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Medical Engineering (BEng)

  • Subject area: Engineering
  • UCAS code: H1B8
  • Next intake: September 2025
  • Duration: 3 years
  • Mode: Full time

Why study this course

people

Professional skills

Group projects with engineering students from other disciplines mirror the dynamic of a professional engineering team and will help you to develop vital skills.

academic-school

Interdisciplinary content

Our links with the Schools of Biosciences, Psychology, Business, and Dentistry, as well as with clinicians in orthopaedics and radiography, ensure your course covers the latest topics across a range of fields.

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Industry-led content

Our course content is informed by industrial collaboration and delivered by leading academic staff, many of whom are Chartered Engineers or have worked in industry.

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Professionally accredited course

Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Energy Institute on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partly meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Medical engineers are competent classical engineers who apply engineering principles to the development of medical treatments, applications or diagnostic technologies that can enhance and save lives. They work in fields with medical applications, such as clinical instrumentation and devices, bioengineering, clinical engineering, as well as engineering fields outside of medicine.   

This accredited course provides the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience you need to become a work-ready medical engineer. You will choose from a range of authentic engineering problems and industry-focused scenarios, to work on both individually and with student engineers from other disciplines. Group work mirrors the relationships of an engineering team and will help you to build professional skills, such as teamwork and communication. Our dedicated labs and open access makerspaces provide a place for you to design, create and collaborate.

You will have the opportunity to engage with professionals from healthcare providers such as the Cardiff and Vale Orthopaedic Centre, and will benefit from links with companies like Biomet, Simpleware and Arthritis Research UK.

Accreditations

Subject area: Engineering

  • academic-schoolSchool of Engineering
  • icon-chatGet in touch
  • Telephone+44 (0)29 2251 4963
  • Marker5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA

Entry requirements

We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:

A level

AAB-BBB. Must include Maths.

Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.

  • Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application. Eligible students will be given an offer that is lower than the standard offer (usually the middle or lower end of the advertised grade range).
  • Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional consideration in the selection process.

Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.

International Baccalaureate

34-31 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Maths or Maths Analysis and Approaches.

Baccalaureate Wales

From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.

You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements. 

We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.

 

GCSE

Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.

IELTS (academic)

At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.

TOEFL iBT

At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.

PTE Academic

At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.

Trinity ISE II/III

II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.

Other accepted qualifications

Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

  • access to computers or devices that can store images
  • use of internet and communication tools/devices
  • curfews
  • freedom of movement, including the ability to travel to outside of the UK or to undertake a placement/studies outside of Cardiff University
  • contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Other qualifications from inside the UK

BTEC

DD-DM in a BTEC Diploma in any subject and grade B in A-Level Maths.

T level

We do not accept T Levels for this programme.

Qualifications from outside the UK

See our qualification equivalences guide

Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

Year Tuition fee Deposit
Year one £9,250 None
Year two £9,250 None

The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.

Fees for island status

Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Fees for overseas status

Year Tuition fee Deposit
Year one £29,450 None
Year two £29,450 None

Learn more about our tuition fees

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

Course specific equipment

No specific equipment is needed. The University will provide resources such as computers and associated software, laboratory equipment (including any safety equipment) and a variety of other learning resources.

Accommodation

We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.

Living costs

We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.

Course structure

This is a three-year full-time degree, with largely core modules in Years One and Two. Year Three has a carefully chosen balance of core and optional modules, allowing you to choose subjects to tailor to your personal interests or chosen career path. You need to earn 120 credits a year.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2025/2026 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2025.

Year one

Year one aims to ensure that you develop a fundamental knowledge of all relevant subjects.

Year two

Year two begins applying engineering knowledge to medical applications while developing fundamental theories introduced in year one.

Module titleModule codeCredits
Microcontroller Applications and Embedded DesignEN208110 credits
ThermofluidsEN210320 credits
Engineering Analysis and Computing 2EN210720 credits
Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEN217810 credits
Biomechanics 1EN245110 credits
DesignEN260420 credits
Network AnalysisEN271510 credits
Module titleModule codeCredits
Control and InstrumentationEN203710 credits
Solid Mechanics and DynamicsEN210520 credits
Manufacturing Systems DesignEN290410 credits

Year three

Year three is structured around giving you the opportunity to integrate your medical and engineering knowledge as you tackle a number of realistic clinical challenges through a variety of applied modules.

