Human and Biological Robotics
Advance your knowledge on how bioengineers are leading the way in tackling modern healthcare challenges.
Advance your knowledge on how bioengineers are leading the way in tackling modern healthcare challenges
Get industry recognition by achieving an accredited degree from four leading engineering institutions
Build your teamwork, negotiation, leadership and advocacy skills on an independent research project
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£19,400 Home
£45,000 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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White City
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Minimum entry standard
First-Class Honours in an Engineering, Physical Sciences or Mathematical subject
Course overview
Develop your understanding of human and biological robots on this wide-ranging course, which explores how bioengineers are leading the way in tackling modern healthcare challenges.
From the development of rapid testing technologies to designing new life-saving devices, bioengineering helps improve lives through cross-disciplinary activities in engineering, biology and medicine.
This one-year full-time course covers robotics for humans and society, service and social robotics, rehabilitation technology, as well as machine vision, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
You'll deepen your knowledge of neuromechanics, biomimetics design, signal and image processing and the application of robotics in health and everyday life.
Teaching will be primarily based on our South Kensington Campus. Some additional seminars and projects may also take place at the Sir Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Hub, a new centre for MedTech innovation on our White City Campus.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Advance your appreciation of reinforcement learning across three core skills: theory, implementation, and evaluation.
Get an overview of the field of robotics including the most important theoretic building blocks in robotics.
Deepen your knowledge of organ systems and their function, covering everything from the cardiovascular system to brain function and the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems.
Learn data analysis methodologies and understand how to integrate these concepts into your research projects.
Explore the control of human movement from the perspective of both adaptation of the neural control system and adaptation of properties of the mechanical plant.
Examine various aspects of medical device entrepreneurship and understand the process and challenges in developing your own business idea.
You choose four optional modules in total. You can take up to one module from Group A and three or four from Group B. Please note that some module choices are subject to availability.
Optional modules – Group A
Receive practical training in bio-inspired robotics locomotion and reinforce the engineering skills required to implement mechatronics systems.
Understand C programming language and develop the ability to programme mechatronic systems containing sensors and actuators.
Analyse the design of rehabilitation systems and assistive devices, integrating mechatronics and human factors into computer games.
Optional modules – Group B
Understand the basics of simulation, physical layout and verification of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) for bioengineering applications.
Examine the principles of mechanics, such as solid mechanics and fluids mechanics, and their application to living systems.
Explore the scope of biomimetics and investigate the principles that help engineers solve technical problems using inspiration from nature.
Please note: this is a capped module and is subject to availability.
Become familiar with the technology that is used in clinical settings for interfacing of the human brain to electronic circuitry.
Develop an appreciation of the role of computational and theoretical approaches to understanding the nervous system.
Examine digital image processing relevant to image analysis and gain an appreciation for aspects of computation involved in interpreting images.
You'll also carry out an individual research project that will give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge to current research problems. Project work is concentrated in the Spring and Summer terms, and you should demonstrate independence and originality under the guidance of a member of academic staff. The project work will be designed to help you to develop important project management, team working and communication skills that are highly valued by employers and international research groups.
Professional accreditation
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This degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and Institution of Engineering Designers (IED), on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Our course accreditations are renewed every five years; the current accreditation agreement covering the current academic year and onwards is provisional and subject to our satisfying the requirements of the accrediting Professional Engineering Institutes (which have been completed and the final decision is expected imminently).
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
This is a general guide to how teaching and learning are usually balanced across this course. The methods used may change based on the modules you take.
Key
- Lectures and seminars
- Independent study
- Research project
- 12% Title 1 goes here
- 44% Title 2 goes here
- 44% Title 3 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Study groups
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Tutorials
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Computing labs
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Presentations
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Virtual learning environment
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Guest lectures
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Independent study
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Flipped teaching
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Coursework
- Exams
- Practical
- 30% Title 1 goes here
- 35% Title 2 goes here
- 35% Title 3 goes here
Assessment methods
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Problem sheets
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Lab reports
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Practical demonstrations
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Project reports
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Oral presentations
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Poster presentations
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In-class progress tests
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Exams
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Round 2 closes on Wednesday 7 January 2026
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Monday 29 September 2025
- Applications close on Wednesday 7 January 2026
- Decision by Wednesday 4 March 2026
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 8 January 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 11 March 2026
- Decision by Wednesday 6 May 2026
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 12 March 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 29 April 2026
- Decision by Thursday 2 July 2026
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
Applicants who select this course as their second choice will be placed in the application round based on when their complete application becomes eligible for this course.
This is normally the first working day after they have received a decision on their first choice course.
Applications received after the final deadline are not considered. It is your responsibility to liaise with your first choice course if you wish to withdraw from that choice in order to be considered for MSc Human and Biological Robotics.
We endeavour to give a final accept or reject decision on all applications by the published date.
However, a small number of applicants may receive a “waiting list” decision, to allow us to fairly compare applicants across gathered fields.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee - All Bioengineering courses
2026 entry
£19,400
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee - All Bioengineering courses
2026 entry
£45,000
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Gain a deeper understanding of how bioengineers are solving modern healthcare problems
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
Medicine, healthcare and the medical device industry are just some of your options.
Other potential career paths could include research, teaching, start-ups, consultancy and finance.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5146
- Email: bg-mscadmissions@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Professor Etienne Burdet
Programmes Director: Dr David Labonte
Visit the Department of Bioengineering website.
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Request info
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications