Biomedical Engineering Careers in the UK

Biomedical engineers design, test, maintain and manage the technology that keeps people alive and well (scanners, monitors, prosthetics etc).

In the UK you can work for the NHS or medical technology companies. Most people enter the profession with an engineering or physical sciences degree and then do either the NHS Scientist Training Programme or an industry graduate scheme. Apprenticeship routes also exist. Starting pay in the NHS is £32,073 on Band 5.

Key points

• NHS biomedical engineers normally start on AC Band 5 (£32,073 to £39,043) and progress to Band 6 (£39,959 to £48,117) with experience.^[1]
• The NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) is a 3 year paid job at Band 6, with a fully funded part time MSc. The 2026 round has now closed and the 2027 round will presumably open in January 2027.^[2]
• STP applicants require either a first or 2:1 in a relevant science or engineering degree, or a 2:2 plus a relevant higher degree.^[3]
• The T Level in Healthcare Science has stopped taking new students. The final cohort started in September 2025.^[4]
• From 1st January 2026 government funding for Level 7 apprenticeships (including the clinical scientist apprenticeship) will only be available to new starters aged 16 to 21 (or under 25 with an EHC plan or care experience).^[5]

What a biomedical engineer does

Biomedical engineers use physics, materials, electronics, and computing to help diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate patients. Some of them go on to design new devices. Others keep the hospital’s machines safe, calibrated, and ready.

In the NHS you’ll predominantly see a clinical engineer, a clinical scientist (in the field of clinical engineering) or a clinical technologist. In industry, it’s typically a biomedical, medical device or design engineer. IPEM (the professional body) defines the clinical engineer as one who “designs, develops, supports and manages medical devices” and they work in either the hospital or the industry.^[6] The National Careers Service lists tasks such as managing scanners, imaging equipment, and monitoring systems; carrying out quality assurance; and constructing and testing of medical devices such as heart valves and hearing implants.^[7]

A day in the life

This is a composite Tuesday, put together from the duties listed by Prospects and the National Careers Service rather than from the duties of one individual.

At 10am in ICU, a clinical engineer attends a ventilator flagged by a nurse for intermittent alarm. She checks the error log, swaps a sensor, and runs a test before signing it back in. At 11am she is in the medical physics workshop reviewing a safety incident report on an infusion pump. After lunch she attends a meeting about purchasing new patient monitors where she asks the awkward questions about maintenance.

Hours are normally 37 to 40 per week. Equipment safety and maintenance can be carried out outside normal hours, and some hospital posts have an evening or weekend rota.^[7]

What biomedical engineers earn

The vast majority of NHS staff are on the Agenda for Change pay scale. The figures below are the national rates for England from 1 April 2026.^[8] Staff in London and some of the high cost areas will of course be on a supplement.

The apprentice rate is £8 an hour, and employers often pay more.^[9] In the private sector, pay varies widely according to Prospects. For other disciplines see our engineering salaries guide.

Which subjects you need

Maths and Physics open the most doors. Biology is somewhat useful, but few courses accept it instead of Physics. Always check course pages before making your choice.

UCL’s normal offer is A*AA, Sheffield requires AAB, and Exeter requires AAB to ABB.^[10][14][13] Sheffield’s foundation year requires BBB or BBC with Maths and a science, which is a good backstop.^[12] Our guide to how the Biology A-level prepares you for engineering explains where the subject is used.

Routes in: degree, NHS training or apprenticeship

The table covers England.

The NHS Scientist Training Programme

The STP is the main route to becoming a clinical scientist in Clinical Engineering. You are employed for three years at Band 6, train in a hospital, and study for a fully funded MSc in parallel. Clinical Engineering is one of the physical sciences specialisms.^[18] You need a 1st or 2:1 in a relevant pure or applied science or engineering subject, or a 2:2 with a relevant MSc or PhD.^[3] NSHCS has just finished their 2026 recruitment round, and the next will likely open in January 2027 (dates to be confirmed).^[2] The window is very short, so check the NSHCS applicants page from December. It is a very competitive route, so experience is key.

