Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) Program

Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning, Room 3515, ext. 28347

http://ibiomed.mcmaster.ca/

Faculty as of January 15, 2026

CO-DIRECTORS

Michelle L. MacDonald/B.Sc., Ph.D. (McMaster)
Colin McDonald/B.Sc., Ph.D. (Western University), P.Eng.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

Anna Korol/B.Sc. (Honours), M.Sc., Ph.D. (McMaster)
Vincent Leung/B.Eng Biosci., M.A.Sc., Ph.D. (McMaster)

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT MANAGER

Alexa Béhar-Bannelier/B.Com. (Honours) (McMaster)

The Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) Programs are offered jointly by the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Health Sciences. These programs lead to the B.Eng.BME or a B.H.Sc. (Honours) degree.

At McMaster, iBioMed students take a common Level I program comprising Mathematics, Materials, Physics, Chemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Graphics Design, Introduction to Professional Engineering and Design, Computation and complementary studies electives. The specialized programs are entered beginning in Level II.

All Level I students who wish to be reviewed for admission to a Level II program in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) program for the following Fall/Winter term must submit an Application of Admission to Level II through MOSAIC by the University stated deadline (typically April of Level I). Students in the iBioMed program must rank both degree options in order of preference, and are permitted to rank up to twelve program choices in total. Rank ordering must be done very carefully because once admitted to a program, no further consideration is given to lower ranked choices.

Admission to either the B.H.Sc. (Honours) Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) program or one of the B.Eng.BME Biomedical Engineering (BME) programs requires successful completion of all non-elective iBioMed I courses with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0. All Level II programs are limited enrollment and entry into a Level II program is competitive. The admission into each Level II program is determined by the Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) and order of ranked programs. All McMaster University courses completed (including electives and upper year courses) are calculated into Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) up to the time of Level II program admission review. Grades earned in summer school, after program admission review, will not change student Level II program eligibility. A student in iBioMed I with a Grade Point Average (GPA) less than 4.0 can no longer continue in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) program.

Students must follow the program requirements of the Calendar in effect when they enter Level II.

Effective Fall 2027

Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) I programs include the Discovery Track and the Direct Entry Tracks listed below. Discovery Track differs from the others in that it enables students to experience first-year iBioMed before deciding which Level II program to pursue.

Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Discovery Track

All Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) I - Discovery Track students who wish to be reviewed for admission to a Level II program in iBioMed for the following Fall/Winter term must submit an Application of Admission to Level II through MOSAIC by the University stated deadline (typically April of Level I). Students in the iBioMed program must rank both degree options in order of preference, and are permitted to rank up to twelve program choices in total. Rank ordering must be done very carefully because once admitted to a program, no further consideration is given to lower ranked choices. Admission to either the B.H.Sc. (Honours) Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) program or the B.Eng.BME Biomedical Engineering (BME) programs requires successful completion of all 34 units of required iBioMed I courses before the start of the Level II program. Students must maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.0. All Level II programs are limited enrollment and entry into a Level II program is competitive. The admission into each Level II program is determined by the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) and order of ranked programs. All McMaster University courses completed (including electives and upper year courses) are calculated into Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) up to the time of Level II program admission review. Grades earned in summer school, after program admission review, will not change student Level II program eligibility. A student in iBioMed I with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) less than 4.0 can no longer continue in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) program.

Students must follow the program requirements of the Calendar in effect when they enter Level II.

Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I Direct Entry Tracks:

Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Track
Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Civil and Biomedical Engineering Track
Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Electrical and Biomedical Engineering Track
Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Engineering Physics and Biomedical Engineering Track
Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship Track
Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Materials and Biomedical Engineering Track
Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Track
Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Mechatronics and Biomedical Engineering Track
Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences I - Software and Biomedical Engineering Track

To be eligible for either the B.H.Sc. (Honours) Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) program or any B.Eng.BME Biomedical Engineering (BME) program, a student requires an overall Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.0 or above and must have completed all 34 units of required iBioMed I courses before the start of the Level II program. Students are only eligible to progress to the Level II program that corresponds with their current Level I track.

Students must follow the program requirements of the Academic Calendar year in effect when they enter Level II.

Courses offered by the iBioMed program include three types of elective courses, which are governed by regulations, as follows:

Complementary Studies Electives are broadening courses with subject matter that deals with central issues, methodologies and thought processes of the humanities and social sciences. In addition to ENGINEER 4A03 , or equivalent, complementary studies electives are required in the iBioMed program.
iBioMed Technical Electives are approved courses offered by the Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences program or various departments throughout the University in subjects relevant to the particular program. A list is available on the program website.
Health Sciences Electives are courses administered by the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program in subjects relevant to the health sciences, including immunology, molecular biology, infectious disease, neurosciences, behavioural sciences, clinical epidemiology, health economics and health policy. Students must meet course pre-requisites. Health sciences electives are required in the iBioMed program.

Transferring to Graduate with a B.H.Sc. Degree from the B.H.Sc. (Honours) Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) program of the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences Program

Students who successfully complete at least 90 units including all admission requirements and program-specific course requirements up to the end of at least Level III of the B.H.Sc. (Honours) Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) program of the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences Program, with a minimum Grade Point Average of 4.0 may request permission from the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences office for transfer to graduate with the B.H.Sc. (exit) degree.

Transferring to Graduate with a B.A.Sc. Degree from one of the B.Eng.BME Biomedical Engineering programs of the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences Program

Students who successfully complete at least 90 units including all admission requirements and program-specific course requirements up to the end of at least Level III of one of the B.Eng.BME Biomedical Engineering programs of the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences Program, with a minimum Grade Point Average of 4.0 may request permission from the Office of the Associate Dean of Engineering (Academic) for transfer to graduate with the B.A.Sc. (exit) degree.

iBioMed I:

Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) I/Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) I Co-op

Level II program(s) leading to the B.Eng.BME degree include:

Level II program(s) leading to the B.H.Sc. (Honours) degree include:

Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE); Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) Co-Op (B.H.Sc. (Honours))

Programs

Bachelor of Engineering and Biomedical Engineering