Biomedical Engineering

Program Overview

The Faculty of Applied Science offers a program leading to the Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical Engineering (BME) addresses fundamental problems where human biology and physical design principles intersect. The program gives biomedical engineers the skills required to make scientific discoveries and inventions that promote health.

To ensure the quality of learning, students entering our program must have access to a computer that meets UBC security requirements and has a webcam, microphone, and speaker. Students are advised to check with SBME advisors and instructors on hardware and software requirements necessary, as well as resources available, prior to the start of their program.

Typically, UBC engineering programs begin with a common first year after which students apply for, and are registered in, a specific engineering discipline in second year. However, entry into the second year of the BME B.A.Sc. program requires BME-specific versions of the first year courses and students wishing to study in the BME program in their second year are strongly encouraged to apply for registration in the “Pre Biomedical Engineering Standardized Timetable (PBME STT)” after they apply to UBC’s first year Engineering Program. The PBME STT is a modified version of the common first year and selection for the modified timetable is limited and competitive. This timetable allows students to take introductory material core to the BME program in year one.

Students apply for the BME B.A.Sc. after completing first year engineering (or a comparable program at another university or college). Students who are admitted to the BME B.A.Sc. without completing the PBME STT will have to complete any missing course requirements.

Students completing their first year of the PBME modified first year timetable will also be eligible for 2nd year placement into other Engineering programs at UBC.

2021W Entry or Later

Numerous specializations are available within Biomedical Engineering, by appropriate choice of several technical electives. These specializations include: Cellular Bioengineering; Biomedical Systems and Signals; Biomechanics and Biomaterials; and Biomedical Informatics among others. Specialization guides, consisting of groups of courses with their list of pre- and co-requisite courses in a particular area, will be provided to the students as guidance. The students can pick all the courses from a particular specialization guide or they can construct their own set of courses from the list of technical electives. The undergraduate advisors and student services staff are available to advise the students on the specialization guides and potential strengths and considerations of other combinations of courses. Please consult the program website for a full list of specializations and technical elective selections.

2018W-2020W Entry

The program is designed with four streams of technical electives to allow students to focus on particular areas of Biomedical Engineering: Cellular Bioengineering; Biomedical Systems and Signals; Biomechanics and Biomaterials; and Biomedical Informatics. After their second year, BME students indicate their prioritized stream preferences. Prospective students should be aware that a maximum enrolment limit may apply to each stream. If student preferences for a stream exceed capacity for that stream, the program Director will select students for the stream based on academic standing and demonstrated interest and ability in that specific stream.

Consult the program website for technical elective selection for each stream.

NOTE: The intake of students into streams was discontinued after the 2021W Year 3 Cohort

The program is designed to align with admissions criteria for medical school. Students intending to apply to medical school after their biomedical engineering program must take a first year English course as a complementary study. Other courses within the program are considered equivalent for the purposes of the Biology content recommended by the UBC Faculty of Medicine.

2021W Entry or Later Program Requirements

 

First Year – Pre-Biomedical Engineering Standardized Timetable
Second Year
Third Year
Fourth Year
APSC 1003
APSC 1603
BMEG 10113
BMEG 10212
CHEM 1214
CHEM 1234
MATH 1003
MATH 1013
MATH 1523
PHYS 1573
PHYS 1583
PHYS 1703
WRDS 1503
Total Credits40
BMEG 2013
BMEG 2103
BMEG 2204
BMEG 2304
BMEG 2454
BMEG 2504
BMEG 2574
CPEN 221 or 2234
MATH 253 or 2263
MATH 2563
MATH 2641
Total Credits37
BIOC 2023
BMEG 3104
BMEG 3213
BMEG 3504
BMEG 3573
BMEG 3713
CHEM 2333
CHEM 2351
STAT 2513
Technical Electives26
Complementary Studies Electives33
Total Credits36
BMEG 4013
BMEG 4553
BMEG 4576
STAT 3003
Technical Electives215
Complementary Studies Electives36
Total Credits36
1 Students who come into Biomedical Engineering without taking BMEG 101 and BMEG 102 must take all of APSC 101, PHYS 159 (or equivalent) and BMEG 200.
2 To be chosen from a course list available on the program website and in consultation with an undergraduate advisor.
3 See Complementary Studies Courses. Students planning to apply to Medical School should take a first year English course as their complementary studies elective. Students should confirm the specific pre-requisite courses for the Medical School(s) to which they will apply.

