Medical Engineering MSc

Course overview

Please note: applications for this course open on the 1^st October 2024.

Medical engineering combines the design and problem-solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to contribute to medical device solutions and interventions for a range of diseases and trauma.

This exciting and challenging course will give you a broad knowledge base in this rapidly expanding field, as well as allowing you to specialise through a choice of optional modules.

We emphasise the multidisciplinary nature of medical engineering and the current shift towards the interface between engineering and the life sciences. You could focus on medical electronics, biomaterials or joint replacement technology among a host of other topics.

Based in the School of Mechanical Engineering this course will also encourage you to consider different perspectives towards medical engineering through teaching from the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Leeds University Business School.

Our School’s Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) is actively engaged in ensuring this course meets the needs of industry and reflects trends in the sector. IAB members also contribute to talks that feed into our taught modules and project work, ensuring the curriculum is challenging and relevant. This means you’ll be learning the latest innovations, preparing you for working in industry.

Why study at Leeds:

• This Masters degree is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
• Our globally-renowned research conducted right here on campus feeds directly into the course, shaping your learning with the latest thinking.
• Benefit from interdisciplinary teaching with parts of the course taught by academics from the School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and Leeds University Business School.
• Advance your knowledge and skills in a wide range of areas, preparing you for an exciting and challenging career in medical engineering.
• Tailor the degree to suit your specific interests with a broad selection of optional modules to choose from, including everything from biomaterials to functional joint replacement technology and biomechatronics – plus many more.
• Build industry experience, conducting a team design project and an individual professional project, using multi-disciplinary approaches to achieve a solution to a programme-specific and industry-relevant design problem.
• Access our School’s impressive range of specialist facilities in materials screening analysis, joint simulation and heart valve simulation plus industry-standard software and CAD facilities.
• Experience expert theoretical and practical teaching delivered by a programme team made up of academics and researchers from the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering.
• Enhance your career prospects by taking advantage of our strong links with industry like DePuy-Synthes and NHS Blood and Transplant which give you the chance to connect with our industry contacts and potential employers through talks, networking sessions and, in some cases, teaching too.
• Secure the career you want and join our successful alumni who now work for many excellent medical organisations like the NHS.

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Accreditation

Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

Accreditation is the assurance that a university course meets the quality standards established by the profession for which it prepares its students.

This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council.

This Masters degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning to Masters Level for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng)*.

*It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.

Course details

During semester 1, you'll learn the theoretical knowledge that will become the fundamentals of the rest of your studies, including your individual research project.

Core modules will give you a background in experimental design and analysis within medical engineering. You’ll look at computational and biological methodologies alongside statistical data analysis and different data visualisation techniques to lay the foundations of your studies.

You'll also take part in a team design project, working with peers to a specific design brief taking into consideration factors such as environmental impact, cost implications and more.

Depending on your academic or professional background, you may decide to take skills modules to fill the gaps in your knowledge. There are optional modules such as advanced manufacturing, advanced finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics analysis and engineering computational methods to build your portfolio of engineering skills.

Furthermore, there are additional optional modules in each semester which will allow you to build on this knowledge and focus on specialist topics that suit your own interests and career intentions. You could focus on biomechatronics and medical robotics, surface engineering or medical electronics and E-health, and a range of other topics.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Medical Engineering MSc in the course catalogue

Compulsory modules

Experimental Methods and Analysis – 15 credits

This module offers you theoretical and practical training required for design of experiments and data processing to address engineering problems.

Professional project – 60 credits

Throughout the course, you’ll undertake a professional project that will require you to make use of professional skills, including project planning, risks and management. This project allows you to apply what you’ve learned to a piece of research, focusing on a real-world problem, and it can be used to explore and develop your specific interests.

You’ll review the literature around your topic and plan the project, before completing the design, analysis, computation, experimentation and writing up in the summer months.

Past projects include:

• Investigating aspects of wear in total disc replacements.
• Finite element analysis of tissue-engineered structures.
• Determining properties of bone and cement augmentation in vertebroplasty.
• Cartilage tribology.
• Investigating 3D printing of a bone substitute.

A proportion of projects are formally linked to industry and can include spending time at the collaborator’s site over the summer.

Team Design Project – 15 credits

Alongside your professional project, you’ll also participate in a group activity. You'll take a multidisciplinary approach to achieve a solution to a programme-specific, industrially-relevant design problem.

Optional modules

Please note: The modules listed below are indicative of typical options.

