Bioengineering

McGill University

Biomedical Engineering: blue ink subject illustration

~Mid to high 90s
Entering average
Published approximate guidance: Mid to high 90s. Fall 2027. Typical Ontario Top 6 admission grade range. McGill reports separate guidance for prerequisite mathematics and science grades.
McGill Ontario admissions · Engineering disciplines

Deadlines

January 2027

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Next deadlineFriday, January 15, 2027

Apply to McGill
Fall 2027 entry · Applicants studying or who last studied overseas or in the U.S.
Official deadline

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites

4U English or French
MCV4UCalculus and Vectors
SPH4UPhysics
SCH4UChemistry

Obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma before classes begin.
Complete at least six 4U, DU or 4M courses, including at least four 4U/DU courses. All prerequisites must be 4U/DU; at most two 4M courses may count.
Include a core Grade 12 U English or French course. English/French second-language courses do not satisfy this prerequisite.
Required mathematics and science courses must have been completed within five years.
Required prerequisites count in the top-six admission calculation. Only the published eligible technology, physical education and performing arts courses may count.
Select Bioengineering on the McGill application.

Application steps

Entry terms · Fall (September)

Fall 2027 first-year entry to the Faculty of Engineering B.Eng.. McGill’s January 2027 list closes this degree.

Step 1Check the admission requirements
- Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
McGill Ontario admission requirements and reporting datesMcGill Ontario admission requirements and reporting dates
Step 2Apply through McGill admissions
- Create your application and select this program.
McGill admissionsMcGill admissions
Step 3Ontario applicants: self-reported grades and transcript
- Ontario high school applicants in Canada normally self-report through the Applicant Portal and upload an unofficial transcript. Exceptions include Ontario schooling outside Canada, high school completed over five years ago and specified partial Canadian-school histories. The portal gives the applicable route.
McGill Ontario applicant documentationMcGill Ontario applicant documentation
Step 4English proficiency results when no exemption applies
- Applicants who have lived and attended school for at least four years in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language are exempt. Otherwise submit official accepted test results unless another published exemption applies.
McGill Ontario applicant English-proof conditionsMcGill Ontario applicant English-proof conditions
Step 5Apply through McGill’s undergraduate application.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
McGill Ontario admission requirements and reporting datesMcGill Ontario admission requirements and reporting dates
Step 6Upload an unofficial transcript; provide official results when required by your checklist.
- Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
McGill Ontario admission requirements and reporting datesMcGill Ontario admission requirements and reporting dates

Applicant pathways

Ontario diploma and admission calculation

Ontario high-school applicants completing school in Canada; faculty and programme-specific exceptions below

Obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma before classes begin.
Complete at least six 4U, DU or 4M courses, including at least four 4U/DU courses. All prerequisites must be 4U/DU; at most two 4M courses may count.
Include a core Grade 12 U English or French course. English/French second-language courses do not satisfy this prerequisite.
Required mathematics and science courses must have been completed within five years.
Required prerequisites count in the top-six admission calculation. Only the published eligible technology, physical education and performing arts courses may count.

Required grade self-reporting and transcript upload

Ontario high-school applicants completing school in Canada; faculty and programme-specific exceptions below

All applicants are required to self-report their grades using the designated form accessible through your McGill Applicant Portal . You will also be required to upload an unofficial copy of your transcript. See the 'Self-reporting your grades' section below. You will NOT be asked to submit your OUAC number unless you have been offered admission.
Proof of English proficiency Applicants who have lived and attended school, for at least four years, in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language, are not required to provide further proof of English proficiency. If this is not the case, official test results will be required by the supporting document deadline. Please consult Proof of English Proficiency for accepted tests and other exemptions.

Self-reporting exceptions

Applicants meeting one of these specifically published exceptions

You are completing (or have completed) an Ontario high school diploma from outside Canada.
You completed high school more than 5 years ago.
You are completing (or have completed) only one year of high school in Canada.
You are completing (or have completed) one year of high school in Ontario and previously attended high school in Quebec.
You are completing (or have completed) Ontario Grade 12 in Quebec.
You have completed or are completing less than a total of ten academic courses in Grade 11 and 12.

