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Why study biomedical engineering at Sydney

Use your engineering knowledge to advance healthcare technologies

Studying biomedical engineering at Sydney allows you to learn from world class experts from a range of fields and apply your skills and knowledge to help people live longer, healthier lives. 

As the name suggests, biomedical engineering applies engineering principles to human biology and advancing healthcare.

Biomedical engineers generally work with doctors and medical professionals to design, create, and maintain technologies in the healthcare field, or in research to advance medical knowledge.

Examples of biomedical engineering innovations you’re likely familiar with include prosthetics, pacemakers, and ultrasounds.

Newer biomedical advancements include 3D printed organs, the use of AI in health monitoring tools, and regenerative medicine.

If the idea of creating life-changing technologies in response to the latest scientific and technological advancements appeals to you, our Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Biomedical) might be the degree for you.

A growing, recession-proof field

Biomedical engineering is a fast-growing field: in the face of an ageing population and a global pandemic, investment in healthcare remains a priority as we respond to technological and scientific advancements.

Healthcare, biomedical device, and biotech companies make up some of the biggest companies in the world. Medical device companies including Cochlear, Resmed, and Medtronic have bases across the world, while many of the bigger biotech companies such as Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer and AstraZeneca regularly conduct research into the cell and nanoscale biotech sector.

At a local level, many small-to-medium sized enterprises are appearing in the biomedical sector. As a technology-driven industry, there are plenty of opportunities for these companies to share their innovations and drive investment.

Benefit from a multidisciplinary learning experience

Embedded in both engineering and health, biomedical engineering requires a diverse set of knowledge and skills which spans multiple subject areas.

Not only does our Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Biomedical) cover mechanical, electronic and materials engineering, you’ll also benefit from subjects in medicine, biology, molecular biology, and the digital sciences.

With the University of Sydney home to research centres including the Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney Nano, and our new Engineering and Technology Precinct featuring dedicated biomedical laboratories and teaching spaces, you’ll learn from and collaborate with leading researchers across multiple disciplines.

By combining your studies with collaborative projects and industry experience, you’ll graduate with the necessary skills and experience to launch your career in biomedical engineering.

Select a specialisation or combine your degree

Our biomedical engineering degree is the most comprehensive of its kind in Australia. When you study biomedical engineering with us, you have the option to choose from a range of degree-specific or breadth specialisations, or even combine your degree

By choosing a specialisation you can gain more in-depth knowledge and experience in an area that interests you, with degree-specific specialisations including:

You can also choose from the following breadth specialisations:

Additionally, you can choose to study a combined degree in arts, commerce, laws, science or project management to broaden your career prospects. The Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Biomedical) is the only engineering degree that can be combined with a Bachelor of Science (Health) or a Bachelor of Science (Medical Science).

Learn from renowned researchers in world class facilities

Our School of Biomedical Engineering is home to renowned researchers who are making significant advancements in fields such as biomaterials, tissue engineering, implantable bionics, medical diagnostic devices, and more.

By learning from them and working with them, you’ll gain exposure to research at the forefront of biomedical engineering innovations.

You’ll also benefit from our dedicated biomedical laboratories, and the new teaching and research spaces in our Engineering and Technology Precinct such as a plasma lab and a dark room for single-molecule biomechanics.

You’ll have the opportunity to build skills in our research laboratories before putting them into practice during industry placements and internships.

Graduate ready for wherever your career takes you

Biomedical engineering offers graduates a lot of choice in where they take their career, and these roles are often evolving. Some of the roles currently available in the biomedical engineering field include design engineer, prosthetist, chief technical officer, tissue engineer, medical device assessor, forensic engineer, or patent examiner.

In response to this evolving field, when you study engineering with us you’ll gain the skills and experience that ensure you graduate with a diverse, in demand skillset. You'll complete foundation studies in data and computation, project units, and industry experience through programs like the Professional Engagement Program.

This was the experience of biomedical engineering student Bethany O’Neill, who said that her university studies allowed her to operate confidently in medical device company Cochlear's labs during a six-month research internship through the Engineering Sydney Industry Placement Scholarship Program.

Learn more about our Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Biomedical).

24 February 2022

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