Biomedical Engineering with Industrial Studies
Biomedical engineering is the discipline that applies the methods and principles of engineering to problems in biology and medicine. It encompasses the design of medical devices and diagnostic equipment, the development of imaging systems, the engineering of artificial tissues and biomaterials, the modelling of physiological processes, and the integration of electronic and computational systems with the human body. As healthcare becomes increasingly dependent on technology, biomedical engineers are central to improving the devices, therapies and diagnostic tools that clinicians and patients rely on.
At the University of Southampton, this five-year full-time programme combines key aspects of biomedicine, electronics and computer science with a year in industry. The industrial year gives you direct experience of engineering practice in a healthcare technology, medical devices or research environment, allowing you to relate your academic learning to current industrial and clinical challenges and to develop the professional skills that employers value. You will study the biological foundations of medicine alongside the engineering principles of electronics, signal processing, control systems, materials and design, building the integrated knowledge base that biomedical engineering demands.
Typical entry is around 184 UCAS tariff points.
Graduates go on to careers in the medical devices industry, clinical engineering in NHS hospitals, healthcare technology research and development, regulatory affairs, diagnostics, prosthetics and rehabilitation engineering. The combination of engineering and biomedical knowledge is valued across the full spectrum of health technology companies, from large multinationals to medical technology startups. Many graduates continue to postgraduate research in biomedical engineering, neurotechnology, biomaterials or related areas, and some pursue chartered engineering status.
The industrial year significantly strengthens graduate employability by providing professional experience before degree completion.