About this course

Join a new generation of engineers that understand the underlying principles of medical and healthcare technologies. You’ll gain the skills needed to design, develop and deliver products to patients, carers and clinicians.

With an aging society and ongoing pressures on health and social care services, the demand for healthcare technology is increasing. Our BEng Medical Engineering degree combines engineering and physical science fundamentals with medicine and healthcare, so you can graduate ready to meet this demand.

This programme has a strong focus on mechanical engineering, user interaction and needs. The technologies you develop will be for patients, carers, clinicians (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists) and other stakeholders.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

explore the design of assistive technologies, as well as systems for diagnosis, treatment and for monitoring.
undertake design-build-test projects in years 1 and 2 and an individual project in year 3
access our outstanding research facilities, including our mechanical, electronics, biomechanics and bioengineering labs as well as patient test and human factors facilities
understand the specific clinical, safety and ethical implications of biomedical engineering work, and routes to commercialization
interact with industry through work placements, external speakers, industrial visits, and industrial design projects
become familiar with specialist modelling software and modern equipment

You’ll be taught by world experts in their field and undertake a wide variety of design tasks, projects and group activities to prepare you for a professional engineering career.

This BEng programme is also available with an industrial placement year.

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).

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, further mathematics 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 mathematics and/or physics at A-level 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, further mathematics 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 either Biology, Chemistry or Physics and 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation)

International Baccalaureate Diploma additional information

Applicants who have not studied the required subjects 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 biology, chemistry, further mathematics or physics (the A* can be in either subject).
or
D* in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA from two A-levels including mathematics and either biology, chemistry, further mathematics or physics.

We will consider the BTEC National Diploma if studied alongside A-levels in the required subjects.

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

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

Applicants who have not studied mathematics and/or physics at A-level 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 either physics, chemistry, biology or further mathematics (the A* can be in either subject).
or
D* in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades AA from two A-levels including mathematics and either biology, chemistry, further mathematics or physics.

We will consider the BTEC Diploma if studied alongside the required A-level subjects.

We will consider the BTEC Extended Diploma in Engineering if studied alongside A-level 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 three-year, full-time degree. It includes a carefully chosen mixture of core, compulsory, and optional modules, with the optional choices available in year 3.

You’ll learn by doing, with individual and group projects as well as practical laboratory work taking place throughout this programme.

Year 1 overview

The first year introduces medical engineering as well as engineering science and design.

The induction programme starting in the first week provides the opportunity to get to know fellow students and develop a medical engineering ethos based around hands-on experiences with medical engineering applications.

You’ll gain a firm foundation in a wide range of engineering disciplines that underpin medical engineering.

Year 2 overview

The second year covers medical engineering, engineering design and engineering science at greater depth.

You’ll explore compulsory topics in modules ranging from Electronics, Drives and Control, to Human Biology in Health and Disease.

Year 3 overview

In year 3 you’ll explore topics like Biomaterials, Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Human factors and more. You’ll also have the opportunity to specialize, with optional modules ranging from Robotic Systems to Computational Biology.

You’ll undertake an individual project as a core module.

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:

An Introduction to Engineering Design

Engineers design physical products, systems and processes. They think big with vision, research, analyse, create, refine and deliver solutions. Engineering is a design discipline that is broad, creative, logical and holistic, while also focused and ex...

Electrical and Electronics Systems

It is difficult to imagine what the world would be like without electricity: homes without electric light, without television or radio, without motors to drive the washing machine, the refrigerator and the vacuum cleaner; offices without computers, word p...

Introduction to Medical Engineering

Medical Engineering (or Biomedical Engineering) is an exciting and multidisciplinary field that combines expertise in a wide range of engineering techniques, anatomy and physiology, medicine, healthcare and the personal and societal context in which pat...

Mathematics for Engineering and the Environment

This course lays the mathematical foundation for all engineering degrees. Its structure allows students with different levels of previous knowledge to work at their own pace. Pre-requisite for MATH2048 One of the pre-requisites for MATH3081 and MATH...

Mechanics, Structures and Materials

This module covers the fundamentals of mechanics, statics, dynamics and materials. Providing a firm basis for all subsequent modules in these areas in later Parts and a further career in engineering. This module consists of four parts, Statics-1, Statics...

ThermoFluids

Core Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics for all Engineering Themes. Students should be aware that this module requires pre requisites of Mathematics

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

David Simpson is the course leader.

Careers

Our graduate medical engineers will be prepared for a career in the healthcare sector and also benefit from employment opportunities in both medical engineering and the broader engineering industry.

You’ll graduate with technical skills that are in high demand, with the medical technology sector in the UK employing over 100,000 people and growing every year.

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

Careers services at Southampton

Work in industry

This BEng programme is also available with an industrial placement year.

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: H625
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

Medical Engineering (BEng) is a course in the Biomedical and medical engineering subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:

b

MEng

Biomedical Engineering

BEng

Biomedical Engineering

MEng

Biomedical Engineering with Industrial Studies

m

MEng