Medical engineers are among the most highly valued professionals in the world due to the growing demand for more advanced medical technologies for deeper understanding and better quality of diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of various diseases and conditions.
Many prestigious universities worldwide compete to offer the best medical engineering program and support outstanding students and faculty members with their research and innovation for global impact and recognition. In this article, we talk about some of the best medical engineering schools in the world.
Which Country Pays Highest for Medical Engineers?
Medical engineering is a lucrative field in many countries around the globe, with countries like Switzerland paying the highest for medical engineers. Depending on the level of experience, you are likely to earn between $77,600 – $137,200 in Switzerland as a medical engineer. On the other hand, the average salary for medical engineers in the United States is $95,090 per year, and £36,890 in the United Kingdom. While medical engineering courses are currently unavailable in our website, you can still visit our open courses page to check other courses in popular study destinations in the world, like Europe and Canada.
Top Medical Engineering Schools in the World
1. Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is currently the top-ranking university worldwide. It was founded in 1861 and had been specializing in engineering since the beginning. It holds the top spot for the highest number of Nobel laureate affiliations—currently at 98, including 11 active faculty members.
Harvard University is another outstanding research institution that ranks among the top 5 worldwide. It was founded in 1636. With almost 400 years of excellence, Harvard’s name has gained so much respect that a degree from the university can guarantee great career options. In addition, Harvard is affiliated with 50 Nobel laureates across various disciplines: Chemistry, Economic Science, Physics, Peace, Literature, and Medicine.
These two globally renowned universities are both located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Together, they initiated the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) department, offering a Ph.D. program for Medical Engineering and Medical Physics (MEMP). The program lasts 5.7 years and provides fundamental knowledge and practical training through clinical experience at MIT or Harvard laboratories or other affiliated research institutes.
2. Stanford University
Stanford University, located in California, opened in 1891 as a private academic institution created in memory of the late Leland Stanford Jr., the son of the university’s founders. Over the years, Stanford has produced influential alumni who contributed to the further growth and stability of the university. Today, it hosts almost 17,000 students with over 2,000 teaching and research staff, including 20 Nobel laureates.
The Stanford Schools of Engineering and Medicine offer a Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering. Students may select to apply for an Honors program to conduct advanced-level research.
They may also pursue a Master’s and a Ph.D. degree for more intensive research opportunities. There is also an option to take up a dual or joint degree in Bioengineering and any of the three: Business, Law, or Medicine.
3. California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) was founded in 1891 in Pasadena, California, as Throop University. It is globally renowned for its science and engineering programs which yielded alumni who have made significant contributions in national and international level innovations.
Caltech’s Master of Science in Medical Engineering degree is available only to students pursuing a Ph.D. in the same field. However, earning an MS degree does not require research units, qualifying & candidacy exams, or thesis defense. The graduate program of this top medical engineering school aims to incorporate advanced engineering skills into diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring systems in medicine.
4. Imperial College London
Imperial College London traces its long history to the early 19th century from the establishment of several medical schools and colleges. These schools merged and later expanded to become one of today’s top ten universities globally. Since the beginning, this institution has been a center for excellence in science, medicine, and engineering. It is no surprise that Imperial College London is one of the best medical engineering schools in the world.
The university offers a 5-year program in Biomedical Engineering where students can earn a Bachelor of Science degree for the first four years and a Master of Science degree after finishing the final year. The program also includes a one-year paid industry training between the third and fourth years where students can acquire practical knowledge and experience in their chosen company within or outside the UK.
5. University College London
University College London (UCL), founded in 1826, is another outstanding medical engineering institution in the UK. It also has a diverse course offering for its diverse student body of roughly 42,000 students—over 50% of which come from around 150 countries.
The Biomedical Engineering program at UCL lasts three to four years, where students can earn a Bachelor of Engineering degree after three years. Meanwhile, those interested in a Master of Engineering degree may take up a more in-depth four-year program. Undecided students can take the first two years and decide which program they want to pursue by the end of the second year.
6. Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a public university that opened in 1991 in Singapore. It ranks among the top academic institutions worldwide and is famous for its science and engineering courses. Currently, the fast-growing university hosts over 34,000 students and almost 5,000 faculty members from over 70 countries.
Recognized as one of the best medical engineering schools in the world, NTU’s School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering offers a Bachelor of Engineering in Bioengineering program. It lasts four years and provides students with opportunities to take an internship at reputable firms within and outside Singapore. Students may also conduct research within the university or join the Global Immersion Program and stay in the US, Switzerland, India, France, or China for six months.
Future career opportunities for graduates generally involve the manufacturing industry, where they can participate in the production of pharmaceutical, medical, or healthcare supplies and instruments.
7. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is one of the oldest universities in the US. It opened in 1740 and has maintained an excellent reputation. It takes pride in its low admission rate of 9%, offering admissions mainly to outstanding students who made it to the top 10% of their secondary school graduating class.
As one of the world’s top medical engineering institutions, Penn’s Bioengineering Department offers two undergraduate programs relevant to medical engineering: a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Bioengineering and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Medical Science. The first two years of the two programs are identical, giving students enough time to determine which path to pursue.
Hopefully, this article on the best medical engineering schools in the world was informative & insightful. If you are interested in knowing more about information like this, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
