Master's programme in Medical Engineering
Medical engineering is a field with bright career prospects. KTH is a leading technical university in close collaboration with the leading medical education of Karolinska Institutet and in direct connection with the clinical environment of Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset.
Career prospects
The Medical Engineering bachelor’s programme at STH started in 2008 as the first programme in Sweden with a focus on medical engineering throughout the whole education.
The Medical Engineering master’s programme gives competence to produce and develop healthcare technology as part of a project group in private companies or healthcare. A broad professional role makes it possible to work in functional areas such as technical development, sales or administrative project management, depending on competence and personal interest.
Healthcare is becoming increasingly technologically advanced, an ageing population requires technical aids and the first generation of medical engineers has reached retirement age. Economic and demographic changes are causing structural reforms in society and healthcare. This raises a need for professionals with an understanding of both technology and medicine, of which there currently is a lack.
The labour market consists mostly of small enterprises, specialized in specific products and the expanding field also offers good possibilities to start an own business.
Programme outline
The master’s programme teaches the advantages and limitations of the current technology behind clinical applications. Students are given the knowledge base that is necessary to improve and develop technology in the healthcare of the future. One important field is imaging techniques such as ultrasound and MRI. Another main area is simulation analysis – the development of software to create virtual environments in order to analyze processes in healthcare. A third major field is biomedical implants, dealing with the construction of artificial body parts.
Patient safety is an essential part of the education and the safety perspective is present in every course of the programme.
Six mandatory, basic courses are given during the programme’s first year. The second year consists of conditionally elective, advanced courses and a master thesis project, which is carried out during one semester. There are good possibilities to study a semester or to perform the master thesis project abroad.
Medical Engineering is a research field in ascendant and the programme gives a good base for research in Sweden as well as internationally.
Degree project
A 30-credit degree project is carried out at the end of the educational programme (usually in the fourth term). The degree project is either a stepping stone to an academic career or to working in industry. The degree project can be carried out at an industrial company, a hospital or at an academic institution in Sweden or abroad.
