Lead Faculty of the Collaborative Specialization

Applied Science and Engineering

Participating Degree Programs

Biochemistry — MSc, PhD
Biomedical Engineering — MASc, PhD
Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry — MASc, PhD
Chemistry — MSc, PhD
Dentistry — MSc, PhD
Electrical and Computer Engineering — MASc, PhD
Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology — MSc, PhD
Materials Science and Engineering — MASc, PhD
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering — MASc, PhD
Medical Biophysics — MSc, PhD
Medical Science — MSc, PhD
Pharmaceutical Sciences — MSc, PhD
Physics — MSc, PhD
Physiology — MSc, PhD
Rehabilitation Science—MSc, PhD

Overview

The graduate programs listed above participate in the Collaborative Specialization in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. This specialization offers the opportunity for research in biomedical engineering leading to master’s and doctoral degrees. The collaborative specialization is housed in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME).

Biomedical engineering is a multidisciplinary field that integrates engineering with biology and medicine. It uses methods, principles, and tools of engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics to solve problems in the medical and life sciences. Biomedical engineering consists of the application of the concepts and methods of engineering and physics to the study of living systems, to the enhancement and replacement of those systems, to the design and construction of systems to measure basic physiological parameters, to the development of instruments, materials, and techniques for biological and medical practice, and to the development of artificial organs. By its nature the field is interdisciplinary and involves close collaboration between many departments of the university and associated hospitals.

Upon successful completion of the degree requirements of the participating home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization, students will receive the notation “Completed Collaborative Specialization in Biomedical Engineering” on their transcript.

Contact and Address

Web: bme.utoronto.ca
Email: contact.bme@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-4841
Fax: (416) 978-4317

Collaborative Specialization in Biomedical Engineering
Institute of Biomedical Engineering
University of Toronto
Rosebrugh Building, Room 407, 164 College Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9 Canada

Admission Requirements

• Applicants who wish to enrol in the collaborative specialization must apply to and be admitted to both the collaborative specialization and a graduate degree program in one of the collaborating graduate units.

• Applicants must be graduates in dentistry, engineering, engineering science, medicine, or one of the physical or biological sciences and must be accepted to the Collaborative Specialization in Biomedical Engineering through one of the collaborating graduate units (home graduate units) listed above.

Specialization Requirements

Students register in the School of Graduate Studies through their home graduate unit; they will meet all respective degree requirements as described by SGS and the collaborative specialization committee. As part of these requirements:

• The program of study for each MASc or MSc degree student registered in the collaborative specialization must meet the requirements of the collaborating unit and will normally comprise at least 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) and a thesis in the biomedical field.

  • Engineering and physical science students will be required to take a biological sciences course such as JPB1022H Human Physiology as Related to Biomedical Engineering (or an equivalent).

  • Biological science students will be expected to take a physical sciences course such as JPB1055H Bioengineering for Life Scientists (or an equivalent).

  • Students will be expected to take BME1477H Biomedical Engineering Project Design and Execution and pursue a thesis topic relevant to biomedical engineering.

• In addition to the 2.0 FCEs, students registered in a graduate degree program involving research are required to participate in two seminar courses: one of BME1010H or BME1011H Graduate Seminar Series (0.0 FCE) and JDE1000H Ethics in Research (0.0 FCE).

• Students are required to have a supervisory committee approved by the collaborative specialization committee and consisting of a supervisor from IBME, with a cross-appointment in the home unit, and other members from other collaborating units as required.

• The examination committee will be constituted according to procedures in the home graduate unit and will include a member from that collaborating unit.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants who wish to enrol in the collaborative specialization must apply to and be admitted to both the collaborative specialization and a graduate degree program in one of the collaborating graduate units.

• Applicants must be graduates in dentistry, engineering, engineering science, medicine, or one of the physical or biological sciences and must be accepted to the Collaborative Specialization in Biomedical Engineering through one of the collaborating graduate units (home graduate units) listed above.

• Before PhD students are accepted, the collaborative specialization committee must be satisfied with the applicant's ability to undertake advanced graduate studies.

Specialization Requirements

• A qualifying examination may be required by the collaborating unit.

• Students admitted to the collaborative specialization who are admitted to a PhD program in their home unit will be subject to the requirements of the collaborating unit. The plan of study for each PhD student registered in the Collaborative Specialization in Biomedical Engineering must be approved by the collaborating unit and the collaborative specialization committee; the plan of study will normally comprise at least 1.0 full-course equivalent (FCE) and a thesis.

  • Engineering and physical science students will be required to take a biological sciences course such as JPB1022H Human Physiology as Related to Biomedical Engineering (or an equivalent).

  • Biological science students will be expected to take a physical sciences course such as JPB1055H Bioengineering for Life Scientists (or an equivalent).

  • Students will be expected to take BME1477H Biomedical Engineering Project Design and Execution and pursue a thesis topic relevant to biomedical engineering.

• In addition to the 1.0 FCE, students are required to participate in two seminar courses: one of BME1010H or BME1011H Graduate Seminar series (0.0 FCE), and JDE1000H Ethics in Research (0.0 FCE).

• Each PhD student is normally required to have a supervisory committee consisting of at least three persons, including a supervisor who has an appropriate graduate appointment and who is also a member of the graduate faculty in the home unit. When appropriate, an additional member of the supervisory committee may be from outside the University of Toronto, with approval from the School of Graduate Studies.

• For doctoral degrees, the examination committee will be constituted according to procedures in the home graduate unit and will include a member from that collaborating unit.

Not all courses are offered every year. Students should contact the BME office for details.

⁺ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.