Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Atlantic Technological University – Galway City

Program Overview

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Science at ATU blends engineering, science and healthcare to help you design and improve the technologies that save and support lives. It’s ideal for students who enjoy problem-solving and want to work on things like medical devices, diagnostics, imaging systems and rehabilitation technologies.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You begin with a broad engineering foundation, studying subjects such as Engineering Mathematics, Physics, Materials Science and Programming. This year builds your technical confidence and introduces you to how engineers think and solve real-world problems, preparing you for biomedical specialisation later in the degree.

Year 2
In second year, you move into the biomedical field with modules like Anatomy and Physiology, Biomedical Instrumentation and Electronic Engineering. You start learning how the human body works and how technology is used to measure, monitor and support it.

Year 3
This year focuses on applying engineering to medical challenges. You study subjects such as Biomechanics, Biomaterials and Medical Device Design, learning how implants, prosthetics and diagnostic systems are created and tested. You also begin working on more complex design and laboratory projects.

Year 4
In your final year, you specialise and bring everything together through advanced topics such as Medical Imaging, Rehabilitation Engineering and a Final Year Project. This project lets you design, build or analyse a biomedical engineering solution, giving you experience that mirrors professional practice or postgraduate research.

Focus areas

Biomedical devices, medical imaging, biomechanics, biomaterials, clinical engineering, rehabilitation technology, healthcare systems.

Learning outcomes

The ability to design and evaluate medical technologies, apply engineering principles to biological systems, analyse complex data, and work safely and professionally in healthcare and medical technology environments.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This is a Level 8 Honours Engineering degree aligned with professional engineering standards, supporting progression toward professional engineer status in Ireland and internationally.

Reputation (employability & recognition)

ATU biomedical engineering graduates are well regarded by medical device and healthcare technology employers, particularly in Ireland’s growing MedTech sector, which continues to expand and hire skilled engineers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At ATU, Medical Science is designed around learning by doing. You won’t just study how medical technology works — you’ll build, test and analyse it using real engineering tools and biomedical equipment in dedicated teaching and research labs. Throughout the degree, practical lab work, design projects and applied assignments help you develop the same skills used by engineers working in hospitals, medical device companies and research labs.

That hands-on experience includes:

Biomedical and engineering laboratories
You work in specialist labs for electronics, mechanics, biomaterials and biomedical instrumentation, learning how to test sensors, circuits, materials and medical devices.
Medical device and instrumentation training
Through modules such as Biomedical Instrumentation and Medical Device Design, you learn how equipment like ECG systems, monitoring devices and diagnostic tools are designed, calibrated and evaluated.
Anatomy and physiology applied to engineering
You don’t just learn theory — you use biological knowledge to guide engineering decisions, such as designing devices that safely interact with muscles, bones and organs.
Design and build projects
You complete group and individual engineering projects where you design solutions to real healthcare challenges, developing teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills.
Final-year engineering project
In your final year, you complete a substantial project that may involve designing a medical device, analysing clinical data or developing a healthcare technology — closely reflecting real industry or research work.
Computing and simulation tools
You use programming, modelling and simulation software to analyse biomedical systems and device performance, preparing you for modern digital healthcare environments.
Access to technical and research resources
You use ATU’s engineering workshops, science laboratories, and digital libraries to support experimentation, prototyping, data analysis and research writing.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Science at ATU move into careers where engineering directly improves patient care and healthcare technology. With your mix of engineering, biology and medical-device training, you’ll be ready for roles such as Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Design Engineer, Clinical Engineer, or Rehabilitation Technology Specialist in hospitals, research centres and global MedTech companies.

That means this degree opens doors to one of the fastest-growing technology sectors:

Strong industry demand
Ireland is a major global hub for medical device manufacturing and healthcare technology, and biomedical engineers are in constant demand across design, testing, production and quality roles.
Industry-ready technical skills
You graduate with experience in medical instrumentation, biomaterials, biomechanics, device design and data analysis — exactly what employers in MedTech and healthcare expect.
Wide range of career paths
Graduates work in medical device companies, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, quality and regulatory teams, research labs and healthcare technology start-ups.
Professional recognition
Your Level 8 engineering degree supports progression toward professional engineer status, giving your qualification long-term international value.
Global career opportunities
Biomedical engineering skills are needed worldwide, allowing you to work in Europe, North America, Asia or continue into international postgraduate study.

Further Academic Progression

After completing this degree, you can progress into postgraduate study in areas such as Biomedical Engineering, Medical Device Design, Medical Imaging, Biomechanics, Healthcare Technology or Bioengineering. Many graduates also move on to Master’s and PhD research, leading to careers in advanced medical innovation, R&D and university teaching.