Medical Device Design and Entrepreneurship
Develop research and analytical skills towards a career in bioengineering or for further PHD study.
Develop research and analytical skills towards a career in bioengineering or for further PHD study
Get industry recognition with an accredited degree
Receive dedicated training in medical device entrepreneurship
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MRes
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
September 2025
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£18,500 Home
£42,900 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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White City
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Minimum entry standard
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2:1 in an Engineering, Physical Sciences, Mathematical, Life Sciences or Biomedical Sciences subject
Course overview
Build your appreciation of biomedical engineering and enhance your entrepreneurial skills on this Master's course.
You'll develop research and analytical skills related to bioengineering before specialising in the area of medical device development.
You'll then examine the processes required to get a device to market, from concept to business planning and market emergence.
Much of the training is based around a year-long project aimed at developing a start-up business plan around a medical device concept.
This work will prepare you for further PhD study, or an innovative research career in bioengineering or business.
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
Explore various aspects of medical device entrepreneurship, looking at case studies from start-ups, industry and investment firms to gain a sense of the process and challenges in developing your own business idea.
Discover the basics of python programming and statistical methods and understand the underlying concepts of statistics.
Choose from a wide range of modules examining key aspects of biomedical engineering and business.
Begin the background research and planning for your project.
Develop core skills and learn key concepts to plan, start and run a technology business in medical devices. You'll gain a critical understanding of fundraising and financial planning, contracts and law, and business negotiation, through lectures, case studies and practical workshops.
Learn essential skills to communicate your business ideas effectively in a variety of media, from traditional outlets to social media platforms. You'll learn about different audiences including angel investors, venture capital and grant-funding bodies, government and regulatory bodies, and the general public.
For the Topics in Biomedical Engineering and Business module, you'll choose two or four optional modules.
Example modules are shown here, but are subject to availability.
Optional modules
Discover, describe, and differentiate diverse ranges of biomaterials and their synthesis and functional characterisation.
Analyse the different methods of (bio)chemical sensors and understand basic chemical sensing principles and their application.
Examine advanced imaging technologies and critically evaluate and design imaging experiments to analyse dynamic processes in complex biological systems.
Explore the core aspects of biological and clinical measurement such as data handling, sampling and measurement.
Understand the fundamental biological and biophysical processes involved in cancer and the application of bioengineering to better understand and manage the disease.
Become familiar with the major classes of biomedical implant materials including metals, ceramics and polymers.
Explore the principles of mechanics, such as solid mechanics and fluid mechanics, and their application to living systems.
Cover the scope of biomimetics and investigate the principles that help engineers solve technical problems using inspiration from nature.
Discover technology used in clinical settings for interfacing of the human brain to electronic circuitry.
Study biomechanics on a cellular scale and investigate methods of sensing and cell manipulation.
Appreciate the role of computational and theoretical approaches to understanding the nervous system.
Understand the basic physics of ionising radiation as safely implemented in radiotherapy, and review the range of applications used in the treatment of patients.
Understand the basic physics of ionising radiation as safely implemented in radiotherapy, and review the range of applications used in the treatment of patients.
Learn about the neurobiology of hearing and the characteristics of speech and the principles of its processing.
Assess 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 digital image processing relevant to image analysis and appreciate aspects of computation involved in interpreting images.
Assess the different industrial applications of cellular engineering and synthetic biology and learn about engineering cell behaviours in a variety of fields.
Appreciate the basic physics of nuclear medicine and discover the range of applications used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Analyse a range of appropriate mathematical models to model biological systems and analyse complex biological data.
Deepen your understanding of the key skills needed by professional engineers in the development of medical systems and devices, specifically in the preparation of regulatory approval.
Analyse engineering principles and approaches towards the study of biomechanical behaviour from a cellular to tissue scale.
Explore the latest nanotechnological advances in the field of cancer diagnostics and cancer therapies.
Gain a grounding in core neuroscience concepts and understand the ‘state of the art’ with regard to research methodology.
Become familiar with the latest advanced features of medical imaging (CT, X-ray, MR and US) and their use in modern hospital practice.
Discover the mechanics of the musculoskeletal system, including the structure and function of the musculoskeletal tissues.
Examine how images of the body can be obtained using different forms of penetrating radiation and how different forms of imaging work.
Understand reinforcement learning and its mathematical foundations.
Learn how to describe organ systems and their functions, covering everything from the cardiovascular system to brain function and the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems.
Examine fundamental concepts in normal tissue development and discuss their imitation within a lab setting.
Build on the knowledge and skills from the course and apply them to current engineering, design and research problems that interest you.
The project helps you to develop important project management, team working and communication skills that are highly valued by employers and
international research groups.
The majority of work is undertaken in the summer term, when you will be expected to work on the project full time
The project may involve collaboration with groups in other Imperial departments or with Industry.
Professional accreditation
This degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), 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 is provisional and subject to final approval by the accrediting Institutions, which we expect to see completed by the end of the current academic year 2024-25.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures and tutorials
- Independent study
- Research project
- 8% Lectures and tutorials
- 21% Independent study
- 71% Research project
Teaching and learning methods
- Lectures
- Study groups
- Tutorials
- Computing labs
- Presentations
- Virtual learning environment
- Guest lectures
- Independent study
- Flipped teaching
Balance of assessment
Key
- Coursework
- Exams
- Practical
- 45% Coursework
- 5% Exams
- 50% Practical
Assessment methods
- Coursework
- Written exams
- Oral presentations
- Written reports
- Dissertation
- Final thesis
- Practical training elements
- Poster presentations
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 1 closes on Thursday 16 January 2025
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.
Application rounds
Round 1
- Apply by Thursday 16 January 2025
- Decision by Thursday 6 March 2025
Round 2
- Apply by Thursday 27 March 2025
- Decision by Thursday 1 May 2025
Round 3
- Apply by Thursday 15 May 2025
- Decision by Thursday 17 July 2025
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
- £80 for all taught Master's applications, excluding those to the Imperial College Business School.
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School.
- £150 for all MBA applications to the Imperial College 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.
Unless you are from an exempt nationality, you will need an ATAS certificate to obtain your visa and study this course.
Nationals from the following countries are exempt: Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA and EEA members.
Use this information when applying for an ATAS certificate to study this course:
- CAH code: CAH10-01-06
- Descriptor: bioengineering, medical and biomedical engineering
- Supervisor name: Professor Anthony Bull
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2025 entry
£18,500
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.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2025 entry
£42,900
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.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
The first of its kind in the UK, this MRes aims to enhance medical device development.
The extensive research project will prepare you for further study and research at PhD level.
Gain transferable skills relevant to a career in biomedical engineering or similar fields.
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: be.pgadmissions@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Sam Au
Visit the Department of Bioengineering website.
Request info
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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