Engineering - Biomedical Engineering

Course Overview

The Master of Engineering (ME) at University of Galway is part of an integrated (Bachelors + Masters) 4+1 programme of study, meeting the European Framework Standards for engineering accreditation. Successfully completing this (level 9) ME course, as part of an accredited 4+1 structure, will allow you to achieve the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status upon graduation.



The ME programme on its own is a 60ECTS one academic year course of study. Graduates with an honours degree in a cognate Engineering discipline may be eligible to take the ME. This will be of interest to graduates who wish to study more advanced topics in their core engineering discipline. Applicants wishing to use the ME programme as part of their CEng certification should be aware that professional accreditation is assessed by the Engineering Councils on the basis of the aggregate periods of study (Level 8 + Level 9), and not on the Masters year alone. Candidates need to satisfy themselves that their undergraduate (Level 8) degree meets the relevant standards.



The ME (Master of Engineering) programme in Biomedical Engineering is designed to give advanced technical, analytical, and transferrable knowledge and skills in biomedical engineering to graduates who already hold an undergraduate degree in engineering.



The programme is delivered over one academic year and consists of 40 ECTS (approx. 8 modules) of taught modules, involving the ongoing and world-class biomedical research at University of Galway, and a 20 ECTS thesis project. This medical device based project is conducted in partnership with the highly successful BioInnovate programme and focuses on developing advanced technical knowledge and skills and real-world implementation of these in terms of innovation, commercialization and business development.



The ME is designed to allow engineering graduates who hold an internationally recognised degree (under the Washington Accord) to meet the criteria for Chartered Engineer professional accreditation (by Engineers Ireland) under the European Framework Standards for engineering accreditation. The programme is closely related to the MSc in Biomedical Engineering which is aimed at applicants who do not hold the required engineering undergraduate qualification.



The ME programme is interdisciplinary in nature; it is based around our core teaching and research expertise in biomedical engineering and is enhanced by direct links with other engineering disciplines, science, and medicine. We work closely with our industrial partners in the medical device hub centred around Galway.



Course Outline

The programme is delivered over one academic year and consists of 40 ECTS (approx. 8 modules) of taught modules, involving the ongoing and world-class biomedical research at University of Galway, and a 20 ECTS thesis project. This medical device based project is conducted in partnership with the highly successful BioInnovate programme and focuses on developing advanced technical knowledge and skills and real-world implementation of these in terms of innovation, commercialization and business development.



The taught component consists of modules (5 or 10 ECTS) in our core areas: biomechanics, biomaterials, and medical devices. Students take 25 ECTS in biomedical engineering specific modules and 15 ECTS in transferrable skills modules. Students make their choices for each semester after attending introductory lectures in each module.



Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).

Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Year 1

Required Modules:

• BME5112: Biomedical Engineering Individual Masters Project - 10 Credits

• BME5109: Biomedical Engineering BioInnovate project - 15 Credits



Optional Modules:

• MP410: Non-Linear Elasticity - 5 Credits

• IE446: Project Management - 5 Credits

• BME5100: Advanced Computational Biomechanics - 5 Credits

• IE450: Lean Systems - 5 Credits

• ME4105: Safety Engineering - 5 Credits

• MP494: Partial Differential Equations - 5 Credits

• EE5121: UX Design for Medical Devices - 5 Credits

• EE502: Bioinstrumentation Design - 5 Credits

• BME5104: Finite Element Methods in Engineering II - 5 Credits

• CT4101: Machine Learning - 5 Credits

• CT5200: Fundamentals of Python Programming - 5 Credits

• EE4104: Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Applications - 5 Credits

• BME5111: Advanced Biomedical Thermodynamics - 5 Credits

• ME516: Advanced Mechanics of Materials - 5 Credits

• MD507: Stem Cells & Gene Therapy II - 5 Credits

• BME501: Advanced Finite Element Methods - 5 Credits

• ME5106: Advanced Manufacturing - 5 Credits

• BME502: Advanced Tissue Engineering - 5 Credits

• REM502: Translational Medicine - 5 Credits

• EE5124: Bioinstrumentation Design 2 - 5 Credits

• BME5101: Mechanobiology - 5 Credits

Entry to the ME programme is open to individuals who have Second Class Honours, Grade 2 (H2.2), in an accredited Level 8 engineering degree in a related discipline, or equivalent, from a recognised university or third-level college.

Applications must be completed online at: https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login.



An application requires a registration fee of €35. You will be asked to upload proof of identification, academic transcripts, a personal statement, an academic reference and documentation to fulfil the English requirement (where English is not your first language).

ME (60 ECTS), MSc (90 ECTS)

9 months, full-time.

Next start date: September 2025

Career Opportunities - Our graduates have excellent career opportunities

The Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering is an internationally recognised accredited degree. We train our graduates with the advanced skills in Biomechanics, Design, Materials, and Innovation that they required to succeed in the medical device industry hub in Galway, across Ireland, and internationally. Galway is home to major multinational biomedical companies and has a large number of start-up in the Medtech sector; our graduates find employment in these leading companies in various roles from research and development to manufacturing and product development.