Biomedical Engineering―ME

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
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Study Biomedical Engineering Biomedical Engineering at University of Galway Medtech at University of Galway

Course Overview

The Master of Engineering (ME) at University of Galway is part of an integrated (Bachelors + Masters) 4+1 programme of study, meeting the European Framework Standards for engineering accreditation. Successfully completing this (level 9) ME course, as part of an accredited 4+1 structure, will allow you to achieve the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status upon graduation.

The ME programme on its own is a 60ECTS one academic year course of study. Graduates with an honours degree in a cognate Engineering discipline may be eligible to take the ME. This will be of interest to graduates who wish to study more advanced topics in their core engineering discipline. Applicants wishing to use the ME programme as part of their CEng certification should be aware that professional accreditation is assessed by the Engineering Councils on the basis of the aggregate periods of study (Level 8 + Level 9), and not on the Masters year alone. Candidates need to satisfy themselves that their undergraduate (Level 8) degree meets the relevant standards.

The ME (Master of Engineering) programme in Biomedical Engineering is designed to give advanced technical, analytical, and transferrable knowledge and skills in biomedical engineering to graduates who already hold an undergraduate degree in engineering.

The programme is delivered over one academic year and consists of 40 ECTS (approx. 8 modules) of taught modules, involving the ongoing and world-class biomedical research at University of Galway, and a 20 ECTS thesis project. This medical device based project is conducted in partnership with the highly successful BioInnovate programme and focuses on developing advanced technical knowledge and skills and real-world implementation of these in terms of innovation, commercialization and business development.

The ME is designed to allow engineering graduates who hold an internationally recognised degree (under the Washington Accord) to meet the criteria for Chartered Engineer professional accreditation (by Engineers Ireland) under the European Framework Standards for engineering accreditation. The programme is closely related to the MSc in Biomedical Engineering which is aimed at applicants who do not hold the required engineering undergraduate qualification.

The ME programme is interdisciplinary in nature; it is based around our core teaching and research expertise in biomedical engineering and is enhanced by direct links with other engineering disciplines, science, and medicine. We work closely with our industrial partners in the medical device hub centred around Galway.

Scholarships Available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.
Entry to the programme is open to individuals who have a Second Class Honours Grade 2, Level 8 degree (or equivalent) in Biomedical Engineering or in a related discipline.
Applicants should ensure that their undergraduate degrees satisfy the requirements for chartership under the Washington Accord.
Internal applicants from Engineering in University of Galway do not need to include supporting documents.
External applicants should include copies of their transcripts, English language competency, personal statement, passport, and two written references as described on the College website.

Who Teaches this Course

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Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Entry to the ME programme is open to individuals who have Second Class Honours, Grade 2 (H2.2), in an accredited Level 8 engineering degree in a related discipline, or equivalent, from a recognised university or third-level college.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

9 months, full-time

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Please refer to the review/closing date website.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

Course code

MENG-MEB

Course Outline

The taught component consists of modules (5 or 10 ECTS) in our core areas: biomechanics, biomaterials, and medical devices. Students take 25 ECTS in biomedical engineering specific modules and 15 ECTS in transferrable skills modules. Students make their choices for each semester after attending introductory lectures in each module.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Top reasons to choose an ME in Biomedical Engineering at University of Galway

1. Our graduates have excellent career opportunities

The Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering is an internationally recognised accredited degree. We train our graduates with the advanced skills in Biomechanics, Design, Materials, and Innovation that they required to succeed in the medical device industry hub in Galway, across Ireland, and internationally. Galway is home to major multinational biomedical companies and has a large number of start-up in the Medtech sector; our graduates find employment in these leading companies in various roles from research and development to manufacturing and product development.

2. Research-led teaching by world leading engineers, scientists, and clinicians.

Our advanced modules are delivered by research-active staff who are passionate about what they teach. Our teaching facilities are world-class; the Alice Perry Engineering Building was opened in 2011 and brings all engineering disciplines together in one state of the art location. ME students use a wide range of laboratories, including biomechanics, cell culture, structural, electronic, and ergonomic facilities and all students have access to dedicated study space for engineering postgraduates.

3. University of Galway is the ideal location to study biomedical engineering in Europe.

Our campus is situated in Galway city; the centre of the biomedical industry in Ireland. The medical technology sector in Ireland is recognised as one of five global emerging hubs. Eight of the world’s top ten med-tech companies are based here, and devices designed and made in Galway are saving lives all over the world.

The Irish Medtech sector is responsible for €12.6 billion worth of exports.
There are 300+ Medtech companies in Ireland which account for over 29,000 jobs.
15 of the top 20 global medical device companies operate in Ireland.
80% of the world’s stents are produced in Galway.
Ireland is the second largest exporter of medical devices in Europe.

University of Galway is a world leading university, ranked in the top 2% worldwide. We have over 3000 international students from 115 countries.

Galway is as distinctive as it is beautiful, set on the Wild Atlantic Way on the broad sweep of Galway Bay. From this position on the Atlantic edge of Europe, University of Galway has a proud history of reaching out and connecting with the world. Galway casually combines the energy of a young and diverse population, with the authenticity of a place steeped in history and tradition. We are renowned as a place where arts and culture are celebrated, reinterpreted and shared with the world. Find out more about Galway, recently crowned Europe’s Micro City of the Year by the Financial Times.

4. The Master of Engineering is the new standard in Engineering qualifications.

The majority of engineering graduates across Europe now hold a Master’s level qualification. The ME is designed to allow engineering graduates who hold an internationally recognised degree (under the Washington Accord) to meet the criteria for Chartered Engineer professional accreditation (by Engineers Ireland) under the European Framework Standards for engineering accreditation.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€6,500 p.a. (€6,640 including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€6,500 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€28,000 p.a. (€28,140 including levy) 2025/26

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2025/26). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here.