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Biomedical Engineering
Undergraduate (Level 8 NFQ , Credits 240 )
Biomedical Engineering involves the application of traditional engineering principles to healthcare and medicine. We can think of the brain and nervous system as a large communication system which co-ordinates and transmits signals around the body, and the organs and limbs as sophisticated engineering systems that control functions such as movement, respiration and blood flow. UCD biomedical engineers are educated with a strong foundation in electrical/electronic and mechanical engineering, which is complemented by an understanding of physiology and anatomy. This foundation is applied to problems in medicine and healthcare in specialised modules such as Biomechanics, Medical Device Design, Neural Engineering, Rehabilitation Engineering, and Cell Culture & Tissue Engineering. If you are interested in developing new medical techniques, systems and devices, and you want to be involved in the breakthroughs that are improving the healthcare system for doctors and patients every day, then this is the course for you.
For more information regarding this course, please click School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
First Year
Engineering students follow a common first year. Modules include:
- Chemistry
- Creativity in Design
- Electrical/Electronic Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Engineering Computing
- Mathematics
- Mechanics
- Physics
Second to Fifth Year
Sample modules for Biomedical Engineering students include:
- Bioinstrumentation
- Biomechanics
- Biomaterials
- Neural Engineering
- Nanomaterials
- Cell Culture & Tissue Engineering
- Biosignal Processing
- Medical Device Design
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Medical Sciences for Engineers
- Introduction to Physiology
- Electrical & Electronic Circuits
- Computer Engineering
- Electromagnetics Control Theory
- Mechanics of Fluids Mechanics of Solids
- Applied Physics
- Applied Dynamics
- Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology
A student’s week includes attending lectures and tutorials, as well as participating in laboratory-based workshops and undertaking independent study. A combination of end-of-semester written examinations and continuous assessment is used. In your final year, you’ll also submit a report of your research project.
Graduates can find employment in:
- The Medical Technologies Industries
- Pharmaceutical Industries
- Medical Device Design
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Device Manufacturing
- Regulation
- Engineering Consultancy
Professional Work Experience (PWE) is incorporated in the ME Biomedical Engineering programme. Six- to eight-month internships (the majority of which are paid) have included the following employers: Alexion, BD Medical, Boston Scientific, DePuy Synthes, Medtronic, Nypro, and ResMed.
Graduates can also pursue a taught or research Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. You can study for a PhD and work with some of the world’s leading experts on ground-breaking research.
Also check out the UCD Career Networks career guide for the College of Engineering & Architecture for details on the career supports available to UCD students.
Students have the opportunity in theirthird year to spend either one or two trimesters studying abroad in a partner University, there are options to study in countries such as France, Spain, China, Australia, Canada, USA, Singapore, New Zealand.
Opportunities in the past have included:
- Beijing University of Technology, China
- University of New South Wales, Australia
- University of Illinois, USA
- University of British Columbia, Canada.