About this course

Biomedical engineers design, develop and deliver the health and wellbeing devices of the future. On this 5-year programme you’ll study key aspects of biomedicine, electronics and computer science with a year in industry. This will give you additional experience and the opportunity to relate your skills and knowledge to current industry practice.

With all economies facing an increase in health spending, engineers and computer scientists have an ever-increasing role to play in inventing solutions for healthcare and treatment. Biomedical engineers work across disciplines to bridge this gap.

You’ll explore topics like:

the creation of diagnostic systems and devices for observing and controlling body functions
the design and creation of electronic circuits, systems, and computer software
the use of simulation, design, and verification tools to aid in the creation of systems, and how to report and comment on results
the specific clinical, safety and ethical implications of biomedical engineering work and routes to commercialization of devices.

This programme includes a year of industrial studies, sometimes known as a placement year, or a year in industry. This is a great way to gain a competitive edge among graduate recruiters by ensuring that you graduate with both experience of contemporary industry operations and connections with potential employers.

You can also tailor your degree to your liking by picking a pathway. These include:

Electronic Systems

You’ll learn to develop engineering solutions to health and healthcare problems, ranging from rehabilitation technologies and implantable sensors to smart signal analysis for wearable healthcare, and rapid testing and diagnostic devices.

You will gain key insight into how to design and develop a wide range of systems, from underlying sensor technology to signal analysis and data interpretation.

Mechatronics for Health

You’ll learn the fundamental science, methods, analysis, and engineering applications to start a career in mechatronic engineering with a focus on medical technology and robotics.

You’ll have the opportunity to design and build intelligent machines and robots as part of your study, which integrate electrical, mechanical and control systems to perform complex tasks.

Digital Health

You'll learn to develop m-health and e-health solutions based on healthcare needs and available technology. You will gain key data science skills that allow you to analyse data, build solutions and communicate results.

As one of the few universities in the UK (United Kingdom) to have a Digital Health research group, you will be taught by academics actively involved in technologies in this area.

Artificial Intelligence

You’ll additionally learn to design and build AI (Artificial Intelligence) programs and systems to solve global healthcare challenges and integrate with Biomedical engineering solutions.

As a highly respected hub for AI research, you'll benefit from a range of specialist modules that few UK universities can match. You’ll also be taught by academics actively involved in the latest advances in AI.

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Biomedical Engineering 5 in Five

This short video covers an explanation of what Biomedical Engineering is, why it's an important subject to study, exploring current research and development, careers in Biomedical Engineering and how to become a Biomedical Engineer.

“For me, the speciality of the course was a massive winning point. In my second year, I had a design project looking at remote monitoring of physical therapy exercises for stroke rehabilitation. It was a really fun project, with incorporation from different sides of my course, including physical sensors, software design and machine learning.”
Isabel Howard - MEng Biomedical Electronics, third year student

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Download the Course Description Document

The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.

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ODT

Download 2024-25 Course Description Document

Entry requirements

A-levels

A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A) and either biology, chemistry or physics (minimum grade A)

A-levels additional information

A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed.

Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

A-levels with Extended Project Qualification

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAA, including mathematics and either biology, chemistry or physics, plus grade A in the EPQ

A-levels contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

or

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Pass, with 38 points overall with 19 points required at Higher Level including 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation), and 6 at Higher Level in either Physics, Chemistry or Biology

International Baccalaureate Diploma additional information

Applicants who have not studied the required subjects at Higher Level can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

International Baccalaureate contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement

Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

or

BTEC

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades A*A from two A-levels including mathematics and either physics, chemistry or biology.
or
D* in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA from two A-levels including mathematics and either physics, chemistry or biology.

We will consider the BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering if studied alongside A-level mathematics.

We will consider the BTEC National Diploma if studied alongside A-levels in mathematics and either physics, chemistry or biology.

RQF BTEC

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Additional information

A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed.

Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.

Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

QCF BTEC

D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades A*A from two A-levels including mathematics and physics, chemistry or biology.
or
D* in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades AA from two A-levels including mathematics and either physics, chemistry or biology.

We will consider the BTEC Extended Diploma in Engineering if studied alongside A-level mathematics.

We will consider the BTEC Diploma if studied alongside A-levels in mathematics and either physics, electronics or further mathematics

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

or

Entry requirements filter options

Other requirements

GCSE requirements

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Course structure

This is a five-year, full-time course (including the industrial placement). The topics you explore will vary depending on which pathway you choose.

In the early stages you'll take core and compulsory modules in electronics and programming together with a thorough grounding in mathematics. You will also take modules covering the fundamentals of life science.

