Welcome to
Biomedical Engineering

Top-Ranked Graduate Education

The Department of Biomedical Engineering in the top-ranked Cockrell School of Engineering offers one of the most robust graduate engineering educations in the nation. We offer opportunities for students to grow and build interdisciplinary knowledge in areas of regenerative medicine, cellular and biomolecular biomechanics, computational simulation, imaging technologies and more. Start your application today or keep browsing to learn more about the Texas BME experience.

95%

Of Ph.D. Students Are Fully Funded

#19

Graduate Biomedical Engineering Program in the U.S.

U.S. News and World Report

11

NSF Fellows

 

Top 5 Reasons to Get Your Texas Biomedical Engineering Degree

Outstanding Faculty

Among our faculty are 17 American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering fellows, four American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows, four National Academy of Inventors fellows and several members of the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine.

Generous Financial Support

Texas BME offers financial support for most Ph.D. candidates designed to last the length of their degree, including a competitive stipend, paid tuition and health insurance. This support can be offered at admissions or after a candidate's first or second semester.

Superior Facilities and Equipment

Our students have access to premiere lab facilities, research centers and equipment, including the most powerful academic super computer in the U.S. 

Dell Medical School

Many Texas BME professors are also faculty members in the Dell Medical School, one of the first medical schools in decades to be built from the ground up at a Tier 1 research university. We collaborate with physicians and DMS researchers in areas such as cancer, pediatrics, modeling and many others.

One of the Nation’s Best Cities

Austin is consistently ranked as one of the best cities to live in. We boast a sunny, temperate climate year-round, a robust music, arts and culture scene, natural beauty built directly into the city, and a welcoming open-minded spirit. As a major technology hub with a thriving economy and job market, what starts here changes the world.

Degree Options

Doctoral Program

Earn a doctoral degree using a custom learning plan to ensure expertise in innovative research frontiers; typically completed in five to six years. A master's degree is not required to apply for the doctoral program.

MD/M.S. Dual Degree Program

In collaboration with Dell Medical School, we offer a dual master's degree specifically designed for current medical students; typically completed in three to four years.

B.S./M.S. Integrated Program

Earn a bachelor's degree and master's degree at an accelerated pace; typically completed in five years.

Portfolio Options

Graduate Portfolio Program in Pharmcoengineering

Designed to prepare the next generation of innovative “pharmacoengineers,” this program empowers graduate students to lead the development of pharmaceutical therapeutics and diagnostics. 

Imaging & Informatics Training Program

The overarching theme of this program is to train comprehensive imaging scientists in the skills necessary to improve the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases

Areas of Study

There are eight research areas spanning biomedical engineering. However, the interests and research of students and faculty may overlap with more than one track. Additionally, Texas BME offers unique interdisciplinary education programs in Computational Medicine and Imaging Science.

• Biomaterials
• Biosensors and Instrumentation
• Cell and Tissue Engineering
• Computational Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Discovery and Delivery
• Imaging and Image-Guided Interventions
• Multiscale Biophysics and Biomechanics
• Neuroengineering

Ready to Apply?

Application for admission to the Graduate School is a multi-step process. The deadline for Texas BME graduate school applications is December 1st.

Start Your Application

Need More Information? Contact:

Jenny Kondo

Graduate Program Administrator

bme-grad@engr.utexas.edu

Exceptional Career Prospects

Biomedical engineering integrates science with engineering problem-solving tools to develop solutions in medicine. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts biomedical engineers will have significant growth in job opportunities through 2026.

Cutting-edge Curriculum

Texas BME offers a foundational undergraduate curriculum covering engineering and science fundamentals, biomaterials, physiology, instrumentation, biomechanics, engineering design and more. 

Welcoming Community

While UT Austin is a large place, Texas BME is a close-knit community sharing a home base in the BME building. There are 23 full-time faculty, 550 total undergraduates and 90 graduate students. All BME classes are taught by BME faculty, and all teaching assistants complete a TA certification. Free tutoring with engineering tutors is available every evening.

