Biomedical Engineering

The University of Victoria’s Biomedical Engineering program is for students that are passionate about developing solutions that help others and want to apply engineering principles to healthcare. Biomedical engineering combines mechanical and electrical engineering with the study of human anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. Biomedical Engineers develop technologies that are improving human health and healthcare, here and around the world.

Students will discover exciting areas of specialization such as medical device design, biomechanics, prosthetics, medical imaging, and 3D tissue printing. The Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Biomedical Engineering curriculum consists of first year courses common to all BEng students, six terms unique to the degree, and four co-op work terms.

Students undertake a major design activity in the undergraduate biomedical engineering program and in the Master of Engineering in Biomedical Systems. These projects allow students to apply and implement design lessons, techniques and skills acquired in earlier coursework, to solve real-world medical or industrial problems. Project ideas may originate from faculty members engaged in biomedical research and/or industry partners from the medical field, health authorities, and health-based external organizations. Students can select from these projects or work directly with faculty or partners to propose a project.

Biomedical engineers work in hospitals, education and medical institutions, industrial and government research facilities, and manufacturing. Using their background in engineering, biology and biomechanical principles BME graduates will design, develop and evaluate biological and health systems in medical facilities or research laboratories. This translates into careers working with artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems and healthcare management. BME’s typically analyze problems within the medical environment and co-ordinate with other professionals to design solutions that improve patient care quality and increase caregiver efficacy. Some BME’s also become trained in other specialized fields like an MD, thus combining an understanding of advanced technology with direct patient care or clinical research.