Life Physics

Rocket science, meet medical science

A student in the Life Physics program at the University of Waterloo.

If you enjoy biology and physics and want a career in medical technology or health research, Life Physics at Waterloo is for you.

Run by the Department of Physics and Astronomy — one of the largest and most innovative physics departments in Canada — this flexible and interdisciplinary program is based on a solid foundation of physics, chemistry, and biology. Not to mention that students have the opportunity to gain paid work experience through their co-op streams.

You’ll enjoy small classes, hands-on labs, and the opportunity to get involved in research and teaching.

Join a program that fosters curious minds to question the smallest particles, the largest forces, and everything in between. Be part of a community that includes Nobel Prize in Physics laureate professor Dr. Donna Strickland and professor Avery Broderick, part of the team to take the first image of a black hole.

trophy Waterloo is ranked top 100 in the world for Physics and Astronomy

Breifcase Available as a co-op and regular program

Specializations: Biophysics or Medical Physics

Admission requirements

Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including

English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
Two of: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, or Physics (Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, and/or Physics are recommended)

Admission averages: Low 80s

We recommend completing the Admission Information Form once you've applied.

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

How to apply

Apply to Physical Sciences and select Life Physics as your major in first year.

Person taking a pulse reading.

What will you learn?

Programs/majors in the Faculty of Science start right in first year. To select your program with confidence, here’s some handy info to get you started.

Skills you'll develop with this major

Quantitative and analytical thinking in biology and health-related professions
Statistical and analytical problem solving in life sciences
Modeling clinical procedures with scientific methods
Integrated laboratory methodologies in biology, chemistry, and physics
Technical skills to implement experiments in life and medical physics

This isn't an exhaustive list – rather a glimpse into the skills a Life Physics major can provide.

Your experience will be unique, and the skills you develop will depend on your goals; which courses you take; and your involvement with any clubs, jobs, or research projects.

Types of courses you'll take

28% physics, 8% biology, 11% chemistry, 6% math, 11% program electives, 33% free electives, 3% communications

This is a general guideline. The ratio of courses may change slightly from year to year

Get tips from Waterloo students

Monthly topics include how to choose a university program, what it's like to be a Waterloo student, and more.

Questions? Ask a student!

Contact a Science student ambassador to learn about their experience.

Ask them questions such as why they chose their program, what the classes are like, and how you can get involved on campus.

First-year courses and beyond

September to December

PHYS 10 - Physics Seminar
BIOL 130/130L - Introductory Cell Biology/Laboratory
CHEM 120/120L - Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/Laboratory
MATH 127 - Calculus 1 for the Sciences
ENGL 193/SPCOM 193 - Communication in the Sciences
One of:
- PHYS 121/121L - Mechanics/Laboratory
- PHYS 111/111L - Physics 1/Laboratory

January to April

PHYS 10 - Physics Seminar
BIOL 239 - Genetics
CHEM 123/123L - Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Laboratory
MATH 128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences
Choose one of:
- PHYS 122/122L - Waves, Electricity and Magnetism/Laboratory
- PHYS 112/112L - Physics 2/Laboratory
One elective

If you're considering the Biophysics specialization, you should select MATH 114 as a first-term elective. If you're considering the Medical Physics specialization, select PHYS 124 as your elective in winter.

What other courses will you take?

About half of the classes you’ll take will be Physics courses with some Biology Courses. With your remaining classes you can choose electives from many of the over 100 subject areas available at Waterloo.
You can add additional areas of interest and expertise by including one of the minors available to all Waterloo students or a specialization as part of your degree.
View a list of all the courses required for your degree.

What's the difference between the Medical Physics and Biophysics specializations?

Each specialization has set course requirements which must be completed in addition to the core Life Physics requirements. Biophysics looks to understand biological systems using physical concepts, for example, studying how muscles work and the physics behind muscle movement and growth. This specialization is strongly rooted in math and physics, and includes both theoretical and experimental ideas.

in contrast, medical physics is the practical application of physics to the human body and includes x-rays, radiation therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasounds, computed tomography, and nuclear medicine. You can learn more about medical physics and career options on the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists website.

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

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.

Sample co-op job titles

Medical device design assistant
Ultrasound image reconstruction specialist
X-ray diffraction technologist
Science and math peer tutor
Undergraduate research assistant
Quality assurance analyst

Sample co-op employers

National Research Council of Canada
TRIUMF particle accelerator centre
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research
SNOLAB neutrino and dark matter physics lab
Antibody Healthcare Communications

What can you do with a degree in Life Physics?

Life Physics is a uniquely interdisciplinary degree, which gives you a great deal of flexibility depending on which electives you choose. You could pursue professional programs such as medicine or optometry or work in fields such as radiation oncology and medical imaging. You could specialize as a health physics technician in industries, or as a medical physicist or medical imaging technician in hospitals. You could also go on to do research related to biology, physics, or both.

You can learn more about medical physics and career options on the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists website.

Possible career fields

Senior Scientist, Drug Discovery - Merck Canada
Medical Physicist - Cancer Centres
Health and Safety Officer - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Customer Support, Scientific Instrumentation - Olympus
Product Developer - Christie Medical

"Co-op completely changed my career goals, and I'm so thankful. It taught me that I do have the ability to do research – and that I could be happy working in industry. Without co-op, I wouldn't have known which field to pursue after graduation."Amber, fourth-year Life Physics student (specialization in Medical Physics)

Cap Earn a Bachelor of Science degree