Engineering (Bioengineering)

This four-year degree delivers the breadth and depth that you will need to succeed in the world of engineering. It is designed to produce graduates who will go on to lead engineering teams.

A common first two years in General Engineering provide you with the broad knowledge required to work effectively on multi-disciplinary engineering problems. The course structure offers a huge amount of flexibility – you could join us on a bioengineering engineering pathway but decide to pursue civil engineering at the end of your second year. We believe in empowering our students to make informed decisions that would best serve their future careers.

After your first two years, you will start to specialise in areas of Civil, Electrical, Electronic or Mechanical Engineering, and supplement this discipline-specific knowledge with Engineering Design activities and focused practical skills. You can further specialise in your final year, with additional specialist content in Aeronautical Engineering, Renewable Energy, and Bioengineering, learning advanced topics at the forefront of engineering knowledge whilst working with a world-leading academic on a research and development dissertation, the highlight of many of our students’ degrees.

Throughout your studies you encounter a mixture of core theoretical engineering concepts, underpinning mathematics, practical engineering skills, engineering design, ethics and professional issues. A combination of group and individual activities and assessments, working alongside both students and staff, will provide you with the opportunity to develop your interpersonal, teamworking and leadership skills.

Course structure

Year 1 modules

Core modules:

Following the Department’s General Engineering ethos, you will study three core engineering subjects alongside mathematics and engineering practice. You will examine theoretical concepts alongside developing skills in computer-aided design (CAD), computing, engineering design and professional issues.

Solid Mechanics and Structures gives you a working knowledge of solid mechanics, structures and structural analysis, in a wider engineering context.

Electronic and Electrical Systems provides you with a working knowledge of electrical and electronic circuit theory, components, electromagnetism and digital electronics.

Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics introduces knowledge of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics including dimensional analysis, fluid statics and fluid dynamics.

Engineering Practice provides you with practical engineering skills relevant to multiple engineering disciplines. It shows how the material covered in other modules comes together in the wider engineering application context, and will also introduce you to engineering ethics and professional issues.

Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists gives you the underpinning maths skills and techniques needed to study Engineering and other sciences.

Optional modules:

Students take an elective module in their first year. Recent options have included:

• Introduction to Programming
• Computational Thinking
• Languages

Year 2 modules

Core modules:

The second year builds further core engineering knowledge and practical skills across core general engineering areas of Civil, Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, alongside mathematics and a significant Engineering Design project. Core areas of study include:

Engineering Mathematics provides a working knowledge of probability and statistics and advanced mathematical methods for modelling and analysing engineering problems.

Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics gives you further working knowledge of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.

Solid Mechanics and Structures builds your knowledge of the mechanics of dynamics and vibration, stress analysis, structures and the mechanics of soils, and introduces you to finite element methods.

Electrical Engineering introduces you to electrical machines and systems and provides you with knowledge of mathematical methods for modelling engineering problems.

Electronics gives you a knowledge of electronics and computing for analogue circuits, sensors, digital electronics and microprocessor design.

Engineering Design will introduce you to various aspects of the design process including the principles of engineering design and project management. You will undertake a major design project with guidance from an academic supervisor and an external (industrial) engineer.

Year 3 modules

Core modules:

Assuming you continue to follow the bioengineering degree, you will begin to undertake more specialised content in bioengineering whilst still recognising the importance of engineering as a multidisciplinary subject. In your third year, you will start to focus on mechanical engineering and related subjects such as electrical engineering and materials. You will continue to develop your skills in engineering design. Core areas of study include:

Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics introduces knowledge of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics including dimensional analysis, fluid statics and fluid dynamics.

Solid Mechanics develops principles in the subject areas of dynamics, materials, computational stress analysis and fatigue. Practical skills computational stress analysis is also developed.

Materials gives you an understanding of processing–structure–properties relationships. It will introduce you to commercially important manufacturing and processing techniques including life-cycle analysis.

Electrical Engineering advances your knowledge of fundamental concepts and techniques electromechanical energy conversion and delivery. It introduces the foundations of power electronics in modern industrial applications alongside renewable energy integration within modern energy networks.

Control and Signal Processing builds your knowledge of different mathematical techniques used in the design and analysis of control systems. You will also learn about analysis methods for both continuous and discrete signals.

Engineering Design will enhance your understanding of the design process and the way theoretical work supports engineering design. It will give you an introduction to innovation and business aspects of engineering design projects.

Year 4 modules

Core modules:

The core modules in Bioengineering introduce you to advanced and state-of-the-art concepts and applications in areas such as physiological fluid mechanics, biomechanics, artificial organs, tissue engineering, AI and deep learning.

The MEng Research and Development Project provides an open-ended challenge for you to undertake research working closely with an academic supervisor. You will identify and initiate methods to investigate the topic, generate and analyse data, formulate conclusions and recommendations and present the work in a written report and oral exam. This project is a highlight of your degree, and an amazing opportunity to carry out your own research and to develop the professional skills required to become an engineering leader.

Optional modules:

Students typically take an optional module in the final year, allowing you to explore interests or topics that might be outside your core specialism. Recent examples have included:

• Environmental Engineering
• Non-Linear Solid Mechanics
• Optimisation and Control for AI

Additional Pathways

Students can apply to be transferred onto either the with  Year Abroad or with Placement pathway. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from three years to four or four to five depending on course.