This education program includes a core curriculum of mandatory cardiovascular courses and a broad range of elective courses within the cardiovascular and biomedical enginering field, including perfusion techniques. A student who wishes to work within the health sector will obtain the necessary background to manage extracorporeal circulation with a heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and take part in introducing new cardiovascular monitoring and treatment techniques that demand special qualifications. In addition, the program will give the student experience in research relating to the development and use of new cardiovascular technologies.
The education program is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University in collaboration with the Engineering College of Aarhus and Aarhus University Hospital, which all perform quality teaching on an international level.
A relevant Bachelor's degree in nursing, engineering, medicine, chemistry, biology , physics, laboratory biotechnology or a similar background, e.g. senior nurse, is required to begin this program. Additionally, at least 2 years of relevant clinical or technical experience after completion of such education is required. Such experience could be from a surgery department, intensive care unit, department of anaesthesia, or a biomedical engineering department in a hospital or industry.
The program is based on part-time tuition over 4 semesters, with duration of 2 years. There are 4 modules, where one module each semester consists of full-time tuition covering the first 6 weeks, starting around September 1st and February 1st.
The official language will be English.
The first 3 modules are divided up into 3 courses. The 4th module will be used to perform the final scientific thesis.
There is an examination/assessment shortly after each module.
| Module 1 | Module 2 | Module 3 | Module 4 |
| Circulatory physiology | Biochemistry and microbiology | Cardiovascular surgery | |
| Medical instrumentation | Electrophysiology and medical imaging techniques | Research in medicine | Scientific Thesis |
| Perfusion techniques 1 | Perfusion techniques 2 | Perfusion techniques 3 | |
| Examination | Examination | Examination | Assessment |
| 15 ECTS | 15 ECTS | 15 ECTS | 15 ECTS |
Each course represents a total of 5 ECTS point (European Credit Transfer System and consists of approximately 50 hours of tuition and laboratory exercises.
Lectures will be given at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University, The Engineering College and Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby. Animal experimental exercises will take place at The Clinical Institute, Aarhus University.
Fluid mechanics and medical instrumentation demonstrations and exercises will take place at the laboratories of Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby and the new Cardiovascular Fluid Dynamics Lab at the Engineering College of Aarhus.
A degree in cardiovascular technology with speciality in perfusion techniques will, complemented with clinical practice approved by The National Health Board and The European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (EBCP), qualify the student to perform the following tasks:
An advisory committee has been established, representing employers of the graduated specialists from hospitals and industries in Scandinavia, as well as member from EBCP and SCANSECT.
€ 15.400,00 includes books and teaching material for all four semeters but not room and board.
The Educational Program in Cardiovascular Technology brochure