Create tomorrow's life-saving innovations
Design bionic limbs. Create laser-guided surgical devices. Enhance cancer-imaging systems. Develop wearable tech that keeps populations healthy and improves athletic performance. In Biomedical Engineering, you’ll use engineering know-how to develop better ways to diagnose illnesses, treat health problems, and enhance health.
You’ll study biomechanics, physics, physiology, and design. With that broad knowledge, you’ll be able to collaborate with all kinds of different experts: biologists, medical practitioners, policy makers, and engineers, to name a few. You’ll also learn to model and design complex biomedical systems—and you’ll get plenty of hands-on experience through two years of paid co-op work terms, plus a fourth-year design project.
By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to create tomorrow’s life-saving and life-enhancing innovative technologies.
Program highlights
Engineer innovative solutions for health. Participate in an emerging field, and create technology like pacemakers, athletic training gear, and medical equipment.
Make life easier. Create biomechanics and biomedical devices while relating them to biology and physiology, and focusing on human mobility and devices that make our lives easier.
- Offered as a co-op program only
- Graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering
- Offered by the Faculty of Engineering
Why Waterloo Engineering?
With its renowned co-op program and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, Waterloo Engineering is one of the world’s top engineering schools. You'll have access to emerging technologies, innovative professors, and world-class facilities.
What will you learn?
During your first year, you'll take a mix of Biomedical Engineering and math courses.
Learn more about courses you'll take for your Biomedical Engineering degree.
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Questions? Ask a student!
Ask a Faculty of Engineering student about their program, classes, getting involved on campus, and more!
Co-op = relevant paid work experience
Waterloo's co-op program, the largest in North America, is an amazing way to explore potential careers, learn to interview for jobs, graduate with up to two years of valuable experience – and make money!
Sample co-op job titles
- Junior biomedical engineer
- Medical device software developer
- Signal processing algorithm developer
- Bioengineering research assistant
- Medical device designer
- Robotics and embedded sensor research assistant
Co-op work-study sequence
Starting in first year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.
| Year | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Study | Study | Co-op |
| Second | Study | Co-op | Study |
| Third | Co-op | Study | Co-op |
| Fourth | Study | Co-op | Study |
| Fifth | Co-op | Study | - |
Your first work term will be at the end of first year (May to August 2025).
Admission requirements
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Chemistry (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- Physics (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
- English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
Admission averages: Individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s
Complete the Admission Information Form once you've applied.
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.
How to apply
Apply directly to this program on your application.
