Best STEM Scholarships in Europe for Biomedical Device Innovation & Medical Hardware Engineering (2025)

As Europe intensifies its focus on healthtech innovation, biomedical devices and advanced medical hardware engineering have emerged as crucial frontiers within STEM. From neural implants and wearable biosensors to minimally invasive robotics and AI-integrated diagnostic tools, the convergence of engineering, medicine, and materials science is creating extraordinary opportunities. For students and researchers aiming to lead in this space, Europe offers a robust network of scholarships across top institutions and research clusters.

1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in BioMedical Engineering (EMJMBME)

Partner Universities:

Ghent University (Belgium)
RWTH Aachen (Germany)
University of Groningen (Netherlands)
Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)

Specializations:

Bioelectronics & implantable devices
Diagnostic and therapeutic systems
Signal processing for medical instrumentation

Scholarship Coverage:

Full tuition waiver
Monthly stipend (~€1,400)
Travel and installation grants
Insurance coverage

Deadline: Applications open November 2024; close around February 2025
Ideal Candidates: Students with degrees in electrical engineering, biomedical sciences, or mechanical engineering who want hands-on exposure across multiple European research environments.

2. DAAD Scholarships for Biomedical Engineering and Medical Device Research

Host Institutions:

TU Munich, TU Dresden, Heidelberg University, University of Freiburg
Partner Organizations: Max Planck Institutes, Fraunhofer IBMT, DLR

Research Areas:

Micro- and nanoscale medical devices
Wearable and implantable biosensors
Medical robotics and control systems

DAAD Funding Includes:

Full tuition and monthly stipend (€861–€1,200 for master’s/PhD)
Health insurance and travel costs
Optional German language courses

Notable Track: The BME program at TU Munich includes strong industry collaboration with Siemens Healthineers and Brainlab.

3. EPFL Excellence Fellowships – Biomedical Technology Track (Switzerland)

Relevant Master’s Programs:

MSc in Biomedical Engineering
MSc in Microengineering with biomedical electives

Research Focus:

Neuroprosthetics and brain-computer interfaces
Biomedical imaging systems
Smart surgical instruments

Fellowship Package:

CHF 10,000/semester stipend
Full tuition support
Mentorship and research assistant roles in labs like the Laboratory for Bioinstrumentation

EPFL also hosts the Center for Intelligent Systems, supporting projects at the intersection of hardware, AI, and medical applications.

4. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks – Biomedical Devices & Imaging

Program Structure:

Doctoral networks connecting 3+ EU universities and medical device companies
Co-supervised PhDs with international mobility

Example Topics:

Point-of-care diagnostic hardware
Lab-on-a-chip systems for disease monitoring
Next-gen MRI and CT scanner innovations

Scholarship Package:

Monthly salary (€3,000–€3,500 gross)
Mobility allowance
Research/travel budget

Eligibility: Early-stage researchers from any country with strong technical foundations in engineering, physics, or bioinstrumentation

Next Call: Fall 2024 for 2025 start

5. Imperial College London – PhD Scholarships in Bioengineering

Relevant Labs:

Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology
Hamlyn Centre for Medical Robotics
Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Research Opportunities:

Wearable cardiovascular sensors
Implantable glucose monitors
Minimally invasive robotic surgical tools

Scholarship Includes:

Full UKRI tuition and stipend (~£18,622/year)
Equipment and research funding
Visa and relocation support

Open to international students through the President’s PhD Scholarships and department-specific fellowships.

6. Chalmers University of Technology – MSc in Biomedical Engineering + Scholarships

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Specialization Tracks:

Medical signal and image processing
Sensors and actuator systems in biomedicine
Hardware-software integration for diagnostics

Scholarships:

Swedish Institute Scholarships (SISGP) for international students
Chalmers Excellence Scholarships for non-EU/EEA
Funding Includes:
Full tuition
Monthly stipend (SEK 10,000+)
Health insurance

The program benefits from direct links with Sahlgrenska University Hospital and MedTech West innovation hub.

7. KU Leuven – PhD and MSc Programs in Medical Device Engineering

Institutes:

Department of Mechanical Engineering – Biomechanics Division
Imec & Leuven BioEngineering Institute

Focus Areas:

Ultrasound and optical imaging systems
Neuromodulation devices
Bioresorbable electronic implants

Funding Options:

BOF PhD fellowships
Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) scholarships
EU Horizon Doctoral Networks

Monthly Stipends: Typically €2,100–€2,300 for PhDs; generous MSc tuition waivers with housing aid possible

8. University of Twente – TechMed Centre Graduate Fellowships (Netherlands)

Relevant Programs:

MSc in Biomedical Engineering
PhD programs via the Technical Medical Centre (TechMed)

Research Topics:

Image-guided interventions
AI-integrated diagnostics
Non-invasive physiological monitoring

Scholarship Options:

University of Twente Scholarships (UTS)
Holland Scholarship
ITN/Marie Curie network fellowships

Stipend Range:

€2,400–€3,200/month for PhDs
€12,000–€24,000 total for master’s

Strong links with Philips Healthcare and Medtronic, plus facilities like simulation ORs and wearable testbeds.

9. ETH Zurich & University of Zurich Joint PhD Program in Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation

Program Title: Zurich Graduate School in Biomedical Technology (BMET)
Research Fields:

Medical hardware design
Photonic sensors and biosignal transducers
Multimodal imaging systems

Funding Includes:

Monthly salary (CHF ~3,300–3,800)
Research and conference allowance
Dual supervision from engineering and clinical faculty

Admits highly competitive candidates; focus on interdisciplinary device development in real hospital contexts.

10. Politecnico di Milano – Biomedical Device Engineering Scholarships

Program: MSc in Biomedical Engineering
Specializations:

Biomechatronics
Biomedical instrumentation systems
Rehabilitation and assistive robotics

Scholarships Available:

Merit-based tuition waivers
“Invest Your Talent in Italy” full scholarships
DSU regional aid (includes housing and meals)

Access to Milan’s medical innovation ecosystem, including Humanitas University and bioengineering labs.

Application Tips for Biomedical Device Scholars

What Helps You Stand Out

Prior academic or research experience in circuits, sensors, embedded systems, or bioinstrumentation
Undergraduate thesis or internship involving hardware for health diagnostics, imaging, or neural interfaces
A clearly articulated motivation for solving clinical problems through engineering solutions

Prepare By Learning

Tools like MATLAB, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, and embedded systems design (ARM, Arduino, etc.)
Biomedical standards (ISO 13485), clinical validation protocols, and human physiology fundamentals
Ethical and regulatory landscape of medical device innovation in the EU (e.g., CE certification)

Europe’s medtech R&D pipeline is increasingly integrated—across academia, startups, hospitals, and corporate labs. These scholarships are more than funding pathways—they’re access points to the future of smart, safe, and scalable health technology. If you need help drafting a research proposal or SOP for one of these programs, I can assist.