Biomedical Engineering PhD

The Centre for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Surrey provides world-class research into biomechanics, biomedical engineering and tissue engineering. We have links with globally leading companies, such as Blatchfords, the Transport Research Laboratory, and Smith & Nephew, and with hospitals across the south of England, as well as extensive international research collaboration. Many of the UK’s senior biomedical engineers were trained by us. 

The quality of our undergraduate and postgraduate students’ research has been recognised by national professional bodies, with prestigious awards such as the IET Dennis Hill Award for best final project in 2015, the IMechE JRI award for best taught masters project poster presentation and the IET Leslie H Paddle Scholarship for doctoral research. 

Our graduates have since gone on to clinical engineering positions in the NHS, design consultancies, medicine, prosthesis manufacturers, car manufacturers as safety specialists, and others. A PhD course in Biomedical Engineering gives you the chance to employ cutting-edge science to make new discoveries. The Centre celebrated its 50th group of students in 2015 and we hope you’ll join us as we enter our second half-century.  

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, 80 per cent of our ‘general engineering’ research outputs were rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. 

Our PhD in Biomedical Engineering will give you the knowledge, skills and expertise needed for a career in engineering, research or academia. You’ll be intellectually challenged, develop research and management skills, and become an expert in your chosen field of study. 

It normally takes around three years to complete a full-time PhD. You’ll be assigned a minimum of two supervisors, who’ll guide you through your studies. You’ll learn how to conduct literature reviews, develop your ideas and verify them with experiments, and collaborate and perform interdisciplinary research. Over time, we’ll develop your skills and transform you into an independent researcher. 

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate Careers and Employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.