格罗宁根大学

To realize future health care, biomedical engineers that are trained on the crossroad of engineering and medical and biological sciences are required. As a student, you will be trained to work in multidisciplinary teams, to have a broad overview, to create innovative devices and to perform research that forms a basis for better and more sustainable healthcare (in terms of costs and manpower). You will be both researcher and designer, the best basis for an academic professional.

Real-life problems

You will study topics in the field of imaging techniques (like MRI, PET,CT), robot design, prosthetics and orthotics, implants and artificial organs, tissue engineering and biomaterials, as well as aspects of medical ethics. During the programme, you will work on real-life problems, such as designing artificial heart valves that last longer, studying the process of joint implant ingrowth by bone, automatic analysis of MRI images to check for abnormalities.

Different backgrounds

You will learn to communicate and collaborate with engineers, physicians, biologists and biochemists, all with different backgrounds. This is necessary for research and design of new diagnostic and therapeutic devices and techniques that are required in healthcare. In addition, you will also learn to focus on preventive devices and techniques to allow older citizens a healthy ageing; stay healthy as long as possible.

Job prospects

Once you have completed the three-year Bachelor's programme and have your degree, you may continue with the Master's degree programme to study the Biomedical engineering field in greater depth. A Bachelor's degree in BME qualifies you for the Master's degree programme in Biomedical engineering at Groningen (or the equivalent at another Dutch university). After completion of the Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, there are numerous employment possibilities.

The multidisciplinary nature of Biomedical Engineering adds significantly to employment possibilities in both research, design and management-oriented jobs. Biomedical engineers may contribute to research, or to the design of innovative products, to business, managerial, quality and regulatory aspects of biomedical engineering and to a safe introduction of technology and devices in hospitals. Biomedical Engineers are also experts who may advise on the development of long-term strategies and policies in the field of biomedical engineering:

* In the industry, a BME alumnus can become a member of the R&D-department, work on new product development or improve existing ones. In large companies biomedical engineers are educated to organize clinical trials in hospitals.

* In universities or research institutes a biomedical engineer can work as a PhD-student for 4 years on a scientific project, e.g. evaluation of new diagnostic imaging techniques or implant prototypes. Another possibility as PhD-student is to work on the application of new therapeutic techniques in oncology or design of new prostheses.

* In hospitals a biomedical engineer can work as a safety officer to increase patient safety by introducing training sessions for using new diagnostic tools or new artificial organs.

* Government organizations can hire BME alumni to work on certification of new medical devices, new Master’s programmes, or new legislation.

* When you follow the Diagnostic Imaging & Instrumentation track in the BME Master’s, you are eligible to start a post academic training in Medical Physics.