Biomedical Engineering BEng/MEng

Bridging the gap between health, medicine and engineering, studying biomedical engineering at Aston University gives you the hands-on skills, knowledge and experience to help create the healthcare practices of tomorrow.

As a biomedical engineer, you will have the skills, flexibility and knowledge to be involved in a wide number of activities such as developing innovative devices and delivering expert services directly to patients.

Through a combination of our deep links into industry and world-class, state-of-the-art facilities, Aston is the ideal place to prepare for a successful and enriching career that improves and saves lives.

Enhance your learning with an MEng year

Our optional integrated MEng year allows you further to develop your knowledge and skills. You’ll spend the year completing an internship, work placement, or in an employment setting while studying masters level modules via distance learning.

Students are responsible for gaining their own internship, work placement or employment, with the support of the University careers service. An average mark of at least 50% needs to have been achieved in the third year of the programme to enter the MEng (you can convert to this programme at any time during the BEng).

Course outline

You will have access to the very best, innovative, hands-on teaching from academics active in the field, with strong links to UK and international biomedical industrial collaborators.

At Aston, we don’t just teach biomedical engineering, we’re actively involved in the field. As a department, we have generated three spin-out companies, are partners with several hospitals, industry consortia, and medical device forums, meaning you’ll have access to over 100 companies developing real world health products in an entrepreneurial environment.

What accreditations does Biomedical Engineering at Aston have?

Both our BEng and MEng programmes are accredited by the IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers). The MEng course also meets the academic requirement in full for Chartered Engineer registration.

Modules

Year 1

Core modules:

• Software Engineering
• Human Anatomy and Physiology for Engineers
• Biomedical Engineering Project 1
• Electronics Engineering Fundamentals
• Engineering Science 1
• Materials and Manufacturing 1
• Mathematical Modelling for Engineers

Year 2

Core modules:

• Advanced Mathematical Modelling
• Biomaterials
• Biomechanics and Kinematics
• Biomedical Signal Processing
• Medical Biophysics
• Biofluid Mechanics
• Biomedical Engineering Project 2

Final year (BEng) / Year 3 (MEng)

Core modules:

• Computational Methods in Biomedical Engineering
• Biomedical Implants and Prosthetics
• Medical Imaging
• Biotechnology and Regenerative Medicine
• Project Elective

Final Year (MEng)

Apply what you learn to real life scenarios while working in the biomedical engineering industry on an internship, work placement or in employment. Modules are delivered via distance learning, via online narrated lectures and reflective coursework.

Core modules:

• Clinical Trials and Research Design
• Medical Devices Regulations
• Medical Robotics
• Neural Engineering
• Research and Design Project Portfolio

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year and Aston is not only a great place to study, based in the centre of Birmingham, it’s also a great place to live. Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability and our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Choosing to start your Aston journey with one of our foundation programmes will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course. During your foundation year, you’ll have excellent support from academics and group projects will give you the chance to meet new people, make new friends and build a network of peers who will share your university journey.

We also have a Learning Development Centre that can provide additional support and offer pre-sessional English language programmes.

For International Students intending to do a foundation year, visit ONCAMPUS.

Typical offers:

A Level

BBC, to include one subject from the list of accepted subjects 
BCC to include two subjects from the list of accepted subjects, or
BCC to include one subject from the list of accepted subjects and a B in Core Maths or Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

CCC with one subject from the list of accepted subjects for contextual offer students*.

Accepted subjects: Maths/ Physics/ Further Maths/ Biology/ Design Technology/ Engineering Science or Electronics.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.

BTEC

If BTEC in Engineering or related subject:

• Extended Diploma or National Extended Diploma: DDM
• National Diploma or Diploma: DM plus 1 A-level at a minimum Grade B.
• Foundation or 90 credits Diploma (any subject): DM plus 2 A-levels at a minimum grade B
• National Extended Certificate or Subsidiary Diploma: M plus 2 A-levels at a minimum Grade B.
• Certificate/ National Certificate Level 3: Not accepted

If BTEC in any other subjects:

• Extended Diploma or National Extended Diploma: DDM and A-Level grade grade B in one subject from: Math/ Physics/ Further Maths/ Biology/ Design Technology/ Engineering Science or Electronics.
• National Diploma or Diploma: DM and 1 A-level at a minimum Grade B in one A-Level subject from: Math/ Physics/ Further Maths/ Biology/ Design Technology/ Engineering Science or Electronics.
• Foundation or 90 credits Diploma (any subject): DM and 2 A-levels at a minimum grade B of which one must include either: Math/ Physics/ Further Maths/ Biology/ Design Technology/ Engineering Science or Electronics.
• National Extended Certificate or Subsidiary Diploma: M plus 2 A-levels at a minimum Grade B of which one must include either: Math/ Physics/ Further Maths/ Biology/ Design Technology/ Engineering Science or Electronics.
• Certificate/ National Certificate Level 3: Not accepted

IB

29 Overall; Higher Level grades 5, 5, 4 must include Physics or Maths or Design Technology). You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Maths and English Language.