A quarter of this academic year is also devoted to the individual project, where you choose an area of research interest and conduct a period of guided study. Recent projects have included: Linking Brain Imaging with Motion Analysis, Computational Modelling of Blood Flow in Cerebral Aneurysm, Football Injuries from Collision with the Ground, and Biomechanical Analysis of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Module titleModule codeCredits
Industrial Project ManagementEN302610 credits
ProjectEN310030 credits
Biomechanics 2EN345010 credits
Engineering ApplicationsEN345310 credits
Clinical EngineeringEN345910 credits
Biomaterials and Tissue EngineeringEN346010 credits
Medical Electronics 1EN346110 credits
Electrical and Electronic Engineering 3EN351710 credits
Module titleModule codeCredits
Solid MechanicsEN303710 credits
Fluid MechanicsEN304510 credits
Robotics and Image ProcessingEN306210 credits
Medical Device EvaluationEN310810 credits
Fluid Power and ControlEN351310 credits

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Mechanical engineering student works on Formula Student car
Mechanical engineering student works on Formula Student car for Team Cardiff Racing.

Learning and assessment

Teaching is through lectures and tutorials, supplemented by practical laboratory and project-based work. There is a rich library of online learning material, tailored for each lesson in each module, including instructional/informational videos, study notes, guided exercise questions and some online quizzes.

All students must complete a 30-credit individual project in Year Three, for which they are allocated a supervisor from among the teaching staff.

There are opportunities for interactions with potential employers through careers fairs and guest lectures. Speakers from industry give regular lectures on their areas of expertise. These offer you the opportunity to hear experts speak on topics that are relevant to your degree and give you an insight into working in industry.

How will I be supported?

In Year One you will be allocated a personal tutor who is a member of the academic staff associated with your degree course. Your tutor will be there to advise you on academic, non-academic and personal matters in a confidential and informal manner. We aim to help you overcome any problem, however big or small, as smoothly and quickly as possible.

For the 30-credit project in Year Three, you will be allocated a supervisor in the relevant area of research specialism who will meet with you regularly to provide guidance and advice on progress in the work.

You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion boards. 

An extensive programme of careers lectures and workshops is delivered within the School of Engineering, and a Careers Consultant is also available.  

Cardiff  University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres. 

Feedback

We’ll provide you with frequent feedback on your work. This comes in a variety of formats including oral feedback in classes like design and project work and via return of marked coursework/tests.

The opportunity to test your knowledge and understanding will be provided throughout the semester via class tests in Years One and Two, plus feedback on written assessments. Occasionally, peer assessment of an individual’s contribution to a group may be used, and you may also receive oral feedback on presentations and contributions to group activities.

How will I be assessed?

Your assessments will be varied to evaluate knowledge, understanding, professional skills, and key skills.  Assessment in Year One is mostly through tests during the year, short reports, a professional development portfolio, presentations, and two written examinations. This range of assessments is carried into the higher years with a gradual change from tests to exams. The major individual project in Year Three is assessed by a dissertation report.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

KU1 Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems in medical engineering. Much of the knowledge will be at the forefront of the particular subject of study and informed by a critical awareness of new developments and the wider context of medical engineering.

KU2 Formulate and analyse complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions. This will involve evaluating available data using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles, and using engineering judgment to work with information that may be uncertain or incomplete, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed.

KU3 Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex medical engineering problems (to include the entire life-cycle of a product or process) and minimise adverse impacts.

KU4 Discuss the role of quality management systems and continuous improvement in the context of complex medical engineering problems.

KU5 Apply knowledge of engineering management principles, commercial contexts, project and change management, and relevant legal matters including intellectual property rights.

Intellectual Skills:

IS1 Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques, recognising/discussing the limitations of the techniques employed, for the synthesis of medical engineering problems, and to make judgements on appropriate action.

IS2 Select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to address complex problems.

IS3 Design solutions for complex medical engineering problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate, with consideration of applicable health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards.

IS4 Apply an integrated or systems approach to the solution of complex problems.

Professional Practical Skills:

PS1 Select and apply appropriate practical laboratory and workshop skills in medical engineering, particularly in devising analytical or experimental approaches, to investigate complex problems.

PS2 Select, apply and evaluate appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes, recognising their limitations.

PS3 Use a risk management process to identify, evaluate and mitigate risks (the effects of uncertainty) associated with a particular medical engineering project or activity.

PS4 Adopt a holistic and proportionate approach to the mitigation of security risks in medical engineering.

Transferable/Key Skills:

TS1 Communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used.

TS2 Identify and analyse ethical concerns and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct.

TS3 Adopt an inclusive approach to engineering practice and recognise/articulate the responsibilities, benefits and importance of supporting equality, diversity and inclusion.

TS4 Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team.

TS5 Plan and record the reflective evaluation of self-learning and development as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

Robotics project
Student works on their third-year project in the area of robotics.

Careers

Career prospects

Graduate medical engineers benefit from employment opportunities in both the medical engineering and broader mechanical engineering sector.

Recent Cardiff graduates are now employed in medical engineering companies including Finsbury Orthopaedics, DePuy Synthes and Huntleigh Medical.

Medical engineers can also carve out a career in the healthcare sector. Cardiff graduates regularly earn positions in the highly competitive clinical engineer/scientist training scheme of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (see www.ipem.ac.uk for further details), while others have used their degree as a stepping stone to other vocations.

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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.