Master of Engineering (Biomedical)

Rapid advances in the understanding of the building blocks of life, basic cellular processes, new biomaterials and the widespread availability of high-speed computers has led to the current revolution in the biomedical sciences and medicine.

The Master of Engineering (Biomedical) is designed to provide students with a formal qualification in engineering at the masters level. Biomedical engineers apply engineering techniques and analyses to problem-solving in medicine and the biomedical sciences, bridging the gap between technology, medicine and biology. In this program, students may choose to focus on areas including biomechanical engineering, bioengineering, bioinformatics, biocellular engineering, biosignals, neuroengineering or clinical engineering. Our reputation for biomedical innovation in areas such as developing the bionic ear and eye, and targeted drug delivery systems, ensures students are learning from leaders in the field.

Career Outcomes

Biomedical engineers use chemistry, physics, mathematical models and computer simulation to develop new drug therapies, or to study many of the signals generated by organs such as the brain, heart and skeletal muscle. They also build artificial organs, limbs, knees, hips, heart valves and dental implants to replace lost function, or grow living tissues to replace failing organs. Graduates can expect to work in the biotechnology, biomedical, pharmaceutical, medical device and equipment industries, in research and innovation, in the health services, hospitals, or in government and consulting. Graduates may work for companies such as Cochlear, Aventis, Cell Therapies, Compumedics, Ausbiotech, GlaxoSmithKline, or for research organisations such as CSIRO or Bio21.

Dual accreditation with Engineers Australia (provisional) and EUR-ACE® allows graduates of the Master of Engineering, or the Master of Spatial Information Science, to practice as professional engineers virtually anywhere in the world. For more information see our accreditation page.

Mode

Coursework

Duration

2–3 years full-time
Available part-time.

Entry

Semester 1, Semester 2

Fees

Local CSP: $7756 per annum
International: $30,848 per annum

Further Fees Information

Detailed information about fees and funding support including local and international fee brochures, scholarships, loans and grants, youth allowance, austudy and abstudy, currency converters, the cost of living in Melbourne and financial aid, is available at:

Domestic Students

International Students

 

Entry Requirements

Prior Qualification	Entry Requirements
University of Melbourne Engineering Pathways	One of the following undergraduate degrees with a Bioengineering Systems major or sequence: Commerce Science Biomedicine An average of 65% in the final two years.
Undergraduate Engineering Degree	An undergraduate degree including: the equivalent of 25 points (2 subjects) of first year mathematics, specifically Calculus 2 and Linear Algebra (or equivalent), and the equivalent of 25 points (2 subjects) of first year biology or chemistry (or equivalent). An average of 65% in the final two years. Note: Students with a Bachelor of Engineering who seek to specialise in the same field of engineering in which they majored, are likely to receive 100 points (one year) of credit, possibly more. Exact credit can only be determined on application.
Undergraduate Degree with Limited or No Engineering Study (Including University of Melbourne Non-pathway Degrees)	An undergraduate degree including: the equivalent of 25 points (2 subjects) of first year mathematics, specifically Calculus 2 and Linear Algebra (or equivalent), and the equivalent of 25 points (2 subjects) of first year biology or chemistry (or equivalent). An average of 65% in the final two years.

English Language Requirements

All students studying at the University of Melbourne must satisfy the University’s english language entry requirements. For graduate entry, Engineering offers an alternative.

Engineering English Language Entry Requirements

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Credit for Prior Studies

The Master of Engineering is a 300 point or 3 year program. The first 100 points (1 year) is made up of foundation study tailored to students from non-engineering backgrounds. Many students who enter the program will have some prior study in engineering, which will allow them to receive credit for up to the first year of the program, reducing the program to 2 years.

Students who have studied at an institution other than the University of Melbourne must supply engineering syllabus item details from their previous institution of study, along with an original or certified copy of their academic transcript, to enable credit to be assessed at the time of application.

Application for Advanced Standing Form [PDF 190KB]

Course Structure

These course plans are examples only and provided as an indicative guide. They will vary according to a student’s undergraduate degree and the time of commencement.

Master of Engineering (Biomedical) Sample Course Plan

Preliminary year: required only for students entering from non-Engineering backgrounds.
Graduates from corresponding University of Melbourne New Generation degree pathways enter at second year.

Year 1 (Prelim)	Sem 1	Engineering Mathematics	Engineering Communication	Biomechanics and Biotransport	Fundamentals of Biosignals
	Sem 2	Biocellular Systems Engineering	Biosystems Design	Elective	Engineering Computation
Usual entry point for applicants with 100 points advanced standing.
Year 2	Sem 1	Probability and Random Models	Elective	Elective	Control Systems
	Sem 2	Biomaterials	Elective	Elective	Elective
Year 3	Sem 1	Research/ Industry Project	Biomedical Design and Regulation	Biomedical Engineering Management	Elective
	Sem 2		Biomedical Engineering Design Project	Elective

Biomedical Engineering electives are chosen from a prescribed list.

For further information on course structures, subjects and electives:

University Handbook listing

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Further Information

If you have a question which isn’t answered by the links below, please use the ‘Enquire Now’ form.

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