Biological and Medical Physics

    Biological and Medical Physics

    Duration4 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    CAD 17,759 / per year
    Next IntakeSeptember 1, 2026

    Biological and Medical Physics

    About

    If you enjoy biology and physics and want a career in medical technology, cancer research, neurophysics, biophysics instrumentation, or academia, Biological and Medical Physics at Waterloo is for you.

    Run by the Department of Physics and Astronomy — one of the largest and most innovative physics departments in Canada — this flexible and interdisciplinary program is based on a solid foundation of physics, chemistry, and biology. Not to mention you'll have the opportunity to gain paid work experience through co-op work terms.

    Join a program that fosters curious minds to question the smallest particles, the largest forces, and everything in between. You’ll enjoy small classes, hands-on labs, and the opportunity to get involved in research and teaching.

    Be part of a community that includes professor Avery Broderick, who is researching the fundamental physics of black holes as part of the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, and Nobel Prize laureate Donna Strickland, whose research led to profound impacts in medicine, enabling advancements in laser eye surgery and cancer treatment through highly precise and powerful laser pulses.

    Disciplines

    Faculty of Science

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    Admission requirements

    Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including

    • English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
    • Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
    • Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
    • Two of: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, or Physics

    Admission averages: Low 80s

    Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

    How to apply

    Apply to Physical Sciences and select Biological and Medical Physics as your major in first year.

    English Requirements

    • PTEMin 63
    • IELTSMin 6.5
    • TOEFLMin 90

    Career

    What can you do with a degree in Biological and Medical Physics?

    Biological and Medical Physics is a uniquely interdisciplinary degree, which gives you a great deal of flexibility depending on which electives you choose. You could pursue professional programs such as medicine or optometry or work in fields such as radiation oncology and medical imaging. You could specialize as a health physics technician in industries, or as a medical physicist or medical imaging technician in hospitals. You could also go on to do research related to biology, physics, or both.

    You can learn more about medical physics and career options on the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists website.

    Possible careers for graduates

    • Senior Scientist, Drug Discovery — Merck Canada
    • Medical Physicist — Cancer Centres
    • Health and Safety Officer — Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
    • Customer Support, Scientific Instrumentation — Olympus
    • Product Developer — Christie Medical

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee
    17,759 / per year

    Biological and Medical Physics

    University of Waterloo

    University of Waterloo

    Canada

    Canada, Waterloo