The Masters course in Biomaterials is multi-disciplinary. It provides students with a rich understanding of about current clinically used biomaterials and state of the art advances in research to improve these. The clinical application of these biomaterials will be demonstrated along with indepth description of materials structure and processing (e.g. polymer, composite and ceramic). The project component will allow hands-on training for the student in further developing novel biomaterials.
Who is this programme for?
Students from an engineering or medically related background who wish to pursue a career in biomaterials.
Semester 1 (Sept - Dec):
Research Methods course unit (15 credits); Lectures and workshops detailing transferable skills such as project management, time management, essay writing, oral presentation.
Master Class Course Unit (15 credits); Lectures specific to biomaterials design, characterization, manufacture and characterization. Lectures on use of stem cells with biomaterials and tissue engineering applications also included.
Structure & Mechanical Properties of Polymers (15 credits); Module covers masters level detail of polymer technology.
Clinical Applications of Biomaterials (15 credits); lectures series detailing current clinical applications of biomaterials. The module also covers a case study exercise.
Semester 2 (Jan - March):
Composite Materials (15 credits); students will learn about composite material design and implementation for biomaterials.
Nanobiomaterials (15 credits); lecture series on nanobiomaterials manufacture, characterization and use as biomaterials
Summer ( March- Sept):
Research project (90 credits); 5 month research project studying specific biomaterials design or characterisation. Student will have specifically allocated supervisor to provide training in biomaterials. Assessment: Oral presentation and write up: Research aims, hypothesis, Gantt chart, milestones, Write up project in form of journal publication for `Biomaterials' journal.
The MSc in Biomaterials will provide students the opportunity to increase knowledge and skills in the areas of specific materials design and testing for clinical application. Students will have the opportunity to take 90 taught credits with training in state of the art biomaterials design (ceramics, polymers, composites, hydrogels etc with information relating to biological assessment of these materials (e.g. stem cell response, ISO / FDA regulations). Students also have the opportunity to gain 90 credits through a specific research project where they will gain analytical skills and data processing skills relevant to biomaterials design / use.
The full MSc programme is made up of seven taught course units and a four month research project. The taught units are:
Semester 1 (Sept - Dec):
Semester 2 (Jan - March):
Summer (March - Sept):
The programme aims to further your knowlege base in biomaterial structure, manufacture and use, and to develop your critical analysis of biomaterial development and methods of application.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: [email protected]
The medical device industry is estimated to be increasing at a rate of ~15% per year (Grammenou, 2006). As such it is important to provide scientists that are equipped with the knowledge and skills for the workplace to advance this important clinical need.
The majority of graduates of this programme go on to fill key posts as biomaterials scientists, managers and consultants in academia, industry and research and development. Some advance to PhD programmes within The University of Manchester or external institutes.
Accredited by the Institute of Minerals, Materials and Mining (IOM 3 ) as meeting the Further Learning requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
This MSc will equip you with state-of-the-art knowledge of biomaterials, bioengineering, tissue engineering, medical engineering and related management topics. Delivered by experts from across UCL and eminent visiting lecturers from industry and medical charities, this interdisciplinary programme attracts physical sciences, engineering and life sciences graduates, including those with qualifications in medicine.
You will develop an advanced knowledge of topics in biomaterials and tissue engineering alongside an awareness of the context in which healthcare engineering operates, in terms of safety, environmental, social and economic aspects. You will also gain a wide range of intellectual, practical and transferable skills necessary for a career in this field.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
There are no optional modules for this programme.
Dissertation/report
Culminating in a substantial dissertation and oral presentation, the research project focuses your research interests and develops high-level presentation, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The project can be based in any relevant UCL department.
Teaching and learning
This dynamic programme is delivered through lectures, tutorials, individual and group projects, and practical laboratory work. Assessment is through written, oral and viva voce examinations, the dissertation and coursework (including the evaluation of laboratory reports, technical and project reports, problem-solving exercises, assessment of computational and modelling skills, and oral presentations).
