Biomedical Engineering with a Foundation Year BEng MEng
2024-25 entryA technology driven subject with a focus on enhancing human health and wellbeing, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of core engineering principles applied to the human body and biological systems. Alongside a core biomedical engineering degree course, there is also the option to experience a year in industry.
Key details
- A Levels BBB; BBC
Other entry requirements - UCAS code H160
- 5 years / Full-time
- September start
- Find out the course fee
- FY Foundation year
- View 2025-26 entry
Explore this course:
Course description
Be at the forefront of the rapidly growing medical technology sector and save and improve people’s lives, through this well-established biomedical engineering with a foundation year degree.
If you don't have the usual scientific or mathematical background for an engineering degree, a foundation year is for you. After successfully completing the foundation year, you can start the BEng or MEng degree.
Our expert academic team, composed of industry experts, clinicians and academics, has been teaching biomedical engineering at Sheffield for over a decade. They’ll show you how traditional engineering principles can be used to heal the human body, by integrating disciplines from across the field of engineering.
Tissue engineering, biotechnology, mechanics and robotics – we teach you how to use technology to give people a healthier and more fulfilling life.
The BEng offers unparalleled flexibility to allow you to tailor your course to your interests. By choosing to take an MEng, you’ll be taking a longer period of study with an integrated masters. Your first year gives an introduction to bioengineering, at the end of which you’ll begin to broadly tailor the course towards a specialism, by choosing one of the following four specialisms for the rest of the course:
- Biomedical Engineering: use engineering principles to help safeguard and enhance human health.
- Medical Devices and Systems: develop novel devices and improve clinical engineering systems.
- Biomaterials Science and Tissue Engineering: apply materials engineering and cell biology principles to repair damaged body tissues and organs.
- Biomanufacturing: apply chemical engineering and cell biology principles to the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and other biologically active substances.
Because the MEng is a year longer than the BEng, you’ll have more opportunity to complete project work – sometimes in groups – tackling industrial problems and developing your management skills.
The degree will culminate in an individual project, where you’ll spend your final year working with an academic on your chosen specialism.
Why study this course?
- Top 5 for bioengineering and biomedical engineering - as rated by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. We're also one of the longest-running biomedical engineering departments in the country.
- Unique, state-of-the-art facilities - use unique biomedical spaces such as the Bio mammalian and Bio bacteria labs, along with the Microfabrication room, Electronics clean room and the Pilot Plant in the Diamond.
- Broad choice of specialisms - from your second year you can choose between four specialisms: Biomedical Engineering, Medical Devices and Systems, Biomaterials Science and Tissue Engineering, or Biomanufacturing.
- Global Engineering Challenge - join teams of students to solve engineering problems in developing countries – pushing you to develop you as a professional engineer and enhancing your career prospects.
Modules
UCAS code: H160
Years: 2024
Core modules:
- Core Foundation Mathematics
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The syllabus for MAS003 covers the common core A Level curriculum. The unit is tailored for students who have been away from mathematics for a period of time, but who will have gained some A-Level or similar qualifications. The unit covers the basic principles of algebra, geometry and calculus. Following the introduction of new material in the lectures, students have the opportunity of extensive problem solving, both in the tutorial sessions with the lecturers and in their own time.
40 credits - Introduction to Engineering
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This module will introduce the application of engineering principles to foundation year students and give the student an appreciation of the breadth of engineering activities across the faculty and identify to students what knowledge areas and skills are needed in order to contribute to their development and be successful. It will also help create links with departments and draw on the other modules that students will take in the foundation year especially maths and physics.
40 credits - Advanced Level Chemistry
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The unit covers a selection of the major concepts from areas of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry in order to develop a sound basic knowledge of chemistry corresponding to the common core A level curriculum as preparation for successful studies in the Material Sciences and Chemical Engineering.
20 credits - Elements of Physics
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PHY010 provides students with the elements of Physics required to enter the first year of an engineering course where some knowledge of Physics is needed.
20 credits
Understanding will be developed by taking a sub- set of the lectures of the more comprehensive module PHY009, namely those covering Dynamics/Mechanics; Electricity and Magnetism (autumn semester); and Oscillations, Waves, and Optics; Properties of Matter (spring semester). These will be delivered in the first 2/3rds of either semester. Problem solving and example classes are integrated into lectures.
As PHY008 teachings no practical Physics, this module is complemented by laboratory components of the 40 credit foundation year module (FCE001). - Foundation Core and Enhanced Mathematics
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This module builds on the common core curriculum from A level maths (which is a prerequisite). This unit covers enhanced comprehension of topics in pure maths, statistics, probability, and numerical methods. These topics are chosen to further prepare students for their undergraduate studies in the science and engineering faculties.
