Key Info
Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering
Entry Route(s):
Modern medicine has given rise to the development of a wide range of novel engineering solutions to clinical problems. Examples of these developments vary from orthopaedic implants such as total hip replacements to cardiovascular implants such as coronary stents (small wire scaffolds inserted into the blood vessels around the heart). As a result of the increased collaboration between engineers and doctors, the new discipline of biomedical Engineering developed. Biomedical Engineering is the fastest growing area of Engineering.
Students who follow this programme can look forward to exciting and rewarding careers in the biomedical engineering industry, an industry that is undergoing major expansion internationally and in Ireland. The biomedical engineering industry in Ireland has factories from all the major multinational companies resulting in the need for highly skilled biomedical engineers.
What you will Study
Year 1
The programme has a common first year with academic programmes Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Design and Manufacturing Engineering. You will study modules in areas of Engineering, Mathematics, Engineering Mechanics, Chemistry for Engineers and Computing.
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| MA4001 | Engineering Maths 1 | MA4002 | Engineering Maths 2 |
| ME4111 | Engineering Mechanics 1 | ME4112 | Engineering Mechanics 2 |
| CH4001 | Chemistry for Engineers | ME4412 | Fluid Mechanics 1 |
| ME4611 | Engineering Computing | MT4002 | Materials 1 |
| EE4001 | Electrical Eng. 1 | Elective | |
| ME4001 | Introduction to Engineering | ME4031 | Structural Engineering Design 1 |
| ME4042 | Introduction to Design for Manufacture |
Year 2
During year 2, you will study subjects including Introductory Anatomy and Physiology, Mechanics of Solids, Computer Aided Design, Materials, Thermodynamics and Physiological Fluid Mechanics 1. At the end of Year 2 you are placed in a company in the biomedical engineering industry both in Ireland and internationally for an 8 month Co-operative Education Period. Typical companies include Boston Scientific (Ireland & USA), Abbott (Ireland & USA) and Medtronic (Ireland and USA).
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 | Summer | ||
| MA4003 | Engineering Mathematics 3 | IE4214 | Industrial Organisation | Cooperative Education |
| ME4213 | Mechanics of Solids 1 | MA4004 | Engineering Mathematics 4 | |
| ME4523 | Thermodymanics 1 | ME4736 | Physiological Fluid Mechanics 1 | |
| ME4112 | Engineering Mechanics 2 | ME4114 | Engineering Design and Communications | |
| LS003 | Introductory Anatomy and Physiology | ME4052 | Cell and Tissue Behaviour for Engineers |
Year 3
In Year 3 (1 semester) you will undertake courses including Physiological Fluid Mechanics 2, Biocompatibility and Finite Element Analysis. The opportunity to study the Year 3 semester at Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, exists for the top students in the class.
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 | ||
| CO4310 | Cooperative Education 2 | MA4006 | Engineering Mathematics 5 |
| ME4306 | Biocompatability | ||
| ME4226 | Mechanics of Solids 2 | ||
| MT4006 | Tissue Engineering | ||
| ME4746 | Physiological Fluid Mechanics 2 |
Year 4
In Year 4 the Biomedical Engineering students take courses including Biomaterials, Medical Device Design, Microfluidics and Orthopaedic Biomechanics and Mechanobiology. You also undertake hospital visits to view operations and observe Biomedical Engineering devices in practice. In Year 4 you will complete a major project with a Biomedical Engineering theme.
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 | ||
| ME4017 | Project 1 | ME6008 | Microfluidics |
| ME4427 | Medical Device Design and Placement | ME4018 | Project 2 |
| ME4438 | Computational Fluid Dynamics | ME4028 | Project 3 |
| EP4007 | Enterprise Management and Growth | ME4008 | Orthopaedic Biomechanics and Mechanobiology |
| ME4307 | Biomaterials 1 | ME4308 | Biomaterials 2 |
Entry Requirements
| Minimum grades |
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English. |
|---|---|
| Subject requirements |
In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade H4 in Mathematics and grade O6/H7 in one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering, Technology, Design & Communication Graphics/ Technical Drawing, Biology, Agricultural Science, Applied Maths, Construction Studies. |
| Additional considerations |
A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement. We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February. |
| Non-EU Entry Requirements |
Filters |
How to Apply
| Where are you applying from? | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. |
| The UK | Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| The EU | EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| Non-EU country | If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here. |
Fees and Funding
Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Centre Levy and Tuition Fees.
