Master of Engineering (MEng) in Systems Design Engineering

The program information below was valid for the spring 2022 term (May 1, 2022 - August 31, 2022). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Graduate specializations

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Biomedical Systems
  • Human Factors
  • Mechatronics and Physical Systems
  • Vision, Image and Signal Processing 

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Spring
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • Full-time: 4 terms (16 months)
    • Part-time: 8 terms (32 months)
  • Program type 
    • Master's
    • Professional
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
    • Part-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • An Honours Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with at least an overall 75% standing from a recognized university.
    • A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score is required for all students whose undergraduate degree is not from Canada or the USA.
  • Application materials 
    • Résumé
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
  • References 
    • Number of references:  2
    • Type of references: 

      A minimum of 1 academic reference. Applicants who complete their degree five or more years before the application date may submit 2 professional references.
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Coursework option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must complete the following 2 core Systems Design Engineering graduate courses:
      • SYDE 600 Systems Theory, Models, Research & Design
      • 1 of:
        • SYDE 660A Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 - AI and Machine Learning,
        • SYDE 660B Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 – Biomedical Systems,
        • SYDE 660C Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 – Human Factors,
        • SYDE 660D Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 - Mechatronic & Physical Systems,
        • SYDE 660E Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 - Vision, Image & Signal Processing, or
        • SYDE 660 Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1
    • In addition to the 2 core courses, students must complete 6 Engineering graduate courses (0.50 unit weight per course) counting towards degree credit from the University of Waterloo satisfying the following criteria:
      • At least 2 Systems Design Engineering courses at the 500, 600 or 700 level.
      • At most 2 courses at the 500 level.
    • Students in the MEng in Systems Design Engineering program may also choose to pursue one of the following five Graduate Specializations:

            1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
            2. Biomedical Systems
            3. Human Factors
            4. Mechatronics and Physical Systems
            5. Vision, Image and Signal Processing

    •  A Graduate Specialization is a University credential that is recognized on the student’s transcript but not on the diploma and is intended to reflect that a student has successfully completed a set of courses that together provide an in-depth study in the area of the Graduate Specialization. A student will only obtain the Graduate Specialization on their transcript if they have completed the requirements associated with the MEng degree and the requirements associated with the Graduate Specialization.
    • All MEng Graduate Specializations in Systems Design Engineering consist of a set of 4 graduate (0.50 weight) level courses and this set is comprised of a mix of specified and elective courses. Specified courses are those that are prescribed as part of the Graduate Specialization. Elective courses are those that are on a list of courses designated as electives for a given Graduate Specialization. The requirements for each of the five Graduate Specializations are described below.

    1. Graduate Specialization in Artificial Intelligence and
    Machine Learning

    • Students must satisfy the following:
    • 3 Specified courses:
      • SYDE 522 Machine Intelligence or SYDE 552 Computational​​​​ Neurosciences
      • SYDE 660A Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 – AI and Machine Learning
      • SYDE 675 Pattern Recognition 
    • Elective courses (at least 1 course from the following list):
      • SYDE 662 Systems Design Graduate Workshop 2
      • SYDE 671 Advanced Image Processing
      • SYDE 672 Statistical Image Processing
      • SYDE 673 Video Processing & Analytics
      • SYDE 674 3D Computer Vision & Imaging

    2. Graduate Specialization in Biomedical Systems

    • Students must satisfy the following:
    • 3 Specified courses:
      • SYDE 660B Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 – Biomedical Systems
      • At least 2 from the following list:
        • SYDE 544 Biomed Measure & SIP
        • SYDE 684 Materials Biocompatability
        • SYDE 750 Topic 20 Topics in Systems Modelling: Modeling of​​​​​​​ Biomechanical Systems
        • SYDE 750 Topic 36 Topics in Systems Modelling: Assistive​​​​​​​ Tech and Rehab Eng 
    • Elective courses (at least 1 from the following list or an additional course from the Specified course list)
      • SYDE 552 Computational Neurosciences​​​​​​​
      • SYDE 556 Simulating Neurobiological Systems
      • SYDE 652 Dynamics of Multibody Systems
      • SYDE 662 Systems Design Graduate Workshop 2
      • SYDE 677 Medical Imaging
    • Note that only one 500 level course may be used to satisfy the requirements of a Graduate Specialization. Therefore, if​​​​​ SYDE 544 is taken as a Specified course, then SYDE 552 and SYDE 556 cannot be taken to satisfy the Elective course requirement.