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering MSc
There are many career opportunities and the programme is suitable for students wishing to become academics, researchers or professionals and for those pursuing senior management careers, in manufacturing or healthcare engineering
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
Delivered by leading researchers from across UCL, as well as industrial experts, you will have plenty of opportunities to network and keep abreast of emerging ideas in biomaterials and tissue engineering. Collaborating with companies and bodies such as the NHS, JRI Orthopaedics and Orthopaedics Research (UK) is key to our success and you will be encouraged to develop networks through the programme itself and through the department’s careers programme which includes employer-led events and individual coaching. We equip our graduates with the skills and confidence needed to play a creative and leading role in the professional and research community.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
There are internationally renowned research groups in biomaterials and bioengineering in UCL Engineering and you will have access to a state-of-the-art research portfolio.
In recent years, UCL Mechanical Engineering has seen unprecedented activity in refurbishing and re-equipping our laboratories. For example, six new biomaterials and bioengineering laboratories have been set up with funding from the Royal Society and Wolfson Foundation. A new biomaterials processing and forming laboratory is also available in the Materials Hub in the Engineering Building.
The programme is also delivered by leading researchers across UCL's Division of Medicine, Eastman Dental Institute, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and visiting experts from other UK organisations.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Mechanical Engineering
90%: Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering subjects; 95%: General Engineering subjects rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
A multi-disciplinary course, students will be introduced to the field of biomaterials, and important factors in the selection, design, and development of biomaterials for clinical applications. You’ll develop an understanding of biomaterials science, engineering, regenerative medicine and associated specialisms.
This course will be of particular interest to students interested in facilitating their development into the medical field aiming to contribute in the health care sector.
A friendly, forward-thinking community, our students and staff are on hand to welcome you to the department and ensure you settle into student life.
Your project supervisor will support you throughout your course. Plus you’ll have access to our extensive network of alumni, offering industry insight and valuable career advice to support your own career pathway.
Prospective employers recognise the value of our courses, and know that our students can apply their knowledge to industry. Our graduates work for organisations including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, the National Nuclear Laboratory and Saint-Gobain. Roles include materials development engineer, reactor engineer and research manager. They also work in academia in the UK and abroad.
90 per cent of our graduates are employed or in further study 6 months after graduating, with an average starting salary of £27,000, the highest being £50,000.
We have invested in extensive, world-class equipment and facilities to provide a stimulating learning environment. Our laboratories are equipped to a high standard, with specialist facilities for each area of research.
Tools and production facilities for materials processing, fabrication and testing, including wet chemical processing for ceramics and polymers, rapid solidification and water atomisation for nanoscale metallic materials, and extensive facilities for deposition of functional and structural coatings.
Our £3million advanced nuclear materials research facility provides a high-quality environment for research on radioactive waste and disposal. Our unique thermomechanical compression and arbitrary strain path equipment is used for simulation of hot deformation.
You’ll have access to newly refurbished array of microscopy and analysis equipment, x-ray facilities, and surface analysis techniques covering state-of-the-art XPS and SIMS. There are also laboratories for cell and tissue culture, and facilities for measuring electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties.
The Kroto Research Institute and the Nanoscience and Technology Centre enhance our capabilities in materials fabrication and characterisation, and we have a computer cluster for modelling from the atomistic through nano and mesoscopic to the macroscopic.
An interdisciplinary research-led department; our network of world leading academics at the cutting edge of their research inform our courses providing a stimulating, dynamic environment in which to study.
Working alongside students and staff from across the globe, you’ll tackle real-world projects, and attend lectures, seminars and laboratory classes delivered by academic and industry experts.
You’ll be assessed by formal examinations, coursework assignments and a dissertation.
The Masters in Biomedical Engineering is an interdisciplinary programme that will equip you for employment within the biomedical engineering sector. This programme addresses all the key aspects of biomedical engineering.
