Study programme structure

Master academic study programme “Bioengineering” lasts one year (2 semesters) and contains 60 ECTS in total. It belongs to the field of interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary (IMT) and two-programme studies, the field of IMT studies. Upon completion of this study programme, academic title “master engineer of biomedical engineering” is awarded.

The study programme is defined according to internationally recognized contents which provide course-specific outcomes in line with European and world models and contain all the elements determined by law.

“Bioengineering” study plan is designed in accordance with the needs of modernization and expansion of modules on master academic studies at the Faculty of Engineering, as well as with the research needs of this extremely multidisciplinary field.

Study programme enrolment requirements, other important elements and study regime are prescribed by the Statute and the Rule book on regime of bachelor and master academic studies at the Faculty of Engineering. Persons with completed bachelor academic studies and a minimum of 240 ECTS may be enrolled in the study programme.

Studies are conducted in Serbian and English, and financed by candidates’ resources (self-financing).

The study program prescribes elective and compulsory courses. Students of “Bioengineering” master academic studies attend 2 compulsory and 4 elective courses. All courses in this study program are one-semester courses. Each course has a scoring value in accordance with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

Choosing the elective courses, students satisfy personal interests in the areas they are interested in. In addition, the study plan and program envisage technical practice, study research work and writing and defending the master’s thesis.

Teaching methods depend on the type of teaching. Active teaching is conducted through lectures, exercises, study research work, consultations, mentoring. Teaching of this kind is realized through constant contact of students with teachers and teaching assistants. Lectures, exercises and consultations are held every week in the semester, according to the schedule.

The study plan is constructed with tendency of a larger number of elective courses on master’s studies. Teaching is conducted through lectures and exercises, with the emphasis on independent and research work of students as well as on increased personal involvement in the teaching process. At this level of study, we insist on work in smaller groups and better teachers’ orientation toward each individual student.

Using appropriate modern didactic-methodical resources, the material is presented during lectures with necessary explanations which contribute to better understanding of the subject matter. In exercises, which follow the lectures, concrete tasks are solved with examples further illustrating the study material. Exercises can be auditory, computer or laboratory.

Students’ obligations may also include seminar papers writing, as well as scientifically-oriented project assignments or publication of scientific papers, with each student activity being monitored and evaluated during the teaching process in accordance with the rules adopted at the Faculty of Engineering.

Lectures and auditory exercises are conducted in classrooms with a group of up to 16 students, while laboratory exercises are conducted in laboratories with 8 students maximum.

Consultations are held individually or within a small group of students. At consultations, lecturer is available to students, depending on their needs and interests in: giving instructions related to learning approach, giving additional explanations regarding the preparation of individual, project and practical tasks, and referring to the appropriate use of literature; etc.

Study research work includes all forms of teaching that are in the function of direct training of a student for research and scientific papers writing, and is carried out in the 2nd semester of studies.

Mentoring is a form of active teaching in which a lecturer - mentor is in the direct contact with a student.

Technical practice is carried out by a student under lecturer’s supervision – technical practice coordinator, while the master thesis consultations are held by the chosen mentor.

Study programme purpose

The purpose of the master academic study programme “Bioengineering” is to educate students in the area of bioengineering which provides the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary for: successful performance of professional engineering tasks within the framework of the world labour market and continuation of education within the framework of the world education area.

“Bioengineering” master academic studies last one year, contain 60 ECTS and provide student competence through knowledge acquisition from various disciplines, with their active interconnectedness, as well as professional skills necessary for engagement in practice and competencies for continuation of academic education at the next level of studies (doctoral academic studies).

The purpose of the study program “Bioengineering” is high quality education of students for performing professional and academic jobs in the field of profession “master engineer of biomedical engineering”, in accordance with the contemporary growing needs and objectives of the Faculty of Engineering, quality standards of the educational system in Serbia and the requirements for integration into European educational system.

The emphasis of this study program is on individual and team work, both in the field of engineering, and in the field of cooperation with medical doctors in research and at the clinics. Work in modern equipped computer classrooms, the use of last generation computer resources, as well as constant cooperation with medical doctors, enables successful scientific research in the field of bioengineering.

“Bioengineering” study program is designed in such way to provide competencies that are socially justified and useful. Graduated students will be competent, both scientifically and professionally oriented, and capable of engaging in various segments of bioengineering. Students will also learn about and use methods of scientific research; they will be involved in realistic research tasks, through study research work and master thesis. Through independent research and master thesis (field, topic and mentor is selected by a candidate), which is publicly defended, students are given the opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge to solve concrete problems.

