利莫利克大学

Why Study Biomedical Engineering at UL?

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.

Course Structure

The programme is four years duration. Part I, which comprises the first year of study (common entry programme), provides the student with a foundation in fundamental engineering subjects:

Mathematics | Computing | Engineering Mechanics | Physical Chemistry | Electrical Principles

Fluid Mechanics | Production Technology | The Engineering Profession

The Biomedical Engineering course together with the Civil Engineering, Design & Manufacture Engineering and Mechanical Engineering all take the same first year modules.

In Part I you will also take Introduction to Engineering 1 & 2. In these courses you are taught how to write engineering reports and how to present information to others. These courses also provide you with an introduction to information sources, plagiarism, problem solving techniques, time management, intellectual property rights and sustainability.

PART II - of the BE Biomedical Engineering

Part II comprises of Years 2, 3 & 4 of the course. During year 2 (2 semesters), 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). 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.

In Year 4 the Biomedical Engineering students take courses including Biomaterials, Medical Device Design, Microfluidics and Orthopedic 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.

Career Prospects

Careers open to you with a degree in Biomedical Engineering include;

• Design engineer (medical devices)
• Manufacturing engineer
• Polymer engineer
• Process engineer
• Biomaterials Development
• Sterilization engineer
• Quality Engineer