Biomedical Engineering

Combining the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological science, Biomedical engineering improves health care delivery and medical practice by closing the gap between engineering and medicine. Chalmers is world leading in developing bone anchored hearing aids and has highly prominent research in e.g. non-invasive epileptic source localization, microwave tomography and hyperthermia treatment of cancer.

With a growing need for improvement in the quality of life and worldwide life expectancy on the rise, there is an increased demand for efficient health care systems in the medical and hospital sector. Together with advancements within IT, a new world of possibilities in how health care can be delivered is evolving.
At Chalmers we are experts in engineering materials, devises and systems that interact with biological systems and in using engineering technologies for advancing human health.

For almost 20 years, Chalmers has been world leading in research and development of bone conduction hearing aids, a technology that has provided hearing for more than 100 000 people. Currently we are also developing the world's first osseointegrated and thought controlled robotic arm.

Other fields of research and product development:

• Stroke detection and brain monitoring in neurointensive care using microwave technology, microwave tomography for 3D breast tumour detection and visualization and microwave hypothermia for treating head and neck cancer.
• In collaboration with Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Chalmers is developing a software tool for fast and non-invasive epileptic source localization using EEG, saving the patient of a surgical implantation of intracranial electrodes.
• Clothing incorporated textile based sensors that record electrical activity from the heart, brain, or muscles for distance monitoring in homecare settings and eHealth, where healthcare practise is supported by electronic processes and communication.

The future of healthcare will simply require technical expertise, through faculty, projects, guest lectures and a tight collaboration with industry, students at the Master's programme in Biomedical Engineering will be part of a highly prominent research environment.

Career opportunities

Biomedical engineers can be employed by manufacturers of medical equipment, health care providers, biomedical engineering divisions at hospitals, research departments, consultant companies and other industrial sectors for consumer products where biomedical aspects are of importance e.g: Astra Tech, Elekta, Siemens, Getinge, Mölnlycke Health care, Nobel Biocare, St Jude, Cochlear, Ortivus, Carmel Pharma, Neoventa, Art implant, Mentice, Micropos, Samba Sensor, Medfield, Qbtech,Volvo, SKF, Autoliv, etc.

Care has been taken to ensure that students gain general engineering skills at a level that is competitive within virtually any branch of industry. In addition, the programme qualifies students for postgraduate studies. Students interested in research have the possibility of completing a 60 ECTS master’s thesis.

Educational methods

The overall aim of the programme is to prepare students for a professional career by providing in-depth knowledge in biomedical engineering.
During the first year, the programme provides students with a general interdisciplinary base of medical and biomedical qualified engineering skills. The general skills are then extended in the application oriented specialisations in the second year.

Research connections

Chalmers has a history of long lasting collaboration between national and international hospitals and the biomedical industry, making Chalmers a perfect choice for students wanting to pursue this rapidly evolving field of interdisciplinary science.

Offering a potent research environment, Chalmers is also part of MedTech West, which is run in collaboration with Region Västra Götaland and Sahlgrenska University hospital amongst others.

The MSc in Biomedical engineering is also included under one of the five profiles within Life Science, A Chalmers Area of Advance, where there are several examples of research that has resulted in patents or spin- off companies.

International collaboration

Master’s thesis projects will be available at international universities/companies – preliminary Boston, USA; Edmonton, Canada; Innsbruck, Austria; more to come.

Bachelor´s degree (or the equivalent) with a Major in: Electrical Engineering, Bio Engineering, Engineering Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Mathematics or Automation and MechatronicsPrerequisites: Electric circuit analysis, Basic programming and Mathematics (including Multivariable analysis, Linear algebra, Numerical analysis)Preferable course experience: Transforms and Signal analysis English Language ProficiencyThe most common and important scores that are accepted areIELTS (academic training), 6.5 (with no part of the test below 5.5)TOEFL (Internet based): 90 (with a minimum of 20 on the written part)TOEFL (paper based): 575 (with a minimum of 4.5 on the written part) English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 60 (Grade C) TOEFL paper-based test score : 575 TOEFL iBT® test: 90

All Scholarships administered by Chalmers have now been awarded and all applicants have been notified of their selection results.

Important: Applications for scholarships should be made along with the application for Master's studies. Students should not wait until they receive an admission to do so.

• The Avancez Scholarships are 75% tuition fee waivers awarded by Chalmers University of Technology and are funded by the Chalmers Foundation. These scholarships are available to all students who are liable to pay tuition fees i.e., students with non-EU/EEA nationality.

• The IPOET (International Programme Office for Education and Training) Scholarships are 75% tuition fee waivers funded by the Government of Sweden. They are awarded by Chalmers University of Technology and available to nearly all fee-paying students, with the exception of 12 countries.

• The Mölnlycke Health Care Scholarships are 100% fee tuition waivers with possibilities for summer internships and a final master's thesis project.

• The Sievert Larsson Scholarship Fund (within Friends of Chalmers) offers a 100% tuition fee waiver and living expenses to students of Thai nationality who aim to study on a Master’s programme at Chalmers University of Technology.

• The US Friends of Chalmers Scholarship is a scholarship comprising USD 35 000 (i.e. a reduction of the tuition fee by USD 8750 per semester) and is awarded to one student with US citizenship.

• The Volvo Car Corporation Scholarships are 100% tuition fee waivers awarded to 2 Chinese students with the guarantee of participation in the VESC (Volvo Engineering Student Concept) programme which includes a summer job, master thesis project, mentorship and possible employment at Volvo Car Corporation.

• The Volvo Group Scholarship Programme is a 100% fee tuition fee waiver awarded to students of Indian nationality and Chinese nationality. The Scholarship includes possibilities for internships during the summer, a final Master thesis project and mentorship.

Scholarships that will not be offered in 2014

• The Chalmers MasterCard Scholarship (will be offered again in 2015) Available biennialy for a Master's student from Central America, South America or Mexico. The scholarship comprises a 280 000 SEK reduction of the tuition fee (70 000 SEK reduction/ semester).

• The FlexLink Scholarship (not available in 2014) for a Master's Student from China is a 100% tuition fee waiver along with possibilities for internship and a final master thesis project.

Note: Being granted alternative funding from external patrons does not affect the possibility of obtaining scholarships from Chalmers as an applicants financial status is not taken into account during the nomination process.

Scholarships for current students

Adlerbert 60th Anniversary Scholarships - Will be offered for the first time during 2014 to fee paying Master's Programme students who were admitted Autumn 2013, including scholarship holders whose scholarships do not include costs of living coverage. This means that, for instance, holders of Swedish Institute scholarships and Sievert Larsson, version 2 scholarships will not be eligible to apply. In order to be eligible the applicant must have passed at least 60 credits during the first year of studies. The scholarships, which amount to 60 000 SEK each, will be awarded based on the applicants' cumulative grade point average . Around 10 to 20 scholarships will be offered in 2014. More information about how to apply, etc., will be published soon.

Adlerbert Foreign Student Hospitality Fund - Only open for international students who have been admitted to, and enrolled on, a Master's Programme at Chalmers. Thus, prospective students cannot apply. Students can be awarded the scholarship a maximum of two times. The application period opens in late January and closes in late February. Consequently, it is only possible to apply during this period of a student's first and second year.

Scholarships administered by the Swedish Institute

The Swedish Institute, a government agency, administers over 500 scholarships each year for students and researchers coming to Sweden to pursue their objectives at a Swedish university. Use their online guide in order to find out if any of the Swedish Institute scholarships are available for citizens of your country at your intended level of study.