Biomedical Engineering MSc

This stream will enable you to:

• learn how to use CAD design and structural FEA
• understand fundamental aspects of biomaterials for medical applications
• understand the importance of regulatory requirements for medical devices
• critically assess the main advantages and limitations of medical products
• understand the biomechanics of the human body
• analyse the design and function of orthopaedic products

View this video where Dr Piergiorgio Gentile discusses the modules in this stream.

This stream will enable you to:

• understand the fundamental properties of biomaterials for medical applications
• critically assess the main advantages and limitations of medical products for bone and cartilage tissue engineering
• understand how nature can help engineers develop complex functional materials, new designs and processes
• understand the importance of regulatory requirements for medical devices
• understand the biomechanics of the human body
• analyse the design and function of orthopaedic products

View this video where Dr Oana Bretcanu discusses the modules in this stream.

This stream will enable you to:

• understand the fundamentals of biomedical image processing techniques
• understand the tenets of biosignal processing from bioelectronic sensors
• learn about the functionality of the human bioelectrical system
• learn about the methods for biosensing signals inside the body
• learn about the methods for stimulus of nerve cells and neuroprosthetics
• understand the integration of physical sensors and signal processing for biomedical systems

View this video where Professor Patrick Degenaar discusses the modules in this stream.

This stream will enable you to:

• understand global health policy and regulation related to medicine use
• understand the global drug supply chain
• discuss the role of WHO and national governments in promoting new medicines
• analyse current health challenges
• understand the biomechanics of the human body
• analyse the design and function of orthopaedic implants

View this video where Professor Tom Joyce discusses the modules in this stream.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

We have a multidisciplinary approach to teaching. Our Biomedical Engineering MSc is delivered by expert staff in the:

• School of Engineering
• Faculty of Medical Sciences
• Newcastle Law School

This offers a rich and diverse learning experience.

The course uses a blend of teaching methods, including:

• lectures and tutorials
• visits to local hospitals and industry
• seminars
• practical laboratory sessions
• computer workshops
• research-led projects
• group work
• personal supervision

You'll benefit from clinical and industry guest lectures. You'll have the opportunity to carry out research and development projects. With access to multi-million-pound state-of-the-art facilities, you'll work alongside active collaborations between the University and industry.

Each stream is 180 credits and runs for three semesters, from late September until August in the following year.

Our modules are taught in a block format to allow an immersive alignment of lab and tutorial sessions with the teaching.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Computer assessment
• Design or creative project
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• Practical lab report
• Poster
• Problem-solving exercises

For your taught modules you'll be assessed by a mixture of written and oral examinations, reports and coursework.

The research project will be assessed through a written dissertation, submitted at the end of August and an oral presentation, held by the middle of September.

MSc Project and Dissertation (Individual Project)

The School of Engineering has an international reputation for transformative engineering and technology research. You'll have the opportunity to be part of this research and development though your MSc project.

The project will be decided in Semester 1 and will primarily occur in semesters 2 and 3. You’ll join world class research groups and learn to combine and apply the skills, knowledge and understanding gained from the modules you've undertaken. Specifically, you’ll learn to develop the ability to:

• formulate planning and organisational strategies
• review and summarise relevant technical papers and reports
• critique different techniques and strategies
• identify relevant/irrelevant material related to your MSc

Examples of research-led projects have included:

• Bone scaffolds
• Bone cements
• Artificial bone
• Closed loop neural implants
• Artificial finger joints
• Challenges Facing Medical Device Regulations in Saudi Arabia: A Mixed-Method Approach

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Dr Piergiorgio Gentile
Reader in Bionanotechnologies
Degree Programme Director

Areas of expertise:

• tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
• design and testing medical devices
• surface nanofunctionalisation
• antimicrobial coatings
• 3D printing and bioprinting

Professor Tom Joyce
Professor of Orthopaedic Engineering
Head of Regulatory Science Stream

Module leader: Contemporary Case Study in Biomedical Engineering
Module leader: Medical Devices Regulatory Requirements

Areas of expertise:

• biotribology
• design and testing of artificial joints
• evaluation of ex vivo medical implants
• engineering pedagogy
• regulation of medical devices

Dr Oana Bretcanu
Lecturer
Head of Biomaterials Stream

Module leader: Biomaterials
Module leader: Introduction to Tissue Engineering

Areas of expertise:

• biomaterials
• bone tissue engineering
• surface functionalisation
• drug delivery
• hyperthermia for cancer treatment
• materials testing

Professor Patrick Degenaar
Professor of Neuroprosthetics
Head of Bioelectrical Stream

Module leader: Bioelectronics

Areas of expertise:

• visual prosthesis
• epilepsy prosthesis
• optogenetic neuroprosthetics
• neuro-biophysical models
• neural control systems
• implantable microelectronic probes

Dr Francis Franklin
Lecturer

Module leader: Core Skills

Areas of expertise:

• computer modelling of microstructural damage evolution in rail steels
• computer programming (including devices) in C/C++ and Python
• Python scripting
• 3D geometric modelling in ANSYS Spaceclaim

Professor Satnam Dlay
Professor of Signal Processing Analysis

Module leader: Image Processing and Computer Vision

Areas of expertise:

• machine/deep learning
• niometrics
• image/signal processing
• security
• biomedical imaging
• 3D imaging and multimedia healthcare

Professor Kenneth Dalgarno
Sir James Woodeson Professor of Manufacturing Engineering

Module leader: Biomedical Additive Manufacture and Biofabrication

Areas of expertise:

• materials and manufacture
• additive manufacture with applications in rapid prototyping and manufacturing
• polymer engineering
• tissue engineering
• regenerative medicine

Dr Philip Hyde
Lecturer

Module leader: Orthopaedic Engineering

Areas of expertise:

• orthopaedic devices
• medical implants (hip, knee, spine)
• PMMA cement
• ISO testing
• lab equipment design

Dr Mohsen Naqvi
Senior Lecturer in Signal and Information Processing

Module leader: Intelligent Signal Processing

Areas of expertise:

• multimodal (multi-sensor) signal and information processing
• homeland security
• smart healthcare systems
• future autonomous systems

Dr Matthew Dyson
Newcastle University Research Fellow

Areas of expertise:

• upper limb prosthetics
• biosignal processing

Dr Colin Millard
Senior Lecturer in Medical Anthropology

Module leader: Global Health Policy and Medicine Use

Areas of expertise:

• global health and global health governance
• anthropology of pharmaceuticals
• the regulation of medical technologies
• Asian medicine
• complementary and alternative medicines
• social networks
• the anthropology of Tibet and South Asia

Professor Ted Schrecker
Professor of Global Health Policy

Module leader: Global Health

Areas of expertise:

• globalisation
• global health
• neoliberalism
• political economy
• social determinants of health
• environment and health
• global (health) justice

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.