As the programme progresses, you’ll undertake an individual project, a year of industrial studies and finally a group design project.

Year 1 overview

The first year will introduce you to the fundamentals of biomedical engineering and your chosen pathway. You’ll cover topics like programming, digital systems and microprocessors, maths, electronic systems and sensors, biomedical engineering design and key elements of life science.

Year 2 overview

You'll continue to build upon your knowledge of key topics, with further modules in electronics, programming and fundamentals of cell biology and physiology.

You’ll also apply your knowledge to design a health and wellness monitoring platform within a healthcare technology design project.

Year 3 overview

You’ll undertake an individual project. You’ll also choose from a range of optional modules.

Year 4 overview

You’ll undertake your industrial studies with one of our partner companies.

This will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills that you’ve developed during the early years of your degree. You’ll gain vital experience towards becoming a professional biomedical engineer after graduation.

The year in industry is assessed by academics and industry experts. During the year you will continue to have the support of the University, with regular contact and reduced fees while you are on placement. You will also receive a salary from the company for that year.

Year 5 overview

You'll work on a group design project. This is compulsory, taken over the full academic year and may include students from other engineering disciplines.

You’ll also have the freedom to tailor the degree to your liking by choosing from a wide variety of optional modules.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.

For entry in academic year 2025 to 2026

You must study the following modules in year 1:

BIOM Part One Laboratory Programme

This module is the lab programme for all first-year students enrolled on the BIOM degree programme. It aims to give students the opportunity to apply the theory that they learn in their other modules, and to provide them with transferrable, subject-based ...

Biomedical Engineering Design

This module teaches the applications of biomedical signal analysis and control systems for biomedicine. The module emphasises developing an understanding through lab-based system design exercises by applying theoretical knowledge taught in the module. The...

Biomedical Engineering Mathematics

This course is designed to develop fundamental mathematical skills which Biomedical engineers need in order to tackle a wide variety of engineering and design problems. There is a particular focus on developing an understanding of mathematics as a toolbox...

Digital Systems

To introduce digital system design, the principles of programmable logic devices, the implementation of combinational and sequential circuits, and the principles of hardware design using industry standard hardware design tools.

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

This module will introduce students to the disciplines of biomedical engineering (BME). This module is organized into 4 blocks. The first block provides an overview of the key challenges in health and wellness. Students will also study 3 furthe...

Programming

To introduce the student to the concepts of programming using the C programming language, with an emphasis on programming for embedded systems.

Sensor Interfaces

This module will introduce you to the mathematical techniques needed to describe and analyse linear and simple non-linear electronic circuits. The module explains the properties of ideal circuit elements and the tools & techniques required to analyse a wi...

You must also choose from the following modules in year 1:

Applied Biomechanical Mathematics

This course explores the use of mathematics as a toolbox for engineers to calculate, model, visualise and design physical systems. The focus is on solving physical problems via equations, both analytically and numerically using computation, along with dev...

From Biological Molecules to Biomedical Data

This module is designed for Biomedical Engineering students on the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health pathways. In this module, you will learn about the different types of macromolecules found in cells, with a particular emphasis on DNA and pro...

From Biological Molecules to Electromagnetism

This module is designed for Biomedical Engineering students on the Electronics and Mechatronics for Health pathways. In this module, you will learn about the different types of macromolecules found in cells, with a particular emphasis on DNA and protei...

Programming II

Learning and assessment

The learning activities for this course include the following:

lectures
classes and tutorials
coursework
individual and group projects
independent learning (studying on your own)

Academic support

You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.

Course leader

Russel Torah is the course leader.

Careers

You'll graduate with the skills required to work across the health technology sector, from small and large medtech companies, to NHS Digital analyst roles.

The industrial studies year will help you to connect with future employers, add value to your CV or launch your career in a new direction. It will also enable you to develop business and team-working skills in your chosen industry.

You’ll have access to our specialist careers support from our Careers Hub, which coordinates opportunities to connect with employers. This includes things like career fairs, support with job applications, summer internships and more.

Careers services at Southampton

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

UK students pay £9,250.
EU and international students pay £29,400.

The Government has recently announced changes to UK tuition fees from September 2025 onwards. We will update our website to reflect this shortly.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Find out how to:

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

Bursaries, scholarships and other funding

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and grants

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.

Support during your course

The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

How to apply

When you apply use:

UCAS course code: BB98
UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for this course

What happens after you apply?

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

predicted grades
academic achievements
personal statement
academic reference

We'll aim to process your application within 2 to 6 weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Related courses

Biomedical Engineering with Industrial Studies (MEng) is a course in the Biomedical and medical engineering subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:

b

MEng