Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering applies the principles and methods of engineering to the challenges of medicine and healthcare. It is the discipline responsible for devices such as pacemakers, prosthetic limbs, dialysis machines, medical imaging systems, and wearable health monitors, and for the software platforms that are increasingly supporting clinical diagnosis and treatment. As healthcare systems face the challenge of serving ageing populations while managing costs, and as digital technology makes possible new forms of remote and personalised medicine, biomedical engineers are central to developing the solutions that will define healthcare in the coming decades.

At the University of Southampton, this three-year full-time BEng programme prepares you to design software and hardware solutions that address real healthcare challenges. You will study engineering fundamentals including electronics, mechanics, computing, and materials science alongside the biological and physiological knowledge that gives those tools their medical context. Projects and design challenges put your skills to work on real-world healthcare problems, from supporting an ageing population through assistive devices to improving rapid and remote diagnosis.

Southampton's research strength in biomedical engineering means the curriculum reflects current work in the field.

Biomedical engineering graduates work in the medical devices industry, hospital engineering and clinical physics departments, health technology companies, and research institutions. Roles span device design, clinical software development, regulatory affairs, biomedical research support, and clinical technology management. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in biomedical engineering, medical physics, clinical engineering, or specific areas of healthcare technology.

Chartered engineer status with the Institution of Engineering and Technology is a professional goal for many who wish to formalise their standing.