Medical Engineering MSc
- Level(s) of Study: Postgraduate taught
- Start Date(s): January 2024, September 2024, January 2025
- Duration: One year full-time (15 months for January starters) or two years full-time with a placement.
- Study Mode(s): Full-time / Sandwich / January start (Postgraduate)
- Campus: Clifton Campus
- Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
This course has been developed to meet the needs of the healthcare sector and the medical industry in the UK and internationally. It is specifically designed to increase the employability of its graduates in an engineering and technological context by identifying new medical product opportunities and by conducting projects in collaboration with a range of relevant partners.
Medical Engineering is user-focused, taking a multidisciplinary approach and building on strong relationships with industry and the health sector. The course aims to provide you with live engineering and design experience and the tools to drive forward process, material and critical thinking in the commercial world.
You will benefit from the internationally recognised research activities in the engineering subject area which have been supported by grants from a variety of funding organisations. The engineering team has been involved with numerous international collaborative projects, and closely works with industry and the healthcare sector on different research and development schemes.
You will get a direct industrial experience of the newest developments in the field through collaboration with NTU's Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF), start-up companies, the Medical Engineering Design team, and the SWIFT research group.
Work with the surgical and clinical community on live project briefs as part of a substantial existing network between NTU and our relevant partners. These links and others we have in the medical industry mean that you could collaborate and undertake a project with them.
Working with our Medical Engineering Design Research Group gives a multi-disciplinary approach to design and engineering.
We will be seeking accreditation from the IET for this course.
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Top 20 in the UK for General Engineering (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023) -
In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) - the UK's system for assessing the quality and impact of research in universities - we’re proud that 98% of NTU's Engineering submission was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent.
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100% of MSc Medical Engineering (FT) students are satisfied with the quality of their course and 100% would recommend their course at NTU (PTES 2023)
What you’ll study
You will be working in groups during lab exercises for some of the modules and also work on individual projects, especially during the individual industrial or engineering research project. You will have the possibility to work on (live) projects during all modules as part of training and formative assessment. Below is an overview of the areas you will cover.
- Design of medical and surgical products, tools and apparatus to improve the lives of patients and the workflow of medical professionals.
- Introduction to a range of tools and techniques applicable to the field including medical imaging, fluid dynamics prosthetics and rehabilitation robotics.
- Application of smart materials in medical products including prosthetics, medical devices and advanced medical coatings.
- Explore recent developments in bioinformatics, gene therapeutics, bionics, prosthesis, assistive robotics and exoskeletons.
- Understand the requirements for ethics, regulation and innovation in the medical sector.
Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics
Explores the recent developments in bionics, prosthesis, assistive robotics, and exoskeleton technology. In this module, you will have the opportunity to look at some of these devices analyse their design and suggest possible improvements in this field.
Fluid Dynamics in Physiology and Medical Devices
This module will equip you with the knowledge and skills required when designing systems where the consideration of how fluids move and interact with their environment is paramount or when the controlled flow of fluids is the primary purpose of the system/device.
Medical Applications of Smart Materials
This module will introduce you to a wide range of current applications of smart materials and help you understand current research in the area which is likely to shape future developments. You will get to work with some of these materials in the laboratory to design and build a simple device to resolve a biomedical engineering problem.
Medical Imaging
This module aims to introduce the principles underlying a range of techniques and tools used in Medical Imaging and related image-processing research. Topics include Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MRI) imaging and medical diagnostics, diagnostic ultrasound, X-Ray Computed tomography (CT) and X-ray imaging PET/SPECT Imaging.
Current Developments in Biomedical Engineering
Through this module, you will understand the need for innovation and constant development in bioengineering. By the end of this module, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to be a highly skilled engineer.
Research Methods
The research methods elements of this module will focus on literature searching and critical reviewing strategies, ethical considerations, research design, sampling and quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques using applicable software tools.
Individual Industrial or Research Project
This module is the “capstone” project in which you will bring together the knowledge, understanding and skills you have developed. You will investigate an engineering problem, implement solutions, critically evaluate, and reflect on your work, and develop your abilities to communicate, self-organise and manage. The CPD component of this module will inform your learning journey both throughout your MSc and after.
How you’re taught
This programme is delivered by a combination of:
- Lectures
- Workshops
- Seminars and Tutorials
- Project Work
- Case studies
- Oral presentations
- Workshops
- Laboratory assessments and reports
You will be assessed by a mixture of coursework including reports, ePortfolio, and project work, and written and practical exams.
Contact hours
Lectures / seminars / workshops (27%) and independent study (73%)
How you’re assessed
Coursework (50%), written (38%) and practical (12%)
Careers and employability
Mentoring and support
All students will be allocated a personal tutor throughout their course of study in order to provide pastoral support. Each module will provide students with the opportunity to engage with specialist lecturers via seminars and project work, allowing them to explore knowledge they are applying to assignments and topical discussion points.
