Programs Overview
Are you a prospective student? Here at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME), we connect researchers across the University of Toronto and its partner hospitals to develop innovative solutions to improve human health.
At the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME), we have 3 graduate programs and 2 undergraduate programs.
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Graduate programs
Doctor of Philosophy
Research degree that exposes candidates to cutting-edge research in a laboratory
Master of Applied Science
Research degree that exposes candidates to cutting-edge research in a laboratory
Master of Engineering
Professional degree that exposes candidates to biomedical device design to commercialization
Graduate programs comparison
| Stream: | Research | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Program: | PhD / MASc | MEng |
| Focus: | Research intensive training in a laboratory or clinical setting. | Training in biomedical device design, implementation, and commercialization. |
| Career Interests: | Individuals pursuing careers in academia, healthcare, government, or industry, who have a passion for research and development. • Motivated to conduct cutting-edge research • Passionate about academic collaboration and science communication • Keen on becoming key opinion leaders with distinct research specialization | Individuals interested in medical device production from design to implementation in human patients. • Seeking product design knowledge • Interested in learning entrepreneurship fundamentals • Eagar to gain real-world experience in the healthcare sector |
| Degree(s) Required: | Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Applied Science (for PhD only), or Master of Engineering (PhD only). | Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science. |
| Outcome: | Program graduates excel as leaders in academia, industry, and government agencies across the globe. | Through work-integrated learning, graduates emerge as company founders, technology leaders, and start-up creators in the healthcare sector. |
| Program Length: | approx. 2 years (for MASc) or approx. 4 years (for PhD) | 1 year |
| Funding: | Unit-funded | Self-funded |
| Curricula: | • Coursework • Committee Meetings • Qualifying/Bypass Exam (for PhD) • Thesis • Defense • Final Oral Exam (for PhD) | • Coursework • Practical Experience |
Undergraduate programs and opportunities
| Year | Description | Opportunities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engineering Science (EngSci) program students learn fundamentals of different science disciplines and begin team-based design training through praxis courses. | |
| 2 | EngSci students continue to receive foundational training through courses including BME205. Students select their major at the end of the second year. | USRA PEY Co-op |
| 3 | Biomedical Engineering major program students deepen their knowledge through rigorous academic and experiential training. | USRA PEY Co-op |
| 4 | Major students may focus on skill advancement and further knowledge and competencies through the completion of specialization courses, thesis, and design/capstone projects. |
| Year | Description | Opportunities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engineering students establish knowledge in math and applied & basic sciences. | |
| 2 | Students expand knowledge and gain a greater depth of understanding through enhanced lab experiences and design opportunities. | USRA PEY Co-op |
| 3 | Bioengineering minor students may elect to pursue specialization courses grouped into three themes: Molecular Engineering, Cell & Tissue Engineering, and Clinical Engineering. | USRA PEY Co-op |
| 4 | Minor students may focus on skill advancement in one of the three themes (mentioned above) toward becoming a specialist in their respective field. |
Read more student news & stories
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Celebrating the 39th Student Research Conference (ToBE)
The 2023 Toronto Biomedical Engineering Conference, held at Hart House, took attendees on an exhilarating journey into the realm of artificial intelligence in biomedical engineering. This year’s conference attracted an impressive gathering of over 300 students, reflecting the growing fascination with the intersection of AI and healthcare.
Teams focused on cell therapy and diagnostics win first and second place at the Building a Biotech Venture Pitch Competition
The injection of lab-made, healthy cells—referred to as a cell therapy — into a damaged heart could be a way to prevent that heart from failing. But to make this therapy a reality, the cells must be able to integrate and survive in patients’ bodies. That problem is exactly what Myoxa Therapeutics, the first-place winner at the Building a Biotech Pitch Competition, is working on solving.
U of T Engineering student receives 2023 Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award
Sara Ahmed (BME PhD/MD candidate) recognized for exceptional achievements and dedication to academic pursuits, research and outreach initiatives
Three BME community members recognized with Minister’s Awards of Excellence
Dr. Elaine Biddiss, PhD students Negar Balaghi and Anson Lau are three BME members recognized for their contribution to the betterment of Ontario students’ education.
Answering business questions with AI algorithms
After Brandon Rufino completed his master’s in clinical engineering at BME in 2021, he leveraged skillsets in coding, machine learning, and biomedical engineering to design adaptable platforms that helps answer business questions at Sanofi.
Two BME students awarded prestigious 2022 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Mohammadamir Ghasemian Moghaddam and Meghan Rothenbroker are two of the BME Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship winners of 2022.
Faces of BME – Soowan Choi
Inspired by the need to help others, MASc candidate Soowan Choi is developing tools that incentivize children’s rehabilitation through video games. Ultimately, he wants to make these technologies more accessible to people, regardless of their background.
KITE trainee earns multiple awards for asthma and obstructive sleep apnea research
Shaghayegh Chavoshian, a PhD student in BME, will receive $20,000 in combined funding to support her research at KITE.
Solving healthcare problems through strategic consulting
Completed her Ph.D. in Dr. Paul Santerre’s lab in 2019, Dr. Meghan Wright always had a passion for entrepreneurship, business, and science. After graduating, Meghan interned briefly with the life sciences investment firm Bloom Burton & Co. as a consultant before joining Shift Health, a life sciences and healthcare strategy consulting firm located in Toronto. Now Meghan is working on projects across a wide range of areas – from the private sector to academia, to help transform healthcare.
Faces of BME – Ali Howidi
Working as a MASc student in Dr. Paul Yoo’s lab, Ali is researching a novel method of recording continuous blood pressure through AI and machine learning. In his downtime, he finds solace in vinyl records.
BME welcomes the 2022 MasterCard Scholar cohort
Three students funded by the MasterCard Scholars program joined BME in 2022 to pursue their degrees in Masters of Engineering. As a part of the MasterCard Foundation initiative, this Scholarship aims to further education, leadership, and skill development for young people from Africa, while working to address systemic barriers in higher education. We asked the MasterCard Scholars what they look forward to at the University of Toronto, and how they will advance their knowledge in the field of biomedical engineering.
Meet the incoming class of 2022
In September, BME welcomed 100+ students into our graduate programs. We asked some of these students why they chose our programs, and what they are looking forward to in this unusual year. Here’s what they have to say.