Modes of delivery of the MSc in Biomedical Engineering include lectures, seminars and tutorials and allow students the opportunity to take part in lab, team work and study trips in the UK. You will undertake an MSc project working on a specific research area with one of the academics.
Career opportunities include positions in rehabilitation engineering, biomaterials for reconstructive surgery, biosensors, device and implant design and development, and biosignal processing.
The course is designed to equip students with the know-how and skills for becoming an expert in materials science with nanotechnology specialisation.
You will experience the unique combination of a foundation semester in the general area of science and engineering of materials, followed by a nanoscience and nanotechnology specific semester to result in an unrivalled comprehensive nanomaterials expertise.
The course content reflects the highly interdisciplinary nature of this subject and allows students to specialise via options, and a major project.
A friendly, forward-thinking community, our students and staff are on hand to welcome you to the department and ensure you settle into student life.
Your project supervisor will support you throughout your course. Plus you’ll have access to our extensive network of alumni, offering industry insight and valuable career advice to support your own career pathway.
Prospective employers recognise the value of our courses, and know that our students can apply their knowledge to industry. Our graduates work for organisations including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, the National Nuclear Laboratory and Saint-Gobain. Roles include materials development engineer, reactor engineer and research manager. They also work in academia in the UK and abroad.
90 per cent of our graduates are employed or in further study 6 months after graduating, with an average starting salary of £27,000, the highest being £50,000.
We have invested in extensive, world-class equipment and facilities to provide a stimulating learning environment. Our laboratories are equipped to a high standard, with specialist facilities for each area of research.
Tools and production facilities for materials processing, fabrication and testing, including wet chemical processing for ceramics and polymers, rapid solidification and water atomisation for nanoscale metallic materials, and extensive facilities for deposition of functional and structural coatings.
Our £3million advanced nuclear materials research facility provides a high-quality environment for research on radioactive waste and disposal. Our unique thermomechanical compression and arbitrary strain path equipment is used for simulation of hot deformation.
You’ll have access to newly refurbished array of microscopy and analysis equipment, x-ray facilities, and surface analysis techniques covering state-of-the-art XPS and SIMS. There are also laboratories for cell and tissue culture, and facilities for measuring electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties.
The Kroto Research Institute and the Nanoscience and Technology Centre enhance our capabilities in materials fabrication and characterisation, and we have a computer cluster for modelling from the atomistic through nano and mesoscopic to the macroscopic.
An interdisciplinary research-led department; our network of world leading academics at the cutting edge of their research inform our courses providing a stimulating, dynamic environment in which to study.
Working alongside students and staff from across the globe, you’ll tackle real-world projects, and attend lectures, seminars and laboratory classes delivered by academic and industry experts.
You’ll be assessed by formal examinations, coursework assignments and a dissertation.
Biofluid Mechanics applies engineering, mathematical and physical principles of fluids to solve complex and multifaceted problems, primarily in biology and medicine, but also in aerospace and robotics.
This newly-launched MSc course is the first one-year taught course dedicated to Biofluid Mechanics. It covers a wide range of multidisciplinary training on the kinematics and dynamics of fluids related to biological systems, medical science, cardiovascular devices, numerical modelling and computational fluid dynamics.
The one-year full-time programme offers you a unique opportunity to lead the next generation of highly-skilled postgraduates that will form a new model worldwide for academia – with world-class research knowledge, industry – with highly-competitive skills in both biomedical engineering and fluid dynamics, and for society – with better training to work with clinicians.
The course is taught by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, with input from other departments across the Faculty of Engineering and the wider University. You'll be supported throughout the course by a strong team of academics with global connections. You'll benefit from a unique training and an innovative teaching and learning environment.
In Semesters 1 and 2, you'll take compulsory classes and a choice of optional classes. The remaining months are dedicated to project work, submitted as dissertation (Diploma students) or as a research thesis (MSc students).
Compulsory Classes
Optional Classes
The project provides MSc students with the opportunity to experience the challenges and rewards of independent study in a topic of their own choice; the project may involve an extended literature review, experimental and/or computational work.
