Biomedical Engineering BEng

This course introduces students to  the anatomy of the human body and examines the organisation, structure and function of organs, tissues and cells in a healthy human body. It then considers this information from an engineering perspective, examining both natural and replacement biomaterials to allow students to  (1) understand how engineering techniques are used to support, monitor and repair damaged human tissues (2) understand the reasons why biomaterials have the properties that they do and what properties these materials must have; (3) learn how biomaterials can be used to solve current healthcare challenges.

This module will introduce the application of engineering principles to biological and medical problems and develop the fundamental skills necessary to succeed including key laboratory skills, programming, CAD, group work, peer assessment and presentation skills. It will also introduce students to important employability concepts to provide them with an awareness of the knowledge areas and skills that are needed in order to contribute to the development of the fast-growing field of biomedical engineering. It will also help create links with and draw on the other modules that students will take in year 1.The module also includes a focused, week-long, cross-faculty interdisciplinary design activity aimed at equipping students with essential teamwork, design, problem-solving, and communication skills. Particular attention is paid to employability, sustainability, and inclusivity. Through real-life engineering projects, students are introduced to tackling complex challenges.

This module aims to reinforce your previous knowledge and to develop new basic mathematical techniques needed to support the engineering subjects taken at Years 1 and 2.  It also provides a foundation for your Year 2 study of mathematics in engineering. The module is delivered via online lectures, reinforced with weekly interactive problem classes.

This dynamic module provides a comprehensive exploration of biomanufacturing, focusing on the innovative production of essential products using living systems. You will gain a foundational understanding of the burgeoning biotechnology industry, learning about the diverse range of products across its various sectors, showcasing how living systems are harnessed to produce a diverse array of products.

You will explore the intricate workings of host cell systems, such as yeast and E. coli, which are the very backbone of industrial bio-manufacturing. You will gain a deep understanding of microbiology as you explore cell growth kinetics in both batch and continuous systems, linking these principles to the production of vital outputs like protein biopharmaceuticals and fatty acid fuels, learn about the crucial process of fermentation and discover innovative strategies like metabolic engineering and synthetic biology used to enhance cellular productivity.

Through engaging case studies and practical laboratory sessions, you'll see how genetic and metabolic engineering revolutionize product creation. By the end of this module, you will be equipped with a robust understanding of biological engineering, microbial processes, novel bioproducts, enzymatic catalysis, and the transformative potential of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering.

This module introduces the concepts and analytical tools for predicting the behaviour of combinations of passive circuit elements, resistance, capacitance and inductance driven by ideal voltage and/or current sources which may be ac or dc sources. The ideas involved are important not only from the point of view of modelling real electronic circuits but also because many complicated processes in biology, medicine and mechanical engineering are themselves modelled by electric circuits. The passive ideas are extended to active electronic components; diodes, transistors and operational amplifiers and the circuits in which these devices are used. Transformers, magnetics and dc motors are also covered.

This module teaches the principles of mechatronics, embedded programming, and linear systems modelling. 

You will be introduced to the concept of engineering systems and how to model and analyse them using a range of mathematical tools. The concepts will be demonstrated through examples in different application domains such as bio-robotic systems. 

You will develop programming skills through lectures and laboratories to implement embedded programming with mechatronic components and systems. 

Through practical work, you will also learn fundamental concepts and gain hands-on skills in mechatronics, including sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, CAD design and basic fabrication techniques such as laser-cutting and 3D printing in a laboratory.

The module introduces solid mechanics and fluid dynamics descriptions of the human body, considering its structure and performance as a physical machine. The underlying mathematical descriptions used to describe solid and fluid dynamic effects in the body are discussed along with limitations of these approaches. The structural characteristics of human bones and tissue are explored, together with the mechanical functions of the skeleton and musculature. Fluid dynamic characteristics of the body are introduced and used to examine the behaviour of blood flow in the arteries and veins.

