Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering
Business and research environments need engineers who can design complete solutions involving complex integrated systems. Biomedical Engineering at Kent educates engineers that can develop systems used in medical practice and biology research.

This cross-disciplinary programme is designed for students with an equally strong interest in engineering and biology/medicine. Drawing from our established expertise in engineering technologies and from the research synergies with the School of Biosciences, this degree produces engineers with a solid knowledge in biology and medical science.

Foundation Year

If you don’t have the right grades to enrol directly on to our BEng (Hons) Biomedical Engineering degree, you could opt to start your studies with our Foundation year. The extra year is intended to give you the best possible preparation for success on the degree pathway.

Year in Industry

Your Year in Industry takes place between your second and final years. As well as gaining invaluable workplace experience, you also have the chance to evaluate a particular career path, and, if your industrial placement goes well, you may be offered a job by that employer after graduation.

Accreditation
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer.

Your Future
Our graduates find employment in a huge range of sectors such as aerospace and automotive industries, the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence, construction and building services, energy utilities, government agencies, manufacturing industries, medical engineering, oil and gas industries, process industries, the public sector, research establishments and transport including road and railways.

Year 2

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Year 2 compulsory modules currently include the following:

• Mechatronics and Measurements - Engineers work in interdisciplinary teams to overcome the challenges of intelligent engineering systems. Smart engineering systems are not simple mechanical or electronic components, but the result of synergistic integration between mechanical engineering, electronics, computer science and control.

• Biomechanics - Through a blend of theoretical study and practical application, you'll learn the interplay between physics, physiology, and engineering as they relate to the human body.

• Image Analysis and Applications - You’ll learn the principles of image analysis techniques alongside their practical applications. Starting from basic image formation and acquisition, you’ll learn core image processing techniques such as how to filter noise, how to extract object outlines, how to identify regions of interest in an image (segmentation), and about image feature descriptors.

• Signal Processing and Control Systems - After successfully completing this module, you will obtain fundamental and essential knowledge in signal processing and system control required for advanced engineering learning and future professional practice in related fields.

• Engineering Team Project - Teamwork lies at the heart of this module, seamlessly blending practical group projects with supporting lectures, emphasising the development of technical proficiency, transferable skills, sustainability, and security awareness. You will collaborate in teams to explore mechanical and electronic hardware, software development, entrepreneurship, and sustainable practices. Through hands-on project work, you will gain expertise in sensor data acquisition, programming, hardware design, understanding security protocols, and integrating sustainability principles. Additionally, you will address crucial topics such as innovation, financial management, intellectual property protection, and commercialisation strategies with a sustainable and security-oriented perspective. By merging technical knowledge with entrepreneurial insight, sustainability principles, and a focus on security, this module equips you with a comprehensive toolkit for navigating the complexities of modern innovation and enterprise securely and sustainably.

• Human Anatomy and Physiology - You will explore the anatomy and physiology of healthy tissues, organs, and the major bodily systems. By reviewing and interpreting engaging case studies, you will connect theoretical knowledge with real-life health conditions that impact these systems. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the causes of these diseases, the important diagnostic techniques we can use to assess them, and how we might treat them.

For more detailed information about these modules, please visit our website.

Year in Industry

Year in Industry

You have the option to add a year in industry to this course. We already know you have the confidence and commitment to thrive in the workplace and kick-start your career. This is your chance to prove it, to yourself and to employers.

Any questions? We have the answers.

When should I start looking? Companies will recruit at different times of the year based on their size. It's good to be application ready by the summer of your first year.

Where can I get help finding a placement? Book an appointment with a placement adviser via the careers service.

Will I get paid? Most of our placements are paid.

Do I have to pay tuition fees? Yes, you’ll pay a substantially reduced fee. Fees for the current year (subject to changes) can be found on our tuition fees website.

Where can I get visa advice if I’m an international student? Kent Students' Union can help with any visa queries.

Does the University keep in touch? You receive four-weekly check-in emails, a visit from the team every three months and you can reach out to us any time by email or phone.

Do I work for a full year? The minimum requirement for an industrial placement is 44 weeks.

Foundation Year

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Foundation Year compulsory modules currently include the following:

• Foundation Algebra and Geometry - A solid grasp of algebra and geometry is a fundamental requirement for advanced study in any STEM subject. In this module, you will study foundational algebra and coordinate geometry required for Stage 1 entry into your chosen degree. You will see why they are so vital to your subject area. In addition you will learn how to reason with logarithms, exponentials and gain skills in solving equations.

• Engineering Principles A - Your preparation for an engineering degree starts here. You'll develop general skills required to underpin your studies as well as beginning to gain knowledge specific to mechanical and electrical engineering. This will enable you to start using measurement instruments, understand forces, and work with fundamental electric circuits. Your practical laboratory and reporting skills will also be developed to support you throughout the degree and your professional life.