The dissertation is likely to take the form of an extended literature review. Your project work will have been supported by a compulsory research methods module and specialist knowledge classes throughout the year designed to assist with technical aspects of methodology and analysis.
Classes are organised in lectures, laboratory demonstrations, practical exercises and hands-on experience with industrial software on real biofluid mechanics problems. In addition to the classes, you'll benefit from invited academic and industrial speakers, departmental seminars and knowledge exchange events.
Assessment methods include exams, coursework and the research project/thesis.
Graduates will be highly employable in the following markets and related sectors/companies, among others:
Key providers have been identified in each of the above markets. Creating links with the relevant industry and monitoring the market and employability trends will enable us to tailor the course content appropriately, and to enhance graduates’ employability.
We've already established strong partnerships with industrial companies that have offered their support, eg through the provision of software licenses, teaching material and/or collaborative research projects, including:
Biofluid mechanics applies engineering, mathematical and physical principles of fluids to solve complex and multifaceted problems primarily in biology and medicine, but also in aerospace and robotics.
Our new MRes course covers a wide range of multidisciplinary training on the kinematics and dynamics of fluids related to biological systems, medical science, cardiovascular devices, numerical modelling and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), focusing on research. The MRes differs from an MSc in that you'll have the opportunity to perform multidisciplinary research for a longer time, preparing you for a research career and equipping you with world-class research knowledge.
The course is taught by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, with input from other departments across the faculty and the University.
During the course, you'll be supported by a strong team of academics with worldwide connections and you'll be offered a unique training and innovative teaching and learning environment.
This one-year programme consists of compulsory and optional classes in the first two semesters. Each class has timetabled contact hours, delivered mainly in lectures, laboratories and tutorials. The MRes research project will be chosen and started in semester one with guidance from a supervisor. Throughout the year you'll be working on your project.
Compulsory classes
Elective classes
The new MRes course aims to train students in the Biofluid Mechanics field, targeting primarily the academic research market, but also the Medical Devices and Simulation/Analysis software industries and other related and new emerging markets.
Our postgraduates will benefit from acquiring world-class training and competitive skills in both biomedical and fluid dynamics disciplines that will make them highly employable at the following markets and related sectors/companies:
We've identified the current key vendors in each of the above markets and aim to create links with the relevant industry and monitor the changing market and employability trends, in order to adjust teaching modules and approaches and to enhance employability of our graduates.
We've already established strong partnerships with industrial companies that have offered their support, eg through the provision of software licenses, teaching material and/or collaborative research projects, including:
The Cell Signalling in Health and Disease MRes is a research-based qualification with a taught component that is of an equivalent standard to an MSc. The course provides a springboard into a career that involves a working knowledge of scientific research in academia and industry.
The course is designed for graduates with a BSc in the life sciences or other science disciplines, and for intercalating and fully qualified MBBS or BDS students. It can be taken either as a stand-alone qualification or as an entry route onto a PhD or MD.
The taught component of the course includes subject-specific content in the area of cell signalling in health and disease. You have the flexibility to develop your own bespoke course by selecting additional, complementary modules. You will also participate in training in general research principles, and other professional and key skills.
Your research project comprises the major element of the course. This project will involve 24 weeks of research in an area of cell signalling in health and disease under the supervision of an expert academic researcher in the field.
The course allows you to experience an internationally competitive research area, predominantly in academia but also potentially in industry.
Cell Signalling in Health and Disease MRes is closely linked to a suite of MRes courses that you may also be interested in:
Our Medical Sciences Graduate School is dedicated to providing you with information, support and advice throughout your research degree studies. We can help and advise you on a variety of queries relating to your studies, funding or welfare.
Our Research Student Development Programme supports and complements your research whilst developing your professional skills and confidence.
You will make an on-going assessment of your own development and training needs through personal development planning (PDP) in the ePortfolio system. Our organised external events and development programme have been mapped against the Vitae Researcher Development Framework to help you identify how best to meet your training and development needs.
