University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What you'll study

The programme combines core biomedical engineering foundations with elective specialisations and a substantial project or research thesis. Students study engineering principles applied to biological and clinical problems and gain hands-on experience in laboratories, design studios and clinical collaborations.

• Core topics: biomaterials and tissue engineering, biomechanics, biomedical imaging and signal processing, biomolecular engineering and systems biology, and medical device design.
• Quantitative and enabling skills: computational methods for bioengineering, statistical methods for biomedical data, programming for biosystems and experimental design.
• Translational and regulatory topics: medical device development, regulatory pathways and quality systems, clinical trial design and ethics in human-subjects research.
• Research and design experience: options typically include a laboratory-based thesis, an industry-oriented capstone design project, or practicum placements with clinical or industrial partners.
• Interdisciplinary opportunities: students commonly take elective courses and collaborate with clinical faculty in the UNC School of Medicine, participate in cross-campus initiatives with partner institutions, and access shared core facilities for imaging, biomaterials and microfabrication.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have a recognised bachelor's degree in engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, computer science or a quantitative life science. Strong applicants demonstrate quantitative preparation and relevant laboratory or design experience.

• Academic transcript: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with evidence of coursework in calculus, differential equations, physics, and introductory biology or chemistry where applicable.
• GPA/academic performance: Competitive academic record in prior studies; specific programme committees consider the whole application when assessing suitability.
• Supporting documents: personal statement outlining research or career goals, curriculum vitae, and two to three academic or professional letters of recommendation.
• Standardised tests and English language: GRE scores may be optional or considered at the programme's discretion; international applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through recognised tests unless exempt.
• Prerequisite remediation: Applicants lacking specific prerequisites may be admitted with the expectation they complete specified undergraduate coursework before or during the programme.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a wide range of careers across industry, healthcare and academia. The programme emphasises skills that are sought after by employers in both the private and public sectors.

• Medical device and diagnostics industry: roles in product development, design engineering, validation, and regulatory affairs.
• Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies: positions in process development, biomaterials, bioinformatics and preclinical testing.
• Clinical and translational research: laboratory scientist roles, clinical engineering, and collaborations with hospitals on device trials and implementation.
• Software and data-driven roles: computational bioengineering, medical imaging analysis, machine learning for healthcare and health informatics.
• Further study and research careers: many graduates proceed to PhD programmes or take research scientist roles in academic and national research laboratories.
• Entrepreneurship and consulting: opportunities to join startups, technology transfer teams, or consultancy practices focused on biomedical innovation and regulatory strategy.

Why study at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC Chapel Hill offers a biomedical engineering education embedded in a strong clinical and research environment. The Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering (a collaborative structure with partner institutions) provides access to multidisciplinary faculty, clinical collaborators and shared facilities that span engineering and medical sciences.

• Clinical partnerships: close links with UNC Health and the School of Medicine enable translational projects, clinical mentoring and access to patient-centred research opportunities.
• Research strengths: faculty research spans biomaterials, tissue engineering, biomechanics, imaging and computational bioengineering, giving students a broad choice of active research programmes to join.
• Facilities and resources: students benefit from core laboratories, imaging centres and prototyping facilities, as well as institutional support for entrepreneurship and technology translation.
• Interdisciplinary culture: the programme encourages collaboration across departments, connecting engineering with medicine, biology, public health and data science to solve complex health problems.