English-language proof

Applicants who do not meet a published exemption

Applicants who have lived and attended school, for at least four years, in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language, are not required to provide further proof of English proficiency.
If this is not the case, official test results will be required by the supporting document deadline. Please consult Proof of English Proficiency for accepted tests and other exemptions.
Additional supporting documents Certain programs will require additional supporting documents . These could be proof of French proficiency, CASPer test results, recommendation letters, personal statement, or other documents; the requirements will be different depending on the program you are applying to. If your program choice is listed below, please carefully verify the additional requirement(s): You have applied to B.A. Population & Global Health, Education, Global Engineering, Music, Nursing, and/or Religious Studies You have applied for a Major Entrance Scholarship and/or Financial Aid You selected ‘ Extenuating Circumstances ’ on the application for admission If none of the above apply, additional supporting documents are not considered in the admission review and should not be submitted.

Engineering: required Ontario subjects

Ontario high-school applicants completing school in Canada; faculty and programme-specific exceptions below

4U English or French;
4U Calculus and Vectors;
4U Physics
4U Chemistry

Ontario students taking the IB Diploma or individual IB courses

Ontario OSSD applicants attending high school in Canada; Engineering faculty entry

Declare the IB Diploma or individual IB Diploma courses on your application.
McGill normally assesses your Ontario high-school top-six average, including this faculty's 4U/DU prerequisites. Final IB results may provide advanced standing after admission.

Full IB Diploma: faculty subject requirements

Full IB Diploma admission route, Engineering; separate from Ontario OSSD top-six assessment

Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics at Standard or Higher Level; at least one required mathematics/science subject must be Higher Level.
Mathematics Analysis and Approaches SL or HL, or Applications and Interpretations HL, is accepted. Applications and Interpretations SL does not satisfy the mathematics prerequisite.

Engineering discipline selection

Fall first-year Faculty of Engineering applicants

Apply to a named discipline. McGill publishes different admissions guidance and different B.Eng. course plans by discipline.
Global Engineering is a separate joint degree and requires a personal statement. Architecture and Macdonald-campus Bioresource Engineering use separate degree entries.

Canadian high school outside Ontario and Quebec

Canadian high school applicants outside Ontario and Quebec

McGill includes the prerequisites in its top-five Grade 12 academic calculation.
Grade 12 English or French, precalculus or calculus, Physics and Chemistry.

Quebec CEGEP engineering prerequisites

Applicants completing a Quebec DEC

New Science DEC: Chemistry 0C01 and 0C02; Math 0M02, 0M03 and 0M04; Physics 0P01, 0P02 and 0P03.
New Arts & Science DEC: Chemistry 7CH1 and 7CH2; Math 7MA1, 7MA2 and 7MA4; Physics 7PH1, 7PH2 and 7PH3.
Bioengineering, Chemical and Mechanical applicants should present all or nearly all prerequisites. For Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mining, Materials and Software, McGill may consider applicants with equivalent Math NYA and NYB plus two science prerequisites. Missing courses are added if admitted.

U.S. high school engineering prerequisites

Applicants with a U.S. high school diploma

Complete precalculus, chemistry and physics.
ACT and SAT scores are optional for Fall 2027 applicants.

Degree requirements

Credits and degree requirements

Bioengineering: 142–143 credits in the published degree plan.

References

Program facts

Entering average~Mid to high 90s

Typical Ontario Top 6 admission grade range. McGill reports separate guidance for prerequisite mathematics and science grades.

Courses

Published 2026–27 requirements by entry background and study option.

Bioengineering; Foundation year8 listed

Required Year 0 Courses (29 credits). Transfer credit or exemptions depend on entry credentials.

BIOL 112Cell and Molecular Biology3 credits
The cell: ultrastructure, division, chemical constituents and reactions. Bioenergetics: photosynthesis and respiration. Principles of genetics, the molecular basis of inheritance and biotechnology.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
CHEM 110General Chemistry 14 credits
A study of the fundamental principles of atomic structure, radiation and nuclear chemistry, valence theory, coordination chemistry, and the periodic table.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
CHEM 120General Chemistry 24 credits
A study of the fundamental principles of physical chemistry.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
MATH 133Linear Algebra and Geometry3 credits
Systems of linear equations, matrices, inverses, determinants; geometric vectors in three dimensions, dot product, cross product, lines and planes; introduction to vector spaces, linear dependence and independence, bases. Linear transformations. Eigenvalues and diagonalization.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
MATH 140Calculus 13 credits
Review of functions and graphs. Limits, continuity, derivative. Differentiation of elementary functions. Antidifferentiation. Applications.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
MATH 141Calculus 24 credits
The definite integral. Techniques of integration. Applications. Introduction to sequences and series.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
PHYS 131Mechanics and Waves4 credits
The basic laws and principles of Newtonian mechanics; oscillations, waves, and wave optics.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
PHYS 142Electromagnetism and Optics4 credits
The basic laws of electricity and magnetism; geometrical optics.
MCGILL complete current official course definition

Bioengineering; Required non-departmental courses11 listed

Required Non-Departmental Courses (27 credits).

CHEM 212Introductory Organic Chemistry 14 credits
A fundamental study of aliphatic compounds and saturated functional groups including modern concepts of bonding, reaction mechanisms, conformational analysis, spectroscopy, and stereochemistry.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
COMP 208Computer Programming for Physical Sciences and Engineering3 credits
Programming and problem solving in a high level computer language: variables, expressions, types, functions, conditionals, loops, objects and classes. Introduction to algorithms such as searching and sorting. Modular software design, libraries, file input and output, debugging. Emphasis on applications in Physical Sciences and Engineering, such as root finding, numerical integration, diffusion, Monte Carlo methods.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
FACC 100Introduction to the Engineering Profession1 credits
An introduction to engineering practice; professional conduct and responsibility emphasizing ethics, sustainability, and the engineer’s role in society; engineering for sustainability; foundational concepts in engineering design, project management, risk evaluation and management, occupational health and safety.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
FACC 250Responsibilities of the Professional Engineer0 credits
A course designed to provide all Engineering students with further training regarding their responsibilities as future Professional Engineers. Particular focus will be placed on three professional characteristics that future engineers must demonstrate: i) professionalism, ii) ethical and equitable behaviour, and iii) consideration of the impact of engineering on society and the environment.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
FACC 300Engineering Economy3 credits
Introduction to the basic concepts required for the economic assessment of engineering projects. Topics include: accounting methods, marginal analysis, cash flow and time value of money, taxation and depreciation, discounted cash flow analysis techniques, cost of capital, inflation, sensitivity and risk analysis, analysis of R and D, ongoing as well as new investment opportunities.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
FACC 400Engineering Professional Practice1 credits
Laws, regulations and codes governing engineering professional practice. Responsibility and liability. Environmental legislation. Project and organization management. Relations between engineer and client. Technical practice - analysis, design, execution and operation.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
MATH 262Intermediate Calculus3 credits
Series and power series, including Taylor's theorem. Brief review of vector geometry. Vector functions and curves. Partial differentiation and differential calculus for vector valued functions. Unconstrained and constrained extremal problems. Multiple integrals including surface area and change of variables.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
MATH 263Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers3 credits
MATH 264Advanced Calculus for Engineers3 credits
Review of multiple integrals. Differential and integral calculus of vector fields including the theorems of Gauss, Green, and Stokes. Introduction to partial differential equations, separation of variables, Sturm-Liouville problems, and Fourier series.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
PHYS 319Introduction to Biophysics3 credits
Emerging physical approaches and quantitative measurement techniques are providing new insights into longstanding biological questions. This course will present underlying physical theory, quantitative measurement techniques, and significant findings in molecular and cellular biophysics. Principles covered include Brownian motion, low Reynolds-number environments, forces relevant to cells and molecules, chemical potentials, and free energies. These principles are applied to enzymes as molecular machines, membranes, DNA, and RNA.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
WCOM 206Communication in Engineering3 credits
Written and oral communication in Engineering (in English): strategies for generating, developing, organizing, and presenting ideas in a technical setting; problem-solving; communicating to different audiences; editing and revising; and public speaking. Course work based on academic, technical, and professional writing in engineering.
MCGILL complete current official course definition

Bioengineering; Required departmental courses18 listed

Required Bioengineering Courses (53 credits).

BIEN 200Introduction to Bioengineering2 credits
BIEN 203Introduction to Statistics and Data Science3 credits
Probability, adding and multiplying probabilities, conditional and joint probabilities, variables, independence, confidence intervals, p- values and null models, central limit theorem, law of large numbers, statistical power, data normalization, pseudo-counts, T-tests, U test, ANOVA, Chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, Kolmogorov– Smirnov test, sampling/simulated null models, Monte Carlo methods, random walks, multiple-testing correction, data visualization, linear regression, clustering, dimensional reduction, data integration and classification. Analysis of large datasets, useand automation of functions from the Statsmodels and Matplotlib Python modules.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
BIEN 210Electrical and Optical Properties of Biological Systems3 credits
BIEN 219Introduction to Physical Molecular and Cell Biology4 credits
BIEN 220Introduction to Mechanics for Bioengineers2 credits
BIEN 267Bioanalytical Methods in Bioengineering3 credits
BIEN 290Bioengineering Measurement Laboratory3 credits
BIEN 300Thermodynamics in Bioengineering3 credits
BIEN 314Transport Phenomena in Biological Systems 13 credits
BIEN 340Transport Phenomena in Biological Systems 23 credits
Fundamental principles of mass transport and its application to a variety of biological systems. Membrane permeability and diffusive transport. Convection. Transport across cell membranes. Ion channels. Blood rheology. Active transport. Intra- and inter-cellular transport.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
BIEN 350Biosignals, Systems and Control4 credits
BIEN 360Physical Chemistry in Bioengineering3 credits
BIEN 390Bioengineering Laboratory3 credits
BIEN 420Biodevices Design for Diagnostics and Screening3 credits
BIEN 470D1Bioengineering Design Project3 credits
BIEN 470D2Bioengineering Design Project3 credits
BIEN 471Bioengineering Research Project2 credits
BIEN 560Design of Biosensors3 credits

Bioengineering; Stream 1: Biological Materials and Mechanics5 listed

Select one of the three Bioengineering technical streams. This block lists the stream-specific courses. Complete the remaining technical credits from the general list.

BIEN 320Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics3 credits
Basic mechanics of biological building blocks, focusing on the cytoskeleton, with examples from pathology. At the macromolecular level: weak/variable crosslinking and hydrolysis driven athermal processes. At the cellular/tissue level: cell architecture and function. Discussion of modern analytical techniques capable of single-molecule to tissue scale measurements.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
BIEN 330Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine3 credits
BIEN 361Materials for Bio-Applications3 credits
BIEN 570Active Mechanics in Biology3 credits
CIVE 207Solid Mechanics4 credits
Stress-strain relationships; elastic and inelastic behaviour; performance criteria. Elementary and compound stress states, Mohr's circle. Shear strains, torsion. Bending and shear stresses in flexural members. Deflections of beams. Statically indeterminate systems under flexural and axial loads. Columns. Dynamic loading.
MCGILL complete current official course definition

Bioengineering; Stream 2: Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering5 listed

Select one of the three Bioengineering technical streams. This block lists the stream-specific courses. Complete the remaining technical credits from the general list.

BIEN 310Introduction to Biomolecular Engineering3 credits
Forward and reverse engineering of biomolecular systems. Principles of biomolecular thermodynamics and kinetics. Structure and function of the main classes of biomolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Biomolecular systems as mechanical, chemical, and electrical systems. Rational design and evolutionary methods for engineering functional proteins, nucleic acids, and gene circuits. Rational design topics include molecular modeling, positive and negative design paradigms, simulation and optimization of equilibrium and kinetic properties, design of catalysts, sensors, motors, and circuits. Evolutionary design topics include evolutionary mechanisms, fitness landscapes, directed evolution of proteins, metabolic pathways, and gene circuits. Systems biology and synthetic biology.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
BIEN 320Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics3 credits
Basic mechanics of biological building blocks, focusing on the cytoskeleton, with examples from pathology. At the macromolecular level: weak/variable crosslinking and hydrolysis driven athermal processes. At the cellular/tissue level: cell architecture and function. Discussion of modern analytical techniques capable of single-molecule to tissue scale measurements.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
BIEN 330Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine3 credits
BIEN 550Biomolecular Devices3 credits
BIEN 580Synthetic Biology3 credits

Bioengineering; Stream 3: Biological Information and Computation5 listed

Select one of the three Bioengineering technical streams. This block lists the stream-specific courses. Complete the remaining technical credits from the general list.

BIEN 310Introduction to Biomolecular Engineering3 credits
Forward and reverse engineering of biomolecular systems. Principles of biomolecular thermodynamics and kinetics. Structure and function of the main classes of biomolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Biomolecular systems as mechanical, chemical, and electrical systems. Rational design and evolutionary methods for engineering functional proteins, nucleic acids, and gene circuits. Rational design topics include molecular modeling, positive and negative design paradigms, simulation and optimization of equilibrium and kinetic properties, design of catalysts, sensors, motors, and circuits. Evolutionary design topics include evolutionary mechanisms, fitness landscapes, directed evolution of proteins, metabolic pathways, and gene circuits. Systems biology and synthetic biology.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
BIEN 410Computational Methods in Biomolecular Engineering3 credits
BIEN 462Engineering Principles in Physiological Systems3 credits
BIEN 530Imaging and Bioanalytical Instrumentation3 credits
Microscopy techniques with application to biology and medicine. Practical introduction to optics and microscopy from the standpoint of biomedical research. Discussion of recent literature; hands-on experience. Topics include: optics, contrast techniques, advanced microscopy, and image analysis.
MCGILL complete current official course definition
BIEN 540Information Storage and Processing in Biological Systems3 credits