UofC

Location: Health Sciences Centre, Room G45A
Program number: 403.220.2558
Fax: 403.210.8109
Email address: neurosci@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL: cumming.ucalgary.ca/gse/programs/neuroscience

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

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

a) Qualifications

Master of Science

• Four-year BSc degree or equivalent
• 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).

Doctor of Philosophy

• MSc degree, or relevant master’s degree, recognized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, or transfer from MSc program, or, in exceptional cases, four-year BSc degree or equivalent.
• 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) and any master’s course work, if applicable.

b) English Language Proficiency

See Medicine Programs.

c) Immunizations

See Medicine Programs.

d) Additional Requirements

• Applicants are required to arrange for the submission of two reference letters. References must follow the guidelines posted on the program’s website for prospective students.
• Students must have confirmed a faculty member willing to supervise their studies.
• Endorsement by the Graduate Program Director that the applicant is acceptable and that adequate supervision in the proposed program is available.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Applications are ranked according to academic excellence, prior research experience and commitment to the study of gastrointestinal sciences.

Application deadlines are available on the Future Students webpages:

Master of Science: ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/neuroscience-master-science-thesis-based

Doctor of Philosophy: ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/neuroscience-doctor-philosophy-thesis-based

Applicants must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission. Any credit to be given for courses completed will be included in the letter of offer for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

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

Master of Science

The minimum academic course requirement is normally 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) which is met by the satisfactory completion of Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience (Medical Science 619.01), and Systems Neuroscience and Neuropathology (Medical Science 619.02) in the first year.

Doctor of Philosophy 

The minimum academic course requirement is normally 9 units (1.5 full-course equivalents) which is met by: 

• the satisfactory completion of Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience (Medical Science 619.01) and Systems Neuroscience and Neuropathology (Medical Science 619.02) in the first year, and 
• the satisfactory completion of another 3-unit (0.5 full-course equivalent) graduate-level course in an area that is pertinent to the student's thesis project and approved by the supervisor and supervisory committee.

Each student is required to participate regularly in the Hotchkiss Brain Institute journal club and work-in-progress seminar programs and the student will present at least one journal club seminar and one work-in-progress presentation per year.

Research Integrity Day

See Medicine Programs.

Under exceptional circumstances, credit may be given for courses taken below the 600 level. At least one half of a graduate student’s course work must be at the 600 level or higher. Students may receive credit for completing a course numbered 500-599 providing that the course is recommended by the supervisory committee and approval is received by the Graduate Program Director.

Completion times follow the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations (see Time Limits):

• Maximum completion time for a thesis-based master’s program is four years. Expected completion time is two years.
• Maximum completion time for a doctoral program is six years. Expected completion time is four years.

The selection of a graduate supervisor must be by mutual agreement between the student and the faculty member concerned at the time of the application to the program and approved by the Graduate Program Director. Supervisors must commit to supporting the student for the duration of their graduate studies, before admission is recommended.

Supervisory committees, required for both master’s and doctoral students, are established based upon the needs of the student and the expertise of the committee members, following discussions between the student and the supervisor and approved by the Graduate Program Director. A supervisory committee, consisting of supervisor and co-supervisor (if applicable), plus two additional members, must be in place no later than 3 months after the student's first registration in the program.

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

Doctoral Candidacy

Candidacy must be completed within 28 months (for MSc to PhD transfers) or 24 months (direct entry PhD) from the program start date. Admission to candidacy is an acknowledgement that a student is fully prepared to devote their full attention to the thesis research.

To enter into candidacy, students must: (1) successfully complete all required courses, (2) attend Research Integrity Day (3) have their thesis proposal approved at a proposal evaluation meeting, and (4) successfully complete a Field of Study oral examination.

Students who do not pass their candidacy requirements by the twenty-eighth month of their program may be required to withdraw from the program. Specific details of the examination format and other candidacy requirements can be found at: wcm.ucalgary.ca/gse/files/gse/csm-candidacy-examination-process-effective-september-1-2015.pdf.

Thesis Examination

All students in thesis-based programs (MSc and PhD) must successfully pass the Final Thesis Oral Examination (see Thesis Examinations). The examination will consist of a public seminar followed by an open oral 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.

All MSc and PhD students must defend a written research proposal to their supervisory committee. For MSc students, this document must be submitted within 12 months after initial registration in the program. For additional information about the PhD research proposal, refer to: wcm.ucalgary.ca/gse/files/gse/csm-candidacy-examination-process-effective-september-1-2015.pdf.

All students who are accepted into the program and are full-time will receive a minimum stipend ($21,000 per annum for MSc students and $23,000 per annum for PhD students) generally funded by their supervisor’s operating grants, internal awards, and/or external awards. Self-funding is not an option except for MD holders also enrolled in a clinical training program. 

Students are expected to apply to external agencies for financial support from scholarships or studentship awards and for University of Calgary Scholarships (see Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar). Possible sources of financial support are listed on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website: grad.ucalgary.ca/awards.

Some program specific awards are also available, dependent on funding. Some awards provide stipends in excess of the program minimum. Please see the program website: cumming.ucalgary.ca/gse/programs/neuroscience. Some awards are also available through the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at hbi.ucalgary.ca/education.