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IBEHS 1 and Admissions

The Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences program has a common first year, also known as IBEHS 1.  This allows students to explore all degree path options before choosing a focus stream of either the Bachelor of Engineering and Biomedical Engineering (B.Eng. BME) or Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences in Health Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (B.H.Sc.).  During the first year of study, iBioMed students develop a solid foundation in math and science, with a focus on biomedical engineering and the health science applications and are able to build a personal network of peers before moving to their level two streams.

Admissions

Target first year enrolment is 140 for September. After first year, 90 spots are available in the Bachelor of Engineering and Biomedical Engineering program and 50 spots are available in the Bachelor of Health Sciences in Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship program. Students are guaranteed a spot in second year, upon successful completion of the first year program, however, space in each program is awarded on a competitive basis.

Top 6 Grade 12 U/M courses including:

  • ENG 4U – English
  • MCV 4U – Calculus
  • SCH 4U – Chemistry
  • SPH 4U – Physics
  • SBI 4U – Biology

Offers of Admission are by selection with a minimum required average of 90%.

  • January 16, 2019  - OUAC application deadline | OUAC application code: MEH or MEI (co-op)
  • Within 10 days - You will receive an invitation via email to access the supplementary application
  • You will be required to pay a $40 registration fee after which you can begin the supplementary application process
  • Supplementary applications can be submitted anytime after the registration fee is paid up until February 1, 2019.
  • February 1, 2019 - supplementary applications CLOSE
  • Early May, 2019 - Admission offers will begin to be sent out

  • What is involved?

    Supplementary Application (mandatory) - $40 Fee | Submission Deadline: February 1, 2019

    The supplementary application is a mandatory part of the admissions process for the Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (iBioMed) and Engineering. Only one application is required if you are applying to both programs.

    The supplementary application will consist of 3 questions (2 video response and 1 written response) and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.  Unlimited practice sessions are available for video responses, however, once you begin your formal video interview, you will only get one opportunity to answer each question.

    For each video response: you will receive 1 minute to prepare your answer and 2 minutes to verbally respond to your question.
    Written Response: you will have 10 minutes to complete your answer from when you receive the question.

    How you respond to these questions is an opportunity for you to show us how you project yourself in person and in written formats under a time restraint.You will receive an invitation by email to access the supplementary application portal within 10 business days of completing your application through OUAC. Once you have access, you can practice as many times you want before you start your actual interview. Please note that once you begin your actual interview, you will have 30 minutes to complete the entire process.

    What are some sample questions? 

    Examples of practice supplementary application questions (practice questions will be different from real interview questions):

    • What does being resourceful mean to you, and why is it important?

    • Tell us about a time management strategy you used. Why does it work?

    • How do you create a balance for yourself when working in a stressful environment­?

    • Give us an example of a time you acted with integrity.


    I have not received the email with login information.

    Please wait 10 business days for the email to be sent to you. If it has been more than 10 business days, please email thinkibiomed@mcmaster.ca with the issue and your OUAC reference number.

     I am having technical problems with my KIRA application.

    Please emailn KIRA directly at support@kiratalent.com 

    I'm having issues with payment.

    Please email us at thinkibiomed@mcmaster.ca so that we can further assist you.

Applicants will be evaluated solely on their percentage grades.  If applicants wish to be assessed based on IB predicted scores, they must submit a written request to the Admission Office by May 1, 2019.

Advanced Credit

Due to the accreditation of the iBioMed program, students are only eligible to receive advanced credit for their elective course.  

  • IB - Minimum 5 out of 7 in Higher level courses
  • AP - Minimum 4 out of 5

Interested in applying to iBioMed at McMaster?  Review the Admissions Checklist and get started now.

Apply now!

Common First Year

At McMaster, iBioMed students take a common Level I program with the following courses:

IBEHS 1P10 - Health Solutions Design Projects I
CHEM 1E03 - General Chemistry
HTHSCI 1I06 - Cellular and Molecular Biology
MATH 1ZA3 - Engineering Mathematics I
MATH 1ZB3 - Engineering Mathematics II-A
MATH 1ZC3 - Engineering Mathematics II-B
PHYSICS 1D03 - Introductory Mechanics
PHYSICS 1E03 - Waves, Electricity and Magnetic Fields
ELECTIVE - 3 units approved Complementary Studies electives

Typical Timetable

The below is to be used as a guideline only.

Typical Timetable

How to Register

Once a student is accepted, they will need to register and enrol in courses.  Watch the video below for all you need to know to enrol successfully! 

Engineering Video 2017 - IBEHS from Chad Fullerton on Vimeo.

FAQ's

The iBioMed program is the first program in Canada to offer a truly interdisciplinary 5-year biomedical program that integrates Engineering with Health Sciences. It is the only Health Sciences program in health, engineering and entrepreneurship. There are applied learning opportunities with a strong emphasis on inquiry and problem based learning (PBL).

Admissions

Admission for the iBioMed program is by selection. Students will be assessed based on their top 6 grade 12 U/M courses including:

    • ENG 4U – English
    • MCV 4U – Calculus
    • SBI 4U – Biology
    • SCH 4U – Chemistry
    • SPH 4U – Physics

Students must complete the supplementary application as well. 

Students presenting only 2 of the 3 sciences must notify the Admissions Office upon application. The office will then consider students on a case-by-case basis. Students are encouraged to complete the third science through night or online class.

The minimum average required for consideration is 90%. The supplementary application will be used in combination with the student’s academic performance. This global assessment will help us decide who we will welcome to our Engineering community in September 2019.

