Your degree in Biomedical Engineering

Skills you’ll develop

While studying Biomedical Engineering, you’re learning to apply engineering principles and methods to biological systems to address issues affecting human health. You’ll develop important skills to design and develop cutting edge solutions to improve patient care, health, and quality of life.

These skills may include:

• Application of human physiology, medicine, and engineering to develop cell-based therapeutics from gene therapy to tissue engineered organs
• Collaboration in multidisciplinary teams to design medical diagnostic equipment and clinical instrumentation
• Analysis of measurements captured from imaging and electronic sensing technologies such as X-rays, MRIs, and wearable sensors
• In-depth computational analyses and statistical techniques to understand and interpret complex biological processes
• Application of the principles of biomechanics to enhance prevention and treatment approaches to injuries and diseases such as the design of orthopaedic implants
• Analysis of patient health care data to understand diseases and pathophysiology using machine learning
• Usage of specialized instruments, sensors, and computer programming languages

Career possibilities

Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including healthcare, research, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical equipment and devices, technology support and training, government or regulatory agencies, consulting, and others.

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas. Some career options may require further education or training.

Visit the National Occupational Classification website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field.

Make the most of your program

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities and help clarify your values and interests.

• Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student Association
  Socialize with students in the program, meet your professors, and network with industry professionals.
• Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Association
  Join the mentorship program, access professional development opportunities, and connect with like-minded individuals.
• Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
  Learn about the biomedical field from guest speakers or participate in a lab, hospital, or industry facility tour.
• UBC BIOMOD
  Get involved in the design of biomolecular nanotechnology and compete against teams worldwide.
• UBC Technology in Medicine Club
  Learn about the field of medical technology with peers from the Faculty of Medicine.
• Creative Destruction Lab Health Stream
  Get the resources and mentorship you need to take your health innovation idea to the next level.
• UBC Pre-Medical Society
  Get advice on how to pursue a career in medicine, access study resources for the MCAT, and learn about the MMI process.
• UBC Life Sciences Institute
  Find research opportunities, events, programs, and student competitions in life sciences.
• Departmental research opportunities
  Reach out directly to faculty members to ask about potential research positions.
• UBC Engineering Co-op
  Gain work experience in biomedical engineering between study terms.
• Provincial Health Services Authority job board
  Browse biomedical engineering careers across different provincial agencies providing specialized health-care services.
• Neil Squire Society
  Volunteer for Makers Making Change to design or build access solutions for people in the community.
• BC Children’s Hospital research program
  Participate in an undergraduate research project related to child and family health.
• Engineering job board
  Check out engineering employment opportunities.
• Engineering World Health
  Apply your engineering skills to improve healthcare services in developing countries.

Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and finding job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

• American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
• Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC
• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
• Association of Consulting Engineering Companies Canada
• Atlantic Canada Clinical Engineering Society
• Biomedical Engineering Society
• BIOTECanada
• Canadian Association for Neuroscience
• Canadian Biomaterials Society
• Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology
• Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society
• Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering
• Canadian Society for Biomechanics
• Canadian Society for Professional Engineers
• Clinical Engineering Society of Ontario
• Digital Health Canada
• Engineering Institute of Canada
• Engineers & Geoscientists BC
• Engineers Canada
• IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
• International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering
• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• International Society of Biomechanics
• Medtech Canada
• Medical Device Development Centre
• National Center for Integrative Biomedical Informatics
• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
• Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology

Connect with alumni on LinkedIn

Find UBC Biomedical Engineering graduates on LinkedIn, see where they’re working, and explore their career and academic paths.

More information

From your Applied Science degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Engineering degree.