Study guide

Source: https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/2026/en/afstudeerrichting/EMBIEN Parent: https://www.ugent.be/ea/en/education/study-programmes

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineers combine a passion for engineering with medicine and life sciences. They develop new knowledge, materials, devices, tools, systems and methods for the (early) diagnosis, prevention and treatment of pathology to improve and guarantee health care and the quality-of-life of the individual and society.

EUR-ACE® Master (EURopean ACcredited Engineering Master)

The EUR-ACE label was accredited to this programme by the Commission des titres d’ingénieur (CTI), under the auspices of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE).

EUR-ACE® is a framework and accreditation system that provides a set of standards that identifies high-quality engineering degree programmes in Europe and abroad.

www.enaee.eu

2026-2027 2025-2026 2024-2025 2023-2024 2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021

Enrol

Master's Programme

2 year 120 credits

Faculty of Engineering and Architecture

English

download brochure

contact

About the programme

Programme summary

Find out more

Off to a good start

After graduation

What

In the Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, students acquire a solid technical know-how in biomedical engineering (integrating mathematics, physics, chemistry and life sciences with engineering techniques). Students get introduced into the specificities of working for and with the patient and with living matter, and get to know the perspective of the clinician and all stakeholders in the biomedical and health care industry.

Over the 2 year master track, students develop the necessary research and engineering skills to analyse and solve complex problems independently in a multidisciplinary context. Graduates are capable of developing new knowledge, materials, devices, tools, systems and methods for the (early) diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease. They become scientifically trained technical-medical key actors in the health care ecosystem and improve and guarantee today’s and future society's health care and quality of life. Students learn about the ethical, socio-economic and sustainability aspects of the biomedical engineering profession and get to know medical device regulations and the organisation of our health care system. In the fast-evolving field of biomedical engineering, the Master’s programme also stimulates an attitude of live-long learning. Students participate to extra-muros activities as the Biomedical Industry Day, the MEDICA fair in Düsseldorf, and company and field trips.

This programme, organised jointly by Ghent University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, delivers academically formed engineers of an outstanding international level. Students get naturally trained to function in a multidisciplinary and international team through the multidisciplinary programme (with lecturers from diverse faculties and research areas) and the multidisciplinary projects for which they work together with international students. Students acquire excellent communication skills in oral and written reporting.

You must agree to our cookie policy before you can watch videos. \ \ I agree

Remarks

The Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FEA) offers most of its Engineering programmes at Master’s level in English. This underlines the international ambition of the faculty, as well as the importance of an international education and multiple language skills for students. \

For whom

The admission requirements may vary. Depending on your prior education, you can either enrol directly or there may be additional requirements.

Take a look at the admission requirements

Structure

The study programme consists of 120 ECTS-credits spread over four twelve-week terms:

• 49 ECTS-credits worth of mandatory course units on established and newly emerging biomedical engineering disciplines.
• 39 ECTS-credits worth of project work staggered over the two years, including a computational course (students choose one course out of 4 different application domains) and the master thesis (24 ECTS-credits).
• 32 ECTS-credits worth of elective course units to shape your individual curriculum with options to specialize in Mechanics and Materials, Neuro-engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health, Radiation Physics or Sensors and Devices. Students include minimally one elective that relates to WHO’s sustainable development goals. The Radiation Physics specialization track is recognized by FANC and may result in the recognition of ‘Expert in Medical Radiation Physics’ pending completion of additional compulsory internships in a hospital (beyond the MSc in Biomedical Engineering.

Students are encouraged to use some of the elective space for internships in industry and/or research institutions. Students are equally stimulated to an international study experience and spend one term of the 1st or 2nd master, or the full 2nd master, abroad.

Master's Dissertation

The programme culminates with the Master's Dissertation. It consists of substantial, original and high-level academic research that is to be elaborated individually by the student and thus with a high degree of independence. All the while, however, the student is surrounded and supported by a research team. This independently conducted research, together with the written report and oral presentation is the ultimate demonstration of the students' ability to familiarize themselves with a new relevant biomedical engineering problem, study the problem on a high scientific level, and to report on the subject in various ways (Master’s dissertation, poster, oral public presentation).

Programme mobility

The basic biomedical engineering course units are, in principle, offered in parallel at both universities, while the more specialist course units are either taught at Ghent University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel or together. We take into consideration optimal student and teaching staff mobility. For the elective course units and the Master’s dissertation, students are free to choose between Ghent University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel or one of the (international) partner institutions with which either university has a bilateral agreement. Erasmus+ gives students the opportunity to study abroad as well, using the mobility window that is part of the second year. Students can choose to spend either one term of the 1st or 2nd master, or to spend the full 2nd master abroad.

The interuniversity programme board overlooks each student's individual curriculum and might impose (a limited number) of course units, depending on their previously acquired credits and competences. As each student's trajectory is assessed on an individual basis, it is important to apply in a timely fashion. This ensures a careful study of individual track records and an optimal selection of course units.

You must agree to our cookie policy before you can watch videos. \ \ I agree

Labour Market

Biomedical engineers find employment in industry (medical devices and technology, consultancy, software development, production and distribution industry, pharmaceutical industry, …), in hospitals (university hospital labs, as well as in university and/or general hospital management), in universities and research institutes, notified bodies and regulatory affairs, and in government (government and advisory bodies). It goes without saying that biomedical engineers are wanted for all generic academic engineering jobs.

Study programme quality

Quality Assurance

At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality. *Ghent University continuously focuseson quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system* offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.

More information:

Ghent University's Education Objectives

Quality Assurance at Ghent University

Unique Selling Points

1. Biomedical Engineering (BME) is an attractive discipline that bridges technology-driven engineering and medical/biomedical sciences. It is a fast-evolving discipline; developments in medical technology spur on and support evolutions in healthcare and will provide solutions for the socio-economic impact of demographic ageing.
2. Recent programme updates have resulted in an attractive and up-to-date BSc/MSc curriculum with a solid BME foundation in the various sub-disciplines of the broad discipline, while providing students the freedom to define their own Master's curriculum for over 60 credits.

Strengths

1. The BSc/MSc in BME stimulates a problem-solving and solution-oriented entrepreneurial attitude by means of projects throughout the entire BSc/MSc study track (a total of 57 credits, of which 39 in the Master's programme).
2. The BME ecosystem is open and diverse, and involves all the relevant stakeholders: students (through their student association BEAM) academia, hospitals, industry and other stakeholders. It supports and encourages students and teachers in their personal development and in their professional career.
3. Strong research teams feed the curriculum and provide excellent opportunities for Master's dissertations and advanced doctoral research.
4. The involvement of Ghent University’s and Vrije Universiteit Brussel’s (VUB) Faculties of Medicine in our study programme is quite strong. Our study programme is truly interdisciplinary with students carrying out a project in a hospital setting.
5. We have a diverse student population with a truly international atmosphere among our Master's students and ample opportunities for an Erasmus exchange in the first (2nd semester) or second master.

Challenges

1. Offering a interuniversity programme comes with a number of enduring practical challenges caused by two parallel administrations, separate e-learning platforms, the physical distance between the campuses and the challenging commute between Ghent and Brussels.
2. It remains difficult to estimate the level and background of incoming international students. This can threaten the exit level and disrupt the intended mix of local and international students.

Accreditation

This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found here.

This information was last updated on 14/02/2023. \ In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.