Improve the health of others (without the hefty med school bill).
Design bionic limbs. Create laser-guided surgical devices. Develop wearable tech to help athletes perform better. 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, chemistry, 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 2 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 innovations.
Be more than a number
Biomedical Engineering is one of Waterloo’s smaller engineering programs, so you'll quickly get to know your classmates and professors.
Gain a broad education
Learn from Engineering professors who specialize in systems design, electrical and computer, chemical and mechanical and mechatronics.
With 2 years of real-world co-op work experience and a major design project, you can apply your knowledge and explore career options, which range from creating new solutions for diabetic testing to designing athletic equipment.
About Biomedical Engineering
Gain 2 years of experience in the co-op program
Apply directly to this program on your application
Earn a Bachelor of Applied Science degree
Engineering school in Canada (US News & World Report 2018)
Offered by the Faculty of Engineering
Students earn $17,800 on average per co-op term
Admission requirements
- Ontario students: 6 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 low 90s
- An Admission Information Form is required
- Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements database
First-year courses
September to December
BME 101/BME 101L - Introduction to Biomedical Engineering
BME 121 - Digital Computation
BME 161 - Introduction to Biomedical Design
BME 181 - Physics I - Statics
SYDE 111 - Fundamental Engineering Math 1
SYDE 113 - Matrices and Linear Systems
January to April
BME 102 - Seminar
BME 122 - Data Structures and Algorithms
BME 162 - Human Factors in the Design of Biomedical and Health Systems
BME 182 - Physics II - Dynamics
BME 186 - Chemistry Principles
SYDE 112 - Fundamental Engineering Math 2
SYDE 114 - Numerical and Applied Calculus
After first year
- See the range of courses available in Biomedical Engineering.
- View all the courses required for your degree.
Sample upper-year courses
Co-op
By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore new career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.
Co-op work/study sequence
| Fall | Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | School | School | Co-op |
| Second year | School | Co-op | School |
| Third year | Co-op | School | Co-op |
| Fourth year | School | Co-op | Co-op |
| Final year | School | School | |
|
Fall = September to December, Winter = January to April, Spring = May to August |
|||
Careers in Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineers work in fields such as:
- biomedical data analysis
- biomedical image analysis and pattern recognition
- medical device product design and manufacturing
- simulation and modeling of diseases and biological systems
- healthcare regulations
- design and engineering of sports equipment and testing
- research and development in medical devices and instrumentation
As a graduate, you might work in a hospital, university research centre, industry as well as government and/or regulatory agencies.
Possible professional designation
Helpful links
- Visit the Biomedical Engineering website
