Biomedical Engineering - with or without Applied Research

The course draws upon the internationally recognised research within the School of Engineering in areas such as tissue engineering, bioceramics, medical devices, digital health, point-of-care health diagnostic, cardiac resuscitation technology, therapeutic devices, smart medical sensors, and drug-delivery.

Core modules include biomaterials, tissue engineering, bioinstrumentation, and medical device development. The course team has a wealth of industrial experience, and several medical device spin-out companies have been established by the School of Engineering. Upon successful completion of the programme, students may wish to pursue a PhD programme, such as those offered by the School through our Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC). The Applied Research version of the course is a two-year programme with an extended year-long research dissertation.

Work placement / study abroad
Part-time students can undertake work based learning modules.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one
Advanced biomaterials for biomedical applications
The module aims to provide students a sound understanding of biomaterials and their use in a variety of biomedical applications. A range of topics will be explored, including design aspects, biocompatibility and the foreign body response, interfacial properties of biomaterials, and factors affecting cellular response as well as medical device regulations and commercialisation. Also, contemporary topics in biomaterials will be covered, such as nanobiomaterials, advanced biomaterials characterisation techniques, nanomedicine, and drug delivery. Furthermore, this module will include also a large project component, which allows the students to develop advanced knowledge and research skills in a specialised area.

Medical Device Development
This module provides the student with the core skills required to contribute to the development of a new medical device in an industrial setting. The module covers EU and FDA medical device regulations, ethics & clinical trials, sterilisation and packaging and anatomy. These skills are unique to biomedical engineering and are highly sought by employers in the medical device sector.

Bioinstrumentation
This research led module provides students with the necessary skills to understand and develop medical engineering devices, providing context and knowledge of the clinical need, details of underpinning hardware/software platforms and regulatory procedures governing implementation.

Tissue Engineering
This module provides the student with the skills required to critically appraise the composition, properties and function of tissue engineered products within the context of the relevant biological and materials science considerations. Issues relating to the ethics and regulation of tissue engineering and the implications of the relevant FDA (USA) and Medical Device Directives (EU) legislation are also covered. Students will also develop skills to enable them to provide a considered opinion regarding the choice of scaffolds, cells, stimulatory factors and bioreactor environment for specific applications by considering a number of case studies.

Research Methods and Management
A module which integrates lectures with group activities in the study of the basics of research methods and management processes. The student will consolidate their learning of research methodologies, management processes, data processing, literature review, report and dissertation writing.

Digital Signal Processing
This module is optional
This module enables the student to understand, design apply and evaluate digital signal processing algorithms.

Micro- & Nano-Scale Devices
This module is optional
The course provides an in depth knowledge of micro-nanodevices, as well as micro and nanofabrication techniques using elements from nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Engineering
This module is optional
To provide participants with the capability to improve the competitiveness of companies through entrepreneurship practice and new product and/or process innovation. A major team design project is addressed derived from a real problem from within a local/global manufacturing company. Material covered is supported through tutorial, lecture and workshop sessions as appropriate.

Intelligent Manufacturing
This module is optional
Two of the most important developments in manufacturing in the 21st century are Additive Manufacturing and the 4th Industrial Revolution (Industrie 4.0). In this module, students will be introduced to these two strands of advanced manufacturing and will develop the skills and knowledge to engage with these concepts in an industrial context.

Manufacturing systems
This module is optional
This module provides a concise review of modern manufacturing, time compression methodologies and current manufacturing systems - their specification, implementation and development. The flow of data within a product lifecycle is analysed from design through to manufacture and the effective utilisation of advanced manufacturing technology addressed.

Quality Improvement
This module is optional
This module considers modern approaches to Quality Improvement. The context of product or service is set for the interpretation of Quality from different perspectives. The Quality topics are considered under the themes of definition, measurement, actions, improvement and control. Modern and traditional management approaches are evaluated and techniques appropriate to product or service characteristics and organisation performance are considered.

Research Project
This module is optional
A Work Based Learning module is defined as a period of work based learning, normally of not less than 150 hours, supervised by a member of academic staff of the University. Part-time students working as professionals in industry are often involved in work which is entrepreneurial in nature. As a result they frequently gain knowledge, techniques and skills, and acquire expertise, which is equivalent to work at post-graduate level. This module is designed to provide a framework within which such personal development and achievement can be recognised by the award of academic credit.

Work based learning
This module is optional
A Work Based Learning module is defined as a period of work based learning, normally of not less than 150 hours, supervised by a member of academic staff of the University. Part-time students working as professionals in industry are often required to do work which is academically challenging. As a result they frequently gain knowledge, techniques and skills, and acquire expertise, which is equivalent to work at post-graduate level. This module is designed to provide a framework within which such personal development and achievement can be recognised by the award of academic credit.

Polymer Technology
This module is optional
At the end of the module the student should be able to critically appraise alternative thermoplastic conversion and fabrication processing routes. Through analysis of processing behaviour, they should be capable of developing appropriate strategy for selection of conversion routes for a range of representative material systems and applications in terms of total economics and quality enhancement.

Composite Engineering
This module is optional
At the end of the module the student should have acquired a high level of competence the many facets of composite materials and their processing methods leading to an active role as a member of a Production Management or Research team. The student should have the ability to select between competing 'composite' technologies for specific applications and hence be in a position to devise conversion systems and associated quality assurance procedures, having regard to maximising cost effectiveness and product reliability.

Masters Dissertation
This module is optional
This module is designed to enable students to develop and demonstrate the appropriate research and project management skills needed to complete a Masters level dissertation.

Year two
Applied Research
This module is optional
The aim of the project is to allow the student to demonstrate their ability in undertaking an independent research project. They will be expected to utilise appropriate methodologies and demonstrate the skills gained earlier in the course when implementing the project.

Typically, the project stages will involve scoping of the project area and a broad review of literature in the topic area, followed by a detailed appraisal of the literature directly relating to the planned experimentation. Training and initial practical experimentation will then be followed by one or more detailed practical experiments. The data will then be subjected to detailed analysis including a comparison with previously published work. The final stages of the module will include preparing the research paper, MSc dissertation and oral presentation.

In summary the masters project represents a piece of work performed by the student under suitable staff supervision and the work must be original and contain a critical appraisal of the subject area.

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

PgDip - Normally, an Honours or non-Honours degree or postgraduate diploma/certificate in a relevant engineering, technology or science discipline. In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant working/industrial experience, a portfolio of written evidence may be considered as an alternative entrance route. It is possible to transfer onto the MSc version of the course after successfully completing the PGDip.

MSc - Specific details on the admission criteria can be found at the course webpage provided below. Normally, a second class honours degree or better in a relevant engineering, science, physics or technology discipline. Or a postgraduate diploma/certificate in a relevant engineering or technology discipline. In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant working/industrial experience, a portfolio of written evidence may be considered as an alternative entrance route.

If English is not your first language this course requires a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5, or equivalent.

Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details.

This course is open to international (non-EU) students (full-time only).

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Full-Time/Part-Time. Applied Research available full-time only.

Career options
Upon successful completion of the programme students will be more employable within the industry, or in an academic and/or research career through a PhD programme, such as those offered by the School through our Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC).