Student Life

The University of Kentucky Center for Biomedical Engineering strives to maintain a strong sense of community amongst our graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and staff. Students are an integral and important part of the Center and are encouraged to be active, contributing members of our scientific community. Along with participating in laboratory research with their mentors, students have the opportunity to take part in all aspects of academic life in the Center. The faculty and staff encourage a friendly and collegial scholarly community, in which people with diverse backgrounds can flourish.

Approximately 30 students are enrolled in our Master’s and Doctoral programs on a full-time basis. Diversity is evident throughout the program. Women usually constitute 30-40% of the full-time graduate class. Recent classes have included students from India, China, Korea, and Turkey, and the U.S.

The size of the Center is excellent for fostering close interactions between faculty, staff, and fellow students. Besides networking through our weekly seminar series, periodic social activities, such as fall and spring picnics and a winter holiday party, strengthen relationships.

While some graduate students live on campus, many live in off-campus housing in close proximity to the University. There are private homes, apartments and rooms for rent. Information about UK graduate student housing can be found here. Available off-campus housing may be listed in the student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, the UK website, and the local newspaper, the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) is a student organization that organizes professional events, social activities, and community service initiatives. The BMES also represents students in governance and decision making within the Center by nominating members to participate in faculty meetings. There are also a number of clubs and organizations on campus that students may get involved in during their stay at UK. UK has several organizations for international students, such as the Chinese Student and Scholar Association and the Indian Student Association. The Office of International Affairs provides additional assistance to international students with housing, travel, visa regulations, and other issues.

Graduate students can also take advantage of UK’s fitness facilities, such as the Lancaster Aquatic Center and the Johnson Center, which includes group fitness classes, cardiovascular equipment, weight machines, free weights, gymnasium, and racquetball courts. A variety of intramural and club sports is also available.