According to the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, life expectancy increased by 1.1 years between 2007 and 2013. Sociodemographic change and long life expectancy in Europe have meant that healthcare is focusing on new horizons. The electrical and communications industry have facilitated the creation of batteries, microcomputers, new polymers and plastics, which mean that prosthetics and orthoprosthetics have become lighter, more resistant and look more real.  In the area of robotics and electronics, it has been possible to develop improved prosthetics through control and adaptation systems until the point where they can create prosthetics controlled through muscular stimulation.

This degree will allow you to specialise as an engineer in the field of dental prosthetics and/or orthoprosthetics. Depending on the specialisation you choose, from second year onwards you will use knowledge of dentistry or medicine and physiotherapy in combination with engineering-specific technical and scientific skills, in order to fit dental prosthetics or orthotics in patients and offer them full or almost full integration into society or guarantee them a better physical or aesthetic look.

Who is it intended for? Prospective students

If you have a desire to help society in the field of health sciences, this could be the profession for you.  Becoming an engineer via this degree and learning about the latest technology will ensure you can manage to design and manufacture prosthetics and orthotics (depending on the specialisation you choose) for patients who need it. This will allow them to become more integrated into society and ensure they can obtain a physical or aesthetic improvement.  ​

Anyone who fulfils the admission criteria and general prerequisites for access to the degree programme is eligible to apply. You must be able to prove that you have a vocational attitude towards science, techniques and healthcare in which the following skills stand out:

• Organisational skills, a good memory and motivation
• Good decision-making skills
• Psychological qualities and empathy
• Emotional balance
• An interest in research
• Responsibility and a strong work ethic
• Observation skills
• Good at teamwork
• An interest in helping people and the community
• Assertiveness
• Manual skills

Professional opportunities

This bachelor’s degree allows students to develop a future professional career in various fields. These include: 

Research

• Directing R+D+I departments and manufacturing processes
• Designing new machinery and creating/producing new materials 
• Quality departments
• The verification of medical devices 
• The design and production of custom-made devices
• Consultancy in insurance companies
• Competences
•  
• As bioengineers, these future professionals will learn to both design and manufacture using the latest technology, to help people who need to integrate into society better and also achieve physical or aesthetic improvements.
• Students will learn to become professionals in the field of engineering with an approach based on professional specialisation and innovation. 
• Students will acquire the conceptual and manual tools and necessary skills to design devices. 
• Students will learn to form part of a multidisciplinary team. 
• Students will learn how to create and manage a R+D department, from required administrative and healthcare documentation to managing products, buying material and human resources. 
• Students will learn to check healthcare devices to detect any faults and identify measures to correct them.  

Academic accreditation

Bachelor's Degree in Bioengineering at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya