University of Strathclyde

What you'll study

The PhD programme is a principally research-led degree where you undertake an original investigation under academic supervision, supported by a programme of transferable skills training. Research themes commonly hosted by Strathclyde include biomechanics and biomaterials, medical imaging and signal processing, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, bioinstrumentation and sensors, neural engineering, and point-of-care diagnostics.

Your work will be project-specific but typically involves a combination of experimental laboratory work, computational modelling, design and prototyping, and data analysis. You will produce a thesis that presents your findings and contributes new understanding or technology to the field. Alongside the thesis, you will be expected to publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences, and participate in research group activities.

To support progression, you will undertake training in research methods, ethics and governance, statistics, experimental design, scientific writing and presentation, and intellectual property and commercialisation where relevant. Many students also take short courses in professional development, project management and teaching.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good quality MSc in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, medical physics, mechanical/electrical engineering with biomedical focus, or a closely related discipline. Exceptional candidates with a strong honours degree plus significant research experience may also be considered. You should demonstrate prior experience in relevant laboratory or computational methods and a clear, feasible research proposal or alignment with available supervisors.

Selection considers academic background, references, research proposal and fit with supervisory expertise and facilities. Candidates will usually be interviewed by potential supervisors. International applicants must demonstrate English language competence through a recognised qualification or equivalent evidence.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme go on to a wide range of careers. Many continue in academic research and teaching, taking up postdoctoral posts and academic positions. Others move into R&D roles within the medical device and diagnostics industries, clinical engineering and hospital-based technology management, regulatory affairs, quality and testing, and biomedical data science.

Additional career paths include roles in technology transfer and commercialisation, healthcare consultancy, startups and entrepreneurship, and policy or research management within public and private sector organisations. The combination of technical, experimental and transferable skills developed during the PhD is valued across industry, healthcare and research institutions.

Why study at University of Strathclyde

Strathclyde has an applied, interdisciplinary approach with close links to hospitals, industry partners and innovation centres, which benefits biomedical engineering research that aims for clinical translation. The university hosts dedicated facilities and research groups working on biomaterials, imaging, sensor development, and computational modelling, and offers access to specialist equipment and laboratories.

Doctoral students receive structured supervision and support, with opportunities to collaborate across engineering, medical and life-science departments and to engage with NHS partners and industrial collaborators. The university also provides researcher development programmes, enterprise and entrepreneurship support, and pathways to funding and commercialisation for translational projects.

Located in Glasgow, Strathclyde provides an accessible urban research environment with a strong regional and international research network, making it a practical choice for students seeking to undertake impactful biomedical engineering research with real-world application.