Sheffield offers the perfect balance between academia and a good social life

Having enjoyed biology and maths at A-Level, I was inspired to pursue a career at the interface of medicine and technology to be able to contribute to people’s lives.

Biomedical engineering is where medicine meets technology. Biomedical engineers take an engineering approach to solve healthcare problems, developing new diagnostic tools and therapeutics to detect and treat disease more effectively. As a rapidly developing field, biomedical engineering is an exciting place to be, with researchers constantly pushing boundaries in health and medicine.

Sheffield offers the perfect balance between academia and a good social life. There are over 300 clubs and societies to choose from at the Students’ Union, which has been ranked number one in the country for many years. Personally, I have enjoyed being involved with the International Students’ Committee, organising events that promote cultural diversity and integration within the University. The best part about being a student here is the lively campus – there’s always something to do and you’re bound to find activities that you’re interested in pursuing.

Without a doubt, I can say that the course has helped shape me into the person I am today, allowing me to pursue extra-curricular activities alongside my studies, which I believe will go a long way in my career.

Saylee Jangam

BEng Biomedical Engineering with a Year in Industry

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the course is the diversity of the content on offer. It encompasses a wide range of topics, from regenerative medicine to biomechatronics, with modules studied from seven departments. The first year introduces you to the breadth of engineering topics and you then get to choose a specialisation in the second year. This offers great flexibility in terms of tailoring the course to your interests, giving you a year to explore the different themes and choose one that appeals to you the most.

In my first year, I took a range of modules, from electronics to human anatomy. Through this, I received a good grounding in the technical concepts of medical devices, as well as how these integrate with the human body. Additionally, great value is placed on the motivation behind the course. Through tutorials, we discuss how biomedical engineering is changing healthcare in the UK and all over the world, and how it has the potential to solve major problems, especially in developing countries. These sessions are thought-provoking and are exactly what a student needs to hear from time-to-time as a reminder of how important the things we’re learning really are.

Throughout the course, I've been encouraged to explore other avenues of interest, such as taking part in the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) synthetic biology competition. My team won a gold medal for the development of a diagnostic tool to tackle antibiotic resistance. I also represented iGEM as a student delegate at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, discussing the stigma around genetic engineering and its associated safety laws.

My Year in Industry placement at Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (RB) exposed me to product development in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. I worked on medical devices, looking after the technical maintenance of products and leading a project on material wear testing. After graduation, I hope to pursue a career in academia with industrial collaborations. Without a doubt, I can say that the course has helped shape me into the person I am today, allowing me to pursue extra-curricular activities alongside my studies to help build a strong undergraduate foundation, which I believe will go a long way in my career.