Medical Engineering with Foundation Year
Medical engineering brings together the principles of engineering with the needs of medicine and healthcare, applying the analytical and design skills of the engineer to the development of devices, technologies and systems that improve diagnosis, treatment and patient care. From imaging equipment and prosthetics to surgical instruments and monitoring systems, the products that medical engineers develop have direct and measurable impacts on human health. It is a discipline that demands both rigorous technical training and a strong appreciation of clinical context and patient need.
At the University of Southampton, this four-year programme opens with a foundation year that provides the mathematical, scientific and engineering foundations needed before the main degree curriculum begins. You will gain the skills needed to design, develop and deliver healthcare products to patients, carers and clinicians, developing a deep understanding of the underlying principles that govern medical and healthcare technologies. The programme covers areas including biomechanics, materials science, signal processing, medical imaging and device design, alongside the regulatory and ethical frameworks within which medical engineering operates.
Southampton's research strengths in engineering and health sciences support a programme that connects academic learning to the real challenges facing modern healthcare.
Graduates in medical engineering are well placed for careers in the medical devices industry, working in development, testing, clinical applications and regulatory affairs. NHS medical physics and clinical engineering departments also employ medical engineers, as do research organisations working on the next generation of diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in medical engineering, biomedical engineering or a related clinical specialism, and some move into management consultancy, healthcare technology assessment or entrepreneurship in the health technology sector.