Access & other

Access

Pass the Access to HE with 60 credits including 45 credits at level 3 including 30 credits at distinction and 15 credits at merit; your Access to HE must include at least 25 credits in any of the following subjects: maths, physics, electronics, biology, design technology or engineering science.

Degree

Entry in Year 1: We consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a degree elsewhere. You must meet the GCSEs and A level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application, as we do not accept direct applications and this must include an academic reference. 

Entry in year 2: Please note that second year transfers are not part of the standard admissions process and is up the discretion of the admissions team and tutor. Applications are only considered if there is space on that year of the programme. Typically, applicants for second year entry must meet the GCSEs. Alongside this you must have gained (or be expected to gain) 60% overall and 120 credits with no fails on an equivalent programme at another recognised university. The equivalency of the programme is reviewed by the Admissions Tutor and you will be required to provide an official copy of the programme specification of this. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications and this must include an academic reference.

 

T Levels

T Levels are not currently accepted as an entry requirement for this course.

Students completing T levels in 2022
T levels in the following subjects are not accepted for entry to this course: Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction; Digital Production, Design and Development; Education and Childcare.  Please note that where a T level is listed as 'Not acceptable' this is because the T level does not cover subject specific knowledge that we normally require at A level.  If you have taken both a T level and an additional A level or A levels please consult the admissions team for advice in relation to any degrees where T levels are listed as 'not accepted.'

Students completing T levels in 2023 and beyond
There are now an additional seven T Level qualifications in: building services; engineering for construction; digital business services; digital support and services; health; healthcare science; onsite construction and science. The first student cohorts from these subjects will complete their courses in the summer of 2023. We will publish details of the progression opportunities to our degree programmes from these T Levels by September 2022.

GCSEs

Maths and English grade C/4 or above.

Our Admissions Policy

View our Admissions Policy

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

Entry onto our Foundation Year maybe offered as an alternative to the degree course if lower entry grades are achieved.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

International students

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements. For more information about qualifications view our Aston in your country webpage.

Learning and teaching

The course is designed to be interactive with a range of teaching methods and learning styles.

You will have the opportunity to learn via a diverse range of learning methods, such as:

• Hands-on practical sessions
• Lectures, tutorials and seminars
• Lab classes and project work  
• Interactive workshops
• Video and computer-aided learning
• Group work
• A strong personal tutor system
• Self-study
• Regular visits from clinics and manufacturers; giving you exclusive insight into the latest clinical trials and medical devices.

Each year of study is worth 120 credits, with each credit equivalent to 10 learning hours. The learning hours may include but are not limited to lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab sessions, practicals, online activity, reading, other independent study, reflecting on assignment feedback, field trips and work placements.

Assessment

Assessments are linked to learning outcomes and we use a wide range of methods including exams, essay, reports, presentations, project work and computer based assessment.

You will also take part in a mix of individual and group work to allow innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership skills to be developed.

What learning facilities can I expect?

Following a multi-million pound investment, we are now home to an extensive biomedical engineering facility. From an entire engineering workshop and exclusive Maker Lab, to a motion tracking suite and specialist industry standard software like Solidworks, Matlab, Labview, and more.

Our facilities and equipment have been designed to enhance your learning and allow you to conceive, design, build, and operate medical devices prototypes, giving you the skills and knowledge needed for a rewarding career in the exciting field of biomedical engineering.

More information

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. When undertaking a placement year a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our scholarships here.

Biomedical engineers have the skills and flexibility to be involved in a work in a wide range of areas, working alongside doctors, therapists and researchers as well as supporting clinical staff, personnel and the financial governance. Many graduates also undertake further postgraduate study.

After graduating, you could become involved in a huge range of exciting career paths, such as:

• Medical device design
• Modelling and simulation of human physiology and anatomy
• Supporting hospitals in clinical and financial governance of existing medical equipment, or in the assessment of new technologies
• Artificial organ development
• Computer-simulated or image-guided surgery
• Robot assisted surgery
• Orthopaedic implants
• Medical imaging
• Assistive technologies
• Mobile and e-health

“Watching my students realising they are stronger, more creative and resilient is extremely inspiring to improve my practice as educator and impact on future generations of professionals.”

