Program Overview

Biomedical Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD in Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Waterloo is designed to develop interdisciplinary expertise at the intersection of biology, medicine, and engineering. With cutting-edge training and groundbreaking research, students will be prepared to pursue dynamic careers in academia, industry, not-for-profit, government, and more.

Research Fields

• Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, and Drug Delivery
• Biomechanics and Rehabilitation
• Biomedical Signals and Devices
• Biomedical Imaging Technology
• Biomedical Informatics

Program Overview

The PhD in Biomedical Engineering program is offered by the Faculty of Engineering, with the following details:

• Department/School: Biomedical Engineering
• Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
• Admit term(s): Fall (September - December), Winter (January - April), Spring (May - August)
• Delivery mode: On-campus
• Program type: Doctoral, Research
• Length of program: 48 months (full-time)
• Registration option(s): Full-time
• Study option(s): Thesis

Application Deadlines

• February 1 (for admission in September)
• June 1 (for admission in January of the following year)
• October 1 (for admission in May of the following year)

Admission Requirements

• A research thesis-based master’s degree (or equivalent) in engineering, applied science, or science from a recognized institution with at least an overall 80% average and documented evidence of potential to excel in PhD studies and research.
• PhD (direct from Honours Biomedical Engineering (BME) undergraduate entry) applicants require a minimum overall average of 80% in a BME program at the undergraduate level and clear evidence of excellent potential to excel in PhD studies and research. Substantial research experience is expected.
• Applicants who are deemed by the graduate coordinator, BME graduate program director, Admissions Committee or intended advisor to have an inadequate depth of technical BME background may be directed to take additional foundational courses, to be specified at the time of admission.

Degree Requirements

• Review the degree requirements on the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree.
• Check out Waterloo's institutional thesis repository to see recent submissions from the Department of Systems Design Engineering graduate students.

Application Materials

• Resume
• Statement of interest: A statement of maximum 500 words explaining your interest in and fit for the program you’re applying to.
• Program-specific questions (PSQ): These are questions specific to the program you’re applying to.
• Transcript(s)
• References: Three references, two from academic sources that are able to comment upon academic preparation and research ability.
• Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable: TOEFL 90 (writing 25, speaking 25), IELTS 7.0 (writing 6.5, speaking 6.5)

Tuition and Fees

• Visit the graduate program tuition page to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for your program.
• Review living costs and housing.
• Learn about the PhD housing guarantee program for admitted students.
• Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students.