📖Program Curriculum
This multidisciplinary MSc builds your knowledge of core principles and practices in medicine science engineering and product design preparing you to contribute to the development of novel technologies instrumentation and treatment.
Accredited by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) it takes you through the entire innovation life cycle – from conceptualisation and design to production and implementation both here in the UK and abroad. This in turn opens up career possibilities at any point in the process for instance in R&D hardware or software engineering manufacturing or the sale of equipment as well as maintenance and management in-situ.
In accordance with the IPEM’s mission to promote a diverse and inclusive professional community our course is suitable for those with a wide range of backgrounds including bioscience life science medicine and subjects allied to medicine as well as the conventional disciplines of engineering and physical sciences.
Depending on your background we offer two entry-level conversion modules: Engineering for Medical Applications for those without an engineering background and Human Anatomy and Physiology for those without a medical science background. The flexible structure enables you to personalise your study according to your interests choosing optional modules which enable you to learn more about exciting new fields like nanomedicine or stem cell therapies.
The flexible structure of the course enables you to personalise your study according to your interests choosing optional modules from a broad range of subjects which span the disciplines of biology maths and engineering. This coupled with clinical visits specialist seminars and a choice of dissertation projects that span fundamental research to clinical translation of technologies ensures a truly ‘bench to bedside’ approach.
Interacting with active researchers clinicians and practitioners also gives you a greater appreciation of the context in which healthcare engineering operates including vital safety environmental and economic concerns for instance in relation to medical devices and technology services.
The MSc Biomedical Engineering can be studied as either a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course starting in January. You will complete 180 credits to obtain the master’s qualification comprising five compulsory modules and four optional modules including the core Project Dissertation (60 credits). There are also two interim awards available depending on how many modules (and credits) have been successfully completed: a Postgraduate Certificate for 60 credits; and a Postgraduate Diploma for 120 credits.
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Core modules
MTE-40029 Medical Equipment and Technology Services Management (15 credits Semester 1)
Medical devices play a key role in healthcare vital for diagnosis therapy monitoring rehabilitation and care. Effective management and maintenance is critical to ensure high quality patient care and satisfy clinical and financial governance. You will gain an insight into technology management processes that allow healthcare providers to make the best use of their medical equipment and technology services limiting clinical and financial risk. You’ll learn about the lifecycle of medical equipment and he role of clinical engineers in ensuring its safe and effective management comparing and evaluating different models of equipment maintenance. You’ll also be introduced to the legislation and obligations of the various health professionals involved as part of good clinical governance.
MTE-40026 Physiological Measurements (15 credits Semester 1)
Learning why and how physiological processes of humans are measured and monitored this module aims to improve your analytical skills in different physiological measurement diagnostics and therapy techniques. Studying the basic principles of biological sensing within research and clinical environments you’ll be given demonstrations and hands-on use of devices commonly used for physiological measurement such as the use of biomedical transducers biosensors devices for oscillometry ECG (electrocardiogram) and EOG (electrooculography). To help you better understand how to select appropriate biological tests and devices you will discuss and evaluate the different instrumentation used to assess specific anatomical structures such as the heart and lungs to measure their physiological properties by medics and in biomedical research.
MTE-40038 Medical Device Design Principles (15 credits Semester 2)
You will develop your understanding of the systems engineering approach to medical device design including the role of ergonomics in the design of safe and reliable medical devices. You’ll learn the importance of standards and regulations for medical device design gaining an overview of aspects of the mechanical electrical and software components of medical devices.
MTE-40031 Biomedical Signal Processing and Analysing (15 credits Semester 2)
All living things from cells to organisms deliver signals of biological origin which can be electric mechanical or chemical. Analysing these signals can provide clinical biochemical or pharmaceutically relevant information to improve medical diagnosis either for patient monitoring and biomedical research. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of signal and image processing applying theory to practical examples learning to filter signals of interest from noisy redundant background data.
MTE-40039 Experimental Research Methodology (15 credits studied throughout the course)
Developing the academic skillset required for your master’s research and future scientific career you’ll gain a strong grounding in appropriate level literature search academic writing statistical evaluation and manipulation of data. From learning how to take notes in research seminars to managing your time efficiently in written examinations and writing a comprehensive literature review this module addresses your personal and professional development. Research seminars provide direct access to innovative research with students introduced to trending research topics in areas of cancer neuroscience heart lung drug development nanomaterials medical device and biomedical engineering by national and international speakers. The module also includes a statistics workshop and sessions to improve soft skills to support the theoretical and practical aspects of the course.
MTE-40015 Project (Dissertation) (60 credits)
Representing the culmination of your studies the Project provides an exciting opportunity to undertake laboratory-based research under the supervision of an expert in an agreed field of interest based here in the Research Institute a local hospital or within a collaborating industrial partner or clinical team. Applying the skills and knowledge gained throughout the course you will design conduct research and produce a 15000-20000-word dissertation. Projects cover a span of research interests related to Keele expertise in the fields of medical device design and manufacture and regenerative medicine manufacture including storage conditions scale-up platform development and drug development/screening.
Optional modules
You will choose four optional modules from the following studying two in each of the first two semesters.
