering. The programme focuses on developing advanced technical knowledge and skills, coupled with real-world implementation through research and innovation.



Combining a substantial research component with instruction through taught modules and a significant project-based learning component, the aim of the programme is to generate the future leaders of the international medical technology industry, academic research and teaching in biomedical engineering.



The programme builds on the already highly successful BE and ME programmes in Biomedical Engineering at University of Galway. It combines state-of-the-art graduate level taught modules with modern medical technology research. The programme is closely related to the ME in Biomedical Engineering (course instance code: GYE18), but is broader in scope and also includes a substantial one-year 30 ECTS research thesis.



The MSc is specifically designed to appeal to Irish and international students with a variety of relevant educational backgrounds, particularly those who have a strong foundation in mathematics and engineering from their Undergraduate education.



Course Outline

The MSc in Biomedical Engineering is a one year, full-time programme that delivers an internationally-leading educational experience in this area that sits at the interface of engineering, biology and medicine.



The MSc in Biomedical Engineering is a 90 ECTS (Credits) programme, which includes a taught component of 60 ECTS (delivered in Autumn and Spring Semesters), with a substantial Research Thesis of 30 ECTS on a state-of-the-art topic in medical technology undertaken over the entire year of the programme.



Students entering on this programme must make module selections within one of the three streams below, with module selections in each stream comprising of foundational modules, technical elective modules and transferrable skills modules.

1. General Stream: this stream provides students with a broad module choice that allows students to gain advanced technical skills across areas of biomechanics, computational methods, bioelectronics, biomaterials, tissue engineering and/or medical device design. This stream equips students with a broad knowledge base that could enable future careers in medical device design, clinical innovation and/or further study in Biomedical Engineering through research.

2. Biomechanics and Medical Devices (BMD) Stream: this stream provides students with module choices that provide them with technical, transferrable and professional skills to work in the medical devices industry. Key focus areas include biomechanics, medical device design, manufacturing, project management and regulatory affairs.

3. Medical Electronics (ME) Stream: this stream provides students with module choices that provide them with technical, transferrable and professional skills to work in the bioelectronics industry. Key focus areas include bioinstrumentation design, smart devices, UX design, project management and computational methods.

Students study a wide range of advanced Biomedical Engineering subjects across all these streams that offer practical and transferable training for future careers in research or the Medical Technology industry.



Some examples of technical modules, and streams they are available on, are listed below.

• Biomechanics/Advanced Biomechanics (All Streams)

• Biomedical Engineering Design (All Streams)

• Advanced Manufacturing (All Streams)

• Bioinstrumentation Design (All Streams)

• Finite Element Methods/ Advanced Finite Element Methods (All Streams)

• Advanced Biomaterials (General Stream, BMD Stream)

• Tissue Engineering/Advanced Tissue Engineering (General Stream, BMD Stream)

• Biotransport (General Stream, BMD Stream)

• Mechanobiology (General Stream, BMD Stream)

• Lean Systems (All Streams)

• Advanced Manufacturing (All Streams)

• UX Design for Medical Devices (Medical Electronics Stream)

• Topics in Advanced Mobile Networks (Medical Electronics Stream)

• Embedded Image Processing (Medical Electronics Stream)

• Stem Cells and Gene Therapy/Translational Medicine (General Stream)



The transferable skills modules available to students are largely common across most streams and include,

• Project Management (All Streams)

• Lean Systems (All Streams)

• Research Methods for Engineers (All Streams)

• Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (All Streams)

• Human Reliability (All Streams)

• Financial Management (General and BMD Streams)



Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).

Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Entry to the MSc programme is open to individuals who have Second Class Honours, Grade 1 (H2.1), in a Level 8 engineering degree in a related discipline, or equivalent, from a recognised university or third-level college.



Factors taken into account in determining admission will include the specific content of the undergraduate degree (with a particular focus on prior learning in engineering/mathematics/physics), the applicant’s performance, and the availability of places.

Applications must be completed online at: https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login.



An application requires a registration fee of €35. You will be asked to upload proof of identification, academic transcripts, a personal statement, an academic reference and documentation to fulfil the English requirement (where English is not your first language).

1 year, full-time

Next start date: September 2025

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be readily employable in the medical technology and cognate high-tech industries (e.g., micro-electronics, pharmaceuticals). In the medical technology industry in particular, employment roles will include research and development (R&D), design assurance, manufacturing and production, quality assurance and regulatory affairs. Graduates will also be ideally qualified to undertake PhD-level research, leading to employment in the academic and industrial research sectors.