Healthcare Science (Rehabilitation Engineering), BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

The BSc in Rehabilitation Engineering equips students with the skills to design and develop technological solutions for individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions. Through a combination of academic study and practical experience, students learn about assistive technologies, medical equipment, and rehabilitation engineering principles. The program prepares graduates for careers in healthcare settings, including prosthetics and orthotics, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Our BSc in Rehabilitation Engineering will give you the expert training you need to embark on a rewarding and highly skilled career in the healthcare profession as a rehabilitation engineer. You will learn about the application of engineering principles to develop technological solutions and devices to assist individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions. You will combine in-depth academic work with practical clinical and technological skills in a range of specialized healthcare settings. Over the three years you will learn about the design, construction, and testing of a range of assistive technologies, including wheelchairs, artificial limbs, robotic aids, and specialist seating. Using pressure mapping systems, goniometers, inclinometer, joystick controllers, and programmers, you will learn to build standard and custom-made devices, as well as learning about their importance towards revolutionizing patient care and independence. Rehabilitation engineering is an exciting, challenging, and continually evolving field requiring a high level of responsibility and technical skill. As a rehabilitation engineer, you will work as part of a rehabilitation team including prosthetics and orthotists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, as well as patients and clinics in acute and community services. As your career progresses, you will have excellent opportunities for advanced practice and further study to Masters and doctoral level.

Outline:

Year 1 (Level 4)

• Scientific Basis of Engineering
• Professional Practice 1
• Anatomy and Physiology for Healthcare Science
• Pathophysiology for Healthcare Science
• Basics of Mathematics and Physics for Healthcare Science
• Informatics and Statistics

Year 2 (Level 5)

• Professional Practice 2
• Research Methods and Statistics
• Healthcare Science Work Based Placement 1 (Rehabilitation Engineering)
• Medical Equipment Lifecycle
• Fluid Mechanics, Biomechanics and Materials
• Innovation and Medical Devices
• Instrumentation Signal Processing and Imaging

Year 3 (Level 6)

• Rehabilitation Engineering in the Clinical Environment
• Science and Principles Supporting Rehabilitation Engineering
• Professional Practice 3
• Healthcare Science Research Project
• Healthcare Science Work Based Placement 2 (Rehabilitation Engineering)

Assessment:

Assessment through a variety of methods including essays, presentations, examinations and portfolios of practical skill.

Teaching:

Teaching Methods:

• In-person lectures
• In-person tutorials
• Small group seminars
• Practical workshops
• Computer-aided-design (CAD) and simulation
• 3D printing, prototyping, and manufacturing
• Clinical placements

Faculty:

• Dr Barry Bardsley, Team lead, Senior Lecturer, Programme Director
• Prof Yamni Nigam
• Dr John Knight
• Dr Zubeyde Bayram-Weston
• Dr John Pratt
• Dr Mary Hoptroff
• Dr Emma Rees
• Amanda Donkin
• Alex Perkins
• Sara Davies
• Alice Shadis
• Faye Morton
• Joe Purden
• Sam Hopkinson
• Darren Coombes
• Tom Jones
• Angela Riley
• Shehzad Peerbaccus
• Shannon Bennett
• Charlie Earle
• Dr Pooya Mahmoodi
• Dr Mark Bowtell
• James Taylor
• Helen Slade
• Dan Murray
• Andy Cheetham
• Danni Fender

Careers:

• Electronic assistive technology
• Clinical movement analysis
• Wheelchair and seating
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Telehealth and telecare