Master of Biomedical Engineering (Leuven)

Master of Biomedical Engineering (Leuven)

The role of technology in contemporary medicine has evolved considerably over the past decades. Computers and other high-tech devices are essential in hospitals, rehabilitation centres and private medical practices. Moreover, engineering breakthroughs have increased our fundamental insight into the functioning of the human body, tissue generation and regeneration, physiological processes and locomotion.

What's the Master of Biomedical Engineering about? 

The Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering provides students with a state-of-the-art overview of all areas in biomedical engineering:

• Biomechanics
• Biomaterials
• Medical sensors and signal processing
• Medical imaging
• Tissue engineering

The teaching curriculum builds upon the top-class research conducted by the staff, most of whom are members of the Leuven Medical Technology Centre. This network facilitates industrial fellowships for our students and enables students to complete design projects and Master’s theses in collaboration with industry leaders and internationally recognized research labs.

Biomedical engineers are educated to integrate engineering and basic medical knowledge. This competence is obtained through coursework, practical exercises, interactive sessions, a design project and a Master’s thesis project.

Three courses provide students with basic medical knowledge on anatomy and functions of the human body. The core of the programme consists of biomedical engineering courses that cover the entire range of contemporary biomedical engineering: biomechanics, biomaterials, medical imaging, biosensors, biosignal processing, medical device design and regulatory affairs.

The elective courses have been grouped in four clusters: biomechanics and tissue engineering, medical devices, information acquisition systems, and Information processing software. These clusters allow the students to deepen their knowledge in one particular area of biomedical engineering by selecting courses from one cluster, while at the same time allowing other students to obtain a broad overview on the field of biomedical engineering by selecting courses from multiple clusters.

Students can opt for an internship which can take place in a Belgian company or in a medical technology centre abroad. 

Through the general interest courses, the student has the opportunity to broaden his/her views beyond biomedical engineering. These include courses on management, on communication (e.g. engineering vocabulary in foreign languages), and on the socio-economic and ethical aspects of medical technology.

A design project and a Master’s thesis familiarize the student with the daily practice of a biomedical engineer.

Common core	-Basic medical courses -Biomedical engineering courses -Project based learning	78 credits
Elective courses	-Biomechanics and tissue     engineering -Medical devices -Information acquisition systems -Information processing software	33 credits
General interest courses	-Communication -Broadening -management	Min. 8 and max. 10 credits

International

The Faculty of Engineering Science at KU Leuven is involved in several Erasmus exchange programmes. For the Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, this means that the student can complete one or two semesters abroad, at a number of selected universities.

An industrial fellowship is possible for three or six credits either between the Bachelor’s and the Master’s programme, or between the two phases of the Master’s programme. Students are also encouraged to consider the fellowship and short courses offered by BEST (Board of European Students of Technology) or through the ATHENS programme.

You can find more information on this topic on the website of the Faculty.

Strengths

The programme responds to a societal need, which translates into an industrial opportunity.

Evaluation of the programme demonstrates that the objectives and goals are being achieved. The mix of mandatory and elective courses allows the student to become a generalist in Biomedical Engineering, but also to become a specialist in one topic; industry representatives report that graduates master a high level of skills, are flexible and integrate well in the companies.

Company visits expose all BME students to industry. Further industrial experience is available to all students.

Our international staff (mostly PhD students) actively supports the courses taught in English, contributing to the international exposure of the programme.

The Master’s programme is situated in a context of strong research groups in the field of biomedical engineering. All professors incorporate research topics in their courses.

Most alumni have found a job within three months after graduation.

 

More information on the programme page