Biomedical Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

Skeleton graphic for Biomedical Engineering course
Skeleton graphic for Biomedical Engineering course
Type of Programme
Full-time
Number of Places
20
Duration
4 Years
Course Code
MT 839
Entry Requirements
454 CAO Points in 2023 and meet minimum entry requirements as listed below.
Application Deadline
See CAO for details
Location(s)
MTU Bishopstown Campus, Cork
Course NFQ Level
Level 8

Dr Hugh O’Donnell

T: +353 (0)21 433 5949

Email: (email)

Overview

Biomedical engineering combines engineering with an appreciation of the functioning of the human body, whether healthy, injured or diseased. The medical device sector in Ireland is very strong; there are 300+ medical technology companies in Ireland, exporting €12.6b worth of product annually and employing 32,000 people, contributing 8% of Ireland’s total merchandise exports. Products include prosthetic devices to improve quality of life, disposable plastic and wound care products, and precision implants including pacemakers, microelectronic devices, orthopaedic implants, diagnostics, contact lenses and stents. In the clinical context, biomedical engineers play a key role in designing, sourcing and maintaining equipment, facilities and services within hospitals.

The course covers topics from the design and development of artificial joints, to equipment for medical diagnosis and treatment, to the implanting of biomaterials or biomedical devices in the human body. Biomedical engineers are therefore required at all stages from product design, product manufacture, technical support and interfacing with medical users in clinical environments. Biomedical engineering uses engineering principles to understand and control biological systems and requires a working knowledge of physiology, anatomy, and biological science.

This course integrates the study of biological systems, biomedical devices and clinical engineering with traditional mechanical, electrical and manufacturing engineering. Projects are carried out in conjunction with industry, with medical practitioners, and with the Biomedical Engineering Unit of Cork University Hospital.

Students have the opportunity to get work placement or internship in industry in Ireland or abroad or in a research laboratory in Ireland or with one of our partner institutions abroad (France, Germany, Italy, UK, etc.).

Accreditation

The BEng (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering is fully accredited by Engineers Ireland at the Bachelor (Honours) Level 8 educational standard. Further learning is required to meet the educational standard for Chartered Engineer.

What will I study?

First year at a glance

  • Engineering Physics: application of physics to engineering problems
  • Properties of Materials: appropriate choice of materials to use for a particular engineering/device application
  • Biomechanics: analysis of the joint/muscle forces on the body
  • Engineering Chemistry: application of chemistry to engineering problems
  • Thermo/Fluid Mechanics: application of hot and cold fluid systems in engineering
  • CAD: computer-aided design similar to the Leaving Certificate subject Design and Communication Graphics
  • Practical Manufacturing of Metal Components
  • Anatomy
  • Mathematics
  • Biology

Modules

What is a Module?

A module is a standalone unit of learning and assessment and is completed within one semester. A full-time student will normally study six modules in each semester; part-time and ACCS (Accumulation of Credits and Certification of Subjects) students will have flexibility as to the number of modules taken.

The button below provides a link to all of the University's approved modules for this programme.

View Modules

Entry Requirements

Entry 2024

For admission to a programme, standard applicants must

  • score the necessary CAO points and
  • meet the minimum entry requirements

Leaving Certificate in six subjects i.e. H5 in two subjects and O6/H7 in four other subjects. The six subjects must include English or Irish grade O6/H7, and Mathematics H4 or see Note 1 Below.

Note 1: The requirement for H4 Mathematics may be satisfied by H4 in Applied Mathematics plus H6 in Mathematics.

NB: Please note the H4 grade in Mathematics may also be used to satisfy one of the H5 entry requirements.

 

For Non-EU International Entry Requirements please visit https://www.mtu.ie/international/non-eu/.

Career options

Employment Opportunities

Graduates can look forward to careers in the medical device industry, in the design and manufacture of medical devices, in research roles within industry or in academic research. Graduates can also enter the hospital or clinical environment to work as clinical engineers.

  • Biomedical device design and manufacture
  • Research and development
  • Engineering support within clinical environments
  • Regulated industries e.g. bio pharma/food/electronics

Progression

Further Studies

At the end of year 3, subject to a minimum of a H2.2 standard achieved in year 3, students may elect to transfer to the integrated MEng in Biomedical Engineering (level 9) programme comprising 2 further years (4 semesters) of study. Suitably qualified Level 8 Honours graduates are eligible to progress to taught master programmes or to research at either master or PhD level.

Question Time

Biomedical engineering combines engineering principles with an appreciation of the functioning of the human body to design and manufacture products or provide technical support. Biomedical engineers work in hospitals, in manufacturing facilities, and in the R&D domain.

Biomedical scientists investigate samples of tissue and body fluids in order to diagnose disease and monitor the treatment of patients, therefore, it is largely laboratory based.

Yes. The MTU-DePuy Synthes Biomedical Engineering scholarship is worth €3,000 per year for the successful candidate. DePuy Synthes (a Johnson & Johnson company) is a major multinational employer in the Cork region, manufacturing artificial joints in Ringaskiddy in Cork. The support of DePuy Synthes for the scholarship is a major endorsement of the relevance of the course to the biomedical engineering industry.

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