Engr. Syed Saim Ahmed

After completing my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering in Pakistan, I was looking for a program that could teach me about the complete life cycle of a medical device. While searching for scholarships, I came across the Master's in Medical Device Engineering program at Polytech Lyon, a rare degree program. I applied and was fortunate to receive an Excellence Scholarship through the Graduate Plus (SFRI project).

Since September 2025, I have focused entirely on my studies here in France, as the Excellence Scholarship has been more than sufficient to cover my financial needs in a new country. From identifying a research gap to preparing for regulatory compliance after product development, we learned different aspects of Medical Device Engineering. The best part was that each course was delivered by highly experienced researchers.

I was also fortunate to work with Prof. Norbert Noury during my research initiation and internship at INL - CNRS. What I valued most was that Prof. Noury encouraged me to think freely and explore different directions, which helped me understand the true meaning and purpose of research. The labs at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 are very well equipped, and my colleagues at INL were excellent.

I am thankful to Prof. Bruno Montcel, Kevin TSE VE KOON, and their team for designing this high-quality Master's degree program and allowing us to learn and contribute.

Lyon is a peaceful and beautiful city. The Rhône River is close to Polytech Lyon, and after a long day in the lab, watching its waves is a real source of comfort.

I would also like to share with fellow students that it can be challenging to secure the same high grades here in Polytech as we often did in Pakistan, due to a mix of many positive and a few negative factors. However, in terms of overall learning, this is an excellent place for biomedical engineers who are interested in research and development.

I also believe that the level of education at Salim Habib University prepared me well, because it allowed me to pursue an M2 degree in France without difficulty in terms of concepts or practical experience.

I understand that the French government has changed the rules for international students, and it is now a little more difficult for future students to find scholarships and cover tuition fees. As an Excellence Scholarship recipient, I am confident that the grants provided through the France 2030 initiative were a valuable investment in the academic sector and will contribute to the country's research and economic progress. Students from Asian countries are able to pursue and contribute positively to the Master's M2 in Medical Device Engineering directly after their four-year undergraduate degree. I hope there will continue to be a pathway to award them Excellence Scholarships in the future.