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Healthcare Technology Masters/MSc/PGDip

Start date
September
Duration
1 year full-time, 2–3 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024/25:
£11,340 (UK students)
£29,340 (International students)
Further fee information is available.

The University of Birmingham is a world leading research centre for Healthcare Technology. We are advancing new technologies and treatments that enable people to live longer, healthier and happier lives. This requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving engineers, life scientists and physical scientists.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

The MSc in Healthcare Technology will provide multidisciplinary masters-level training to equip you with the skills needed to pursue exciting careers in this area, both in industrial and academic settings. Graduates from the programme will form the next generation of researchers developing novel technologies enabling healthier ageing.

Key themes within healthcare technology research at the University of Birmingham are scar-free healing, early detection and diagnosis of diseases, tissue regeneration, developing better prosthetics, and tackling antibiotic resistance. You will have the chance to develop understanding in these areas from a set of core modules. 

You will also be able to choose from a series of optional modules to develop additional expertise in complementary areas, such as bioprocessing, business, and pharmaceuticals. Finally, MSc students will have the opportunity to apply their understanding by undertaking an original research project with research groups working within the Healthcare Technologies Institute or School of Chemical Engineering. 

We expect graduates from the MSc in Healthcare Technology to work in the growing industry surrounding this area, for example diagnostics, medical devices, and other medical technology. We also expect some graduates will pursue further study, via PhD or other doctoral programmes.

Why study a Masters in Healthcare Technology at Birmingham?

  • In this course we explore the key areas of healthcare technology that will enable people to lead longer, healthier lives. We cover the requirements for product and technology development, including ethics and regulatory aspects.
  • We explore the multidisciplinarity of the subject, building understanding of the interface between physical science (eg materials science, mechanical engineering), biological science (cell biology, clinical science), and engineering (eg manufacturing, formulation) aspects. Success in the field requires understanding and optimisation of both areas. 
  • Our themed optional modules enable you to specialise in areas that interest you: from the production and formulation of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals; bioprocessing for manufacture of small molecules and biopharmaceuticals; synthetic biology for generation of novel molecular products; and the business surrounding the sector.
  • Teaching is led by our world-leading research in healthcare technology and process engineering, and during the research project students work within research groups on an original research project to develop a novel healthcare technology or product.
  • Birmingham has been challenging and developing great minds for more than a century. With over 35,000 students and 7,000 staff, today we are one of the world’s leading universities. Characterised by a tradition of innovation, research at the University has broken new ground, pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge and made an impact on people’s lives – a tradition that this programme proudly continues.
  • Explore important aspects of healthcare technology, addressing the design and development of medical devices, biomaterials, sensing systems, implants and tissue engineered constructs.
  • Specialise in complementary areas that interest you, from pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, and bioprocessing, to the business surrounding the sector.
  • Benefit from our collaborations with world-class industry partners, and international, leading-edge engineering and science departments.

Modules

Depending upon your background, the programme starts with introductory modules to introduce material that will be encountered in the programme. This will give you the knowledge needed to engage with the rest of the programme.

There are 60 credits of core modules focused on the major aspects of healthcare technology, delivered by world-leading researchers and informed by their latest research. These modules cover topics such as tissue engineering, advanced biomaterials, medical devices, sensing and additive manufacture in healthcare settings.

The core modules are complemented by optional modules in the areas of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, bioprocessing, business skills and synthetic biology. These enable you to develop your expertise in areas surrounding healthcare technology and will prepare you for your future career in industry or academia.

Some modules advertised currently may be subject to change, either in terms of the module content as stated below, or in terms of if the module will be available for this programme (due to staff changes, timetable changes, etc).

Finally, in the summer, Masters students undertake an original research project, working closely with a research group within the Healthcare Technologies Institute or School of Chemical Engineering. The research project will focus on development of a novel healthcare technology product, and include a business plan and a pitch to potential investors. This will allow you to consolidate your knowledge in a practical setting and put your learning into the context of the development of new healthcare technologies.

This brings the total credits for the MSc to 180.

Introductory modules – between 0-20 credits

If you have not studied biology or life science before at degree level, you will take the Bioscience for Graduates of other disciplines module, which will introduce you to the relevant topics. Likewise, students without a biomedical science or biomedical engineering background will take the Introduction to Healthcare Technology module.

Core modules - 60 credits:

Project

Optional modules – your choice up to 120 credits

 All modules are offered subject to sufficient enrolled students. All module descriptions are provisional and subject to minor change. Example optional modules are listed below:

Pharmaceutical Technology Theme

Bioprocessing Theme

Business Studies Theme

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Fees

Tuition fees for UK students 2024/25

MSc:  Full-time £11,340. Part-time £5,670.
Postgraduate Diploma:  Full-time £7,560.