Much of engineering involves designing, undertaking and analysing the results from experimental studies. This module gives students a chance to do so using the Diamond Pilot Plant and other unit operation experiments as the test bed. Core to good experimental design and analysis is a sound grounding in applied statistics which will be covered as part of this module. Student teams will be given open ended laboratory investigations. Students will be introduced to how large datasets can be used to implement machine learning. They will design experiments and visit the lab on several occasions to collect data for analysis. Results will be presented as written technical reports

This module follows on from 'An Introduction to Bioengineering' delivered in year 1, and continues the integration of the course modules delivered in year 1 and year 2, while providing links to modules in years 3/4.  It will build on the knowledge and skills covered in year 1 and allow students to develop teamwork, practical, planning, analysis and scientific writing  skills through the organisation, management and implementation of a short practical project. The module will also use flipped learning sessions to teach key skills in statistical analysis of data for biomedical engineers, using examples drawn from the field of Bioengineering.

This module delivers a comprehensive foundation in the design, intelligence and integration of modern robotic systems. The module begins with the physical aspects of robotics, examining diverse motion mechanisms, mobility modalities and the fundamental components—actuators, mechanisms and sensors—that dictate robot function. You will cover essential concepts in mechanical design and systems integration necessary for robot fabrication and assembly. You will also investigate the human element early on, covering human-robot interaction (HRI) and the broader societal and ethical implications of robotic technology. 

The focus then transitions to robot autonomy and perception. You will establish a strong grounding in computer vision, learning how visual data is processed in order for a robot to interpret its environment. This leads into the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI) in robotics, where you will be introduced to how modern AI techniques enable robots to perform complex tasks with advanced sensory perception.

This module introduces advanced mathematical methods used to solve core problems in electrical, electronic, and mechatronic engineering systems.

You will learn to use mathematical techniques to analyse signals, enabling the calculation of signal power and frequency response. You will also learn to model linear systems mathematically, decomposing them into characteristic modes to calculate time evolution, determine stability conditions, and implement noise reduction strategies.

You will gain foundational skills in regression, optimisation, and probability, enabling you to develop the machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms used in modern autonomous systems.

Finally, you will explore engineering problems in multiple dimensions through vector calculus—the natural language of fields and waves. This framework will enable you to design and analyse physical components such as transformers, transmission lines, waveguides, and semiconductor devices.

In this module, you will learn how to model, analyse, and design both control and communication systems. You will explore how signals are represented, transmitted, received, and affected by noise, and how to calculate key performance metrics. You will also be introduced to the foundations of radio-frequency circuit analysis which is the cornerstone of modern communication architectures.  

You will also study the role of feedback in shaping dynamic system behaviour, learning to analyse stability and performance, and design controllers using classical and modern methods. Throughout the module, you will apply these concepts to practical engineering problems, integrating modelling, analysis, and design. By the end, you will have the skills to evaluate system performance, design effective solutions, and apply your knowledge to real-world communication and control challenges. 

You will gain practical experience in applying theoretical concepts in the laboratory and reporting the experimental results.

The course introduces the fundamental principles of equilibrium and mass transfer kinetics in multicomponent systems and applies these principles to analysis and design of separation process. Thermodynamics concepts from Year 1 are extended to non-ideal, multicomponent mixtures and applied to phase equilibria. These equilibria are then used to design and rate staged separation processes. The kinetics of mass transfer are introduced with molecular diffusion in gases, liquids and solids. Links are made between the transport of momentum, heat and mass. Convective mass transfer is also covered and the mass transfer coefficient, and methods for its calculation, are introduced. This then leads to the analysis and design of mass transfer over various systems and unit operation.

