Bioengineering
Bioengineering is a cutting-edge, multidisciplinary subject that bridges the gap between medicine and engineering for the enhancement of human health, sport, and lifestyle. It is a subject that can allow you to make a real, tangible difference in people’s lives.
Bioengineering at Loughborough
Bioengineering uses engineering practices and principles to explore and design new processes, tools, and techniques to bridge gaps across biological and healthcare challenges. Ultimate engineering principles are used when innovating and designing new products and processes.
Loughborough has a renowned history in engineering leadership, and our departments are known for excellent teaching and career prospects. Our courses are taught by a team of global experts and represents the very latest knowledge in this rapidly developing discipline.
In Bioengineering, we combine expertise from the Departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials, and the School of Mechanical, Electrical, and Manufacturing Engineering. We also integrate modules from Loughborough's School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, which has a strong global teaching reputation.
Make a tangible difference
Bioengineering covers a wide range of engineering, including designing biomedical devices, developing implants and wearable technology, and studying tissue engineering and function. An example of a topic you will learn about is the design and manufacture of medical implants such as hip implants. The skills you acquire in this course can make a real impact on improving people's lives.
Our courses
Links with industry
All our courses offer the option to complete a salaried year in industry. You will also have opportunities to undertake a work placement overseas or participate in a study exchange at one of our European or international partner universities.
We encourage our students to spend a year in industry to acquire skills in a workplace environment and significantly enhance their career prospects. At Loughborough, the industrial year is supervised and on successful completion, our graduating students are awarded a Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS), in addition to their degree. Our close links with industrial partners mean we can provide our students with considerable help in sourcing, securing, supporting, and assessing their placement.
Our Bioengineering students have secured placements at a variety of companies including P&G, GSK, Roche, Renishaw, Siemens Healthineers, 3P Innovation, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Oxford Immunotec, Creo Medical Limited, Thermofisher Scientific, Oval Medical Technologies, Coalesce Product Development, Quick Release, BAE Systems, Philips Electronics. There is also an option to apply for a Year in Enterprise.
Facilities
Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field, and you'll benefit from expertise spanning various schools and departments, alongside access to equipment and facilities. Our world-class laboratories offer experience with industry-relevant equipment and provide students with an enriched learning journey.
STEMLab represents a £17 million investment in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, forming part of our broader £25 million campus upgrade. It boasts laboratories designed for practical work in Bioengineering, giving students vital exposure to biological samples within a modern and safe environment.
Our students will also spend a lot of their time in S-Building which is home to our Bioengineering course and has seen significant enhancements. This includes the installation of laboratory spaces and equipment and an IT laboratory for both taught sessions and personal study.
Accreditation
Our Bioengineering BEng and MEng programmes are Engineering Council accredited degrees, accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). This accreditation supports our graduates to gain Chartered Engineer status.
We encourage our undergraduate students to join the IMechE as an Affiliate Member which is free for undergraduate students studying a STEM degree. IMechE membership benefits include access to career advice and tips, networking opportunities and online resources.
Career opportunities
Bioengineering is a rapidly growing sector generally focused on creating products and technologies to help people achieve a better quality of life. Bioengineers can make a difference across a range of sectors including society, the environment and more targeted areas within healthcare such as advanced therapies, prosthetics, joint replacement, drug delivery and medical equipment.
Our Bioengineering degrees prepare our students for careers within the field and across other sectors where transferable engineering skills our students develop are valued. Our graduates go on to work in large and small companies in the UK and internationally. Some remain in the Higher Education sector to study for research degrees.
The range of destinations for Bioengineering graduates is varied but within medical applications such as advanced therapies, prosthetics, joint replacement, drug delivery and medical equipment, target companies include Pfizer, GE Healthcare, Smiths Medical, Boots and 3M. Our graduates have also gone on to work for the NHS, IBM, Cancer Research UK, Roche, Bio Products Laboratory Limited, UK Home Office, BAE Systems.
The average starting salary for our graduates is £33,500 (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2021-22 graduates - average salary 15 months post-graduation – UK domiciled).
Our students
Student experience
We pride ourselves in ensuring our students have an unforgettable experience while they are with us and the stats speak for themselves. We are ranked 7th in the UK for Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering and 5th for graduate prospects in The Times UK University Rankings 2025 league table.
By studying Bioengineering with us at Loughborough University, you'll be joining a highly regarded Department where you'll thrive in our vibrant community of students, academics and support staff.