Medical Electronics and E-Health – 15 credits

In this module, you will gain a knowledge and understanding of how electronics technology is used in medical applications and healthcare, and to consider a range of possible future developments in this field.

Managing for Innovation –15 credits

This module prepares you to lead innovation initiatives in both large and established organizations as well as in new and growing ventures. The module navigates between different concepts and perspectives in order to unveil how organizations take strategic advantage from incremental and radical changes in products, services, business models and societal aspirations.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis – 15 credits

Learn how to competently perform computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis with commercial software packages used in industry.

Structure and Functional Biomechanics – 15 credits

On completion of this module, you will develop an overview and applied knowledge of anatomical structures and functional biomechanics, and be able to describe and locate anatomical positions and directional terms, planes, and sections; and demonstrate an awareness of the layers of structural organisation in the human body and relate this to mechanical function at a tissue and whole body level. You will also have the opportunity to develop laboratory skills in dissection (of animal tissue sourced from the food chain) and recording this as an “industry standard” standard operating procedure.

Engineering Computational Methods – 15 credits

Be introduced to the basic computational methods used to solve engineering problems modelled by ordinary differential equations and parabolic or hyperbolic partial differential equations. You will also learn how to implement the learned methods in practice. Engineering simulation software packages rely on computational methods and a good understanding is crucial to knowledgeably use them.

Fundamentals of Tribology – 15 credits

Tribology is the study of Friction, Lubrication, and Wear. But more importantly it is the study of how engineering materials interact at the surface. The success of engineered systems will often depend on these interactions. With a strong foundation delivered through in-person lectures and guest seminars, the application of tribology and its current challenges will be introduced across the mechanical, medical (biotribology), automotive and aeronautical engineering disciplines.

Surface Engineering and Coatings – 15 credits

The development of Surface Engineering and Advanced Coatings is a National Competency according to the Technology Strategy Board. This module will introduce surface technologies across different manufacturing sectors from mechanical, automotive, medical, space and aerospace applications. Surface engineering methods and the surface characterisation techniques will be introduced.

Biomaterials – 15 credits

Develop a fundamental understanding of the properties and applications of biomaterials, both natural and synthetic that are used in contact with biological systems in the area of total joint replacement and to acquaint students with the interactions between biomaterials and the human body that lead to failure of devices.

Functional Joint Replacement Technology – 15 credits

Replacing natural joints enables the population to maintain mobility later in life. During this module, you will understand the process of design and evaluation of a replacement joint, as it is important to understand the clinical aspects of joint replacement and the factors that influence the success of a design. You will also learn how the analysis of the biomechanics of the natural joint, implications of the method of fixation and wear of the materials used, are essential to the success of a design.

Biomechatronics and Medical Robotics – 15 credits

Biomechatronics is the application of mechatronic engineering to human biology. The aim of this module is to provide you with an understanding of biomechatronic and Medical Robotic engineering systems challenges, solutions and analysis.

Advanced Finite Element Analysis – 15 credits

Build advanced theoretical and practical knowledge to enable performance of complex Finite Element Methods (FEM) in structural mechanics using commercial software packages used in industry.

Advanced Manufacturing – 15 credits

Learn traditional and new innovative manufacturing processes and assembly techniques that are commercially available. The module will also cover the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field including elements of research.

Learning and teaching

Our groundbreaking research feeds directly into teaching, and you’ll have the opportunity to be taught by academics who are at the forefront of their disciplines. You’ll have regular contact with teaching staff through lectures, seminars, tutorials, small group work and project meetings. Some modules make use of online learning methods or a short course format.

Independent study is also important to the course, as you develop your problem-solving and research skills as well as your subject knowledge.

You'll be assigned a personal tutor, who will maintain contact with you throughout the year and offer pastoral guidance. They will help you to settle into the university and clarify any procedures, as well as helping you prepare for employment on graduation. You'll also receive administrative support from the School’s dedicated Student Education Support office.

Active research environment

You’ll learn in an exciting research environment where breakthroughs are being made in your discipline. This course is closely linked to our Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (IMBE), which focuses on research and education in the fields of medical devices and regenerative medicine. It focuses on innovating and translating new therapies into practical clinical applications.

IMBE is one of the forerunners in medical device testing and development, with a strong history of partnering with industry. Throughout your degree you'll be taught by experts who are leaders in the field and be directly engaged with their cutting-edge research.