A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.
An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.
EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €7,354 |
| SUSI pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Centre Levy | €92 |
| €10,446 |
EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €7,354 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Centre Levy | €92 |
| €10,446 |
Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €7,354 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Centre Levy | €92 |
| €10,446 |
Non-EU Students
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €16,465 |
| Student pays | Student Centre Levy | €92 |
| €16,557 |
Student course fees are comprised of three components:
Student Contribution
Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The curent student contribution is set at €3000.
Student Centre Levy
All students are liable to pay the Student Centre Levy of €90. Please note the Student Centre Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.
Tuition Fees
These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.
Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
-
Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
-
Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
-
Course Requirements
(all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)
Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -
- Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
- EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
- Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.
More information about fees can be found on the Finance website
These scholarships are available for this course
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Awards | €1,500 and a trophy | 1 |
| Johnson and Johnson WiSTEM2D Programme | ||
| Stryker Scholarship | €2,500 | 3 |
| Women in Engineering Bursary Awards | €500 | 8 |
These scholarships are available for all courses
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus | €6,750 | 125 |
| Cooperative Education Award | 1 medal per faculty | |
| Elaine Fagan Scholarship | €5,000 | 5 |
| Financial Aid Fund | ||
| Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants | ||
| Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship | €2,500 | |
| Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme | ||
| Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme | €750 | |
| Stuart Mangan Scholarship | ||
| The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship | Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value | |
| UL Sports Scholarships | Varies depending on level of Scholarship | Multiple |
Your Future Career
Employability skills from this degree
- Solving problems using logic, creative and innovative approaches
- Planning, prioritising, working to deadlines and under pressure
- Communicating effectively (verbally and written)
- Working in multidisciplinary teams
- Numeracy and IT skills, with excellent use of statistics
- Project management
- Awareness of cost/value
- Awareness of social, cultural, environmental, health and safety, and wider professional responsibilities
- Attention to detail
- Good judgement and acceptance of responsibility
The year after graduating with this degree
The University of Limerick Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) is a detailed review of the employment outcomes of UL graduates conducted annually by the University and supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The survey forms part of a nationwide review of the employment outcomes of Irish University Graduates. The table below illustrates a five-year trend for UL graduate employment levels and location the year after graduation.
| Employed in Ireland | Employed abroad | Further study | Not available | Seeking employment | No. of responses | Total no. of graduates | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46% | 8% | 38% | 4% | 4% | 24 | 24 | 2014 |
| 47% | 0% | 53% | 0% | 0% | 17 | 19 | 2015 |
| 63% | 0% | 31% | 0% | 6% | 35 | 37 | 2016 |
| 76% | 3% | 18% | 3% | 0% | 33 | 38 | 2017 |
| 84% | 0% | 8% | 3% | 5% | 37 | 44 | 2018 |
Further Study Options
Job titles for graduates with this degree
Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:
- Associate Regulatory Affairs Specialist
- Design Engineer
- Graduate Manufacturing Engineer
- Graduate Process Engineer
- Graduate Programme
- Graduate Trainee
- Lab. Assistant
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Operations Graduate
- Procurement & Commercial Analyst
- Quality Engineer
- R&D Engineer
- Research Assistant
- Risk Analyst
- Technical Biomedical Engineer
- Validation Engineer
Graduate Profile - Grace Kelly
I knew I wanted to study engineering because I wanted to know how stuff worked, from hairdryers to pacemakers, and I didn't fear mathematics.
I had heard good stories about the social life but I also heard about UL???s great reputation with employers. When I found that I could enter mechanical engineering and later branch into more specialized streams such as biomedical I was sold. Like any first year when I started out I didn't know what to expect but throughout my four years of studying I never regretted choosing this course. Engineering could never be accused of being boring - I learned so much more than how hairdryers work! CoOp in a medical device company confirmed my interest in the biomedical field; it introduced me to the working environment and proved the relevance of the modules I was studying.
