Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada: Top Universities, Eligibility, Course Fees & Jobs

Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada is a program available as a MASc (master in applied sciences) and MEng (master in engineering) degree. International students with a bachelor’s in engineering, medicine, or one of the fields of physical/biological sciences can opt for the course. Know in detail about Engineering in Canada, here!

There are over 20 universities in Canada offering biomedical studies. MASc/MS in biomedical engineering is a 2-year program while MEng can last from 1 year to 2 years. The cost of pursuing a master's in biomedical engineering from Canada (including tuition) ranges from 11 lakhs to 48 lakhs per year. The program integrates the dimensions of engineering and biology and hence is gaining a lot of traction from the students of both fields.  

According to the Ministry of Health and Sciences, Canada is subjected to have up to 7% growth in the biomedical sector by 2026. The average salary earned by graduates after Masters in  Biomedical Engineering in  Canada is 41.51 lakhs per annum. 

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Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada: Top Universities

With a number of universities/colleges offering MS in biomedical engineering in Canada, you get a range of options to choose from. Some of the top universities in Canada offering the program are listed below:

Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada: Course and Specializations

MS/MASc Biomedical Engineering is a thesis-based course where students are required to study modules on the following subjects:

• Mechanics, biomaterial, imaging techniques, neuroscience, anatomy, physiology, engineering mathematics, systems physiology, designing data structures, etc.
• Elective courses include: Medical computing, computational geometry, robotics, biostatistics, etc

These core-subjects offered may differ for different universities.

Specializations in Masters in Biomedical Engineering

• Biomaterial and tissue engineering
• Biomechanics
• Biomedical devices & systems
• Rehabilitation Engineering

These are some of the popular areas of specializations offered to students of MS in biomedical engineering in Canada.

Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada: Admissions

Wish to study abroad? International applicants are required to fulfill additional eligibility criteria and submit supportive documents along with their applications. It is important for international students to be aware of the complete admission process and to make applications before the applications deadlines to ensure enough time is available for your student visa to be processed. 

Application: Online applications can be made through the university’s official website. You are requested to ensure that the application is submitted at least 6 months before deadlines, allowing enough time for the issue of international student visa to study in Canada.

Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada: Eligibility 

You must have a four-year undergraduate degree in engineering, medicine, dentistry, or one of the fields of physical/biological sciences. The graduate degree in biomedical sciences is available as MS and MEng. Most of the requirements and basic eligibility criteria for both the courses are the same. However, the GPA requirements for these two degrees may vary within a university.

• Minimum GPA
  • Universities offering only MS Biomedical Engineering- 3.3 on a scale of 4.0. The percentage equivalent for the same is 87-89 and the grade equivalent is B+.
  • Universities offering both MEng and MS: GPA for MASc and MS is higher than the MEng program. The grade for pursuing MEng is B or higher and MS/MASc is A-.
  • UBC, University of Calgary are some of the universities offering both degrees with the same GPA requirement.
• Standardized test scores
  • Few universities ask for the applicant’s GRE score. Some of these are the University of Alberta, Dalhousie University, etc.
  • Top universities like UofT, UBC, McGill, McMaster University have a higher GPA requirement for international students. Hence, a GRE score is not usually required.

Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada: Documents Required

The documents that are required along the application package for an international student are listed below:

• Transcripts: Official, unofficial or certified copies are requested along with the application package
• LOR: Two to three letters of recommendations must be included in the package depending upon university requirements
• Resume/CV: You must keep your CV/resume updated for applying for PG programs in Canada.
• Supporting Documents: Letter of intent/statement of purpose/research proposal are some of the additional documents that may be requested by some of the universities.
• English language proficiency: International students from non-native English speaking countries must submit proof of language proficiency. These include test scores like IELTS, TOEFL, etc. Applicants can also submit other documents for exemption from submission of test scores required for studying in Canada. 

English Language Proficiency

For pursuing master's in Canadian universities, an important aspect that an international student must fulfill is language proficiency. The minimum score requirements for different universities may vary. Given below are the score requirements for top universities offering MS in Biomedical Engineering in Canada

Masters in Biomedical Engineering: Admission Decisions 

Securing admissions for a master’s program in Canadian universities is a tough nut to crack. The decisions depend on various aspects like overall performance in UG, language proficiency scores, resume, and other details.

In universities where a supervisor is allocated for the MASc/MS biomedical engineering program, admissions are not granted if the supervisor is not available. GRE exam score plays an equal importance in admission decisions, for universities that request the score at the time of admissions.

If accepted by the university, you will receive your acceptance offer/letter in 2-6 months duration post applications. Along with the acceptance offer, the universities send documents required for applying for the Canadian study permit. Though getting a Canadian study permit is easier, applicants are still suggested to ensure that they take care of the common reseasons of rejection of Canadian study permit. 

Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada: Cost of Study

The cost of pursuing a master's in biomedical engineering from Canada involves expenses incurred in pre-admissions, tuition fees, and post-admissions. Detailed information for these expenses is described in the sections below:

Pre-Arrival Costs for International Students

The one-time expenses incurred by international students before or along with the admission process for their masters' studies in Canadian universities are as tabulated. These include fees of application, Canadian student visa, various entrance tests, etc. 

**150 USD for a study permit and 85 USD is biometric fees.

Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada: Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for pursuing MS in biomedical engineering range from 5,000 USD to 50000 USD depending upon the choice of program and university. The approximate tuition fees for the top Canadian universities offering MS in biomedical engineering are compared in the graph given below.

Cost of Living in Canada

The cost of living in Canada includes expenses like accommodation, books & materials, transportation, food, etc. Your expenses are highly dependent on your lifestyle choices and accommodations opted for during the study period.

*Varies depending upon the residential province and type of accommodation (on-campus/off-campus).

Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada with Scholarships

Studying abroad can burn a hole in your pockets. International applicants can apply for various scholarships available for studying in Canada. Some of the scholarships offered by the universities in Canada offering master's in biomedical engineering are listed below:

* Available to MS in biomedical engineering students only. Applicants looking for more scholarships to study master's in biomedical engineering in Canada, click here.

Masters in Biomedical Engineering in Canada: Job Prospects

With expertise in life sciences and engineering principles, postgraduates in biomedical engineering are absorbed in fields like mechanical, rehabilitation, chemical, and biomedical engineering.

As the aged population of Canada is higher than the younger population, the demand for skilled workers in the medical field has increased. There are various jobs that a biomedical engineer can apply for. Some of these are mentioned below with the median wages offered to the entry-level graduates in Canada:

With a postgraduate degree in biomedical engineering, students can earn potentially high incomes across the globe. As an upcoming field of applied sciences, biomedical engineering offers students opportunities to work with sectors merging the skills of two pure sciences. The jobs for postgraduates in biomedical engineering are on a rise, globally. With a postgraduate degree in biomedical engineering from Canada, students can enter sectors offering cushy-median salaries.

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