The term bio-materials has two meanings

• Biomaterials, or in some cases implant materials, are generally synthetic or non-living natural materials that are used in medicine for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes and come into direct contact with biological tissues of the body. These materials thereby enter into chemical, physical and biological interactions with the corresponding biological systems.
• Bio-materials are also defined as materials made from renewable raw materials, bio-composite materials, or products from bio-refineries.

The study programme covers both topics, but focuses on the area of “engineering”.

The biologisation of technology is advancing more and more. In the interdisciplinary bachelor's degree programme Bio-Materials Engineering, we thus combine two subject areas for you: biofunctional materials used in medicine for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes on the one hand, and materials made from renewable raw materials, bio-composites or products from bio-refineries on the other. Such materials can be used to produce implants, tissues and bio-based consumer goods (e.g. cellular agriculture, cultured meat) or sustainable technical products such as wind turbines, houses, furniture and paper. Together we will work on finding sustainable solutions for products or processes to further improve our environment and health.

In the degree programme, we teach you the skills of engineering to work on and solve complex problems in a structured way and to apply the basic knowledge from the natural sciences of biology, chemistry and physics as well as mathematics. Constructing, designing products and working together in interdisciplinary teams are also important components of the degree programme, as are the basics of digital technology and artificial intelligence.

In the 5th and 6th semesters, you will have the opportunity to deepen your studies according to your personal interests in two extensive elective areas “Biology and Chemistry” and “Materials Science and Engineering”. At the end of your studies, you can experience the combination of research and teaching at first hand and help to shape it in your first scientific paper, the Bachelor's thesis. You will use the skills you have acquired to find solutions to a current problem using scientific methods. At the departments, you will find a variety of opportunities in laboratories on a wide range of topics. From 3D printers to robots and autonomous production systems. Those who enjoy theoretical work or simulations will also find a wide range of topics.

The degree programme is complemented by interdisciplinary project work and various practical courses. The consecutive Master's programme in Bio-Materials Engineering (taught in English) will offer you a wide range of elective areas to deepen your specialist skills and project work, which you can already get to know in the Bachelor's programme. Alternatively, after completing your Bachelor's degree, you can transfer to the Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or to other Master's degree programmes at the TU Darmstadt, in Germany or internationally. We will be happy to advise you personally. Individual and personal support plays a major role for us from day one.

The new degree programme was established because organisations and companies from various sectors need engineers with precisely this competence profile. As a graduate, you will be familiar with materials, processes and products at the interface between classical engineering sciences and biology. This ranges from artificial muscles, veins and joints to plant-based lightweight constructions and questions of the circular economy with bio-based products.

Industries such as the paper industry, which is undergoing a transformation into an industry for sustainable lightweight construction solutions, companies in biomedical engineering or regenerative medicine, companies that offer bio-based, technical products and also the pharmaceutical and chemical industries are waiting for our first graduates. There are opportunities for development there, from research to product development and production to technical management

But what does that mean in concrete terms? Here's an example for you:

• Bio-based materials & circular economy: You develop materials that are completely recyclable or even biodegradable – for example, for packaging or lightweight components in cars. You test how these materials perform in everyday use and design production processes that generate as little waste as possible.
• Biomedical printing processes: You work on technologies that are used directly in medicine. Special 3D printing processes can be used to produce custom-fit implants, artificial tissue or individual prostheses, for example. Models for surgical training, patient-specific aids or organ-like structures for drug testing are also produced using 3D printing processes.

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