40 credits
After successfully completing the foundation year, you can start your BEng or MEng degree.
Explore bioengineering courses
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Learning and assessment
Learning
You'll learn and be taught through:
- lectures
- tutorials
- practical activities
- coursework assignments (including oral, video and poster presentations)
- online resources
Assessment
Students are assessed via a mix of the following:
- examinations
- coursework assignments
- lab work
- online tests
- reports
- group projects
- presentations
Programme specification
This tells you the aims and learning outcomes of this course and how these will be achieved and assessed.
Entry requirements
The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
BBB; BBC
BBB (any A Level); BBC, including Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology
- International Baccalaureate
- 32 (any subjects); 31, with Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology at Higher Level 5 or Standard Level 7
- BTEC Extended Diploma
- DDD in Engineering or Applied Science + GCSE Science grade 6/B and Maths grade 7/A
- BTEC Diploma
- DD in Engineering or Applied Science + A at A Level (no STEM at A Level) + GCSE Science grade 6/B and Maths grade 7/A; DD in Engineering or Applied Science + B in an A Level science subject (Physics, Chemistry, or Biology) + GCSE Maths grade 7/A; DD in Engineering or Applied Science + C in A Level Maths + GCSE Science grade 6/B
- Scottish Highers
- AABBB (any subjects); ABBBB, including Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology
- Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels
- B + BB (any A Level subjects); B + BC in Maths and either Physics, Chemistry or Biology
- Access to HE Diploma
- Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 24 at Distinction (to include 12 Maths units), and 21 at Merit + GCSE Maths grade 7/A
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If you are studying both Maths and a science (Physics, Chemistry or Biology) at A Level or equivalent, there are no additional GCSE requirements. If you are studying any other subject combination, we require GCSE science grade 6/B and Maths grade 7/A
You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification
Equivalent English language qualifications
Visa and immigration requirements
Other qualifications | UK and EU/international
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Graduate careers
Biomedical Engineering
Our graduates have become professional engineers who design medical instruments, repair body tissue and solve clinical problems through research. They work closely with materials scientists, physicians, dentists, therapists and technologists to help benefit human health. The transferable skills gained on the course have also enabled graduates to take up careers in law, finance, scientific writing and other fields.
Biomedical Engineering
Like the industry, biomedical engineering at Sheffield is interdisciplinary. You'll be taught by experts in materials, mechanical, control, electrical, chemical and biological engineering, computer science, medicine and biology.
From 3D printing and biophotonics, to tissue and bone engineering, we're helping to develop products that improve medical care and quality of life. Our research-led teaching produces multi-skilled graduates who can carry on that work.
You will develop the knowledge and skills employers are looking for by working closely with partners in the healthcare profession and in industry such as Philips, Johnson and Johnson and the NHS.
Learning and teaching takes place in one of the best biomedical engineering teaching spaces in the UK. The Diamond has industry-standard equipment for culturing and analysing cells, measuring the activity of the human body, mechanical and electrical testing of materials, 3D printing and customised software packages for developing biomedical engineering models.
Science and Engineering Foundation YearWhy choose Sheffield?
The University of Sheffield
Number one in the Russell Group
National Student Survey 2023 (based on aggregate responses)
92 per cent of our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent
Research Excellence Framework 2021
Top 50 in the most international universities rankings
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
Number one Students' Union in the UK
Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
Number one for teaching quality, Students' Union and clubs/societies
StudentCrowd 2023 University Awards
A top 20 university targeted by employers
The Graduate Market in 2023, High Fliers report
Fees and funding
Fees
Additional costs
The annual fee for your course includes a number of items in addition to your tuition. If an item or activity is classed as a compulsory element for your course, it will normally be included in your tuition fee. There are also other costs which you may need to consider.
Funding your study
Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a bursary, scholarship or loan to help fund your study and enhance your learning experience.
Use our Student Funding Calculator to work out what you’re eligible for.
Visit
University open days
We host five open days each year, usually in June, July, September, October and November. You can talk to staff and students, tour the campus and see inside the accommodation.
Subject tasters
If you’re considering your post-16 options, our interactive subject tasters are for you. There are a wide range of subjects to choose from and you can attend sessions online or on campus.
Offer holder days
If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.
Campus tours
Our weekly guided tours show you what Sheffield has to offer - both on campus and beyond. You can extend your visit with tours of our city, accommodation or sport facilities.
Apply
Contact us
- Telephone
- +44 114 222 7870
- sefy@sheffield.ac.uk
The awarding body for this course is the University of Sheffield.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.