University of Saskatchewan

What you'll study

The programme emphasises interdisciplinary research and advanced technical training across core biomedical engineering areas. Students typically follow either a thesis (research) route or a project/course-based route, combining coursework with original research under the supervision of a faculty member.

• Core topics and modules: bioinstrumentation and biosensors, biomechanics and biomaterials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, medical imaging and image analysis, physiological signal processing, and systems modelling for biomedical applications.
• Research training: supervised laboratory research, experimental design, statistical methods for biomedical data, and scientific communication (oral and written).
• Professional and regulatory subjects: medical device design and validation, regulatory and ethical issues in biomedical research, and technology translation and commercialization.
• Structure: students select advanced graduate courses to complement their research theme and work closely with a supervisory committee to develop and execute a research project leading to a thesis or a project report plus coursework, depending on the chosen route. The programme includes regular progress reviews and a final defence or project examination.

Entry requirements

Applicants typically hold a four-year undergraduate degree in engineering (biomedical, electrical, mechanical, chemical), the physical sciences, computer science, or a closely related life-sciences discipline. Consideration is also given to applicants with strong quantitative training and relevant research experience.

• Academic record: a competitive undergraduate grade point average in upper-level courses relevant to biomedical engineering. Exact minimums vary by intake and are assessed in context of the applicant’s overall profile.
• Research experience: prior laboratory or project experience is highly desirable, particularly for applicants to the thesis stream.
• Supporting documents: a statement of research interests describing proposed areas of study and potential supervisors, curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, and two or more academic or professional references.
• Language proficiency: applicants whose first language is not English must meet the university’s English-language proficiency requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates leave prepared for a range of technical and research roles across healthcare and industry. Common career paths include:

• Research and development positions in medical device and biotechnology companies.
• Clinical engineering and technical roles within hospitals and healthcare systems, supporting device selection, maintenance and regulatory compliance.
• Regulatory affairs, quality assurance and product validation for medical technologies.
• Data science and imaging analysis roles that apply signal processing and modelling to clinical problems.
• Academic and government research positions or continuation to doctoral study (PhD) for careers in research and teaching.
• Technology transfer and entrepreneurship roles in startups and incubators that commercialise biomedical innovations.

Why study at University of Saskatchewan

The University of Saskatchewan offers an interdisciplinary environment where engineering research intersects with medicine, biology and industry partners across the province. Students benefit from close supervision by faculty with expertise spanning biomaterials, biomechanics, imaging, bioinstrumentation and clinical translation.

• Access to research laboratories and shared core facilities that support experimental, imaging and computational work.
• Strong links with regional hospitals and health-care organisations, enabling clinically relevant projects and translational opportunities.
• A collaborative cohort culture and opportunities to work with researchers in allied disciplines such as medicine, veterinary medicine, and computer science.
• Support for professional development, grant applications and commercialization pathways to help move innovations from lab to practice.