MSc Medical Device Design

The MSc Medical Device Design is a 12-month, studio-based taught course, which places an emphasis on human-centered design and innovation. Graduates from creative and technical disciplines work side-by-side in a design studio environment in collaboration with clinical and industry partners.

The programme consists of a combination of taught modules and studio-based project work. Basic Medical Science is taught at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), while modules covering Research Methods, Human Factors, Bioinstrumentation and Fundamentals of Medical Device Design are delivered at NCAD. Fundamentals of Medical Device Design modules cover diverse topics from the History of Medicine to Biomechanics and Biomaterials.

In parallel with the taught modules, a series of studio-based projects are run at NCAD in conjunction with industrial and clinical partners. Industry partners include US multinationals with a base in Ireland, along with Irish start-up companies. In all cases, the design briefs are connected to live industry projects on which the companies are working. Students present their work to company engineers and scientists at the research, concept and final design stages. This enables the students to produce significant work in a real world product design and development environment. Feedback from industry tutors and practitioners forms an invaluable part of the learning process.

The MSc Medical Device Design runs over three trimesters and students are currently starting work on their final projects with industrial and clinical collaborators. These collaborations are an important part of our curriculum and enable real world human centred design studio learning. Unfortunately the work is proprietary and subject to non disclosure agreements and cannot be displayed during the design phase.