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Biomedical Engineering with a Foundation Year

Study level:
Undergraduate

Course summary

If you don't have the usual scientific or mathematical background for an engineering degree, a foundation year is for you. After successfully completing the foundation year, you automatically progress onto year 1 of your chosen degree.

The foundation year is designed to prepare you for your degree. You’ll study core topics such as mathematics and an introduction to engineering, gaining hands-on experience through laboratory work and lab reports. You’ll also complete a project relevant to your chosen degree programme, ensuring you are fully prepared to succeed in your first year of your MEng degree and build confidence in both learning and practical application.

The Biomedical Engineering MEng course prepares you to be at the forefront of the rapidly growing medical technology sector, developing your skills and knowledge to create innovative solutions that can save and improve lives.

Our expert academic team, composed of industry experts, clinicians and academics, has been teaching biomedical engineering at Sheffield for over a decade. They will show you how both traditional and contemporary engineering principles can be applied to transform healthcare, integrating diverse engineering disciplines to develop innovative solutions that improve health and quality of life.

In your first year of your degree, you’ll gain a solid foundation in both engineering and the underpinning sciences. You’ll study the structure and function of the human body alongside fundamental engineering principles, learning how engineering concepts are applied to medicine and biology.

In year two of your degree, you choose one of two pathways that align with your interests. Pathway A leads to either the Biomedical Engineering or Medical Devices and Systems final-year routes, while Pathway B leads to Biomanufacturing or Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering.

Alongside pathway-specific modules, you’ll continue to build core skills in biomechanics, mechatronics, data-driven design, and machine learning, while gaining experience in laboratories, computational tools and collaborative design projects.

In year three of your degree, you’ll specialise further by selecting your final-year route. Core modules develop your research and professional skills and teach the design process for bringing biomedical solutions from concept to market. You’ll also complete a Group Design Project, applying knowledge to a real-world biomedical challenge and building advanced technical, analytical, and collaborative skills

Your final year features an Individual Research Project, allowing independent or team-based work to investigate a specialised topic. Professional development and research modules prepare you for career or further study. Optional modules let you focus on areas such as medical device regulation, bioimaging, nanomaterials, biopharmaceutical engineering, computational biomechanics, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal modelling, human movement biomechanics and women’s health.

Accredited by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

How to apply

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
H160
Institution code:
S18
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBB - BBC

BBB (any A Level); BBC including Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD

in Engineering or Applied Science (inc Biomedical Science, Analytical & Forensic Science or Physical Science) + GCSE Science grade 6/B and Maths grade 7/A

Scottish Higher - AABBB - ABBBB

AABBB (any subjects); ABBBB including Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DD

DD in Engineering or Applied Science + A at A Level (no STEM at A Level) + GCSE Science grade 6/B and Maths grade 7/A; DD in Engineering or Applied Science + B in an A Level science subject (Physics, Chemistry, or Biology) + GCSE Maths grade 7/A; DD in Engineering or Applied Science + C in A Level Maths + GCSE Science grade 6/B

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 31 - 32 points

32; 31, with Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology at HL 5 or SL 7

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H2, H2, H3, H3, H3 - H2, H2, H3, H3, H3, H3

H2 H2 H2 H3 H3 H3 (any subjects); H2 H2 H3 H3 H3 H3 including Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology

GCSE/National 4/National 5

If studying both Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology at A Level (or equivalent) - no additional GCSE requirements. If studying any other subject combination - require GCSE Science grade 6/B (or 65 in GCSE Double Award Science) and Maths grade 7/A

T Level - D

Distinction in the relevant T Level, including grade B in the core component + GCSE Science grade 6/B and Maths grade 7/A. Relevant T Level subjects include: Maintenance, Installation & Repair for Engineering & Manufacturing; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing & Control; or Design & Development for Engineering & Manufacturing.

To find out if you're eligible for additional consideration or an alternative offer, visit: ww.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/access-sheffield

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification

English language requirements for undergraduates https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/english-language

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The entry grades data only represents a proportion of our cohort. We accept a broad range of qualifications on our degrees and we're committed to ensuring all students with the potential to succeed at Sheffield are informed and feel encouraged to apply. If you meet one or more of our Access Sheffield criteria, we may be able to give your application additional consideration when we receive it and when exam results are released.

Learn more on the University of Sheffield website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course and 8 other engineering (foundation only) courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

78% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

60 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

85 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Tuition fees for 2026 entry have not been confirmed. Please use 2025-26 information as a guide.

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