Tuition fees for International students 2024/25

MSc: Full-time £29,340.
Postgraduate Diploma: Full-time £19,560.


Are you an international applicant?

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.

Find out more about the deposit >>.

Postgraduate Loans (PGL) for Masters students

UK and EU students (with settled or pre-settled status) looking to pursue a Masters programme in the UK can apply for a non-means-tested loan from the British government via the Student Loans Company (SLC).

The loan will be paid directly to you, into a UK bank account. It is intended to provide a contribution towards the costs of Masters study and whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs is at your own discretion.

Learn more about applying for PGL 

 

Scholarships

Chemical Engineering PG Taught Entrance Scholarship

The school of Chemical Engineering is happy to be able to recognise and reward our top incoming students to celebrate your academic achievements before arriving as a student at the University of Birmingham.
The Chemical Engineering PGT Entrance Scholarship consists of a £1000 cash award during year 1 semester 1 for the students who meet the conditions.
There are 10 awards available; 5 will be allocated to UK students for fees and 5 will be allocated to international students for fees.

We offer a range of postgraduate scholarships for taught programmes and research opportunities to ensure the very best talent is nurtured and supported at postgraduate level.

University scholarships

Birmingham Masters Scholarship

Our Birmingham Masters Scholarship offers £2,000 via a tuition fee discount, to support the brightest and best applicants from UK or Ireland undertaking Masters study at Birmingham during 2024-2025.

Global Masters Scholarship

This £2,000 Gloabl Masters Scholarship award is available to all international students from a selection of countries who are seeking to study a taught Masters degree at Birmingham in the 2024-25 academic year.

 

How To Apply

International applicants requiring visas

Applications to this programme from students who are international for fees will close 7 May 2024. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full, early applications are encouraged.

UK and non-Tier 4 applicants

Applications will close 31 August 2024. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full, early applications are encouraged.

Application routes

Please note that the duration of this programme is one year full-time, while part-time study can be up to three years.

However, part-time programmes are only eligible for Government Masters Loans if they are no more than twice the length of the full-time version. Therefore any UK part-time students wishing to apply for Government Masters Loans must complete the programme within two years.

If you plan to study over two years and/or would like to apply for a Masters Loan, please select the fixed part-time application route shown. If you would like the flexibility to study over up to three years, and are not seeking funding, please select the standard part-time application route.

 

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

You should have, or expect to obtain, a 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant science or engineering subject (eg Biology, Biochemistry, Biomaterials, Biomedical Science, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Materials science). Learn more about entry requirements.  

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us. Further information can be found here: www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/atas.

International Requirements



International Students

English language

For students whose first language is not English, one of the following English language qualifications is required:

 
  • IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band
  • TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 19 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component
 

International students applying for this programme will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office before the University can issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you receive an offer from us.

Teaching is led by our world-leading research in healthcare technology, and during the research project MSc students work within research groups on an original research project.

Postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham is a chance to learn from world leaders in their fields. This guarantees you a first-class learning experience, leading to a qualification that is respected the world over and making you an attractive prospect in a very competitive job market. The topics studied on this course are aligned with the research strengths of the Healthcare Technologies Institute and School of Chemical Engineering, so you will be learning about cutting-edge developments in your chosen areas of interest.

Learning, teaching and assessment

The modules are taught in a variety of ways, and encourage enquiry based learning and problem solving, enabling graduates to think laterally and make complex decisions when entering the world of work or further study. Modules are assessed by a mixture of written exam and coursework, including written essays and reports and presentations. Some modules include group work to develop and discuss ideas. The MSc research project is assessed in part by the submission of a dissertation and an oral concept pitch based on the development of a new healthcare technology or device.

Skills gained

As well as gaining a high level of technical knowledge, students will also gain the ability to critically analyse data and evaluate published information, present their findings to diverse audiences, and solve problems based on the available information. Group work will foster interdisciplinary skills. IT skills, health and safety and ethics will be embedded through the programme. On the research project, MSc students will gain the skills of independent research within a world-leading research group.

Timescale

The MSc is a 12-month full-time advanced course, comprising lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work, and a research project. The course can also be taken on a part-time basis over two or three years.

The Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) lasts for eight months and does not include the research project. Modules are also available individually to fulfil continuing professional development needs.

There is a great demand for healthcare technology scientists and engineers in industry worldwide. This course gives you a professional basis for a career in a variety of industries.

Our Careers Network offers a range of events and support services designed to help you maximise your employability: from networking opportunities and career coaching workshops, to our effective-careers-strategy toolkit and one-to-one guidance. We also offer subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each college and a dedicated careers website for international students. Further information is below.

University Careers Network

Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.

If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.