In Scotland the equivalent is the Scottish Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Training Scheme. Year one is a masters and you need an honours degree in an engineering subject (electronic, mechanical or software).^[19]

Apprenticeships

The Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship takes a minimum of 3 years and requires GCSEs and A levels or equivalent. The standard is currently under review with a new assessment plan coming into effect for starters from 13th September 2027.^[20] Practitioners in the physical sciences can join the Register of Clinical Technologists.^[21] The Level 7 Clinical Scientist Apprenticeship requires a 2:1 or first and leads to HCPC registration, although it is now only government funded for younger starters.^[5]

The T Level in Healthcare Science has now closed to new students. The final cohort started in September 2025. The Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control T Level is the one that’s still running. You can search for vacancies via Find an apprenticeship. For more information on the options available, see Engineering degrees vs degree level apprenticeships.

Who employs biomedical engineers in the UK

Prospects lists hospital trusts, equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, charities, universities and government agencies.^[1] Names to know include:

• NHS trusts via their medical physics and clinical engineering departments and the STPs.
• Siemens Healthineers (who take on approximately 60 early career graduates, interns and apprentices each year at their UK sites of Camberley, Sudbury, Eynsham and Llanberis) – see Siemens Healthineers UK careers.^[22]
• Renishaw, whose healthcare products support medical research, diagnostics and surgery. It runs graduate schemes and placements in Gloucestershire and South Wales, and apprenticeship applications op
• Smith+Nephew (the medical technology company) run leadership development programmes for university leavers in the UK and indeed in a number of other countries. See Smith+Nephew careers. and other countries.^[23] See Smith+Nephew careers.
• GE HealthCare, offering apprenticeships, internships and development program
• Philips, who advertise graduate and entry level roles in the UK. See Philips UK careers.-level roles in the UK. See Philips UK careers.
• STERIS Instrument Management Services, one of the employers in the healthcare science practitioner apprenticeship.^[20]

Professional bodies

The Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) is the charity for medical physicists and clinical engineers. Student membership costs £26 per year.^[24] IPEM also runs the Register of Clinical Technologists, accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.^[25] Clinical scientists must be on the HCPC register to work in the NHS. The Academy for Healthcare Science has an accredited register for healthcare science practitioners.^[26] Engineers can become EngTech, IEng or CEng via the Engineering Council through bodies such as IPEM, the IET or IMechE.^[27]

What to do next

Year 9 to 11 (ages 13-16). Keep Maths and Physics strong and take triple science if possible. Look at our guide to the various engineering disciplines to see which might suit you and read Professor Eleanor Stride’s story to get an idea of what biomedical engineering offers.

Year 12 (ages 16-17). Take Maths and Physics, with Biology or Chemistry if possible. Visit a local hospital’s clinical engineering department and ask about a visit, and use our work experience guide. Renishaw apprenticeship applications open on 30th November.

Year 13 (ages 17-18). Apply via UCAS for 2027 entry and to employers for apprenticeships in parallel. Check which degrees are IPEM or IET accredited. Our engineering scholarships guide has funding information.

Frequently asked questions

Is biomedical engineering the same as biomedical science?

No. Biomedical scientists predominantly test samples in the lab. Biomedical engineers work with the devices and the equipment.

Do I need a Biomedical Engineering degree?

No, Prospects also lists Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering and Physics as relevant degrees. Many employers will want at least a 2:1.

Do I need A-level Biology?

Normally they don’t. Maths and Physics are far more important though Strathclyde do require Higher Biology for their MEng.

How much does an NHS clinical engineer earn?

Entry-level posts are typically Band 5 (paying £32,073 to £39,043 in England from April 2026). Experienced engineers are in Band 7 (£49,387 to £56,515).

Can I become a biomedical engineer without going to university?

Yes via the Healthcare Science Practitioner degree apprenticeship (which gives you the degree as you work). A foundation apprenticeship or an Engineering T Level can be a route in.

Feedback or corrections? Email [email protected].

Image: ThisisEngineering, Unsplash