Extended Major Overview
- Description
Biomedical Engineering is the broad application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and the life sciences. It involves combining relevant foundation knowledge from traditional disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, chemical and materials engineering, for the design of biomedical devices and systems; typically towards improving health outcomes. Biomedical Engineering is one of the fastest growing disciplines in engineering and this is anticipated to continue. Biomedical Engineering at UWA prepares you to work in a diverse range of careers, including as a clinical or rehabilitation engineer in a hospital, as a product or design engineer in both established and emerging MedTech companies and/or as a researcher working on cutting-edge technologies. In addition, you will develop the relevant skills to work in health technology roles in a range of areas, including in regulatory agencies, patent attorneys and product development companies. The Biomedical Engineering major covers the main areas of the discipline. The course has a strong focus on research and design, and emphasises the necessary skills and ways of thinking to lead future change in this exciting field. Furthermore, you will be exposed to several related disciplines that converge with Biomedical Engineering and will develop the necessary communication skills required to work effectively as a professional Biomedical Engineer either leading or embedded within interdisciplinary teams.
Students should be aware that this major does not provide a pathway to an Honours.- Outcomes
Students are able to:
- demonstrate a strong foundation in biomedical engineering
- solve technical problems relevant to the broad field of biomedical engineering
- design medical devices that are safe to operate and comply with the regulatory framework in which biomedical engineering is practised
- demonstrate ethical and professional conduct and high level communication skills in their work and when dealing with others
- extend personal and collective knowledge in biomedical engineering through research and innovation.
- Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and shape your degree in line with your personal aspirations. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Engineering are encouraged to take units or a minor from outside of engineering, to satisfy broadening. However, you may also select engineering units that are not listed in the unit sequence of your engineering major. Advice can be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
- Incompatibilities
MJD-ENGSC Engineering Science
- Courses
Biomedical Engineering can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
- BH011 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
- CB004 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/ Bachelor of Science*
- CB006 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/ Bachelor of Commerce*
- CB014 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/ Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)*
- CB034 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/ Bachelor of Arts*
- CB030 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Modern Languages*
*Students enrolling in this as part of a combined course must use the code MJDC-EBMEG when selecting this as their extended major.
Example Study Plans
- BE Biomedical Engineering (with Bridging) SEM-1-2025 [docx]
- BE Biomedical Engineering (with Bridging) SEM-2-2025 [docx]
- BE Biomedical Engineering SEM-1-2025 [docx]
- BE Biomedical Engineering SEM-2-2025 [docx]
See study plans for more information.
Units
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
The list below includes the Bachelor of Engineering foundation units as well as the Biomedical Engineering major units.
Level 1
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (48 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1, S2 | CITS1401 | Computational Thinking with Python | |
S2 | ENSC1004 | Engineering Materials | |
NS | GENG1000 | Engineering Practice 1 |
|
S1, S2 | GENG1010 | Introduction to Engineering |
|
S2 | GENG1101 | Engineering Drawings |
|
S1 | IMED1001 | Form and Function |
|
S1, S2 | MATH1011 | Multivariable Calculus |
|
S1, S2 | MATH1012 | Mathematical Theory and Methods |
|
S1, S2 | PHYS1001 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers |
Bridging units
Students can only take up to 12 points of bridging in the BE.
Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Specialist ATAR or equivalent are required to complete MATH1722. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Physics ATAR or equivalent are required to complete PHYS1030. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Chemistry ATAR or equivalent are required to complete CHEM1003.
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1, S2 | CHEM1003 | Introductory Chemistry |
|
S1, S2 | MATH1722 | Mathematics Foundations: Specialist |
|
S1, S2 | PHYS1030 | Physics Bridging Unit |
|
Level 2
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (42 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1 | CITS2200 | Data Structures and Algorithms |
|
S1, S2 | ENSC2003 | Engineering Electrical Fundamentals | |
S1, S2 | ENSC2004 | Engineering Mechanics | |
NS | GENG2000 | Engineering Practice 2 |
|
S1 | GENG2003 | Fluid Mechanics |
|
S1 | GENG2004 | Solid Mechanics |
|
S1 | MECH2002 | Engineering Materials 2 |
|
S2 | PHYL2002 | Cellular Physiology |
Level 3
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (30 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S2 | BMEG3001 | Engineering and the Human Body |
|
S1 | BMEG3002 | Biomaterials | |
S2 | ELEC3020 | Embedded Systems | |
S1 | ELEC3021 | Circuits and Electronics | |
NS | GENG3000 | Engineering Practice 3 |
|
S2 | MECH3424 | Measurement and Instrumentation |
|
Level 4
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (48 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S2 | BMEG4001 | Biomedical Instrumentation |
|
S1 | BMEG4003 | Biomechanics |
|
S2 | BMEG5001 | Advanced Topics in Biomedical Engineering | |
S1 | BMEG5551 | Biomedical Engineering Design Project 1 |
|
S2 | BMEG5552 | Biomedical Engineering Design Project 2 |
|
S1, S2 | GENG4411 | Engineering Research Project Part 1 |
|
S1, S2 | GENG4412 | Engineering Research Project Part 2 |
|
S1, S2 | GENG5010 | Professional Engineering Portfolio |
|
S1, S2 | GENG5505 | Project Management and Engineering Practice |
|