Dr Antonio Fratini, Deputy Head of Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering

Dr Antonio Fratini - Deputy Head of Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering at Aston and Chair of the Biomedical Engineering Division Centre (in Birmingham) of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers - IMechE.

 

Dr Fratini has a long standing experience of the Biomedical Engineering discipline and sits on national and international panels for the development of the profession.

He graduated with an MEng in Electronics Engineering from University of Naples Federico II in 2005 (with a specialisation in Medical Instrumentation), followed by a PhD at the Alma Mater University of Bologna field of Bioengineering in 2009 and a further PhD in Healthcare Systems Management in 2016.

His research interests lie in the areas of biomedical data processing and medical instrumentation, which he has significantly developed through the analysis and modelling of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems’ physiological responses to exogenous and endogenous stimuli and on the design, development and testing of cutting-edge medical devices in collaboration with leading national and international SMEs.

Dr Ali Jabran - Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering

 

Dr Jabran is a lecturer in the Mechanical, Biomedical and Design group at Aston University (UK). He obtained his undergraduate and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Manchester (UK). Before joining Aston University (2020), he worked as a researcher for two years at an NIHR-funded research project in field of prosthetics at University of Salford (UK) Prosthetics and Orthothics Centre.

He leads research in the design, finite element analysis, optimisation and automation of medical devices, with particular focus on implants and prosthetics. We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD and post-doctoral position in our lab.

Dr Christian Broadway - Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering

 

Dr Broadway graduated with an MEng in Electronics Engineering and Computer Science from Aston University in 2014, followed by a PhD at the University of Mons in the field of photonics. His research is within the domain of biomedical optics, specifically polymer optical fibre sensors. His interests include fibre Bragg gratings, optical sensors, polymer optical fibres, dosimetry, ultrasound, photo-acoustics and optical coherence tomography

Dr Patrick Geoghegan - Lecturer and Programme Director, Biomedical Engineering

 

Dr Geoghegan did a Masters of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Glasgow. He then completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering, specialising in Biofluids at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Dr Patrick Geoghegan joined Aston University in 2017 as a lecturer in Biomedical Engineering. Dr Geoghegan’s research focus is in two main areas. Firstly, in the field of biofluids, where he uses his expertise in experimental biofluid mechanics to simulate complex medical problems. He complements this with a knowledge of computational fluid dynamics.  His second focus is in forensics. He has expertise in Blood stain pattern analysis and knife crime investigation.

Dr Surej Mouli - Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering 

 

Dr Mouli completed his MSc in Computer Science and MSc in Strategic IT Management from the University of Wolverhampton. He has completed a PhD and Postdoc at the University of Kent. His main research interest includes Brain-computer Interfaces, EEG/ECG signal analysis, Cognition, IoT, and Vagus Nerve Stimulation.

Dr Jayme Rossiter

Jayme is currently a Biomedical Engineering Teaching Fellow at Ason University specialising in Biomechanics, Additive Manufacturing and Engineering Maths.

He recently completed a PhD in Additively Manufactured Body Armour. His Research interests are: • Sports Biomechanics • Sports Injuries • Rehabilitation Engineering • Additive Manufacturing • Prosthetics and Orthotics • Sports Technology • Lattice Strucutures

Why study Biomedical Engineering at Aston?

If you’re looking to expand on your scientific knowledge, and experience what it’s really like to work in biomedical engineering, then Aston University provides the ideal blend of real-world application, theoretical study, and industry links.

We’ll prepare you for an exciting career in this fascinating area; through our application of world class facilities, leading expertise and placement opportunities to help you realise your ambitions.

What accreditations does the course have?

Both the BEng and MEng programmes are accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). The MEng programme also meets the academic requirement in full for Chartered Engineer registration.

Will I gain real world biomedical engineering experience?

Yes! We believe that it’s really important to give you access to a wide range of opportunities to enhance your learning. While on the Biomedical Engineering course at Aston, you’ll get the opportunity to visit clinical settings and manufacturers, designed to inspire your sense of innovation and entrepreneurship.

If you opt to undertake the MEng Year, you’ll spend it on an internship, work placement or in employment. During that time, you’ll take modules via distance learning, and learn via narrated lectures and reflective coursework, applying what you learn to your real-life work. You’ll be responsible for finding your own internship, but you’ll be fully supported by the University’s Careers and Placements team; who have close links with a wide range of industry partners.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Study at Aston University and you will be part of a multi-cultural community located at the heart of the dynamic city of Birmingham. Our courses are practical, inspired by industry and many have internationally recognised accreditations. Renowned for our employability prospects and connections to business and industry, we provide outstanding careers support, advice and placement opportunities.

For those interested in working in the UK after they have graduated, the UK Government have created a new post-study work visa. For more information visit the government website.