This course examines key processes within the body including cell adhesion, cell communication, the toxic response, and the immune response. It also highlights the current materials of the different classes (metals, polymers, ceramics and composites) that are currently used for implants. It then explores the ways that implanted biomaterials, both synthetic and natural, can positively and negatively influence these processes. Students will learn how the body's response to implanted biomaterials can be modulated through both physical and chemical changes to biomaterial properties. Case studies of hard and soft tissue implants will be discussed and examples of adverse reactions highlighted

In this module, a diverse range of industrial speakers are invited to deliver seminars on their career and professional experience. Many will be former course alumni, and all are recognised experts and leaders in their respective fields. They work across start-ups to multinational companies and span many stages of career progression, from recent graduates to board level roles. Students will hear about potential career pathways and related career decisions taken by the speakers, alongside practical application advice from active employers. Opportunities for networking, interaction, discussion and debate with speakers are expected and encouraged. From this module students gain important insights that will allow them to enhance their own employability and present themselves effectively in the global job market.

The purpose of this module is for students to gain knowledge and experience in designing and commercialising medical and assistive devices and implants, highlighting the role of Biomedical Engineers/Bioengineers in innovation, entrepreneurship, and responsible, financially informed design across the full translation pathway.Students will learn the principles of medical device and implant design, including identifying clinical needs, stakeholder engagement, market analysis, and concept generation and selection. The module covers key aspects of commercialisation such as intellectual property (IP) strategy, regulatory pathways, business models, costing and pricing strategies, reimbursement considerations, funding routes, and early-stage investment. Students will also examine security and data protection requirements, particularly for software-enabled, connected, or AI-based medical devices, alongside sustainability considerations including lifecycle analysis, material selection, manufacturability, and environmental impact.In addition, the module explores design parameters and specifications, risk/benefit ratio assessment, preclinical safety and efficacy testing, evaluation of clinical performance, and the design of clinical trials. Emphasis is placed on RandD strategy, ethical considerations in animal and human testing, and the entrepreneurial process of bringing a medical device from concept to market, including balancing technical performance with financial viability, regulatory compliance, security, and sustainability constraints. Case studies and topical discussions are used throughout to support understanding of real-world industry challenges and to develop the skills required to translate innovative medical technologies into practical and scalable healthcare solutions.

Students will undertake an individual, original research investigation under the supervision of one or more members of academic staff. The project is usually within the supervisor's research area and often requires the student to embed within the supervisor's research group. The project may involve laboratory-based research, computational and modelling studies, or research into other aspects of biomedical engineering within society. All projects require students to complete a comprehensive literature survey which involves the critical reading of original research papers and review articles, before carrying out novel research into a defined aspect of the project. A report of the work undertaken, the outcomes generated and the conclusions that can be drawn from the work is submitted at the end of the project.

This module introduces core concepts in human anatomy, physiology, and medical imaging technology. It covers the structure and function of major body systems, with a focus on systemic anatomy and the physiology of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. You will learn the fundamental principles of medical imaging and explore how technologies using both ionising and non-ionising electromagnetic radiation - such as X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - support diagnosis and patient care. Emphasis is also placed on understanding human physiological function and developing problem-solving skills relevant to biomedical engineering.

The complexity of the geometry and boundary conditions of structures within the body are such that the physical governing equations rarely have closed-form analytical solutions. This module describes some of the numerical techniques that can be used to explore physical systems, with illustrations from biomechanics, biofluid mechanics, disease treatment and imaging processes. This includes discussion of the finite difference and finite element methods and a comparison of the approaches. Formal teaching elements are supported by more practical sessions in which the student will apply both hand-written and commercial codes to investigate problems in the medical sphere.

A central challenge in modern robotics is the requirement to operate effectively outside of highly controlled factory environments. Advanced robotic systems must move across complex terrain, interact with delicate objects, or operate at extreme scales. This shift necessitates the development of highly adaptable systems that integrate advanced mechanical designs with sophisticated sensing and control.