2018W-2020W Entry Program Requirements

 

First Year
Second Year
Third Year
Fourth Year
APSC 1003
APSC 1603
BMEG 10113
BMEG 10212
CHEM 1214
CHEM 1234
MATH 1003
MATH 1013
MATH 1523
PHYS 1573
PHYS 1583
PHYS 1703
WRDS 1503
Total Credits40
BMEG 2013
BMEG 2103
BMEG 2204
BMEG 2304
BMEG 2454
BMEG 2504
BMEG 2574
CHBE 2513
CPEN 221 or CPEN 2234
MATH 253 or 2263
MATH 2563
MATH 2641
Total Credits40
BIOC 2023
BMEG 3104
BMEG 3213
BMEG 3504
BMEG 3573
BMEG 3713
CHEM 2333
CHEM 2351
STAT 2513
Stream-based Courses9
Complementary Studies Electives33
Total Credits39
BMEG 4013
BMEG 4553
BMEG 4576
STAT 3003
Stream-based Courses18
Complementary Studies Electives36
Total Credits39
1 Students who come into Biomedical Engineering without taking BMEG 101 and BMEG 102 must take all of APSC 101, PHYS 159 (or equivalent) and BMEG 200.
2 Students planning to complete the Bioinformatics option should take CPEN 221.
3 See Complementary Studies Courses. Students planning to apply to Medical School should take a first year English course as their complementary studies elective. Students should confirm the specific pre-requisite courses for the Medical School(s) to which they will apply.

Stream Based Courses (Please note, Streams for this program are no longer offered).

 

Students completing the Cellular Bioengineering Stream must complete the following:
BIOC 3023
BMEG 3743
BMEG 4703
CHBE 3813
Additional technical electives415
 
Students completing the Biomedical Informatics Stream must complete the following:
CPSC 2214
CPSC 3403
Either MATH 2203
Or CPSC 1214
Additional technical electives416 (if taking CPSC 121)
17 (if taking MATH 220)
 
Students completing the Biomedical Systems and Signals Stream must complete the following:
BMEG 3203
ELEC 2214
Additional technical electives420
 
Students completing the Biomaterials and Biomechanics Stream must complete the following:
APSC 2783
APSC 2791
BMEG 3303
MECH 2603
Additional technical electives417
 
4 To be chosen from a course list available on the program website and in consultation with an undergraduate advisor.

Cooperative Education Experiential Work Terms

Cooperative education experiential learning placements are an integral part of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering program. Students will typically complete four 4-month experiential learning placements coordinated through the Applied Science Co-op Program. Work terms can take place during the Winter or Summer terms. Students should refer to the program website for the current schedule. Students unable to complete one or more co-op terms should consult with a departmental advisor.

 


UBC Crest The official logo of the University of British Columbia. Urgent Message An exclamation mark in a speech bubble. Caret An arrowhead indicating direction. Arrow An arrow indicating direction. Arrow in Circle An arrow indicating direction. Arrow in Circle An arrow indicating direction. Chats Two speech clouds. Facebook The logo for the Facebook social media service. Information The letter 'i' in a circle. Instagram The logo for the Instagram social media service. Linkedin The logo for the LinkedIn social media service. Location Pin A map location pin. Mail An envelope. Menu Three horizontal lines indicating a menu. Minus A minus sign. Pencil A pencil indicating that this is editable. Telephone An antique telephone. Plus A plus symbol indicating more or the ability to add. Search A magnifying glass. Twitter The logo for the Twitter social media service. Youtube The logo for the YouTube video sharing service.