Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

In the Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, students acquire a solid technical know-how in biomedical engineering (integrating mathematics, physics, chemistry and life sciences with engineering techniques). Students get introduced into the specificities of working for and with the patient and with living matter, and get to know the perspective of the clinician and all stakeholders in the biomedical and health care industry.

Over the 2 year master track, students develop the necessary research and engineering skills to analyse and solve complex problems independently in a multidisciplinary context. Graduates are capable of developing new knowledge, materials, devices, tools, systems and methods for the (early) diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease. They become scientifically trained technical-medical key actors in the health care ecosystem and improve and guarantee today’s and future society's health care and quality of life. Students learn about the ethical, socio-economic and sustainability aspects of the biomedical engineering profession and get to know medical device regulations and the organisation of our health care system. In the fast-evolving field of biomedical engineering, the Master’s programme also stimulates an attitude of live-long learning. Students participate to extra-muros activities as the Biomedical Industry Day, the MEDICA fair in Düsseldorf, and company and field trips.

This programme, organised jointly by Ghent University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, delivers academically formed engineers of an outstanding international level. Students get naturally trained to function in a multidisciplinary and international team through the multidisciplinary programme (with lecturers from diverse faculties and research areas) and the multidisciplinary projects for which they work together with international students. Students acquire excellent communication skills in oral and written reporting.

The study programme consists of 120 ECTS-credits spread over four twelve-week terms:

• 49 ECTS-credits worth of mandatory course units on established and newly emerging biomedical engineering disciplines.
• 39 ECTS-credits worth of project work staggered over the two years, including a computational course (students choose one course out of 4 different application domains) and the master thesis (24 ECTS-credits).
• 32 ECTS-credits worth of elective course units to shape your individual curriculum with options to specialize in Mechanics and Materials, Neuro-engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health, Radiation Physics or Sensors and Devices. Students include minimally one elective that relates to WHO’s sustainable development goals. The Radiation Physics specialization track is recognized by FANC and may result in the recognition of ‘Expert in Medical Radiation Physics’ pending completion of additional compulsory internships in a hospital (beyond the MSc in Biomedical Engineering.

Students are encouraged to use some of the elective space for internships in industry and/or research institutions. Students are equally stimulated to an international study experience and spend one term of the 1st or 2nd master, or the full 2nd master, abroad.

Master's Dissertation

The programme culminates with the Master's Dissertation. It consists of substantial, original and high-level academic research that is to be elaborated individually by the student and thus with a high degree of independence. All the while, however, the student is surrounded and supported by a research team. This independently conducted research, together with the written report and oral presentation is the ultimate demonstration of the students' ability to familiarize themselves with a new relevant biomedical engineering problem, study the problem on a high scientific level, and to report on the subject in various ways (Master’s dissertation, poster, oral public presentation).

Programme mobility

The basic biomedical engineering course units are, in principle, offered in parallel at both universities, while the more specialist course units are either taught at Ghent University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel or together. We take into consideration optimal student and teaching staff mobility. For the elective course units and the Master’s dissertation, students are free to choose between Ghent University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel or one of the (international) partner institutions with which either university has a bilateral agreement. Erasmus+ gives students the opportunity to study abroad as well, using the mobility window that is part of the second year. Students can choose to spend either one term of the 1st or 2nd master, or to spend the full 2nd master abroad.

The interuniversity programme board overlooks each student's individual curriculum and might impose (a limited number) of course units, depending on their previously acquired credits and competences. As each student's trajectory is assessed on an individual basis, it is important to apply in a timely fashion. This ensures a careful study of individual track records and an optimal selection of course units.

Biomedical engineers find employment in industry (medical devices and technology, consultancy, software development, production and distribution industry, pharmaceutical industry, …), in hospitals (university hospital labs, as well as in university and/or general hospital management), in universities and research institutes, notified bodies and regulatory affairs, and in government (government and advisory bodies). It goes without saying that biomedical engineers are wanted for all generic academic engineering jobs.