Biomedical and healthcare is a fast-growing industry in Singapore. With Economic Development Board’s “Industry 21” initiative, demand for talents in hospitals, laboratories, healthcare centres and other biomedical facilities are expected to increase accordingly. In addition, there will also be an increase need for support and sales staff in the areas of medical equipment and instruments.
The Diploma in Biomedical Electronics (DBME) provides you with the necessary skills and practical knowledge needed to be part of this growing industry. It equips you with not only general Electronics Engineering knowledge, but also trains you in the areas of sensors and instrument systems in biomedicine, imaging techniques and signal processing. The programme will focus on the integrated use of electronic, electrical and computer technologies in medical devices used in the biomedical industry today.
DBME aims to nurture you into a knowledgeable and enterprising young professional in the area of electronics relating to biomedical industry. You will be adept in the art of problem solving and will be an effective learner in the ever-evolving arena of this high-tech industry.
The programme will provide a well-rounded education comprising both technical know-how and general capabilities. Discipline and specialisation-specific modules will equip you with a solid understanding of electronics theory. General modules will help you to prepare the ground for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, as well as train you in communication and lifelong learning skills.
DBME students can look forward to a 16-week internship during their study at RP. They will get an opportunity to work in companies involved in both healthcare and electronics sectors such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Changi General Hospital, Raffles Hospital, Life Technologies, Hill-Rom Services, Baxter Healthcare, Xilinx Asia Pacific, Leica Instruments, Fujitsu Asia, Beyonics International and many more.
This provides students opportunities to gain valuable hands-on work experience in their field of studies, enhance their problem-solving skills, and prepare them for the working world.
DBME students will be required to work on projects during their final year of study. They will have opportunities to interact with practitioners and work on industry-related projects with outcomes that can be applied to the real world.
Projects such as the iPhone based Brain-controlled power wheelchair, Wireless Dementia Patients Tracking System, Brain-Computer Interface Platform for Mobile Devices, Proximity Monitor of Children and the Portable Audiometer had won many prestigious awards. The IES Design 2011 GOLD and Merit Award, Home Team InnoFest 2011 Silver and Gold Award and the Tan Kah Kee Merit Award are just some awards won, to name a few.
DBME graduates can look forward to excellent career prospects and ample opportunities in the biomedical as well electronics industries. They can be employed as assistant or associate engineers in diverse areas such as product design and development, equipment testing, technical marketing, applications support, manufacturing, as well as technical support personnel in the field of biomedicine.
Examples of companies who had employed our graduates include National University Hospital, Alexandra Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, KK Hospital, Singapore National Eye Centre, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Setsco Services Pte Ltd, Showa Denko HD Singapore, Siltronic Samsung Wafer Pte Ltd.
Graduates may also choose to pursue further education. The DBME curriculum is designed to meet the requirements for advanced standing in local and overseas Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs).
Due to the multidisciplinary curriculum, DBME graduates can pursue not only bioengineering courses but also a variety of other degree programmes at both local and overseas universities.
Some further studies that graduates of this programme can choose to pursue at local universities are:
B.Eng. (Bioengineering), NUS B.Eng. (Electrical Engineering), NUS B.Eng. (Computer Engineering), NUS B.Eng. (Bioengineering), NTU B.Eng. (Electrical & Electronic Engineering), NTU B.Eng. (Materials Engineering), NTU B.Eng. (Information Engineering & Media), NTU B.Sc. (Biological Sciences), NTU
DBME graduates can also pursue further studies at overseas universities such as:
University of Adelaide (Australia), University of New South Wales (Australia), University of Queensland (Australia), Australian National University (Australia), University of Newcastle (Australia), University of Leeds (UK), Through the Singapore Institute of Technology, graduates can also pursue a B. Sc in Electrical Engineering & Information Technology from the Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich, TUM)
For more information about university pathways, visit RP's Further Studies.
To find out more about how you can apply for this diploma, visit Republic Poly's Admissions page.
Want to find out more about the school that offers this diploma? Then drop by the School of Engineering's homepage now!
Table 1: Minimum Entry Requirements
Table 2: Aggregate Type
Addn Combined ScienceAdditional ScienceBiologyChemistryCombined ScienceComputer StudiesCreative 3D AnimationDesign & TechnologyEngineering ScienceFood & NutritionFundamentals of ElectronicsGeneral ScienceHuman & Social BiologyIntegrated SciencePhysicsPhysical ScienceScience (Chem, Bio)Science (Phy, Bio)Science (Phy, Chem)Science (Phy, Chem, Bio)
The course consists of general modules, discipline modules, and specialisation modules. Year 1 covers general modules such as Cognitive Processes and Problem Solving, and Mathematics. Year 2 focuses on discipline modules such as Analogue Electronics, Anatomy and Physiology. In year 3, you will go on to take specialisation modules and undergo the industry orientation programme.
Each module is equivalent to 4 modular credits (MC).
7 compulsory modules: A101 Science
A113 Mathematics
A207 Physics
B102 Organisational Behaviour
E114 Mathematics for Engineering
G101 Cognitive Processes and Problem Solving I
G103 Introduction to Communication Practice
11 compulsory modules: A103 Anatomy and Physiology
A201 Chemistry
C105 Introduction to Programming
E112 Engineering Design
E105 Digital Electronics I
E201 Digital Electronics II
E203 Circuit Analysis
E204 Linear Circuits and Control
E206 Microcontroller Systems
E208 PCB Design and Prototyping
E219 Analogue Electronics
4 compulsory modules: E338 Biomedical Instrumentation
E337 Biomedical Equipment
E335 Biomedical Imaging
E336 Biomedical Signal Processing
3 compulsory modules: G901 Creative Engagement
G301 Project
E921 Industry Immersion Programme (4 modules)
Select 1 module from the following list: E312 Data Communications
E328 Project Management
E212 Facilities Planning and Design
A251 Medical Technology
A211 Advanced Mathematics I – Differential Equations
A212 Advanced Mathematics II – Linear Algebra
A222 Molecular and Cell Biology
Select 1 module from the entire range of modules offered by the Schools and Centres in RP.
To graduate with a Diploma in Biomedical Electronics, you must complete a total of 120 modular credits. You should be able to do this within three years of enrolment if you successfully complete on average five modules, or its equivalent, per semester.