    3. Graduate Specialization in Human Factors

    • Students must satisfy the following:
    • 3 Specified courses:
      • SYDE 660C Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 – Human Factors
      • At least 2 from the following list:
        • SYDE 542 Interface Design or SYDE 543 Cognitive Ergonomics
        • SYDE 642 Cognitive Engineering Methods
        • SYDE 644 Human Factors Testing
    • Elective courses (at least 1 from the following list or an additional course from the Specified course list):
      • SYDE 533 Conflict Resolution
      • SYDE 662 Systems Design Graduate Workshop 2
      • SYDE 740 Advanced Cognitive Ergonomics
    • Note that only one 500 level course may be used to satisfy the requirements of a Graduate Specialization. Therefore, if​​​​​​​ SYDE 542 or SYDE 543 is taken as a Specified course, then SYDE 533 cannot be taken to satisfy the Elective course requirement.

    4. Graduate Specialization in Mechatronic and Physical Systems

    • Students must satisfy the following:
    • 3 Specified courses:
      • SYDE 660D Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 - Mechatronic & Physical Systems
      • At least 2 from the following list:
        • SYDE 553 Advanced Dynamics
        • SYDE 652 Dynamics of Multibody Systems
        • SYDE 655 Optimal Control
        • SYDE 682 Advanced MEMS, Physics, Design & Fabrication
        • SYDE 683 Modelling, Simulation & Design of MEMS​​​​​​​
        • SYDE 750 Modelling Continuum Systems
    • Elective courses (at least 1 from the following list or an additional course from the Specified course list):
      • SYDE 531 Design Opt. under Probabilistic Uncertainty
      • SYDE 631 Time Series Modelling
      • SYDE 661 Model-based robust design
      • SYDE 662 Systems Design Graduate Workshop 2
    • Note that only one 500 level course may be used to satisfy the requirements of a Graduate Specialization. Therefore, if​​​​​​​ SYDE 553 is taken as a Specified course, then SYDE 531 cannot be taken to satisfy the Elective course requirement.

    5. Graduate Specialization in Vision, Image and Signal Processing

    • Students must satisfy the following:
    • 3 Specified courses:
      • SYDE 660E Systems Design Graduate Workshop 1 - Vision, Image & Signal Processing
      • At least 2 from the following list:
        • SYDE 575 Image Processing
        • SYDE 671 Advanced Image Processing
        • SYDE 677 Medical Imaging 
    • Elective courses (at least 1 from the following list or an additional course from the Specified course list):
      • SYDE 544 Biomed Measure & SIP
      • SYDE 633 Remote Sensing Systems
      • SYDE 662 Systems Design Graduate Workshop 2
      • SYDE 672 Statistical Image Processing
      • SYDE 673 Video Processing & Analytics​​​​​​​
      • SYDE 674 3D Computer Vision & Imaging
      • SYDE 675 Pattern Recognition
    • Note that only one 500 level course may be used to satisfy the requirements of a Graduate Specialization. Therefore, if​​​​​​​ SYDE 575 is taken as a specified course, then SYDE 544 cannot be taken to satisfy the Elective course requirement.

    • All course selections are arranged by the student.

    • Note: these requirements are in addition to satisfactory completion of any transitional courses that may be specified at the time of admission.

  • Link(s) to courses
Systems Design Engineering website
Master of Engineering (MEng) in Systems Design Engineering future students program page