In this module, you will learn advanced design principles across four distinct robotic domains, including:-Locomotion, studying the kinematics and dynamics of limbed, underwater, and aerial systems.-Grasping and manipulation, where you will investigate robot gripper/hand design and the mechanics of contact.-Soft and biomimetic robotics, focusing on novel materials and bio-inspired movement, -Modular and micro-robotic systems, studying integration and scaling challenges in this advanced domain.

The module will be taught through a combination of lectures, computational laboratories, and systems design projects. Through these activities, you will develop the design principles and practical skills needed to model, design, integrate, control and evaluate complex mechatronic systems using industry-standard platforms.

In this module, we will show you how to design, implement and evaluate modern control systems from start to finish. You will explore how to model and analyse dynamic systems using both first-principles and data-driven approaches, and how to identify system behaviour when models are imperfect. We'll introduce state feedback, observers, and Kalman filtering to help you estimate system states in the presence of noise and uncertainty. You will then learn to design advanced controllers, including linear quadratic regulators and linear model predictive control, and test them in both simulation and on a real system using hardware-in-the-loop setups. 

Throughout, we will emphasise responsible engineering practice, including considerations of safety, efficiency, resource use and environmental impact. By the end of the module, you will have the skills and confidence to take a control concept from theory through to real-world implementation and evaluation, considering both technical performance and sustainability.

This module considers the design of whole biomanufacturing processes with a focus on the manufacture of biotherapeutic proteins, vaccines and antibiotics. This will include a taught component where process design principles and practice will be learnt including extending the use of classical chemical engineering principles of mass balance, energy balance and mass transfer to unit operations used in biomanufacturing. Assistance will be provided during the design process where the student will produce a process design and accompanying report. The course will also cover part of modern quality by design, specifically the attainment of product critical quality attributes through the control of process parameters and its ramifications on process design will be discussed.

This module introduces pharmaceutical manufacturing  (including biopharmaceuticals, biotherapeutics and vaccines) using real world examples.  It will provide a solid foundation for a successful career in this growing manufacturing sector at the forefront of combating infectious diseases, cancers, (auto)immune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetic disorders and much more. The teaching team consists of leading researchers and experts from both academia and industry.

Understanding of the key unit operations used in pharmaceutical manufacturing will be developed, including therapeutic proteins, cell/gene therapies, conventional vaccines, mRNA vaccines and mRNA therapeutics. The design, mathematical modeling and unit operations involved in these biomanufacturing processes (e.g. bioreactors and purification unit operations) will be studied.  Key topics covered include process engineering, continuous manufacturing, analytical technologies, automation, techno-economic assessment, quality by design, intellectual property and regulatory affairs.  There will be a particular focus on the latest industrial trends through a review of the current and future challenges in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

This module introduces core concepts in human anatomy, physiology, and medical imaging technology. It covers the structure and function of major body systems, with a focus on systemic anatomy and the physiology of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. You will learn the fundamental principles of medical imaging and explore how technologies using both ionising and non-ionising electromagnetic radiation - such as X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - support diagnosis and patient care. Emphasis is also placed on understanding human physiological function and developing problem-solving skills relevant to biomedical engineering.

The lecture course will continue the systems-based introduction to human physiology and anatomy introduced in level 2 and explore through lectures the tissue engineering approaches to cope with disease, failure and old age in body systems. The emphasis is placed primarily on generic technologies of relevance to tissue engineering recognising that this is an enormous and growing field. Thus, the first part of the course focuses on generic issues relevant to tissue engineering of any tissues and then for the remainder of the course exemplar tissues are selected to illustrate current tissue engineering approaches and identify the challenges that remain ahead. 

The lectures are supported by linked tutorials which focus on: (a) assessing the students understanding of their current knowledge so that they achieve immediate and informal feedback, and(b) giving the students the experience of working in small groups to apply what they have learnt in the preceding lectures to current problems. Thus a key feature of this module is to stimulating the students in critical thinking, essentially by giving them a toolkit to equip them to look critically at any tissue engineering challenge and come up with pertinent questions and experimental approaches.