Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Fact sheet

The Master's

The Master of Engineering: Biomedical Engineering programme provides students with a state-of-the-art overview of all areas in biomedical engineering: biomechanics, biomaterials, medical sensors and signal processing, medical imaging and tissue engineering. Teaching builds upon the top-class research that is conducted by the staff, most of whom are members of the Leuven Medical Technology Centre. This network facilitates industrial fellowships by our students and design projects and Master’s theses completed in industry and in internationally recognised research labs.

Biomedical engineers are educated to integrate engineering science and basic medical knowledge. This competence is trained in coursework, practical exercises, interactive sessions, a design project and a Master’s thesis project. Upon graduating, biomedical engineers are employed in the medical device industry, in hospitals, research centres and in government. The broad technological education also makes biomedical engineers attractive to various classical industrial sectors.

Profile

The ideal candidate has a broad technological background, ideally combining basic elements from mechanical and electrical engineering. The student has an interest in medicine and in the contributions of technology to medical treatments and to healthcare in general.

By the end of the curriculum, the graduate will have acquired:

• A basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry;
   
• The competence to translate engineering knowledge into the design and production of medical devices and processes;
• The competence to apply engineering knowledge for the advancement of science and technology, both in an academic context and in an industrial context;
• Gained management skills and skills to act as an integrator between engineering science and medical/clinical science and practice.

In Belgium, graduates of the Master of Engineering: Biomedical Engineering programme obtain the degree of “Burgerlijk ingenieur”.

Admission requirements

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Programme

Three courses provide the students with basic medical knowledge on anatomy, biotechnology and systems physiology. The core of the programme consists of biomedical engineering courses that cover the entire range of contemporary biomedical engineering: biomechanics (musculoskeletal and biofluid), biomaterials, medical imaging, biosensors and biosignal processing, medical device design and regulatory affairs. Elective courses allow the student to broaden and deepen his/her knowledge according to the student’s interests. A design project and a Master’s thesis bring the student closest to the daily practice of a biomedical engineer.

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Registration fee

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Studying abroad

The Faculty of Engineering at KU Leuven is involved in several Erasmus exchange programmes. For the Master of Engineering: Biomedical Engineering, this means that the student can follow one or two semesters of the first or second phase abroad, at a number of selected universities. An industrial fellowship is possible for three or six credits either between the Bachelor’s and the Master’s programme, or between the two phases of the Master’s programme. Students are also encouraged to consider the fellowships and short courses offered by
BEST (Board of European Students of Technology) or through ATHENS. KU Leuven organises a joint biomedical engineering programme with the Université Catholique de Louvain that leads to a dual degree from both universities. Interested students should contact the programme director for more information.

Career prospects

The degree of Master of Engineering: Biomedical Engineering was created to respond to increased needs for healthcare in our society. These needs result from the ageing population, the challenge to provide more and better care with less people and to obtain cost-effectiveness in our healthcare system. Industry, government, hospitals and social insurance companies require engineers with a specific training in the multidisciplinary domain of biomedical engineering.
 

A biomedical engineer acts as an integrator between medical specialists and technological specialists. He/she is able to understand medical needs and to translate them into engineering requirements. Conversely, biomedical engineers are able to design medical devices and procedures that can effectively solve problems through their integration in clinical practice. The broad technological background that is essential in biomedical engineering also makes biomedical engineers attractive to conventional industrial sectors.

More information