Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Biomedical Engineering)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

If you’re passionate about combining human biology with cutting-edge technology, the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Biomedical Engineering at UNSW is a wonderful match. Over four years, you’ll learn how to design medical devices, develop health-technologies, and solve real medical problems — a perfect fit for anyone eager to make a tangible impact on people’s lives through engineering and medicine.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
In your first year you’ll build a strong engineering foundation, studying core maths, physics, and computing alongside an introductory design course, such as Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation. This gives you the mindset of an engineer: learning how to tackle problems with creativity, critical thinking, and a practical approach. By the end of this year, you’ll already begin to see how engineering principles can be applied to medicine and biology.

Year 2
In the second year you’ll take on early specialisation courses, such as Engineering in Medicine and Biology (BIOM1010). Here, you’ll start to explore biological systems, learn how engineering intersects with anatomy and physiology, and begin thinking about how technology can interact with the human body to solve medical challenges. This year lays down the biomedical framework — giving you the biological perspective alongside your engineering base.

Years 3 & 4
During the final two years you’ll deepen your focus with both core and elective biomedical engineering courses, potentially covering areas like biomaterials, biomedical device design, or data analysis in medicine. You’ll also get hands-on experience through labs, industry placements or projects — using real tools and collaborating with health-industry professionals. By the end of Year 4, you’ll have a multi-disciplinary skill-set ready to design devices, improve treatments or innovate healthcare technologies.

Focus Areas: biomaterials, medical device design, bioinformatics, biomedical data analysis, tissue engineering

Learning Outcomes: You’ll graduate able to analyse biological challenges, design and prototype medical solutions, apply engineering principles in healthcare, and work flexibly across biology, medicine and technology.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The degree is accredited by Engineers Australia — which means your credential is recognised for full professional engineer status, giving you wide opportunities globally and assuring quality training aligned with international standards.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): As part of Australia’s top-ranked Engineering Faculty — ranked #1 in Australia and among the global top 25 for Engineering & Technology — this program gives you the benefit of a highly respected degree. Graduates from UNSW Engineering are among the most employable, with strong demand in health-tech, medical devices, research and industry.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the UNSW Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Biomedical Engineering) develop practical engineering and biomedical skills through hands-on laboratory work, design projects, and research-informed learning that reflects real healthcare and medical technology environments. The program is strongly practice-focused, combining engineering theory with clinical and biological applications, allowing students to work with biomedical systems, simulation tools, and advanced engineering equipment used in modern medical innovation. Through structured design studios, laboratory classes, and industry-linked learning, students build the technical and professional capabilities needed for biomedical engineering careers:

Biomedical Engineering Laboratories (UNSW) provide hands-on training in biomechanics, biomaterials, medical devices, and biomedical systems analysis.
Engineering Design Projects (Project-Based Learning) allow students to design, test, and evaluate real biomedical engineering solutions across multiple course stages.
UNSW Graduate Certificate in Engineering Practice (embedded design approach) supports professional engineering skill development and industry readiness.
Medical Device and Systems Design Studios enable students to prototype and analyse healthcare technologies and engineering innovations.
Computational Modelling and Engineering Software Tools are used for simulation, data analysis, and biomedical system design (e.g., engineering modelling environments used across coursework).
Group-Based Engineering Projects develop teamwork, communication, and multidisciplinary problem-solving skills essential for biomedical engineering practice.
Industry-Linked Learning and Engagement connects students with biomedical companies, healthcare technology organisations, and engineering partners.
Biomechanics and Biomaterials Practical Labs provide experience in analysing human movement, material behaviour, and biological system interaction.
Research-Informed Teaching and Faculty Projects expose students to cutting-edge biomedical engineering research conducted within UNSW’s engineering environment.
UNSW Library and Digital Research Resources provide access to engineering journals, biomedical databases, and technical research materials.
Engineering Workshops and Fabrication Facilities support practical prototyping, testing, and development of biomedical devices and systems.
Academic Mentoring and Professional Development Support helps students build engineering competencies and career readiness throughout the degree.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the UNSW Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Biomedical Engineering) are highly sought after in healthcare technology, medical device development, and advanced engineering sectors, where they contribute to designing solutions that improve human health and clinical outcomes. The program equips students with strong technical engineering expertise, problem-solving ability, and industry-ready design skills, opening pathways into both professional engineering roles and postgraduate research. Graduates may pursue careers as Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Design Engineer, Clinical Engineer, or R&D Engineer (Healthcare Technology):

UNSW Careers & Employment Support provides tailored career coaching, internship support, employer networking events, and graduate employment pathways across engineering and STEM industries.
UNSW Industry Partnerships (Engineering Faculty) connect students with leading biomedical and engineering organisations through collaborative projects and research engagement.
Professional Engineering Accreditation (Engineers Australia) ensures the degree meets industry standards for professional engineering practice and long-term career recognition.
Strong STEM Graduate Demand supports employment opportunities in hospitals, biomedical companies, pharmaceutical firms, and medical technology organisations.
Work-Integrated Learning and Design Project Experience enhances employability through real-world engineering problem-solving and capstone design projects.
Research Excellence at UNSW Engineering provides exposure to cutting-edge biomedical engineering innovation and applied research environments.
Graduate Outcomes reflect UNSW’s strong reputation for producing highly employable engineering graduates with advanced technical and analytical capabilities.
Long-Term Qualification Value comes from accredited engineering training combined with biomedical specialisation, supporting global career mobility.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this degree, students may progress into Master of Engineering (Biomedical Engineering), Master of Biomedical Engineering, Master of Engineering Science, or related postgraduate engineering programs. Graduates may also pursue PhD research pathways in biomedical engineering, medical devices, biomechanics, bioengineering, or healthcare technology innovation, depending on their career goals.