Biomedical Engineering with a Foundation Year

Biomedical Engineering is a dynamic, multidisciplinary field linking engineering and medicine to improve health and quality of life. The foundation year builds your maths, science and practical skills, preparing you to progress onto the BEng degree.

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 Biomedical Engineering 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, ensuring you are fully prepared to succeed in your first year of your Biomedical Engineering degree and build confidence in both learning and practical application.

The Biomedical Engineering BEng course prepares you to be at the forefront of the rapidly growing medical technology sector. You’ll develop the skills and knowledge to create innovative solutions that can save and improve lives, gaining hands-on experience that empowers you to make a real impact through advanced biomedical technologies.

Our expert academic team, made up of industry professionals, clinicians, and academics, has been teaching biomedical engineering at Sheffield for over a decade. They will show you how 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 the BEng degree, 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, you choose one of two pathways that align with your interests. Pathway A leads to the Biomedical Engineering or Medical Devices and Systems final-year routes, while Pathway B leads to the Biomanufacturing or Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering final-year routes.

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

In your final year, you’ll focus on your chosen specialism while taking core modules in professional development, research skills, and the design process for bringing biomedical solutions from concept to market. A major individual research project allows you to work independently or within a research team, developing skills in analysis, experimentation, and professional communication.

By the end of the course, you’ll graduate ready for careers across healthcare, medical technology, research, and related sectors. With a combination of technical expertise, practical experience, and professional skills — plus the solid preparation from the foundation year — you’ll be equipped to contribute to cutting-edge developments and make a meaningful impact in the sector.

Accreditation

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 provides the first stage of the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.