Innovative Research on Campus

Biomedical engineering is a new field contributing exciting research developments in medicine. Over 65% of our students participate in research as undergraduates. Many students participate in research opportunities within the Cockrell School of Engineering, Dell Medical School and College of Natural Sciences.

Global Experiences

Texas BME strongly values global perspectives and encourages undergraduate students to take advantage of study abroad opportunities through the Cockrell School's International Engineering Education program. Nearly a third of our students study abroad at least once before they graduate.

Biomedical engineering is an exciting and dynamic field at the intersection of health care and engineering. The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) prepares students to gain practical engineering skills on their journeys to advance research and craft solutions to some of the world's most pressing health care needs.

The Cockrell School of Engineering is a top 10 engineering school and the Department of Biomedical Engineering is nationally ranked for excellence among the top engineering programs in the U.S. We offer students hands-on learning opportunities in state-of-the-art facilities, mentored by faculty conducting multidisciplinary research in numerous areas of biomedical engineering.

Our students specialize in four academic tracks: 

• Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation
• Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering
• Computational Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics

BME Programs

Whether you're interested in starting your biomedical engineering journey from the ground floor or have been researching in the field for years, Texas BME has programs to fit every academic journey.

Undergraduate Program

Graduate Program

INTEGRATED PROGRAM

The objective of the B.S. BME/M.S. integrated program is to reduce the number of years students spend in school while allowing them greater opportunities for a career in research and development. Students now have the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and a master's degree in engineering in 5 years.

This interdisciplinary engineering curriculum combines the technical depth and breadth of B.S. studies with advanced knowledge and professional experience gained through M.S. courses.

Application and Admissions

Third-year students majoring in biomedical engineering at UT Austin can apply for entry to the B.S. BME/M.S. Integrated Program. This program is not open to third-year students majoring in other disciplines.

The application process for the integrated program can be divided into two steps:

Step 1: Submit an application to the Department of Biomedical Engineering, including a resume, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation. Selected students will be notified in the summer of their third year and will then plan graduate coursework with an academic advisor.

Step 2: After the second term of their fourth year, students will submit their application to the Office of Graduate Admissions for review and acceptance.

Ready to Apply? Submit your application for review to the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

SUBMIT APPLICATION

Degree Requirements and Coursework

 Graduates of the integrated program will receive the B.S. in biomedical engineering and M.S. in engineering degrees simultaneously after successfully completing the 126 semester credit hours for their B.S. and 30 semester credit hours for the M.S., a total of 156 semester credit hours.

Students in the integrated program complete 12 semester credit hours of graduate coursework in their fourth year and 18 semester credit hours of graduate coursework in their fifth year.

The integrated program also requires students to take coursework in one of four academic tracks:

• Track 1: Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation
• Track 2: Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering
• Track 3: Computational Biomedical Engineering
• Track 4: Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics

Many students can claim credit by exam for some degree requirements through college credit from eligible exam scores (AP, IB, etc.).

For more information on degree requirements and coursework, visit the Cockrell School of Engineering degree catalogs and course descriptions.

The University of Texas at Austin's Department of Biomedical Engineering undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.

Student Outcomes

Upon graduation, graduates of the Biomedical Engineering Department at The University of Texas at Austin will have attained: 

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specific needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, societal, environmental, and economic factors.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)

Following graduation and during the first several post-graduate years, biomedical engineering baccalaureate degree holders from The University of Texas at Austin will possess skill sets to accomplish the following: 

1. Conduct themselves with exemplary professional ethics and highest integrity.
2. Demonstrate a quantitative, analytical, and systematic approach to problem solving in their professional practice.
3. Demonstrate a continuous quest for professional excellence and success.
4. Participate in continuing education to expand their knowledge of contemporary professional issues.
5. Exhibit effective scientific, technical, communication, and resource management skills in their professional practices.