Site Navigation
Welcome
Important Notice and Disclaimer
Faculty of Graduate Studies General Information
Graduate Students' Association (GSA)
Academic Schedule
Faculty of Graduate Studies Degrees Information
Admissions
Awards and Financial Assistance for Graduate Students
Fees and Expenses
Academic Regulations
Program Descriptions
Anthropology ANTH
Archaeology ARKY
Art ART
Biological Sciences BISI
Biomedical Engineering BMEN
Chemistry CHEM
Communication and Culture CMCL
Communications Studies COMS
Computational Media Design CMD
Computer Science CPSC
Culture and Society CUSP
Drama DRAM
Economics ECON
Education Graduate Programs
Engineering Programs ENGG
Engineering, Chemical and Petroleum ENCH
Engineering, Civil ENCI
Engineering, Electrical and Computer ENEL
Engineering, Geomatics ENGO
Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing ENME
English ENGL
Environmental Design EVDS
French, Italian and Spanish FISL
Geography GEOG
Geoscience GLGP
German GSEA
Greek and Roman Studies GRST
Haskayne School of Business: Management MGMT
History HIST
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program IGP
Kinesiology KNES
Law LAW
Linguistics LING
Mathematics and Statistics MTST
Medicine Programs
Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology MDBC
Medicine, Biomedical Technology MDBT
Medicine, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences MDCV
Medicine, Community Health Sciences MDCH
Medicine, Gastrointestinal Sciences MDGI
Medicine, Immunology MDIM
Medicine, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases MDMI
Medicine, Neuroscience MDNS
Medicine, Medical Science MDSC
Military and Strategic Studies CMSS
Music MUSI
Nursing NURS
Philosophy PHIL
Physics and Astronomy PHAS
Political Science POLI
Psychology PSYC
Public Policy PPOL
Religious Studies RELS
Social Work SOWK
Sociology SOCI
Sustainable Energy Development SEDV
Veterinary Medical Sciences VMS
Interdisciplinary Specializations
Courses of Instruction
Student Services
About the University of Calgary
Graduate Studies Calendar 2015-2016 Program Descriptions Medicine Programs Medicine, Medical Science MDSC
Medicine, Medical Science MDSC
Contact Information

Location: Health Sciences Centre, Room G347A
Program number: 403.220.6852
Fax: 403.210.8109
Email address: medgrad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL: http://www.ucalgary.ca/mdsc

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based

Students in the MSc and PhD degree programs are normally considered full-time.

Specializations:

  • Cancer Biology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Mountain Medicine and High Altitude Physiology
  • Joint Injury and Arthritis
  • Biomechanics
  • Biomedical Ethics
  • Molecular & Medical Genetics
  • Pathologists' Assistant
  • Physiology
  • Surgery (In co-operation with the Department of Surgery)
  • Medical Imaging (Interdisciplinary)*

* See the Calendar section on Interdisciplinary Specializations for further information.

2. Admission Requirements

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Cumming School of Medicine requirements, the Medical Science Graduate Program requires the following:

a) a minimum admission grade point average of 3.30 (on the University of Calgary four-point system; equivalent to a "B+") based on the last two years of the undergraduate degree consisting of a minimum of 60 units (10 full-course equivalents).

b) For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in the English language, a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based test), 100 (Internet-based test), or a minimum IELTS score of 7.0, or a minimum MELAB score of 84, specializations may have additional requirements.

c) Two reference letters and reference forms.

d) For admission to the Master of Science program with a specialization in surgery, prior admission to the surgery residency program is required. Students will normally apply to the Master of Science program in the third year of the surgery residency program. For admission to the Surgeon Scientist Program prior admission to the Medical Science Graduate Program is required.

3. Application Deadline

Deadlines for submission of required documents for international applicants:

April 1 for September admission
August 1 for January admission
December 1 for May admission
February 1 for July admission

Deadlines for submission of required documents for domestic applicants:

June 1 for September admission
October 1 for January admission
March 1 for May admission
May 1 for July admission

4. Advanced Credit

Advanced credit is not normally given in a thesis-based program. See “Medicine Programs”.

5. Program/Course Requirements

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Cumming School of Medicine requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Science

a) A BSc degree or equivalent.

b) A minimum of 6 units at the graduate level (1.0 full-course equivalent).

c) Regular attendance and presentation at a journal club and a final seminar which precedes the thesis defence, although specific training programs may have additional requirements.

Doctor of Philosophy

a) A MSc degree, or relevant master’s degree, recognized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, or transfer from MSc program, or, in exceptional cases, BSc degree or equivalent.

b) A minimum of 9 units at the graduate level (1.5 full-course equivalents).

c) Regular attendance and presentation at a journal club and a final seminar which precedes the thesis defence, although specific training programs may have additional requirements.

6. Additional Requirements

Attendance at a half-day Research Integrity Day seminar during their program. Students must attend this seminar before they are approved to defend their thesis. The seminar is held only twice per year, once in January and again in April. Contact the Graduate Program Administrator for more information.

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

Graduate credit may be given for 500-level courses. No more than 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) of credit will be allowed in a 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) (e.g., if a 500-level full-course is taken, only 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) credit is allowed toward the completion of program course requirements).

8. Time Limit

Average completion time for students in the MSc program is two and a half years, four and a half years in the PhD program. The MSc program must be completed in four years and the PhD program in six years.

Leaders in Medicine - Expected completion time is four to five years in the MD/MSc program, six to seven years in the MD/PhD program.

See “Medicine Programs” for maximum completion times.

9. Supervisory Assignments

Students in thesis-based programs must have identified a supervisor at the time of admission. In consultation with their supervisors, students select a supervisory committee consisting of their supervisor plus two other faculty members (MSc) or three other faculty members (PhD) within three months of the appointment of the Supervisor. The Graduate Program Director must approve the composition of the supervisory committee. Specializations may have additional requirements.

10. Required Examinations

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the program requires:

Thesis Examination

Scheduling of the Examination

All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee

The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

11. Research Proposal Requirements

See the “Medicine Programs” entry in this Calendar.

12. Special Registration Information

None.

13. Financial Assistance

Financial assistance must be provided by the supervisor, except for MD holders also enrolled in a clinical training program. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar.

Information and deadlines for Medical Science Faculty of Graduate Studies’ award competitions will be provided throughout the year.

14. Other Information

None.

15. Faculty Members/Research Interests

Information about institutes in the Cumming School of Medicine can be found at http://medicine.ucalgary.ca/research/institutes.