All staff members teaching on the programme are members of professional institutions and most are active researchers, with many undertaking industrial consultancy.
Our commercial, surgical and clinical partners will also be available to provide support for student projects and as needed for other student-specific requirements.
Your future
You will graduate with a broad range of skills applicable to medical engineering and design. These include (but will not be limited to):
- concepts behind medical imaging techniques and good practice in image acquisition and processing
- understanding of new (smart) materials for improving the functionality
- cost and / or sustainability of medical devices and prosthetics
- understanding of the impact of prosthetics or medical implants on the body’s metabolism.
You will also gain an understanding of the implementation of medical engineering in industry and academia, gaining an understanding of intellectual property, medical ethics and regulations, as well as business principles and commercialisation.
The course is ideal preparation for roles in the design, application or regulation of medical devices within specialist design consultancies or medical device companies.
The multi-disciplinary nature of this course means you are able to acquire advanced engineering design, technological, materials and design skills to enhance your potential to become a leading medical design engineer, technologist, or medical product designer.
You may also wish to progress onto further study at PhD level.
Placement
NTU is one of the most employment-focused universities. Increasingly, employers want to recruit graduates who have real-world work experience. That’s why all of our courses, across every subject area, offer you a work experience opportunity. Our experts help build and support your future with a range of career programmes and events.
This course offers you the opportunity to take a one-year (sandwich) placement. With placement, the course will be a total of two years of full-time study.
The school of Science and Technology will work closely with you to help you find a placement and strengthen your CV and interview techniques. During the placement year, an academic member of staff will visit to check on your progress and offer any advice. On completion of the placement year, students will submit a placement report and continue back at NTU for three months during which time they will complete their research project.
Re:search Re:imagined
To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From conservation management to sustainable farming, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
Campus and facilities
You will have access to a range of first-class facilities and equipment at the School of Science and Technology. You will also have access to specialist facilities in our engineering building:
- Robotic Technologies for Surgical Applications (including co-robotic platforms)
- Software Enabled Surgery tools
- Hardware for Augmented and Virtual Reality Systems development
- 3D / 4D and Bio-Printing
- Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) platforms
- Physiological measurement equipment (ECG, EEG etc)
- Climate Chamber
- Biochemistry lab equipment
- Cell culture labs
- Medical Imaging facilities (MRI, ultrasound, OCT),
- CAD and simulation software
- Full-size adult Simbodies with clinical capabilities and head manikins for difficult airways
Entry requirements
What are we looking for?
- A UK honours degree (minimum 2:1) or equivalent in a related discipline such as Engineering or BEng / BSc Product Design subjects
- Applicants with relevant employment experience or other relevant qualifications will also be considered
NTU may admit a student with advanced standing beyond the beginning of a course, through an assessment of that student's prior learning, whether it is certificated or uncertificated. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available to these prospective students, such as recognising experiential learning or transferring to a similar course at another institution, otherwise known as credit transfer.
All prospective students who wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning should initially contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
You will need:
- A UK honours degree (minimum 2:1) or equivalent in a related discipline such as Engineering or BEng / BSc Product Design subjects
- Applicants with relevant employment experience or other relevant qualifications will also be considered
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Postgraduate preparation courses (Pre-Masters)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Pre-Masters courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Course fees for January 2024 are:
| Study route | UK | International / EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,300* | £16,800* |
| Full-time with placement year | £9,300 + £1,850 | £16,800 + £1,850 |
Course fees for September 2024 and January 2025 are:
| Study route | UK | International / EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,700* | £17,500* |
| Full-time with placement year | £9,700 + £1,850 | £17,500 + £1,850 |
* For January study please check your student visa regulations as this is a 15-month course full-time.
Funding your studies
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and living costs page and our funding page will answer all your questions.
Scholarships
You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.
Alumni discount
We’re happy to be able to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service at +44 (0)115 848 2494. For scholarship help please contact us at +44 (0)115 848 4460.
Course fees for January 2024 are:
| Study route | UK | International / EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,300* | £16,800* |
| Full-time with placement year | £9,300 + £1,850 | £16,800 + £1,850 |
Course fees for September 2024 and January 2025 are:
| Study route | UK | International / EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,700* | £17,500* |
| Full-time with placement year | £9,700 + £1,850 | £17,500 + £1,850 |
* For January study please check your student visa regulations as this is a 15-month course full-time.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
If you are interested in joining us in September 2025, this course will be open for applications through the applicant portal from September 2024. Courses starting in January 2026 will be open for applications from July 2025.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU in our postgraduates' guide. Here you'll find advice about how to write a good personal statement and much more.
Writing your application
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. Make sure you include as much information as possible, including uploading evidence of results already achieved, as well as a personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please contact us at Ask NTU our Admissions Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
Apply online through our NTU applicant portal.
If you are interested in joining us in September 2025, this course will be open for applications through the applicant portal from September 2024. Courses starting in January 2026 will be open for applications from July 2025.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
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