Healthcare Science

Healthcare Science with a specialism in Medical Engineering is a discipline that applies engineering principles to the design, maintenance, testing and safe management of medical devices and equipment used in clinical settings. Medical engineers ensure that the technology on which modern healthcare depends, from radiotherapy treatment units and patient monitoring systems to diagnostic imaging equipment and implantable devices, operates safely, effectively and reliably. It is a field that combines the precision and problem-solving orientation of engineering with the patient safety focus and clinical context of healthcare.

At Swansea University this three-year full-time BSc develops your clinical, technical and problem-solving skills for a career as a medical engineer in NHS and other healthcare settings. You will gain hands-on experience working with medical devices used across a range of clinical applications, developing the understanding of device technology, safety standards and clinical requirements needed to maintain and optimise equipment performance. The programme develops both the technical engineering knowledge and the healthcare science context that the profession requires.

Graduates from Healthcare Science (Medical Engineering) degrees typically pursue registration as Healthcare Scientists with the Health and Care Professions Council, working in NHS clinical engineering and medical physics departments, sterile services, diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy and other clinical technology environments. The degree also provides entry points into roles in the medical devices industry, working in testing, technical support, regulatory affairs and quality assurance for device manufacturers and distributors. Postgraduate study in medical engineering, biomedical engineering, clinical technology or health informatics is an option for those wishing to develop further specialist expertise.