We will be admitting 140 students for September entry. Beginning in second year, students will pursue more specialized courses of study in the:

    • Bachelor of Engineering and Biomedical Engineering (B.Eng.BME) degree or
    • Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences (B.H.Sc.) degree in Health Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship

Students will indicate their preferred stream upon application to the program.

90 spaces are available in the B.Eng.BME stream and 50 spaces are available the B.H.Sc. stream.

Similar to Engineering I, students are eligible to receive Free Choice of their 2nd year Engineering discipline upon receiving an offer of admission to iBioMed. Only students entering into the B.Eng.BME stream with Free Choice can use that Free Choice. They will select from 1 of 8 Level II Engineering programs (chemical, civil, electrical, engineering physics, materials, mechanical, mechatronics, or software).

Offers of admission for the iBioMed program will go out in Early May.

No. The iBioMed program is a separate direct entry program that will not guarantee acceptance into Engineering I or the Bachelor of Health Sciences. Students interested in the Engineering I or the Bachelor of Health Sciences programs must apply separately on the OUAC website.

Supplementary Application

Students will require an internet connected computer with a functioning webcam and microphone. After paying the $40 registration fee, students will be asked a question, given prep time, and a set amount of time to respond. There will be three questions asked. Two involve verbal responses while the third requires a written response. It will take 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

Students only need to complete the supplementary application once (and pay one $40 fee) regardless of whether or not they apply to both programs. This is due to the fact that the supplementary applications are same. However, the questions are drawn from a large bank so everyone will likely being answering unique questions.  

It is highly recommended that the students’ responses be recorded using a webcam and microphone. Responses can be recorded using other methods (i.e.: phone) but it is not recommended. If the student does not have access to a webcam and microphone, the student should somehow find access to them.

Please contact KIRA Talent, the company who will be administering the supplementary application. Their contact information will be available on the supplementary application portal.

The system allows for unlimited practice sessions but once the student starts the formal interview questions, he/she will only get one chance. This allows us to see their candid responses.

Students must apply to iBioMed on www.ouac.on.ca by January. In mid-January, applicants will receive an email invitation from KIRA Talent describing the video interview in more detail. From mid-January to February, applicants are given time to practice before completing the video interview. The supplementary application will be due February 1.

Program Structure

Students will be a part of a dual faculty of Engineering and Health Sciences, which makes it a very unique program within Canada.

The iBioMed program shares a common integrated first year curriculum for both degree options.

    • IBEHS 1P10 - Health Solutions Design Projects I
    • CHEM 1E03 - General Chemistry 
    • HTHSCI 1I06 - Cellular and Molecular Biology 
    • MATH 1ZA3 - Engineering Mathematics I 
    • MATH 1ZB3 - Engineering Mathematics II-A 
    • MATH 1ZC3 - Engineering Mathematics II-B 
    • PHYSICS 1D03 - Introductory Mechanics 
    • PHYSICS 1E03 - Waves, Electricity and Magnetic Fields 
    • ONE ELECTIVE - Complementary Studies

Students will take a 10 unit course that spans two semesters. This course integrates fundamentals from first year engineering (ENG 1P03, ENG 1D04, ENG 1C03 & MATLS 1M03) as well as health sciences to design and create a device that has real world applications in the health field.

No. This class will only be offered during the fall and winter terms.

As enrolment is limited in each of the two degree options, where there is more demand than spaces, competition will be based on first-year academic achievement. All students who successfully complete the first year of the program will have a space in one of the two degree options.

The iBioMed program is a direct entry program, unlike Engineering I. It incorporates a 10 unit course unique to the new program that integrates the key principles in engineering and health sciences. From second year to fifth year, entrepreneurship courses are integrated throughout the curriculum. To promote collaboration, students in the iBioMed program will complete a series of project-based design courses intended to develop their working knowledge of contemporary issues related to society, ethics, and professionalism while developing biomedical engineering solutions to real-world healthcare problems (ex. design a longer lasting hip replacement, construct a less expensive MRI machine, create a more durable prosthetic arm)

Yes. Each specialization in this program is also offered with a co-op option, providing students the opportunity to complete at least 12 months of paid industrial/practical experience prior to graduation.

Internal Transfers

An Internal Transfer refers to a current student registered in a program at McMaster University who is looking to transfer in to the iBioMed program.  Please refer to our Academic Advising page for more information.

Please refer to the "Application Procedures" in the Academic Calendar.

There is no guarantee an internal transfer into the iBioMed program will be possible. There may be a small amount of seats for transfer, but will be prioritized based on the student’s GPA.

There is no guarantee of a transfer from the B.Eng.BME stream into the B.H.Sc. stream, or vice versa. Transfer requests will be reviewed based on available seats in the desired program, and prioritized based on the student’s GPA.

Scholarships

Applicants can apply for 14 Dean’s Excellence Entrance Scholarships valued at $7,500 each. This will also include an Undergraduate Summer Research Award valued at $5,000. Students will undertake ground-breaking research under the guidance of distinguished faculty mentors and will be actively engaged within research groups of graduate and undergraduate student researchers.

More information can be found on our Scholarships page.

Learn more here!

Future Careers

Students will have unique combination of skills and knowledge that the iBioMed program will provide, graduates will not only be uniquely positioned for career in the biomedical engineering, biotechnology, and health and biomedical science sectors of the economy, they will also remain well-positioned for careers that fall within the spectrum of their parent discipline (ex. Civil, Electrical, Software etc). Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship graduates will have skills to develop new private sector opportunities. Furthermore, graduates will be well equipped to pursue further studies in graduate research or professional health sciences careers, such as medicine.