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Master of Biomedical Engineering

Engineering
Australia's #1 Engineering & Technology Faculty
In the Master of Biomedical Engineering, you’ll learn to create new technologies that improve disease diagnosis, patient monitoring and medical treatment. Gain the skill to improve the quality of life for people with life-threatening or debilitating diseases and conditions. Open to students with a medical, biological science, physical science or engineering background.
Commencing Terms
Term 1 & 3
Duration
1.7 Year(s)
Delivery Mode
Face-to-face (includes blended)
Campus
Kensington
Codes
Program code 8660
Entry Requirements
View all admission criteria
Fees
2024 Indicative first year full fee
$41,000*
Biomedical Engineering

Overview

As a Biomedical Engineer, you’ll help create new technologies that improve disease diagnosis, find new and better ways of patient monitoring, revolutionise medical treatment and improve the quality of life for people with life-threatening or debilitating diseases and conditions.

You’ll gain the expertise to enact change in influential areas of human health, applying engineering principles to develop technologies and solutions in a range of healthcare-related fields that improve human lives, including:

  • Medical devices
  • Implantable bionics
  • Drug-delivery system
  • Medical imaging and radiotherapy
  • Orthopaedic devices
  • Robotic surgery
  • Cell and tissue engineering
  • Physical rehabilitation

This unique field brings together many engineering disciplines, including electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering and chemical engineering.

Designed for students with a medical, biological science, physical science or engineering background this degree consolidates and specialises your knowledge in biomedical engineering.

*Source: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

Key features

The Master of Biomedical Engineering is a 1.7-year full-time or part-time equivalent, postgraduate degree offered at Australia’s leading engineering faculty.

This degree caters for students with either a medical/biological science or engineering/physical science background who want to further their education in this unique area. It is designed to apply engineering principles to developing technologies and problem solving in a diverse range of health care related fields.

Why study this degree at UNSW?

UNSW’s School of Biomedical Engineering is one of the world’s leading schools in the development of novel functional materials and implantable bionics, devising innovative solutions for their application. Breakthroughs include bionic eyes, regenerative bone implants and enhancements to prosthetic limbs for athletes.

By studying with us, you’ll have access to world-class biomedical facilities, including an electronics and bioinstrumentation design laboratory, ISO Class 7 cleanroom and implantable bionics laboratories with quality management systems, PC2 cell and tissue culture laboratories for novel biomaterials and neural interface technologies, surgical facilities implementing GLP, and microscopy and microanalysis equipment.

Other benefits of studying with UNSW Engineering include:

  • More postgraduate specialisations and engineering opportunities than any other Australian university, meaning you can explore and pursue diverse careers
  • UNSW’s School of Biomedical Engineering has industry partnerships with leading health organisations, including the Australian Heart Foundation and the Australian Institute of Sport
  • We champion entrepreneurship. You’ll graduate ready to use your passion in engineering to drive solutions in healthcare and medicine
  • Over 500 active and comprehensive research projects per year to upgrade your skills or extend your knowledge
  • The program is designed with flexibility at its core. You can continue to work while you study, shaping an engineering degree that suits your lifestyle and goals
Program Code
8660
CRICOS Code
000929F
Campus
Kensington
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
72
Indicative Enrolments
56

Want to see more from UNSW Engineering?

Entry requirements

Admission to this program requires one of the following:

  • 4-year Bachelor of Engineering degree with a minimum 65% average; or
  • 4-year Bachelor degree in a biomedical health-related discipline* with honours (either embedded or as a single honours year) with a minimum 65% average and 2 courses of first-year university level mathematics or equivalent; or
  • Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Engineering (such as 5449 UNSW Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Engineering) with a minimum 65% average; or
  • Completion of 36 UOC of the 5449 UNSW Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Engineering with a minimum 65% average with no fails.

*Health-related disciplines including medicine, allied health sciences, biomedical sciences, veterinary sciences.

Admission pathways

5449 Engineering (Biomedical Engineering)

English language requirements

 

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

Admission to this program requires one of the following:

  • 4-year Bachelor of Engineering degree with a minimum 65% average; or
  • 4-year Bachelor degree in a biomedical health-related discipline* with honours (either embedded or as a single honours year) with a minimum 65% average and 2 courses of first-year university level mathematics or equivalent; or
  • Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Engineering (such as 5449 UNSW Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Engineering) with a minimum 65% average; or
  • Completion of 36 UOC of the 5449 UNSW Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Engineering with a minimum 65% average with no fails.

*Health-related disciplines including medicine, allied health sciences, biomedical sciences, veterinary sciences.

Admission pathways

5449 Engineering (Biomedical Engineering)

English language requirements


You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

Program structure

Your degree will blend study in areas of engineering including electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering and chemical engineering. Combining these disciplines you’ll study a range of topics related to the applications of Biomedical Engineering

  • Biomechanics
  • Medical imaging
  • Biomaterials
  • Biosensors and transducers
  • Technology modelling, design and analysis

Full program structure

The Master of Biomedical Engineering is a 1.7 year degree in which you will study a range of courses in the areas of:

  • Biomechanics
  • Medical imaging
  • Biomaterials
  • Biosensors and transducers
  • Technology modelling, design and analysis
  • Cellular and Tissue Engineering

The full list can be found on the UNSW Handbook.

At the end of your degree you may be eligible to take part in a Masters Project. This will allow you to experience research training either within the School or with collaborating institutions such as hospitals and CSIRO. Projects are selected by you in consultation with a supervisor conducting research in an area of interest to you.  

Future careers

Biomedical engineers study across engineering, medicine and biology. This broad experience enables biomedical engineers to find employment in hospitals, government bodies, industry or academic areas. Specific industry sectors where you can grow your career include:

  • Healthcare
  • Social assistance
  • Professional, scientific and technical services
  • Wholesale trade
  • Manufacturing

Roles completed by Biomedical Engineers include the design of medical instrumentation and prostheses; involvement in the development, manufacture and testing of medical products; and the management of technology in the hospital system. Our graduates have gone on to work for leading companies, including:

  • ResMed
  • Cochlear
  • Philips
  • Garvan Institute of Medical Research
  • CSIRO

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.

Ready to start your application?

For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.

Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.

Ready to start your application?

Fees & Scholarships

2024 Indicative First Year Full Fee
$41,000*
2024 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree
$62,500*

*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.

Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the program. The indicative fees listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).

You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

2024 Indicative First Year Fee
$54,500*
2024 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree
$84,500*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.

Scholarships


At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.

Featured scholarship

The UNSW Women in Engineering Research Scholarship was established to assist women of high academic achievement with an interest in a research and/or an academic career in engineering. UNSW Engineering offers two Women in Engineering Top-up Scholarships every semester.  


  • Top 20
    Worldwide

    QS World University Rankings, 2024.

  • Most
    Employable Graduates

    AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.

  • Leading
    Innovation

    #1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.

I love that everything in the world is being engineered by somebody.
Engineering alumni Rachel Mcvittie

Rachel McVittie

Engineering Alumni

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