Major: Biomedical Systems Engineering (BMSE)

 

General information on Master Degree Program

Read the information regarding the course of studies and a possible curriculum.

 

Program requirements: Major Biomedical Systems Engineering (BMSE)

As a student of the master degree program "Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Technical Engineering" you have the possibility to chose the major "Biomedical Engieering" as one out of six specializations. Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary area in which engineering techniques are applied to medical problems. Graduates with a Master degree in Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Engineering and a specialization in Biomedical Engineering have acquired a high level of specialisation, a research-oriented view and in-depth domain-specific knowledge at a professional level in the areas of electrical engineering, information/communication technology and engineering physiology and they can apply engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology. They understand medical instruments for diagnosis and therapy.
The curriculum is designed to provide not only a general background in biomedical engineering, but also a special focus on systems skills in electrical engineering, like control system, communication techniques, measurement or visualization of biomedical systems for basis or clinical applications. The graduates have a broad knowledge of signal processing for the acquisition, optimization and analysis of biomedical applications for both clinical and research applications. System engineering, mathematical, statistical, multiscale computational modelling and optimization form the theoretical basis of the field.
Typical research areas include molecular and cellular systems physiology, organ systems physiology, medical, imaging, measurement devices, robotics, learning and knowledge-based systems and visualization.

The graduates are able

• to take technical-scientific questions from practice, to understand the problems, to formulate them and then communicate them to others.
• to analyse engineering and technology questions and formulate a solution.
• to understand the impact of design activities on life cycle of products.
• to adequately report, both written and verbally in current technical language and terminology over results and work practices to persuade others about the benefits of new ideas and inventions.
• to communicate adequately in their native language and in English.

In order to achieve these aims, the Master Programme utilizes the following basic teaching forms:

• Lectures – a serial presentation of material including the treatment of specific methodologies.
• Tutorials – the solidifying and deepening of expert knowledge and capabilities by solving problems associated with lecture material.
• Seminar work – the elaboration of complex questions and scientific knowledge. Basic knowledge is presupposed. Students give oral presentations in the seminar
• Intensive Courses – compact intensive courses composed of lectures and tutorials.
• Important additional options for gaining technical competence are available such as
• Term and master projects in small groups and as individuals.
• Excursions – expert guided tours of technical installations and facilities outside the university.
• Practical (e.g. laboratory) work directly related to lectures.
• Industrial experience and practice of 18 weeks minimum.

The Master programme comprises 4 semesters. During the last semester, the students must independently complete a master thesis (six months); these are normally in an area of specialization and often part of a larger research projects.

 

The study program Biomedical Systems Engineering comprises three semesters of lectures, tutorials and lab courses, along with an industrial internship of at least 18 weeks and a final master thesis in the fourth semester. In total, the program amounts to 120 ECTS credits.

The study program is mainly built up of two module groups, each containing a list of required elective courses: catalogue CORE and catalogue ELECTIVE focus on the study profile Biomedical Systems Engineering.

Study profiles show you useful combination of modules. They are intended as proposals. However, other combinations within the respective major are possible.

The curriculum is complemented by a broad offer of laboratories, project works and seminars. In addition, there is an area of eligible courses which comprises the full master program of the faculty, hence including courses from all study programs. Finally there is an area of free elective courses from the entire RWTH course program, including language courses, courses in economy, law or soft-skill courses and block lectures.

 

Study Plan (recommended)

Master of Science in "Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, and Computer Engineering"; Major Biomedical Systems Engineering:

1. Semester

Modules	Credits	Total
5 compulsory elective modules from catalogue CORE or ELECTIVE of the major Biomedical Systems Engineering (BMSE)	20	32
1 elective module from catalogue GENERAL from the entire offer of the faculty	4
LABORATORY or PROJECT from the catalogue of the major Biomedical Systems Engineering (BMSE)	4
SEMINAR (offered by the faculty)	4
Module Scientific Integrity	0

2. Semester

5 compulsory elective modules from catalogue CORE or ELECTIVE of the major Biomedical Systems Engineering (BMSE)	20	32
1 elective module from catalogue GENERAL from the entire offer of the faculty	4
2 modules from catalogue ADDITIONAL	8

3. Semester

Industrial internship (18 Weeks)	18	26
Seminar relating to the internship	4
1 module from catalogue ADDITIONAL	4

4. Semester

Master thesis incl. master colloquium	30
Total	120