Industry links

We have strong links with industry, including organisations like DePuy Synthes, NHS Blood and Transplant and Tissue Regenix. These links help reinforce this Masters degree, helping you to develop a grounded perspective, as well as providing you with recruitment possibilities. In addition to the industrial experience of many School staff, you'll have numerous contacts with industry representatives throughout the year.

Our university itself is well-positioned within the Leeds city region, an industrial hub for medical technologies with which we have links to. Throughout your degree you may have the opportunity to connect with our industry contacts through networking sessions and may have the opportunity to be taught by some.

Specialist facilities

We have an impressive range of world-class facilities to support your studies. In addition to our advanced CAD facilities for design work, we have the latest industry-standard software for computational fluid dynamics and finite element modelling of material stress analysis, programming and structural and multidisciplinary optimisation.

You may also make use of the School's other laboratories as well as manufacturing facilities including 3D printing and machine tools such as lathes and CNC machines in our new integrated workshop for students taking the Advanced Manufacturing module. These facilities are also available for those students that have selected a lab based project, or need to manufacture components for their project.

Our world-class facilities in materials screening analysis, joint simulation, surface analysis, heart valve simulation and tensile and fatigue testing allow us to push the boundaries in medical engineering.

Programme team

Academics and researchers from within the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering are at the heart of the programme’s delivery team. Specialist modules are also taught by members of the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Leeds University Business School.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed through a variety of assessment approaches to test different knowledge and skills. Assessments will enable you to demonstrate your competency in a particular skill, as well as measuring the extent of your knowledge and understanding. They are designed to be fair and inclusive.

We will use different forms of assessment including written examinations (held at the end of each semester) and coursework that also develops key transferable skills that will be relevant to your future professional practice, such as project reports, teamworking and presentations.

Assessments will develop your ability to bring together evidence from a variety of sources, and to critically understand and evaluate. You will also have frequent opportunities to develop your understanding of assessment and to improve your performance, for example through formative assessments with feedback, guided marking, peer review and opportunities to practise key assessment methods.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in engineering, a physical science, mathematics. A medical degree or allied subject is acceptable where the candidate also has demonstrable knowledge of mathematics and physics.

We may ask for further detailed module information where necessary.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Engineering (6 weeks) and Language for Science: Engineering (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Please note: applications for this course open on the 1^st October 2024.

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

30 June 2025 – International applicants

12 September 2025 – UK applicants

If you're still unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Mechanical Engineering

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions Team

Email: pgmech@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £14,500 (Total)

International: £33,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Career opportunities

There is global growth in MedTech, and certainly a huge demand within the Leeds city region. The University of Leeds is recognised for medical technologies, offering graduates of this course a level of distinctiveness which is attractive to employers. The specialist skill set and advanced knowledge you’ll be equipped with from this course will give you everything you need to pursue the career you want and excel in this field.

Plus, the University of Leeds is in the top 5 most targeted universities in the UK by graduate recruiters, according to High Fliers’ The Graduate Market in 2024 report.

Career destinations and opportunities for graduates of this course are diverse. This course will also prepare you for further studies as a researcher in industry or at PhD level. Our graduates have secured positions at companies such as:

• Bioengineer, DePuy Synthes
• Engineer, Institute for the control of medical devices
• Doctor, NHS
• Midwife, NHS Oxford
• Doctor, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Surgeon, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust
• Research Engineer/Physicist, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Consultant, Health Care & Project Management
• Senior Executive, Biocon
• Researcher, European Commission project MEDDICA
• Physicist, Medical Device Authority

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one. We have a wide range of careers resources — including our award-winning Employability Team who are in contact with many employers around the country and advertise placements and jobs. They are also on hand to provide guidance and support, ensuring you are prepared to take your next steps after graduation and get you where you want to be.

• Links with industry — we have close working relationships with a number of medical organisations who you can meet and connect with at talks, networking events and sometimes teaching too.
• Employability events — we run a full range of events including careers fairs in specialist areas and across broader industries — all with employers who are actively recruiting for roles.
• MyCareer system — on your course and after you graduate, you’ll have access to a dedicated careers portal where you can book appointments with our team, get information on careers and see job vacancies and upcoming events.
• Qualified careers consultants — gain guidance, support and information to help you choose a career path. You’ll have access to 1-2-1 meetings and events to learn how to find employers to target, write your CV and cover letter, research before interviews and brush up on your interview skills.
• Opportunities at Leeds — there are plenty of exciting opportunities offered by our Leeds University Union, including volunteering and over 300 clubs and societies to get involved in.

Explore more about your employability opportunities at the University of Leeds.

Find out more about career support.