Biomedical Engineering with Industrial Studies and Foundation Year

Biomedical engineering is the discipline that applies engineering principles and methods to the design and development of technologies that improve health and wellbeing. It encompasses diagnostic imaging, medical devices, prosthetics, rehabilitation technology, biosensors, and the software and systems that make modern healthcare increasingly precise and effective. The field sits at the intersection of medicine, biology, and engineering, and biomedical engineers must understand both the biology of the human body and the engineering principles needed to design interventions that work safely and effectively in biological environments.

At the University of Southampton, this six-year full-time programme includes a foundation year and industrial studies, making it one of the most comprehensively structured routes into the profession. The foundation year provides the scientific and mathematical preparation needed for the MEng degree that follows, and the industrial studies element gives you significant professional experience alongside your academic work. The MEng level of the programme allows you to study biomedical engineering to master's level, developing specialist depth across the full engineering curriculum while also giving you the opportunity to choose a specialist pathway that reflects your particular interests within the field.

Southampton has strong research activity in electronics, materials, acoustics, and biomedical engineering, providing an excellent academic environment for this programme.

Graduates of MEng biomedical engineering programmes are highly regarded by employers in the medical devices industry, NHS biomedical and clinical engineering departments, research organisations, and healthcare technology companies. Roles in device design, systems engineering, research and development, clinical applications, and regulatory affairs are all accessible, and the MEng level qualification supports progression towards senior technical and management roles. Many graduates pursue further postgraduate research or professional registration, and the combination of biomedical and engineering knowledge the degree provides opens doors across the full range of healthcare technology and life sciences sectors.