Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is one of the world’s major growth sectors and promises to generate dynamic developments in the future.
Many of its key technologies, such as imaging, computer-assisted communication and minimally invasive surgical procedures, are still in their infancy.
Knowledge and skills from a wide range of scientific disciplines go into the development of medical technology: they include physics, biology, medicine, mechanics, electrics and electronics, IT, chemistry, maths and statistics. This degree course in Biomedical Engineering builds on key scientific and technical principles to teach students about medical applications in electrical engineering and electronics. Classes on human biology help students comprehend the complex medical challenges to which the technology provides solutions, and fundamentals in business and law complement the skills learned.
Your future career
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Most sub-fields and roles in this area of science involve close engagement and dialogue with your clients. Biomedical engineers work in businesses, governmental organisations and public authorities, and hospitals, cooperating with doctors, technicians, business specialists, administrators and, of course, with patients. Their role revolves principally around applications for medical technological devices, their marketing and product management, and new developments for real-life medical challenges.
You’ll typically find biomedical engineers in roles such as:
- Marketing, product management, sales
- Development and after-sales service
- Applications of medical technologies
- Equipment management and maintenance planning
- Safety officer responsibilities
- Advisory roles on medical technology
- Training and quality control
- Hospital design and planning
- Clinical research
Course content and structure
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This seven-semester degree course commences with a solid grounding in the scientific and technical fundamentals of the subject and in IT. By their second year, students have reached the stage of being able to engage with applications, and also take classes in law, business administration and management. In their third year, they choose one of three focal areas:
- Biomedical measurement technology and medical device engineering
- Biomechanics
- Medical data systems
An integrated six-month practical phase allows students to use the knowledge and skills acquired during the course in a realistic setting. The course concludes with the students' Bachelor thesis.
Your interests and skills
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If you’d like to join this degree course, you’ll need to be a practical type who’s passionate about science and technology and loves the idea of interacting and working with people from a range of specialist disciplines as well as with patients.
You’ll find it easier to succeed once you graduate if you have good English and intercultural skills and are willing to travel – you’ll spend a lot of time at conferences and trade fairs, visiting hospitals and even being present during the administration of medical treatment. If you believe that lifelong learning isn’t just an empty phrase, you may be the right person for this job.
Interested – but not quite sure yet whether this is the right course for you? Our self-assessment test can help you make up your mind. Take it here: HAW Navigator
Admission requirements
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Higher education entrance qualification
You can apply directly for this course if you hold one of the following qualifications:
- Fachhochschulreife
- Allgemeine Hochschulreife
- Fachgebundene Hochschulreife (subject-specific HE entrance qualification)
- Meister*in (vocational qualification – master tradesperson)
- Fachwirt*in (certified specialist)
Applicants who do not hold a higher education entrance qualification but have completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung) and at least three years of subsequent work experience can apply under Section 38 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act, which sets out special provisions for these applicants (Besonderer Hochschulzugang für Berufstätige).
Find out more at Applying for a Bachelor's degree course / Selection criteria.
Pre-course experience
Students on this course are required to complete 13 weeks of pre-course experience. You don’t need to have completed it before you enrol, but you must have done so by the time you complete your second year of study. We strongly recommend that you fulfil this requirement before you begin the degree course.
International applicants
If you completed your schooling outside Germany and want to study here for a Bachelor’s degree, you need to hold an academic school-leaving qualification which entitles you to admission to higher education; that is, it needs to be comparable to a German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife. The organisation uni assist will check your certificates from school and any degree-level studies to establish comparability. Please note that you are also required to have proof of German at level C1 – for example, in the form of a TestDaF certificate – in order to apply for all Bachelor's degree courses (except Information Engineering).
You can find more information about HAW Hamburg’s application criteria at International applicants.
Application process
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We only accept online applications. Before applying, applicants must register with www.hochschulstart.de. During the application period (for the winter semester: 1 June–15 July; for the summer semester: 1 December–15 January) you can find the online application and detailed information about the application process on the Applying for a Bachelor's degree course page.
You can find information about the selection process and the numerus clausus (NC) from the previous semester here: Applying for a Bachelor's degree course/Selection criteria
International applicants are also required to apply during the application period.
To make the process easier for you, we have compiled a step-by-step checklist: International applicants
Questions about selecting a course, applications, admissions and degree courses
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Applications and admissions
Student Admissions and Registration Office (Studierendensekretariat)
Stiftstraße 69, 20099 Hamburg (ground floor)
T +49.40.428 75-9898
studierendensekretariat (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de
Contact us with your questions about applications and admissions
The Information Point is open at the following times:
Monday–Thursday: 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Friday: closed
In-person office hours:
Thursday: 2:00 pm–4:00 pm
Telephone office hours:
Monday and Tuesday: 9:00 am–10:00 am
For general queries about HAW Hamburg degree courses and course choice
Student Counselling Team (Zentrale Studienberatung)
Stiftstraße 69, 1st floor, room 122
20099 Hamburg
T +49 40 42875 9110
Contact form
Office hours
Contact person for applicants with disabilities or chronic health conditions
Meike Butenob/Dieter Röh
Stiftstraße 69, Haus 3, room 37
Tel. +49.40.428 75-7220
inklusion (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de
Contact the department
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Specifically subject-related queries
Student advisor
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Flick
Ulmenliet 20, room N 5.07, 21033 Hamburg
Tel.: + 49.40.428 75-6384
bernd.flick(@)haw-hamburg.de
Advice on practical experience:
Prof. Dr. Bernd Kellner
Ulmenliet 20, room N 5.13, 21033 Hamburg
Tel.: + 49.40.428 75-6220
bernd.kellner(@)haw-hamburg.de
