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Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies MSc

London, Stanmore

This full-time MSc focuses on the design, development, and clinical application of novel rehabilitative and assistive technologies. You will work with the Aspire Create team, a group of assistive technology specialists who are engineering the next generation of these technologies, in partnership with UCL clinicians at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£18,400
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£36,500
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 30 Jun 2026

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Prospective students should have a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science (including Medicine), Engineering, Computer Science or Physics; an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; or sufficient relevant professional experience.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


Globally, an estimated 2.4 billion people are living with a health condition that may benefit from rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is an essential part of universal health coverage. It helps people to be as independent as possible in everyday activities. It also enables participation in education, work, recreation and meaningful life roles, such as taking care of family.

Rehabilitation can be enhanced by technology. Rehabilitation engineering is a rapidly developing field with the potential to revolutionise the way people are living with the impacts of injury, illness, or ageing, and help them take back control of their lives.

This MSc Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies focuses on how state-of-the-art technologies, haptic devices and neuromodulation can be developed and used to restore or substitute motor function. We focus on applications to complex and challenging medical conditions such as spinal cord injuries, stroke, and neuromuscular diseases, as well as issues that arise from our ageing population.

You will develop core fundamental knowledge of these interdisciplinary subjects, as well as transferable research skills. Alongside the taught modules, you will take part in a specially tailored group research project, as well as your own project where you investigate your own research question.

Who this course is for

This programme is aimed primarily at engineers, physicists, bio/medical students, and computer scientists who want to make a difference to society by developing their skills and knowledge to help those in need.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities:

  • In-depth understanding of how state-of-the-art technologies can be developed and translated into clinical practice.
  • The knowledge needed to tackle real problems faced by people with complex and challenging medical conditions, such as spinal cord injuries and stroke.
  • Specialist theoretical knowledge with opportunities to put this into practice through research-based learning activities.
  • A highly interdisciplinary research focus that will give you experience of the academic, clinical and third sectors.
  • A programme run by internationally renowned UCL academics, in conjunction with clinicians at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, assistive technology specialists from the Aspire charity, and our industrial research partners.
  • Networking opportunities throughout the course.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates can go onto careers in academic research, biomedical R&D engineering, clinical science, and entrepreneurial start-ups.

According to the HESA Graduate Outcomes surveys (2018-2022), around 77% of MSc Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies graduates reported being in work or postgraduate study.

They have gone on to work for universities and university hospitals, both UK and overseas, as well as medical supply firms, neuromodulation device manufacturers such as Bioinduction, and the materials/soft matter analytical specialists, Rheolution. Their roles are as engineers, researchers, biochemists and biomedical scientists, business and project managers, and higher education teachers or lecturers.

Some are pursuing PhDs at world-leading universities, including ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and University College London.

Employability

This research-intensive MSc will prepare you with core fundamental knowledge and skills for the rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies sector.

You will graduate with both technical and transferable skills, including project planning, organisation, critical analysis, and communication and teamwork skills. You will also learn practical skills of programming, devices/systems development, data analysis, static analysis, or experimental design.

Importantly, you will refine your communication skills by interacting with different audiences and learn how to pitch your arguments at the right level - a highly valued skill in any sector.

Networking

There are regular networking opportunities, including events where you can hear from expert speakers. We encourage students to broaden their skills and expand their networks by attending and participating at conferences.

Teaching and learning

Teaching is delivered through a mix of interactive lectures, seminars, and supervisor sessions. You will also do a group research project, which allows you to develop your skills and learn from the strengths of your peers.

You will be assessed by a variety of methods across the different modules. These will include coursework, such as lab reports, portfolios, reflective journals, and essays.

You will also have several examinations, including multiple choice questions, short and long answer questions, presentations (PowerPoint, video) and oral (viva) examinations.

Your teaching contact hours will vary by module and the type of project you take. You will typically have at least five hours of mandatory in-person teaching per week throughout Terms 1 and 2. In some weeks this increases to c. 12 hours - for example, when you have mandatory practical / workshop sessions. The optional modules you select may substantially increase the number of contact hours.

You will also need to dedicate a significant amount of time to self-directed and in-person group study (around 20-28 hours per week). Completing the course successfully should require a total commitment of around 1,800 hours across the year. Your workload will be roughly equivalent to a full-time job and you will use your time outside of contact hours for reading, working on reports and assignments and preparing for exams.

As full-time students, you are expected to be on campus most days each week, and most lab-based projects will require attendance every weekday. Non-lab-based projects such as systematic reviews or computer modelling are also available.

Modules

In term one, you will study four compulsory taught modules: 'Applications of Rehabilitation Engineering', including notions of anatomy and physiology, 'Research Methods', 'Rehabilitation Robotics' and 'Biomechanics for Assistive Technologies'.

In parallel, you will apply your learning from these modules to your group research project. You will also be given some guidance and start thinking about selecting your individual research project.

In term two, you continue with your group research project. You will also study an additional specialist taught module that will address cutting-edge topics.

In term three, you will work full time on your individual project, with the support of your supervisory team, submitting your final report in August or September.

Compulsory modules








Optional modules














Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Medical and Healthcare Technology and Engineering MSc

Watch our online event to find out more about our range of Medical and Healthcare Technology and Engineering courses.

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Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies MSc

Join our virtual open event to learn about UCL’s MSc in Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies. Hear directly from the programme lead and ask questions about this full-time course, which focuses on designing and applying innovative rehabilitative technologies.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Sports Medicine, Exercise and Health MSc

Join us for the online Graduate Open Event for the MSc in Sports Medicine, Exercise, and Health. Discover how our programme covers sports injury management, exercise physiology, and chronic disease prevention. Hear from programme leads and current students, and explore career opportunities in sports and exercise medicine. Ideal for those with a primary degree in medicine, physiotherapy, or sports science. Don't miss this chance to learn more and ask questions!

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £18,400
Tuition fees (2026/27) £36,500

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

The core textbooks are available from the UCL Institute of Orthopaedics Library, and journal articles in your reading lists are also mostly available electronically. Some students like to purchase their own textbooks or print course documents, for which we suggest allowing £500 per year.

Most teaching takes place at RNOH Stanmore, and there may also be sessions at other locations. Students will be required to pay for travel costs which could range between £25-£60 per week.

A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be needed if you choose an individual project working with some groups of participants considered vulnerable, such as some children and patients.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. More information is available on the CSC website.

Applicants for this course can apply for the Spärck AI Scholarship. This UK Government award, named after pioneering computer scientist Karen Spärck Jones, supports the development of talented leaders in AI and its application across diverse disciplines. Find out more

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Sparck AI Scholarship

Deadline: 1 May 2026
(Check course is eligible before applying)
Value: Full tuition fees plus £22,780 stipend (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies at graduate level.
  • Why you want to study Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies at UCL.
  • What particularly attracts you to the chosen programme.
  • How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme.
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Division of Surgery and Interventional Science
Division of Surgery and Interventional Science

reat-msc@ucl.ac.uk

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