Biomedical Engineering

A biomedical engineer designs technologies to enhance health care and medicine. In this program you’ll study:

engineering
human biology
clinical practice

Potential careers

What can you do with a biomedical engineering degree? Here are a few jobs that relate to the program:

biomedical engineer
project engineer
researcher
entrepreneur
manufacturing engineer
orthopedic engineer
systems designer
biomechanics engineer
product development engineer
bioengineer
tissue engineer
medical imaging
rehabilitation engineer
intelligence developer
health care engineer

Some of these roles may require post-graduate studies or training.

Find a career that fits you

Explore your career options at an appointment with a career educator.
Attend career development workshops as you search for work.
Enrol in the Your Career Starts Here course to generate career ideas and plan your next steps.

Experience & connections

Opportunities in the biomedical engineering program

With the Co-op Program you can alternate study with paid work.

Opportunities outside your program

With a work study position you can develop skills during your study term.
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community while you build skills.

Networks you can connect to

Here are a few professional associations related to biomedical engineering:

Hands-on learning opportunities

These courses in the biomedical engineering program offer extensive hands-on learning.

Co-op

Co-op work terms
Alternate academic study with paid work terms to gain workplace experience

Course-based

BIOC 299 - Biochemistry for Non-majors
Study the fundamentals of biochemistry and microbiology

BME 200 - Molecular and Cellular Physiology for Engineers
Learn about molecular and cellular physiology from an engineering perspective

BME 201 - Quantitative Human Physiology
Learn about human physiology and the major organ systems

BME 335 - Biosensors and Instrumentation
Learn about biosensors and instrumentation

BME 350 - Biomedical Engineering Design
Design a biomedical engineering device with a team

BME 401B - Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering
Learn about bioprinting

BME 403 - Medical Image Processing
Learn about image processing and CT, X-ray, MRI and ultrasound

BME 434 – Biophotonics
Learn how optics are used in biology and photobiology

BME 481 - Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
Explore the fundamentals of biomaterials and tissue engineering

CHEM 231 - Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Study the fundamentals of organic chemistry

Creative or design project

BME 350 - Biomedical Engineering Design
Design a biomedical engineering device with a team

BME 499 - Design Project
Take on an advanced biomedical design project with a team

ENGR 110 - Design and Communication I
Work on practical projects and engage with industry experts

ENGR 120 - Design and Communication II
Work on practical projects and engage with industry experts

MECH 335 - Theory of Mechanisms
Design and analyze a mechanism

MECH 458 – Mechatronics
Design a mechanics system, such as a conveyor belt system

BME 401 A - D - Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering
Do an independent research project on a special topic

Lab

CSC 111 - Fundamentals of Programming with Engineering Applications
Explore computation and programming through real-world engineering

BME 200 - Molecular and Cellular Physiology for Engineers
Labs dealing with molecular and cellular physiology

BME 201 - Quantitative Human Physiology
Labs dealing with respiratory systems and electrophysiology

BME 320 - Engineering Materials with BME applications
Explore how engineering materials are used in biomedical engineering

BME 335 - Biosensors and Instrumentation
Learn instruments and systems for working with biomedical data

Professional and technical skill development

ENGR 110 - Design and Communication I
ENGR 120 - Design and Communication II
Develop writing and presentation skills

Research project

BME 490 - Technical Project
Carry out a technical project

BME 498 - Honours Thesis
Research, write and orally defend a graduating honours design or research project

Work experience

MECH 498 - Honours Thesis
ECE 498 Honours Thesis
Research, write and orally defend a graduating honours design or research project

MECH 499 - Technical Project
Conduct and present independent research on a technical project

These courses are not always offered as described.

What you'll learn

Every student at UVic builds skills all employers look for. At UVic Co-op & Career we call these "competencies". This is what you’ll learn in the biomedical engineering program.

Professional practice

prioritize the safety, health and welfare of the public
promote health and safety within the workplace
take on professional assignments only when qualified
maintain confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest
keep informed to maintain competence
act with fairness, courtesy and good faith toward clients, colleagues and others
extend public knowledge and appreciation of engineering

Reliability, safety and failure analysis

understand quality assurance standards and testing procedures
ensure that systems or components perform their required functions
maintain a current knowledge of safety standards
understand the consequences of failure and reduce their impact
establish the mean time between failures when assessing reliability

Design

gather full requirements for a project
understand the client’s needs
model a solution using the appropriate tools
communicate the design process to the client
use designs that are safe and effective
understand how a design integrates into its environment

Engineering tools

design equipment and systems using a variety of software packages
simulate mechanical and electronic systems using the appropriate tools
analyze systems, equipment and data using the correct tools
operate mechanical equipment in a lab or workshop
use electronics and electrical equipment
develop software and scripts in a variety of environments and languages
use computer software and systems
understand and use databases
research and recommend new tools where existing tools are inadequate
choose tools based on their strengths and weaknesses

Engineering knowledge

understand the mathematical fundamentals of engineering
use the correct statistical methods to analyze and investigate data
understand the natural sciences for their discipline of engineering
maintain a comprehensive knowledge of engineering fundamentals
understand engineering economics
understand how engineering specifics integrate into a larger project
study related subjects to aid a project’s success

Biological systems

understand physiology at a molecular and cellular level
understand organic chemistry
use the fundamentals of mechanical or electrical engineering to solve issues in medicine and health care
design medical instruments, devices and software

What's next?

To explore more visit the biomedical engineering site. For degree planning contact your adviser for help.