BEng (Hons) Biomedical Engineering with foundation year

• 48 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
• Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Relevant mathematics, engineering or science-related subjects are preferred.
• You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English, Mathematics and preferably Science.
• You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

Biomedical engineering is a rapidly evolving field in which engineering principles and technologies are applied to medical and biological problems in healthcare, rehabilitation and advanced materials. As a BEng (Hons) Biomedical Engineering with foundation year graduate, you should have developed a broad skill set, including excellent communication abilities, spatial and three-dimensional conceptual awareness, commercial awareness, attention to detail, the ability to work under pressure, and excellent problem-solving capabilities.

What can I do with this qualification?

Biomedical engineers have varied careers in many environments, such as hospitals, private and public research facilities, medical institutions, universities, and government agencies. After successfully completing the course, you could be employed by the NHS or a private company (in engineering or related disciplines), develop a career in medical technology or the pharmaceutical industry, enter academic or private biomedical research, or work in a range of healthcare organisations.

Alternatively, you may choose to move on to a master’s or doctoral degree specialising in medical engineering or medical physics, or progress to a medical degree.

If you’re attracted to a career in medicine, you may also be interested in becoming a physician associate (PA). Physician associates work under the direct supervision of a doctor and carry out many similar tasks, including patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment. The University of Bolton’s MSc Physician Associate Studies course is open to BEng (Hons) Biomedical Engineering graduates who achieve at least an upper second class (2.1) honours degree, and takes only two years to complete.

Alternative career options

Biomedical engineering graduates can also use their qualification to enter a range of other careers. For some of these roles, both relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Career areas include:

• Teaching and education
• Mechanical engineering
• Electrical and electronic engineering
• Materials engineering
• Medical physics
• Medical administration
• Research and development
• Clinical science
• Medicine
• Consultancy
• Technical writing

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2023-2024 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

For 2023-2024 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year. The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2023-2024 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

We deliver a varied course programme of theoretical and practical lessons, lectures and workshops designed to give you a comprehensive overview of the biomedical engineering profession. We’ll guide you through the principles of your subject in structured lectures and build on this knowledge with tutorials, which will test your problem-solving skills. In many cases, lessons are interactive, incorporating elements of discussion and feedback.

Working with case studies based on real events and problems, you’ll be encouraged to develop and apply skills in practical workshops and within a laboratory setting, where you’ll be expected to perform experiments and deepen your understanding of the biomedical engineering discipline.

Assessments take the form of coursework, mini-projects, and both individual and group assignments, as well as design reports, presentations and examinations. You’ll also be required to develop and maintain an electronic personal development plan, which will form the basis of your professional development plan – required when you apply for membership of associated professional bodies.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Foundation Principles 0
• Foundation Principles 1
• Engineering Study Skills
• Engineering Technology
• Principles of Biomolecular Science
• Molecular Principles of Biomedical Engineering
• Introduction to Biomechanics
• Medical Sensory Devices and Measurement
• Clinical Anatomy and Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering Projects and Systems
• Biomedical Engineering Modelling & Analysis
• Medical Instrumentation and Control
• Intermediate Biomechanics
• Technology in Advanced Musculoskeletal Diagnosis and Treatment
• Group Project and Investigation
• Biomechatronics and Medical Devices
• Medical Equipment Technology
• Simulation of Medical Engineering Systems
• Advanced Biomechatronic Systems
• Advanced Biomechanics
• BEng Individual Project
• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
• Management and Enterprise in Engineering
• Molecular and Synthetic Bioengineering

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.