Graduate Studies
Biomedical Engineering

This document is originally written by Md. Mohosin Rana, PhD Research Fellow, CFREF Global Research Initiative Project, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program (University of Calgary).

Year of Publication: 2019

©PBSCU Any unauthorized use of this article, including copying or editing is prohibited. If you want to use the article, you need to take permission from us: pbscuadm@gmail.com or from the author and you must mention the author's name and the group's name in all cases.

Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary

This is like a synopsis of my knowledge about Biomedical Engineering Specialized Graduate Program of the University of Calgary (UofC) that I’ve gathered from versatile sources during my application for the admission period. These pieces of information highly motivated me to manage my admission here and by the grace of Almighty I’ve succeeded to make it happens.

I am going to share the information here for the sake of aspirants who are keen to pursue their higher studies in this program of the UofC.

Synopsis: Biomedical Engineering which is also known as BMEN is a specialized graduate program that belongs to the renowned Schulich School of Engineering of the UofC. This Schulich School of Engineering is one of the top engineering schools in Canada based on its four key focusing areas, i) student experience, ii) research experience, iii) infrastructure expansion & enhancement, and iv) links to the community. It is also ranked as the first in Canada for integrating environmental and social sustainability into engineering curriculum. (source: https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/about). This engineering school consists of five academic departments (Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Geomatics Engineering, and Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering) who offer multiple graduate programs and specializations in the emerging multidisciplinary areas including Biomedical Engineering, and Energy and Environment.

Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program: Students intend to apply for BMEN graduate program can undertake MSc/MEng (Thesis), and PhD program with the collaboration of researchers from other engineering departments. With the coordination and consolidation of the complementary research and teaching between University of Alberta and University of Calgary, this program builds a Western Canadian Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering graduate education and research. (source: https://www.studyincanada.com/Programs/15869/University-of-Calgary/Biomedical- Engineering).

Research Institutes affiliated for Biomedical Engineering graduate program at the UofC:

- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health

- Human Performance Laboratory (HPL)

- Sports Medicine Centre

- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI)

- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute

- Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education (CBRE)

- Clara Christie Centre for Mouse Genomics

- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI)

- Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta

- O’Brien Institute for Public Health

(source: https://www.ucalgary.ca/bme/research-groups).

In addition, Biomedical Engineering program is one of the UofC’s strategic research priorities by becoming a part of the EYES HIGH Vision program of the university (source: https://www.ucalgary.ca/bme/#quickset-field_collection_quicktabs_1). (About Eyes High Strategy: https://www.ucalgary.ca/eyeshigh).

This specialized graduate program basically compiled of three strategic research themes- - Integrated approaches for prevention and healthy aging - Technologies for improved diagnostics - Engineered novel therapeutics

Seems quite lucrative, right?!!! J J

Now comes to the point, how can someone get admission there?

One very important thing, this BMEN is a specialization consisting of multidisciplinary research dimension rather than an identical department. So, keep that in mind.

Application deadlines for international students remains almost similar every year for three different semesters, - Winter term: July 1st - Spring term: November 1st - Fall term: March 1st

But I would suggest to check the website (https://www.ucalgary.ca/bme/graduate/prospective- students) before get ready for the application because there is a chance to make change by the authorities.

Minimum Admission Requirements: The very positive site of this graduate program is that due to its multidisciplinary nature, anyone graduated from either science or engineering background (Engineering, Medicine, Physical Science, or Life Sciences) can apply for this program.

- For MSc (2 years)/MEng (Thesis) program (1.5 years): a four-year undergraduate degree in engineering discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0) with approx. equivalence of B (for MEng program) or B+ (for MSc program) in last two consecutive undergraduate years is required for the admission. But for Bangladeshi students, it centrally required to have four-year undergraduate degree and two-year MSc degree to be eligible for this program. Exception: engineering graduates.

- For PhD program (4 years program): it’s required to have a four-year undergraduate program and a two years MSc in engineering or science discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 4.00 with the condition of having A- on MSc for getting admission in PhD program.

(source: https://www.ucalgary.ca/bme/graduate/prospective-students https://www.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/international)

Route to get Admitted in BMEN graduate program:

S1. Managing supervisor: Due to the versatility of this program, one can get wide range of options to find out eligible supervisor. It is the most required criteria to get funding confirmation and to be eligible for the admission. BMEN won’t give admission until the funding from the professor is confirmed. One can get the complete list of eligible professorsfrom different departments who can supervise for the BME graduate program research from the following link: https://www.ucalgary.ca/bme/graduate/prospective-students/supervisors. In addition, if one can manage a professor from other departments of the UofC who agree to supervise that aspirant, he/she can get the approval from BME graduate program office for the supervision eligibility. For doing this, that professor needs to fill up Eligibility Form-BMEN Approved Supervisor and send it to the bmegrad@ucalgary.ca address for the approval. It usually takes nearly 1 to 2 weeks to get the approval from the program office.

S2. Preparation and Submission of the Online Application: One can get the online access of the application from the following link: https://acctman.ucalgary.ca/register/ (note that, it will ask to provide UCID but as it is for the admission, check the box mentioning to register as a guest account).

S3. Mailing of Documents (Hardcopies): After submission of online application, following documents need to be submitted duly to the BME graduate program office, - Two copies of official transcripts and main certificates (verified copies of both documents) in sealed envelope need to be send directly to the BME office. - Two references from the referees through online system (it will send the invitation to the referees to complete reference form and completed form need to be uploaded in the system). - A letter from the prospective supervisor (it’ll be solely done by the supervisor himself/herself). - Official TOEFL (score: 86 with no less than 20 in internet-based exam; or 560 for paper-based exam), IELTS (score: 6.5 with no section less than 6.0; academic), MELAB (score: 80 or higher), or PTE (score: 59 or higher; academic) scores need to be send by the respective authority directly to the BME office. - In addition, if any transcript or document is not in English, one need to submit certified official translations of these documents in sealed envelopes and send them to the BME office from the institution of issuance.

All the relevant information of admission will be found in the following links, - https://www.ucalgary.ca/bme/graduate/prospective-students - https://www.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/biomedical- engineering-doctor-philosophy-thesis-based

Tuition Fees and Funding: Total fees in a single year of the program for the international students is about 14,525 CAD and its subject to change. The good thing is that the international students who get admitted in the BME graduate program will receive a portion (from 65% ~ up to 100%) of their fees (in terms of visa differential fee) back each year based on the type of funding they will receive. For the ease of the students (eventually to reduce the burden of the tuition fees), one can apply for the tuition payment plan after enrolled in the program. According to this plan, one can split his/her tuition fees of single year and pay it via multiple installments with 0% interest up to 120 days after due date of the installment per month. Information can be found here, https://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/finances/tuition-fees/graduate-student-payment-plan. BUT, proof of funding/scholarship need to be confirmed for the approval of this payment plan.

Guaranteed Funding Limit: 22,000 CAD or more that will cover tuition, accommodation and other living expenses. There are three types of funding sources are available, i) Department funding, ii) Internal scholarships, and iii) External scholarships. But from my own experience,it’s very common to get around 25,000 CAD as funding to cover all the expenses. In addition, one can also apply for teaching assistance (TA)/graduate research assistance (GRA) that are available and can be secured upon the acceptance from the supervisor and/or BME program office.

All the funding related information can be obtained from the following links,

- https://grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/international_students

- https://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/finances/tuition-fees/graduate-student-payment- plan

Career Options for Biomedical Engineers: Biomedical Engineering is one of the six strategic research priorities of the University of Calgary. Strong community of biomedical engineers including Biomedical Engineering Students Society (BMESS) and the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Students Association (BMEG) helps to bridge a relationship between BME students and the industry. More information can be found in the following link, https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/news/career- options-biomedical-engineering.

In addition, more information can be found from,

- https://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/grad/current/biomedical-engineering

- bmen.html - https://www.ucalgary.ca/bme/graduate

- https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/education/future-students/graduate/interdisciplinary

- programs - https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/education/future-students/graduate/admissions

- https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/education/current-students/graduate/funding-opportunities

- http://engg.careers.ucalgary.ca/

- https://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2015-11-18/biomedical-engineering-students- build-connections-industry

- https://schulich.ucalgary.ca/news/universitys-leadership-biomedical-engineering- fortified-new-strategy

For the attractive visual demonstration of this program,

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITPcbAZYn98

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4qD-MkO0H4&feature=youtu.be

I wish these pieces of information will help a lot to make it much easier to really understand the process to manage funding and admission in this interdisciplinary program at the University of Calgary. Hope to see Bangladeshi students in the upcoming academic years in this program.

All the best!!!