Master Of Science In Biomedical Cybernetics in University of Malta, Malta

Master Of Science In Biomedical Cybernetics in University of Malta

his programme of study is also offered on a part-time basis. Please consult the Registrar’s website for more information pertaining to courses offered by the University.

The Master of Science in Biomedical Cybernetics is a cross-disciplinary degree programme, undertaken mainly by research, in the field of Biomedical Cybernetics. Here Biomedical Cybernetics refers to the classical definition of cybernetics as applied to biological and biomedical systems, that is, the technology-abstracted study of biological and biomedical systems and signals, and concepts such as the following, as applied to biological and biomedical systems and signals: systems theory, analysis, modelling, behaviour and control; data, signal and image acquisition, analysis and processing; study and extraction of information, pattern and intelligence; understanding of knowledge directed processes; decision-making processes; and the design and development of devices to achieve the above; and the application of digital technologies to medicine, healthcare and wellbeing.

The programme has a taught component that provides the required skills to the candidates and a research component that engages the candidate to apply their background and newly learnt skills to a specific research problem broadly related to the areas of medicine and biology.

While the Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics has a number of ongoing research themes such as in brain signal analysis, biomedical imaging, wearable health-care devices, patient rehabilitation, ambient assisted and independent living, MRI studies, gait and motion analysis, interested candidates are encouraged to approach the Centre to discuss their interests as related to biomedical cybernetics.

The programme of studies can be taken either on a full-time basis over a period of one calendar year or on a part-time basis over a period of three academic years.

Learning outcomes

Students successfully completing the Masters of Science in Biomedical Cybernetics should: 

- Acquire an understanding about the related principles of cybernetics that relate to the research project, typically becoming familiar with the basic principles of signal analysis, image analysis, machine intelligence, system modelling and control theory, depending on the relative relevance of these topics to the student's research project, and/or to the principles related to the medicine and biology aspect of their project;

- Recognize research as a process of investigation, discovery, analysis, understanding and development of new knowledge, and identify and select the generic skills required to pursue research activities;

- Acquire methodological research skills, skills that allow the student to communicate and relate with technical counterparts and/or counterparts from medicine and biology, and skills to appreciate the implications of the technical choices on the data acquired;

- Develop skills to work in inter-disciplinary subject matter and relate with professionals from other disciplines.

Course intended for

The Course is intended for candidates who are either graduates in, among others: medicine, health, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, or other sciences who are interested to learn how to apply specific technical skills to their domain; or graduates in engineering who are interested to learn to apply their technical skills to areas broadly related to medicine and biology.

Career opportunites and access to further studies

The demand for clinicians, scientists and engineers having skills in cybernetic principles as applied to the broad areas of medicine and biology is bound to increase due to the growth in medical and biological data complexity and the various ways by which such medical and biological data would need to be processed and used. Successful students completing the Masters of Science in Biomedical Cybernetics would be either adding a strong technical component to their background in any area related to medicine and biology or, for the technical and engineering graduates, to obtain training that will enable them to apply their technical background specifically to problem in medicine and biology, an area which is becoming more and more dominated by technology, data acquisition and processing. Graduates from this course will also be eligible to follow doctoral studies in areas broadly related to biomedical cybernetics.