Human and Biological Robotics
Advance your knowledge on how bioengineers are leading the way in tackling modern healthcare challenges.
Advance your knowledge on how bioengineers are leading the way in tackling modern healthcare challenges
Get industry recognition by achieving an accredited degree from four leading engineering institutions
Build your teamwork, negotiation, leadership and advocacy skills on an independent research project
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MSc
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
September 2025
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£18,500 Home
£42,900 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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White City
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Minimum entry standard
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First-Class Honours in an Engineering, Physical Sciences or Mathematical subject
Course overview
Develop your understanding of human and biological robots on this wide-ranging course, which explores how bioengineers are leading the way in tackling modern healthcare challenges.
From the development of rapid testing technologies to designing new life-saving devices, bioengineering helps improve lives through cross-disciplinary activities in engineering, biology and medicine.
This one-year full-time course covers robotics for humans and society, service and social robotics, rehabilitation technology, as well as machine vision, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
You'll deepen your knowledge of neuromechanics, biomimetics design, signal and image processing and the application of robotics in health and everyday life.
Teaching will be primarily based on our South Kensington Campus. Some additional seminars and projects may also take place at the Sir Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Hub, a new centre for MedTech innovation on our White City Campus.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Advance your appreciation of reinforcement learning across three core skills: theory, implementation, and evaluation.
Get an overview of the field of robotics including the most important theoretic building blocks in robotics.
Deepen your knowledge of organ systems and their function, covering everything from the cardiovascular system to brain function and the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems.
Further your understanding of basic statistical analyses and their application and explore statistical concepts.
Explore the control of human movement from the perspective of both adaptation of the neural control system and adaptation of properties of the mechanical plant.
Examine various aspects of medical device entrepreneurship and understand the process and challenges in developing your own business idea.
You choose four optional modules in total. You can choose up to one module from Group A and three or four modules from Group B.
Optional modules – Group A
Receive practical training in bio-inspired robotics locomotion and reinforce the engineering skills required to implement mechatronics systems.
Understand C programming language and develop the ability to programme mechatronic systems containing sensors and actuators.
Analyse the design of rehabilitation systems and assistive devices, integrating mechatronics and human factors into computer games.
Optional modules – Group B
Understand the basics of simulation, physical layout and verification of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) for bioengineering applications.
Examine the principles of mechanics, such as solid mechanics and fluids mechanics, and their application to living systems.
Explore the scope of biomimetics and investigate the principles that help engineers solve technical problems using inspiration from nature.
Become familiar with the technology that is used in clinical settings for interfacing of the human brain to electronic circuitry.
Develop an appreciation of the role of computational and theoretical approaches to understanding the nervous system.
Examine digital image processing relevant to image analysis and gain an appreciation for aspects of computation involved in interpreting images.
You'll also carry out an individual research project that will give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge to current research problems.
The project also helps you to develop important project management, team working and communication skills that are highly valued by employers and international research groups. The project is conducted throughout the year but the majority of work is normally undertaken in the summer term, when you will be expected to work on this full time.
Your work will be based in Bioengineering, but may involve collaboration with groups in other Imperial departments, or with industry.
Professional accreditation
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This degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and Institution of Engineering Designers (IED), on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Our course accreditations are renewed every five years; the current accreditation agreement covering the current academic year and onwards is provisional and subject to our satisfying the requirements of the accrediting Professional Engineering Institutes, which we expect to complete by the end of the Academic Year.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures and seminars
- Independent study
- 15% Lectures and seminars
- 85% Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Study groups
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Tutorials
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Computing labs
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Presentations
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Virtual learning environment
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Guest lectures
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Independent study
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Flipped teaching
Balance of assessment
Key
- Coursework
- Exams
- Practical
- 30% Coursework
- 35% Exams
- 35% Practical
Assessment methods
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Problem sheets
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Lab reports
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Practical demonstrations
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Project reports
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Oral presentations
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Poster presentations
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In-class progress tests
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Exams
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Round 1 closes on Thursday 16 January 2025
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Application rounds
Round 1
- Apply by Thursday 16 January 2025
- Decision by Thursday 6 March 2025
Round 2
- Apply by Thursday 27 March 2025
- Decision by Thursday 1 May 2025
Round 3
- Apply by Thursday 15 May 2025
- Decision by Thursday 17 July 2025
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
- £80 for all taught Master's applications, excluding those to the Imperial College Business School.
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School.
- £150 for all MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
Applicants who select this course as their second choice will be placed in the application round based on when their complete application becomes eligible for this course.
This is normally the first working day after they have received a decision on their first choice course.
Applications received after the final deadline are not considered. It is your responsibility to liaise with your first choice course if you wish to withdraw from that choice in order to be considered for MSc Human and Biological Robotics.
This course is highly competitive. We do not normally consider any applications received after the third round deadline.
After this date, you may consider applying for our MRes Neurotechnology course.
We endeavour to give a final accept or reject decision on all applications by the published date.
However, a small number of applicants may receive a “waiting list” decision, to allow us to fairly compare applicants across gathered fields.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2025 entry
£18,500
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2025 entry
£42,900
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Gain a deeper understanding of how bioengineers are solving modern healthcare problems
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
Medicine, healthcare and the medical device industry are just some of your options.
Other potential career paths could include research, teaching, start-ups, consultancy and finance.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5146
- Email: [email protected]
Course Director: Professor Etienne Burdet
Programmes Director: Dr David Labonte
Visit the Department of Bioengineering website.
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Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications