MSc in Biomedical Engineering University of Groningen

MSc Biomedical Engineering offers you the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on a broad range of topics within health care and technology while working with state-of-the-art medical facilities.

The current-day medical practice relies increasingly on technology. You can think of imaging the inside of your body with MRI or CT, solving heart problems by placing artificial valves or measuring stress to avoid a burn-out. Many disciplines are involved in realizing these devices: microelectronics, information technology, mechanical and material engineering.

As a biomedical engineer, you have knowledge of all these fields of expertise and you apply it to develop new devices; from ever more advanced imaging instruments to scaffolds for tissue engineering; and from sensor systems to new implants and artificial organs. Commonly, you work in multidisciplinary teams with medical doctors, engineers, biologists, and of course patients.

If you are interested in health care and technology, the Master's program Biomedical Engineering offers you the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on a broad range of topics. You will study topics in the fields of imaging techniques, physiological control engineering, rehabilitation engineering, implant engineering, cell and tissue engineering, and infection prevention, as well as aspects of medical ethics and law. You also become well-versed in medical and biological basic knowledge.

In addition, the University of Groningen offers you state-of-the-art medical facilities and unique professional cooperation with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG).

Why study this program in Groningen?

• State-of-the-art medical facilities
• Unique cooperation with the University Medical Center Groningen
• Best Master's degree program Biomedical Engineering in the Netherlands since 2016 according to Elsevier
• Our faculty is the home of the 2016 Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry, Ben Feringa, and the 1953 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Frits Zerni

2-year program; credits per year: 60 ECTS; most courses are 5 ECTS.

The program has three tracks, of which you have to choose one. All courses are compulsory. Each track in the BME program offers track-related courses, in addition to general BME-courses that are shared amongst the tracks. All tracks include an internship at the end of the first year and a master's project at the end of the second year.

Internships and master's projects can be conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), companies, or other hospitals in the Netherlands and abroad.

Program options

• Medical Device Design (track)
• HTSM Honours Master (honors program)
• Biomaterials Science and Engineering (track)
• Medical Imaging (track)

Study abroad

• Study abroad is recommended
• For an average of 10 weeks
• Maximum of 60 EC

Exchange: All our science and engineering programs offer possibilities to study abroad at a number of partner institutions. Our partners include top-100 universities in Europe (for example in Germany, UK, and Sweden) and in the USA, China, South-East Asia, and South America. For Biomedical Engineering, the best way to realize an exchange section in your program is by choosing to do an internship and/or Master's project abroad.

Job prospects

After completion of the Master's in Biomedical Engineering, there are numerous employment possibilities. The multidisciplinary nature of Biomedical Engineering adds significantly to employment possibilities in both research, design, and management-oriented jobs.

Biomedical engineers may contribute to research, engineering design, and product development, to business, managerial, quality, and regulatory aspects of engineering, and to a safe introduction of technology in hospitals. Biomedical Engineers are also experts who may advise on the development of long-term strategies and policies in the field of medical life sciences:

• In the industry, a BME alumnus can become a member of the R&D department, work on innovative product development or improve existing ones. In large companies, biomedical engineers are educated to organize clinical trials in hospitals.
• In universities or research institutes, a biomedical engineer can work as a PhD-student for 4 years on a scientific project, e.g. evaluation of new diagnostic imaging techniques, development of novel biomaterials, or implant prototypes. Another possibility as a Ph.D. student is to work on the application of new therapeutic techniques in oncology or the design of new prostheses.
• In hospitals, a biomedical engineer can work as a safety officer to increase patient safety by introducing training sessions on applying new diagnostic tools or new artificial organs.
• Government organizations can hire BME alumni to work on certification of new medical devices, new Master’s programs, or new legislation.
• When you follow the Medical Imaging track, you are eligible to start post-academic training in Medical Physics. As a medical physicist, you are a clinical specialist in health care with practical knowledge of physics and technology. You are responsible for the safe and responsible introduction of new and existing medical equipment and technology for the optimization of diagnostic imaging and treatment.
• You can become an entrepreneur, start your own company to further develop the medical device that you designed during your Master’s project, patent it, write a business plan and finally bring it to the market