Master's in Biomedical Engineering
A postgraduate degree, usually one or two years after a bachelor's, that takes you deeper into one area of a field and often ends with a research project or thesis.
Overview
Why study a Master's in Biomedical Engineering?
A master's in Biomedical Engineering is entered with a bachelor's, usually in engineering, and lets you specialise in one part of a wide field or move into it from a neighbouring discipline. Taught programmes, called MSc, MS, MEng or Master of Engineering depending on the country, typically take one to two years and combine advanced modules with a substantial project. Research master's such as the MASc in Canada or the MRes in the UK place more weight on a thesis and suit students who are considering a PhD.
Many programmes are organised into streams. Common ones are medical imaging, biomechanics and orthopaedic devices, biomaterials and tissue engineering, neural engineering, medical device design and regulation, and health data science. Because students arrive from different backgrounds, the first term often includes physiology for engineers, or extra mathematics and programming for those from the life sciences. Depending on the specialism, lab modules may use MRI and ultrasound systems, motion-capture suites, mechanical testers or cell culture facilities.
The project is usually the centrepiece. It may be run with a hospital department, a device company or a research group, and examples include validating a wearable sensor, testing a new scaffold material or training an algorithm to outline organs on scans. Some programmes include an industry placement or a regulatory affairs module that follows a device from concept to market approval. A master's is often the point at which employers begin to treat biomedical graduates as specialists for design and development roles.
Curriculum
What you may study
Master's programmes in Biomedical Engineering commonly offer topics such as these.
- Advanced biomechanics and computational modelling
- Medical image reconstruction and analysis
- Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
- Neural engineering and neuroprosthetics
- Biosensors and microfluidic devices
- Medical device design, standards and regulation
- Machine learning for health data
- Rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology
- Drug delivery systems
- Research methods and clinical study design
Published programmes for Biomedical Engineering at Master's
No programmes for Biomedical Engineering at Master's are published yet.
Not in our catalogue yet: that reflects what Universta lists, not what universities teach.
Programmes show each university’s published offering. Course guides describe the course across universities.
Admission
Getting into Master's in Biomedical Engineering
Most programmes ask for a bachelor's in biomedical, electrical, electronics, instrumentation, mechanical, chemical or computer engineering, with a good overall grade. Some also admit graduates in physics, biotechnology, medicine or physiotherapy who can show enough mathematics and programming, occasionally with preparatory modules. Admissions teams look for calculus, signals or mechanics on your transcript, depending on the stream, so read each programme's prerequisites rather than relying on your degree title. Some US departments still want GRE scores, and an English test is required unless you qualify for a waiver.
Your statement of purpose carries more weight than at bachelor's level. Explain which stream you want and why, and describe relevant projects, internships, hospital experience or publications. For Germany, Indian applicants generally need an APS certificate, and admissions committees may compare your credits module by module. UK applications go straight to universities, often on a rolling basis, while US and Canadian programmes usually have fixed deadlines several months before the intake. Funding for taught master's is limited, so look at scholarships early.
Careers
Career pathways
A master's often opens design, development and specialist roles such as the following.
- Medical Device Design Engineer
- Research and Development Engineer
- Biomechanical Engineer
- Medical Imaging Scientist
- Biomaterials Engineer
- Verification and Validation Engineer
- Regulatory Affairs Specialist
- Human Factors Engineer
- Clinical Engineer
- Medical Software Engineer
- Rehabilitation Engineer
- Medical Device Product Manager
Sectors
Industries
Medical Device Research and Development
Master's graduates design and test new devices, from cardiac and orthopaedic implants to surgical tools, within regulated development processes.
Imaging and Diagnostic Systems
Specialists develop scanner hardware, image reconstruction software and diagnostic analysers, often evaluating them with clinical partners.
Digital Health and Medical Software
Graduates build and validate software that is regulated as a medical device, such as diagnostic algorithms and remote monitoring platforms.
Regulatory Affairs and Quality
Master's holders prepare submissions to regulators, lead risk management and audit quality systems for manufacturers.
Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
Companies developing scaffolds, wound care products and cell-based therapies recruit graduates for materials testing and process development.
Hospitals and Clinical Engineering
Hospital technology teams employ master's graduates to assess, commission and manage complex equipment, and some go on to lead clinical engineering services.
Who hires
Employers
- Medtronic
- Siemens Healthineers
- GE HealthCare
- Philips
- Johnson & Johnson MedTech
- Boston Scientific
- Olympus
- Dräger
- Meril Life Sciences
- Trivitron Healthcare
Named for illustration only; not a ranking, endorsement or partnership.
Outlook
Looking ahead
Software and data are taking a larger share of biomedical work. Regulators now have specific routes for software as a medical device and for AI-based tools, and companies need engineers who can build such systems and show that they are safe and effective across different patient groups. Master's programmes are adding health data science, machine learning and cybersecurity, and these skills combine well with a grounding in physiology.
Other areas attracting attention include minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery, neurotechnology, point-of-care diagnostics, and implants or surgical guides 3D-printed to fit one patient. Ageing populations in many countries are raising demand for devices that support people at home, from hearing aids to remote monitors. Sustainability is a newer concern as well, as hospitals examine the waste created by single-use devices and packaging.
Specializations
Other Engineering specializations at Master's
Subject
Engineering at Master's
Questions
Questions about Master's in Biomedical Engineering
Can I apply with a biotechnology or MBBS degree?
Sometimes. A number of programmes accept graduates from the life sciences, medicine or physiotherapy, especially in streams such as tissue engineering, biomaterials or clinical engineering, but many expect engineering-level mathematics, physics and programming. If your degree lacks these, look for programmes that say they accept non-engineering graduates or offer preparatory modules, and mention any extra courses you have completed.
Is a taught or a research master's better for me?
If your aim is an industry job soon after graduating, a taught master's with a structured set of modules is usually the better fit. A research master's, such as an MRes, MASc or thesis-based MS, spends more time in one laboratory and is better preparation for a PhD. Research master's in Canada and the United States are more likely to carry funding, though this varies widely between departments.
Which biomedical specialism has the best job prospects?
No single answer holds for every country or year. Device design, regulatory affairs and quality roles exist wherever devices are made, imaging and software skills are sought by larger companies, and tissue engineering roles are fewer and more research-based. Choose a stream that matches your strengths, then build practical evidence through your project and any placement.
Do US biomedical engineering master's programmes require the GRE?
Many have made the GRE optional or dropped it, but some still require or recommend it, particularly for funded places. Check each programme's admissions page for the current cycle, since policies change. A good score can still support an application where your undergraduate grades are on the lower side.
Plan
Plan your Master's
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