Biomedical Engineering

There are currently 250 medical technology companies in Ireland, exporting €12.6 billion worth of product annually and employing 38,000 people – the highest number of people working in the industry in any country in Europe, per head of population. Biomedical Engineering involves the application of engineering principles to healthcare and medicine. It is an interdisciplinary field, requiring knowledge of both living systems and engineering. When studying on this programme, you will work with staff and researchers at UCD who have extensive experience in ground-breaking biomedical engineering research. You will also develop a knowledge of how the medical device industry is regulated and how new products are introduced to the market, drawing from experience within UCD which includes pioneering companies.

The programme is delivered by engineers and clinicians with international reputations in the field and who have all made a significant contribution to the development of their fields.

There is an emphasis on independent learning and research, with the opportunity to complete a work placement in the medical technologies industry, with a clinical group or with a research laboratory in UCD or abroad.

As part of the ME students will study Biomedical Engineering subjects such as Rehabilitation Engineering, Neural Engineering, Biomechanics, Cell and Tissue Engineering and Medical Device Design. They will also have the opportunity to choose from a range of modules in physiology and anatomy alongside advanced engineering topics including Advanced Signal Processing and Dynamics.

The year starts with a two-week, intensive, course in Basic Medical Sciences delivered by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

The Professional Work Experience (PWE) module is incorporated into the two-year Masters of Engineering Programme and is designed to integrate a student’s academic and career interests with practical work experience for a 6-8 month period.

The module provides students with the perfect opportunity to gain increased experience and understanding of their chosen field, assess where their strengths and weaknesses lie and maximise their knowledge of the available career possibilities. The practical skills acquired during this placement will give graduates a competitive advantage when applying for positions upon graduation.

This ME programme is professionally accredited by Engineers Ireland and recognised by the Washington Accord for Chartered Engineer status.

Stage 1 - Core
Experimental Design and Statistics for EngineersEEEN40660
Medical Device DesignMEEN40600
BiomechanicsMEEN40620
BiomaterialsMEEN40630

Stage 1 - Option
Med. Sciences for Biomed.EnginANAT20090
Cell Culture & Tissue EngCHEN40470
BioinformaticsCOMP40400
Electromagnetic WavesEEEN30030
Signal Processing: Theory and ApplicationsEEEN30050
Analogue ElectronicsEEEN30120
Biomedical Signal ProcessingEEEN30160
Control TheoryEEEN40010
Neural EngineeringEEEN40070
ME Biomed Prof Work Exp ShortEEEN40160
ME Biomed Prof. Work Exp. LongEEEN40170
Rehabilitation EngineeringEEEN40350
Optimisation Techniques for EngineersEEEN40580
Biomedical ImagingEEEN40620
Applied Dynamics IIMEEN30010
Mechanics of Solids IIMEEN30020
Mechanical Engineering Design IIMEEN30030
Mechanics of Fluids IIMEEN40020
Manufacturing Engineering IIMEEN40030
Technical CommunicationMEEN40670
Bio-inspired technologiesPHYC40940
Cardiovascular Physiology for EngineersPHYS30290

Stage 2 - Core
ME Biomed ProjectEEEN40220
Biosensors & ActuatorsEEEN40730
Research Skills and TechniquesMEEN40560

Stage 2 - Option
Cell Culture & Tissue EngCHEN40470
Bio-material InteractionsCHEN40790
BioinformaticsCOMP40400
Software EngineeringCOMP41670
Electromagnetic WavesEEEN30030
Signal Processing: Theory and ApplicationsEEEN30050
Analogue ElectronicsEEEN30120
BioinstrumentationEEEN30180
Control TheoryEEEN40010
Neural EngineeringEEEN40070
Advanced Signal ProcessingEEEN40130
Rehabilitation EngineeringEEEN40350
Optimisation Techniques for EngineersEEEN40580
Biomedical ImagingEEEN40620
Experimental Design and Statistics for EngineersEEEN40660
Machine Learning for EngineersEEEN40720
Applied Dynamics IIMEEN30010
Mechanics of Fluids IIMEEN40020
Manufacturing Engineering IIMEEN40030
Computational Continuum Mechanics IMEEN40050
Fracture MechanicsMEEN40060
Technical CeramicsMEEN40080
Materials Thermodynamics and KineticsMEEN40160
Mechanics of Solids IIIMEEN40170
Musculoskeletal Biomechanics and MechanobiologyMEEN41160
Regulatory Affairs for Life SciencesPHAR40240
Bio-inspired technologiesPHYC40940
Cardiovascular Physiology for EngineersPHYS30290

- An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalence in a Mechanical, Electronic, Electrical, Mechatronic, Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering programme is required.

- Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

- These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes.

How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:

ME Biomedical Engineering FT (T160)
Duration 2 Years
Attend Full Time
Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

120

2 years full-time.
MODE OF DELIVERY: Face-to-Face

ME Biomedical Engineering (T160) Full Time
EU Year 1 - € 8085
EU Year 2 - € 8085 aa
nonEU Year 1 - € 25600
nonEU Year 2 - € 25600 aa

aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2020 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2019/20
***Fees are subject to change

Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see http://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/scholarshipsfinances/scholarships/.

The College of Engineering & Architecture also offer scholarships for non-EU students, for more information see: www.ucd.ie/eacollege/study/noneuscholarships

Next Intake: 2024/2025 September.

Career & Graduate Study Opportunity
The Irish Medtech Sector is robust and career opportunities upon graduation from this programme are exemplary. Exports of medical devices and diagnostics products now represent 8% of Ireland’s total merchandise exports and growth prospects for the industry globally remain good. Many of the world’s top medical technology companies have invested significantly in Ireland and a number of exciting, research-based, indigenous companies are emerging and competing internationally.

The Irish Government has identified the medical technology sector as one of the key drivers of industrial growth for the future and provides a wide range of supports to encourage and foster this growth. The medical technology industry in Ireland is changing from being predominantly manufacturing to being more complex and driven by R&D. Prospective employers include Abbott, Bio-Medical Research (BMR), Boston Scientific, De Puy, ResMed, Shimmer and Stryker.