Study programme objectives

Study programme objectives of master academic studies of „Bioengineering“ are focused on academic skills and specific knowledge (competence) acquisition in line with the current world practice for bioengineering studies at the master academic studies level.
Objectives of this study programme are focused on education of high competent master engineers of biomedical engineering. Their competence reflects in possessing necessary knowledge and intellectual skills in the multidisciplinary context of IMT studies. Successfulness in educating master engineer of biomedical engineering reflects in their ability to integrate difference course disciplines, as well as the ability to integrate theory and practice in solving concrete problems.
The main objective for master engineers of bioengineering is to master all necessary knowledge to join the work in hospitals, scientific-research organisations, private bioengineering companies, as well as software companies.
Taking into account the aforementioned objectives, there is an evident need for the establishment of master academic study programme “Bioengineering“.
Some of the most important general objectives for which a student should be trained by this master academic study programme are:

• acquiring professional competences in the field of bioengineering;
• following fast technological development in the field of bioengineering;
• practical, innovative work and solving of complex interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary problems;
• enabling students to upgrade knowledge gained at bachelor academic studies as well as acquiring necessary knowledge and skills for further education at doctoral studies;
• ability to integrate into different production, development and research organisations.

Within the framework of "Bioengineering" study programme, methods of monitoring and implementation of the highest standards similar to the standards applied in the leading educational institutions in Europe and the world will be developed.

By mastering master academic studies of “Bioengineering”, students will be able to develop, realise and apply contemporary complex projects from the field of bioengineering. These competencies involve the possibility to continue education depending on interests and specific competencies.

Upon the completion of master’s academic studies in this study program, students will have the following general competencies:

• the ability of critical thinking and application of knowledge in the field of bioengineering;
• the ability to solve problems in new or unknown environment within a narrow scientific-professional area;
• the ability to integrate into clinical and research organizations, software companies and private bioengineering companies;
• the ability to engage in teams for projects’ realisation in the field of bioengineering;
• the ability to transfer knowledge and communication to the professional and wide scientific public in a clear and unambiguous manner;
• the ability to successfully continue education at doctoral academic studies.

Course-specific competencies of students include:

• the ability to apply knowledge from the foundations of anatomy and physiology in analysing and solving specific problems in the field of bioengineering, on several levels;
• the application of acquired knowledge in modelling and analysis of the cardio-vascular and muscular-skeletal system;
• detailed knowledge of the use of biomaterials and nanomaterials in bioengineering;
• the use of new methodologies and technologies in tissue engineering, the design of biomedical devices and biomedical images processing;
• knowledge and handling of instrumentation used in biomedical research;
• ability to create, develop and apply contemporary software to the analysis and computer simulation of various systems in the field of bioengineering.

By attending study programme "Bioengineering", a student acquires broad foundation of engineering knowledge, skills and experience that should make him/her confident and able to contribute to solving concrete problems in the field of bioengineering, both individually and in the team. Study programme outcomes should be in line with the programme goals as much as possible (in terms of outcome as a statement of what a student wants to know, understand, and can do after completing the study programme).

Expected knowledge outcomes, defined through appropriate knowledge and skills of students are the following:

• mastering knowledge and skills in the field of bioengineering at the level of master’s academic studies prescribed by EU countries documents;
• mastering computer tools, programming skills and the use of information and communication technologies and available modern research equipment;
• monitoring and application of novelties in the field, as well as successful and equitable cooperation with colleagues from educational, scientific, research, business or clinical organisations from the country and the world;
• mastering wider context of perceiving engineering and research problems, which implies taking into account economic, organisational and social relations.

Curriculum

Master’s academic studies “Bioengineering” last one year (2 semesters) and are formed in such a way to comply with the set objectives of the study programme. Upon completion of “Bioengineering” master academic studies, a student is awarded 60 ECTS (30 ECTS per semester).

Study programme “Bioengineering” differs from other study programmes at the Faculty by 90% of the total number of ECTS.

Curriculum of this study programme contains 4 elective courses, so that individual interests of students are fulfilled. Studies are organised in semesters, and course structure is clearly defined. The schedule of courses and modules by semesters, the fund of active teaching hours and corresponding ECTS credits, together with a detailed course description prescribed by the study programmes accreditation standards, are given in the Book of Courses of the study program Bioengineering.

Study programme structure consists of 6 courses (2 compulsory and 4 elective), technical practice, study research work on theoretical bases of master’s thesis and master’s thesis. In the first semester, 3 out of 9 offered elective courses are selected, while in the second semester, 1 of the 4 elective courses is selected. It is planned for students to perform technical practice in the first semester and study research work on theoretical bases of master’s thesis and master’s thesis writing and defence in the second semester. Student completes the studies with defending the master’s thesis, whereby the final grade of master thesis is calculated on the basis of the grade for passed theoretical bases and the grade for thesis writing and defence.

In the study programme structure, the following groups of courses are present in relation to the total number of ESPB credits:

• scientific and professional-applicative – 66,7%
• general education and theoretical-methodological – 33,3%

Elective courses are present with 70% in relation to the total number of ECTS credits.

Active teaching at this study programme equals 660 class hours annually, i.e. 20 class hours per week during winter semester and 24 class hours per week during summer semester. Study research work is present with 36,4% of active teaching classes per year.

An integral part of the curriculum is a 180-hour technical practice, which is performed in appropriate institutions, organisations, companies, clinics and public institutions.

Book of Courses