MTE-40028 Stem Cells: Types Characteristics and Applications (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
The field of stem cell biology is fast-paced with state-of-the-art research being competitively conducted across the world. On this module you’ll draw on up-to-date international research in stem cell biology to build your knowledge from basic principles of stem cell isolation and differentiation right through to the latest therapeutic use of stem cells trending in the field. The lecture series is delivered by leading academic researchers. To complement your understanding of the knowledge learned in class you'll be trained in advanced practical skills in a state-of-the-art stem cell laboratory using the latest approaches in the field. Gaining a greater appreciation of the diversity of stem cells and their potential this module provides a basic foundation for regenerative medicine.
MTE-40033 Cell and Tissue Engineering (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
Cell and tissue engineering is a rapidly evolving discipline which promises to change the way clinicians deliver therapies and treat disorders of various kinds from bone tissue engineering to skin grafts. Highlighting the latest research findings in engineering various cells tissues and organs you’ll be introduced to current concepts and methods used to apply and evaluate stimulus to cells to construct bioartificial tissues in vitro or alter cell growth and function in vivo by implanting donor tissue or biocompatible materials.
MTE-40023 Biomechanics (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
Biomechanics involves studying the structure materials function and motion of biological systems at a cellular level identifying favourable properties such as load-bearing capacity and changes that occur naturally or as a result of chemical and other reactions. Discovering how and why organisms behave the way they do can inform new synthetic and engineered designs for example when treating cancer. This module offers an applied perspective on biomechanics at an advanced level for example analysing forces transmitted to cells at skeletal joints or bone. In an experimental workshop you'll gain hands-on experience mechanically testing bone.
MTE-30003 Engineering for Medical Applications (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
You will cover the fundamentals of mechanics electronics and electromagnetism necessary to understand the application of relevant physical and engineering principles to medicine and biology. Ideal if you are transitioning from a non-physics maths or engineering background you’ll learn to apply mathematical concepts to engineering and numerical modelling including differential calculus indices exponentials and logarithms. Applying the theory you learn to practical measurement you’ll take part in a workshop-based project for example to conduct an experiment to measure grip strength.
MTE-40024 Human Physiology and Anatomy (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
Setting the foundation in a biological context in preparation for the study of more advanced topics this module provides you with a broad knowledge of human physiology and anatomy. You’ll develop your understanding of the structure and function of major tissue types organs and systems how their physiology is assessed and what happens in the context of disease.
Biotechnology and Omics (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
You will cover all major aspects of current methods in biotechnology used for the analytical assessment and engineering of biological cells and tissues. Concepts will be married with tutorials and demonstrations to give students exposure to real applications in biomedicine. This will cover a range of technologies in genomics metabolomics proteomics mass spectrophotometry besides biotechnological advances in cell gene and tissue engineering. From the basic principles through to tutorials and laboratory-based practical for hands-on training you’ll learn to appreciate the complexity and diversity of methods used both within research laboratories and industry.
MTE-40022 Bioreactors and Growth Environments (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
The global bioreactors market is predicted to grow 14% between 2022 to 2029; fuelled by increases in conditions like arthritis cancer and diabetes and the resulting demand for effective vaccines and treatments. This module covers the design principals and functionality of bioreactors used for example to grow organisms for cell development and product formation. As well as demonstrations on the workings of a range of research laboratory and good manufacturing practice (GMP) grade bioreactor systems used in academia and industry you’ll be introduced to current real-world applications of bioreactors in regenerative medicine through a series of seminar-style presentations from national and international renowned researchers and industry. As part of the module Keele hosts a renowned workshop that includes talks on a variety of bioreactors used for therapy research and in industry which also attracts national and international external participants culminating in a 'design your own bioreactor' activity.
MTE-40036 Biomaterials (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
Taking a multidisciplinary approach this module provides an overview of all types of materials natural and synthetic used in biological environments to support enhance or replace damaged tissue or a biological function. It explains the fundamental aspects of biomaterials from a materials perspective but with particular focus on their use and potential wear within a biological ‘host’. You will develop a systematic knowledge ranging from the physical structure and chemical properties of biomaterials to how they interact with biological tissues during implantation for example in the case of skin grafts heart valves and hip replacements. This will help you learn how materials are assessed within the clinic and how material properties can be altered/engineered to produce biomaterials with enhanced abilities and properties.
MTE-40034 Cell Biomechanics (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
Research into the relationship between the biological function and architecture of cells and their behaviour is providing new perspectives on the role of biomechanics in disease for example in cancer. You’ll be given an overview of modern techniques for both clinical and in vitro cell biomechanics giving you a firm knowledge and understanding of the interrelationship between mechanics and cell biology. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply constitutive models to experimental data gaining some direct insight into the application of cell biomechanics in cell/tissue engineering and biomedical engineering.
MTE-40030 Nanomagnetics in Nanomedicine (15 credits Semester 1 or 2)
The application of nanotechnologies in particular the use of nanoparticles to improve the behaviour of drug substances is being used globally to improve the treatments for patients suffering from disorders including ovarian and breast cancer kidney disease fungal infections and more. Now the sub-field of nanomagnetics is playing a major role in the development of new technologies for the assessment and therapeutic treatment of biological tissues. For example rapidly reversing the magnetic field of nanoparticles injected into a tumour generates enough heat to kill cancer cells. Delivered through a series of lectures working at the interface of physics and biology this module introduces you to the theoretical concepts of nanomagnetism and the state-of-the-art research in this field.
