Do you have a part-time undergraduate option?
Canadian undergraduate students may study either full-time (12 credits or more per semester) or part-time. For international students, they must study full-time as it is required by Canadian immigration law. Information for international students may be found here: International Students
Is your program more lecture-based or hands-on?
Our program includes lectures, tutorials, and labs. There are many opportunities for hands-on learning, including class projects, field courses, internships, exchange semesters, student design clubs and competitions, and research assistantships.
Is Bioresource Engineering an accredited engineering program recognized nationally and internationally?
Yes, the program is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. The B.Eng. Bioresource degree is recognized in all Canadian jurisdictions and in many other countries around the world.
Is the co-op program different from an internship? Will the student be paid?
A co-op degree includes mandatory work experience as part of the program. We do not offer a co-op degree, but many of our students take internship courses. Internship courses are optional in our program, allowing a student to gain credit for paid industrial work experience.
What job and career opportunities are available for this program?
Bioresource Engineering graduates are in high demand in industry, engineering consulting, government, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Students may also choose to further their education by pursuing graduate studies.
Does this program involve taking biology as a subject?
Bioresource Engineering is the combination of engineering principles and applied biology. Students take fundamental courses in engineering and biology; they may take additional courses in biological materials, microbiology, animal or plant science, and ecology.
What subjects are taken in the first two years of the program?
Suggested course sequences and a program flow chart are posted here: Programs and Course Sequences.
Do you have note takers? I have a mild hearing problem.
Yes, the Office for Student Accessibility and Achievement offers many learning accommodations.
Does this program involve applications in medicine or human biology?
No, human nutrition is the only area of health care closely related to Bioresource Engineering. If you are interested in other applications of engineering in health and medicine, please refer to McGill’s programs in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering.
Is Bioresource Engineering the same as Bioengineering?
No. Bioresource Engineering relates to the production of biological materials (food, fiber, and fuel), the processing of those materials into consumer products, and good stewardship of the environmental impact of those activities. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering are more closely related to medical applications.
What R-score is required for admission to Bioresource Engineering?
The minimum R-scores for admission is around 25.5. Please note that admission requirements change from year to year, and meeting the minimum R-score does not guarantee admission.
Why do people choose to study Bioresource Engineering?
This varies from individual to individual. Bioresource engineers often say that they want to develop new technology to sustainably provide food, water, and other necessities for life. Bioresource Engineering students not only learn how to design solutions to complex engineering problems, but they also learn why such problems are important and why proper design protocols are necessary.
Can a student start in Bioresource Engineering and then transfer to another program or faculty?
Yes, students can transfer to other programs within the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Transfers to programs in other McGill faculties are also possible, but each faculty has its own admissions criteria for inter-faculty transfers.
How long does it take to complete the Bioresource Engineering program?
The program can be completed in 3.5 years (seven academic semesters) by Quebec students with a Science diploma from a CEGEP, or 4.5 years (nine semesters) for students who have a high-school diploma from other provinces or countries. Each student progresses at their own pace, so completion time varies.
Can a student take a program in another Faculty and do a Minor in Bioresource Engineering?
There is currently no Minor offered in Bioresource Engineering. You may be interested in the Minor in Environmental Engineering.