Biomedical engineering
Where is this taught in Germany
The best schools in the field of biomedical engineering are located in the USA, Singapore and Australia, but such programs often scare off students with high tuition costs. It is worth paying attention to German universities: many prestigious universities in Germany have separate programs in the field of Biomedical Engineering.
For an interdisciplinary approach – to Munich
In the winter semester of the 2019/20 academic year, an English-language program called Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics starts at the Technical University of Munich (TU München). The Master's program is designed for two years, during which students study at the intersection of natural sciences, medicine and engineering, and also learn about the latest world developments in their field.
According to Franz Pfeiffer, professor at the Technical University of Munich and director of the Munich School of Bioengineering, graduates of new specialties will have many opportunities for further career development. Specialists in these fields are in high demand in large companies, for example, Siemens, Philips, which are engaged in the development and production of equipment for medical data visualization, therapy and diagnostics. "Also now there are more and more small firms that are engaged in biotechnology. They are developing special indicators, sensor materials and other devices," says Professor Pfeiffer.
The first two semesters of the Master's degree are devoted to lectures, seminars and laboratory workshops, and during the second year the student is engaged in research work and writing a master's thesis. The curriculum depends on which focus the student chooses. The main directions are medical data visualization and biosensors, however, a significant part of the individual curriculum can be adjusted in accordance with the interests of the student.
The University of Munich also offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in such specialties as biophysics, bioinformatics, medical technology and engineering. When asked about the specifics of the new program, Professor Pfeiffer replies: "This is an interdisciplinary program. So, the specialty "Biophysics" does not affect many engineering problems and does not imply a deepening into chemistry, physiology in medicine. The situation is similar with engineering specialties. For example, the Biomedical Engineering program is more engineering and technical: the focus is on instrument engineering, not on a deep understanding of chemical or physical processes." In the new program, students will have the opportunity to gain interdisciplinary knowledge.
For fundamental knowledge – to Dresden
At the Dresden Technical University, Master's degree applicants who speak English are offered such specialties as Molecular Bioengineering and Nanobiophysics.
The Molecular Bioengineering program is a fundamental education in the fields of biomedicine and bionanotechnology. One of the two specializations is chosen after the first semester. During three semesters, students attend lectures on genomics, stem cell engineering, bioinformatics and other interdisciplinary subjects, depending on the chosen profile, and in the fourth semester they write a diploma. According to Professor Stefan Diez, director of the Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), graduates of the program will be able to find work in research institutes and in industry, in such industries as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and information technology.
The Nanobiophysics Master's program involves education at the intersection of biology, biophysics and bionanotechnology. The curriculum consists of courses, following which the student will gain knowledge in such areas as molecular and cellular biophysics, molecular nanostructures and nanorobots. In the third semester, students will have to choose a specialization module consisting of two courses, as well as perform three laboratory projects: in biophysics, nanophysics and one – by choice. The fourth semester is provided for writing a master's thesis.
"The dynamic development of natural sciences and biotechnologies creates a huge demand for qualified scientists in these fields. Interestingly, the vast majority of our graduates subsequently receive a degree in philosophy," says Stefan Diz.
Choose from Heidelberg or Aachen
Heidelberg University offers students with a bachelor's degree in physics, mathematics, engineering, an English-language master's program in Biomedical Engineering. The student chooses a specialization in radiotherapy, medical data visualization or computer medical physics. In addition, students are invited to complete an annual exchange program with a partner university in China and receive a double diploma.
The first three semesters the student attends lectures, seminars and laboratory workshops, and during the last semester he writes a research paper – in Germany or in China.
The Rhenish-Westphalian Higher Technical School in Aachen (RWTH) ranks 27th in the Times Higher Education university ranking in 2019 in terms of engineering and technical profile, right after the University of Munich. There is also an English-language master's degree in Biomedical Engineering.
The program of study of the first semester depends on the specialty that the student received in the bachelor's degree. This helps to prepare graduates of different profiles for further joint study.
In the second and third semesters, in addition to compulsory and additional courses, the student chooses between three specializations: "Tissue Engineering", "Medical Data Visualization" and "Artificial Organs and Devices". The fourth semester is devoted to work on the diploma. Students who do not speak German are required to attend German language courses, while all other students take a mandatory English course.
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