Course details

Summary

The Centre for Bioengineering aims to be an internationally recognised interdisciplinary research centre of excellence, dedicated to servicing the biotech/bioengineering industry in New Zealand and throughout the world. It is physically situated in the Mechanical Engineering Building at the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch New Zealand.

The interdisciplinary nature of bioengineering research requires clear, concise and unambiguous communication across a number of distinct disciplines. The University of Canterbury has considerable research expertise (of international standing) in areas, which could provide significant advances in the biomedical and bioengineering areas.

For example, heart disease (atherosclerosis) has been shown to depend on a variety of factors such as fluid dynamics, arterial geometry, protein function and gene transfer. Interdisciplinary skills will lead to new ways of drug infusion and more efficient surgical procedures. It will also help clinicians to properly visualize the body with sophisticated aids to diagnosis.

The Master of Engineering (ME) includes a thesis of 120 points and up to 45 points of coursework. ME students can complete in 16 months or a maximum of three years full-time. For part-time study the duration can vary between 30 months to four years.

Further study

Students can study a Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering, Chemical and Process Engineering, Civil Engineering, Earthquake Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering at UC.

Career opportunities

Postgraduate study can bring many career benefits eg, specialist skills and enhanced knowledge, entry into specific occupations, higher starting salary/progression rates, research capability/achievement and evidence of high academic attainment/self-discipline.

Entry criteria

Candidates must normally have completed one of the following:

• Bachelor of Engineering with Honours with first or second class honours
• Bachelor of Science with Honours with first or second class honours, in relevant subjects
• Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering with a GPA of 5 or more.

Students wishing to enrol in postgraduate study must have completed both the academic and non-academic requirements of the prerequisite degree. This includes practical work days, work reports, a workshop training course and a first aid certificate. The programme of study must be approved by the Dean.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.