• Engineering and Programming Skills - Experimental skills and an appreciation of how to evaluate experimental errors are essential to the practice of engineering. Therefore, in order to support you throughout your studies, you will learn how present and analyse experimental data, how to use experimental error analysis and reach conclusions based on the data.

• Foundation Functions and Calculus - In this module, you will develop your knowledge of mathematical functions to give you a solid foundation with which to grasp calculus and other advanced topics. You will then move on to study differential calculus and its applications – allowing you to quantify and model rates of change mathematically and consistently and find the gradient of any curve – followed by integral calculus and differential equations – allowing you to find anti-derivatives and model real-life situations.

• Engineering Principles B - Your preparation for an engineering degree continues in this module. You'll develop further knowledge and new problem-solving skills relevant to both mechanical and electrical engineering. This will include topics in alternating current (a.c.) circuits, engineering electromagnetism, mechanical oscillations and vibrations and rotating mechanical systems. Further laboratory work will reinforce this knowledge.

• Mechanics and Materials - Learn about the interplay of the core concepts physicists and engineers use to describe the behaviour of objects in the world around us. Establish the relevant quantities, units and dimensions giving you the tools to understand mechanics and materials. Learn about characterising the motion of objects through distance, velocity and acceleration with time graphs. You will examine the behaviours of forces through Newtons' Laws and the relationship between those forces and work, power and energy. You will learn about gravity as a force field, as well as circular and rotational motion.

For more detailed information about these modules, please visit our website.

Year 1

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Year 1: You’ll gain a broad foundation in biomedical engineering. You’ll take on lab-based practical work to help you develop an in-depth understanding of electronics and biology.
Compulsory modules currently include the following:

• Mathematics for Engineering - Topics covered include complex numbers, calculus, linear algebra, statistics and probability. Throughout the module, you’ll tackle real-world engineering problems. These include the study of mechanical and electrical systems, the use of complex numbers and linear algebra for the analysis of electrical circuits and the use of statistics and probability in the analysis of experimental data.

• Electronics for Engineers - You’ll begin your engineering journey by learning fundamental circuit analysis and fabrication skills. This will enable you to begin engineering project work right from your first year.

• Fundamentals of Programming - You'll embark on your programming journey here, mastering fundamental coding concepts and development skills. This foundation will empower you to dive into programming projects right from your first year through lectures, workshops and programming challenges.

• Engineering Materials and Design - You'll learn how to develop an engineering drawing of a product using a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) system and choose the best materials from a wide range of available engineering materials for your designed components. Design and Manufacturing Project; Biomedical Engineering Skills.

• Biomedical Engineering Skills - The integrated approach of this module gives you a strong foundation in both theoretical understanding and hands-on proficiency, preparing you to tackle complex challenges at the intersection of engineering and healthcare with confidence and expertise.

• Design and Prototyping Project - To bring your engineering education to life, you’ll do a project in each year of study. In the Stage 1 project, you’ll gain hands-on experience, allowing you to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems. This will enhance your understanding of engineering principles and concepts.

For more detailed information about these modules, please visit our website.

Year 3

The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.

Year 3 compulsory modules currently include the following:

• Medical Dynamics - In this module, you’ll study advanced instrumentation methods, signal processing techniques, and data analysis algorithms tailored for biomedical applications. Key areas covered include biosensors, bioelectric signals and vital sign monitoring.

• Robotics and AI - You’ll comprehensively explore the key concepts in robotics and artificial intelligence and gain essential subject knowledge. You’ll learn theoretical tools to describe kinematics and dynamics for industrial robot systems with several degrees of freedom and use cutting-edge AI and machine learning (ML) algorithms in robots. You’ll also discover software/hardware integration in robot architectures for advanced tasks (e.g. obstacle avoidance learning), industrial applications and the adoption of AI in robotics.

• Research Project - This is an opportunity for independent study on a topic of your own choice. Working on the project is a major part of your final year of study, taking place in spring and summer terms. It’s a chance for you to conduct in-depth research on a subject that is relevant to your course, helping you to further develop essential skills.

• Biomaterials - The objective of this module is to give you a comprehensive understanding of biomaterials, emphasising their interactions within the biological environment. The module begins by examining the mechanics of materials, covering fundamental concepts such as stress, strain, bending, and shear. You’ll then look at a diverse range of biomaterials and their applications within the human body.

Optional modules may include the following:

• Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

• Medical Physics

• Embedded Systems and IoT

• Fundamentals of Cyber Security

• Philosophy of Cognitive Science and AI

For more detailed information about these modules, please visit our website.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Engineering and Technology, Institution of