May 11, 2026  
School of Graduate Studies Calendar, 2025-2026 
    
School of Graduate Studies Calendar, 2025-2026

Biomedical Engineering, Ph.D


Requirements


The general regulations for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy appear earlier in the Calendar. Students completing a PhD will be required to complete 2 courses beyond the masters or 5 courses beyond the baccalaureate degree. One must be the core course which must be from the complimentary discipline from their background and at least 50% of a student’s total coursework must be from Biomedical Engineering (BIOMED) courses. A candidate is also required to present a departmental seminar and pass the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination, which is designed to test breadth of knowledge and ability to synthesize and integrate ideas from within and peripheral to the candidate’s research area. The Comprehensive Examination will normally take place between 12 and 20 months after the candidate first registers in the Ph.D. program. The candidate must present a thesis embodying original contribution to biomedical engineering. A supervisory committee determines when a candidate is ready to write the thesis and ascertains whether the quality is satisfactory. The candidate must defend the thesis at a Final Oral Examination.

Under unique circumstances students may apply for direct entry into the Ph.D. program without having a Masters. 

Biomedical Engineering Symposium


The School of Biomedical Engineering holds an annual 3 day Biomedical Engineering Symposium. Attendance of all registered Masters and Ph.D. students in the Biomedical Engineering program is mandatory. Students are also required to present one Biomedical Engineering departmental seminar on the research they have carried out while enrolled in the program. Students can present their Biomedial Engineering seminar during one of the following events: 1)The BME symposium (Spring); 2) Summer Seminar Day or 3) an annual retreat (Fall).