

Biomedical Engineering

Engineering, physics, mathematics and computer science are all continuing to transform medicine, from the design of ground-breaking artificial organs to the development of stem cell research and keyhole surgery.
A relatively new engineering discipline, biomedical engineering degrees combine the study of mathematics, biology and medicine to discover the techniques in which engineering can be used to solve medical problems. If you’re interested in exploring the combination of engineering and medicine to design and create innovative healthcare equipment to change people’s lives, this course could suit you.
Digging deeper into subject interests can help you in a number of ways:
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Confirm whether this is (or isn't) something you would be interested in enough to want to study it at university either as the focus of your degree or a minor/elective
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Give you some inspiration to use when creating your questions and topics for IA's (coursework) and your Extended Essay
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Provide you with content for your university application writing in the future, enabling you to reflect on the things you've been doing to explore your interests in a way that is academically relevant to the course or institution you are applying for.
Useful Resources
How do I apply for an Engineering Degree? | Blog | Website | This blog provides you with some useful information on applying for an Engineering degree. Some of the topics discussed include: the different engineering degree subjects, required subjects necessary for admissions, application success, top engineering universities in the UK, required grades, and other useful experience. | Click Here > | |
The Gecko's Foot: how scientists are taking a leaf from nature's book, by Peter Forbes | Book | This is a cutting-edge science book in the style of "Fermat's Last Theorem" and "Chaos" from an exciting and accessible new voice in popular science writing.
Bio-inspiration is a form of engineering but not in the conventional sense.
Extending beyond our established and preconceived notions, scientists, architects and engineers are looking at imitating nature by manufacturing 'wet' materials such as spider silk or the surface of the gecko's foot.
The amazing power of the gecko's foot has long been known - it can climb a vertical glass wall and even walk upside down on the ceiling - but no ideas could be harnessed from it because its mechanism could not be seen with the power of optical microscopes.
Recently however the secret was solved by a team of scientists in Oregon who established that the mechanism really is dry, and that it does not involve suction, capillary action or anything else the lay person might imagine.
Each foot has half a million bristles and each bristle ramifies into hundreds of finer spatula-shaped projections.The fine scale of the gecko's foot is beyond the capacity of conventional microengineering, but a team of nanotechnologists have already made a good initial approximation.
The gecko's foot is just one of many examples of this new 'smart' science.
We also discover, amongst other things, how George de Mestral's brush with the spiny fruits of the cocklebur inspired him to invent Velcro; how the shape of leaves opening from a bud has inspired the design of solar-powered satellites; and the parallels between cantilever bridges and the spines of large mammals such as the bison.
The new 'smart' science of Bio-inspiration is going to produce a plethora of products over the next decades that will transform our lives, and force us to look at the world in a completely new way. | St. Clares Library L24 620 FOR | |
ProEd | Course | Future Engineer Summer Programme (use code StClares2022 for a 20% discount) | Click Here > | |
STEM Guide | E-Magazine | A guide to careers in STEM subjects. | Click Here > | |
The Engineer | E-Magazine | The latest engineering, technology and business news and features. There are sections for different engineering disciplines | Click Here > | |
Summer Schools in Europe | Events | The most complete directory of summer courses in Europe. It includes courses for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, so ensure you read the descriptions to find options right for you. | Click Here > | |
Young Engineer Programmes | Events | Conference | Gain an immersive experience of Engineering alongside top professionals. Choose below either our Young Engineer Weekend or our Young Engineer Summer Experience. | Click Here > | |
Royal SOciety Open Science | Journal | An open journal publishing high-quality research across all of science, engineering and mathematics | Click Here > | |
The Institution of Engineering and Technology Journals | Journal | Find open access journals from the IET focused on engineering with technology and innovation in mind. | Click Here > | |
Research from the University of Bristol | Journal Articles | Website | Explore cutting edge research from the different faculties and departments from the University of Bristol, including free access to their published journal articles. | Click Here > | |
Coursera | Online Course | Coursera is an online platform for distance learning. They have a range of free courses delivered by universities. Search in this section to find courses of interest to you, often these are courses you can follow at your own pace. | Click Here > | |
EdX | Online Course | The X Series courses on the EdX platform are free online courses delivered by universities and aimed at helping you explore areas of interest. | Click Here > | |
FutureLearn | Online Course | FutureLearn is a free online platform where universities from around the globe host FREE online courses you can undertake in your areas of interest. Browse courses by categories or use the search bar to find courses relevant to your interests | Click Here > | |
Online Introduction Nanobiology | Online Course | An online taster of the Nanobiology degree at TU Delft in the Netherlands. Courses start regularly over the academic year. | Click Here > | |
ProEd | Online Course | Online Future Engineer Programme | Click Here > | |
Springpod: Degree Taster Programmes | Online Course | Virtual programs helping you to explore degree subject areas before you apply which you can complete at your own pace. | Click Here > | |
UCL Medical Sciences Lecture: 'One-shot' radiotherapy safer and as effective for treating breast cancer as longer course | Recorded Lecture | Hear about a pioneering breast cancer therapy that requires one shot of radiotherapy rather than conventional weeks-long treatment and the evolution of a patient-centred treatment from an idea to worldwide adoption. From October 2021 | Click Here > | |
Bench to Bedside | Video | An interactive video guide introducing you to different roles within healthcare including both practitioners and research scientists. This resource from King's College London takes you through the case study of one patient to explore how the different roles interact and support that patient. | Click Here > | |
ExeTalks | Video | Recorded Lecture | ExeTalks are a chance to discover some of the fascinating research undertaken at the University of Exeter. | Click Here | |
British Heart Foundation Online Events | Webinar | Events | Recorded Lecture | The British Heart Foundation hold monthly online events talking about topics related to Cardiology and the heart. There is also a library of past sessions you can watch on demand. | Click Here > | |
University of Swansea Webinars | Webinar | Video | This is a collection of recordings from the University of Swansea's subject taster webinar series which they run at various times throughout the year. Browse through to find topics relevant to your interests. | Click Here > | |
I want to study engineering | Website | Problem solving activities and advice for making competitive applications for Engineering. Create a free account to track your progress. | Click Here > | |
engNRICH | Website | Mathematical activities to complement and enhance the study of engineering. | Click Here > | |
Institute of Mechanical Engineerings | Website | E-Magazine | Events | Webinar | The latest news, research, through leadership, jobs, events and training within the engineering sectors connected to mechanical engineering. The careers and education section of the site has information on scholarships and awards as well as careers within these industries. Within many of the sectors, you will find webinars and events listed | Click Here > | |
HE+ | Website | Podcast | Blog | Video | The HE+ website has supercurricular resources created and written by Cambridge students and academics including challenging activities, engaging videos, reflective questions and much more. | Click Here > |