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

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.

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 ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

See the “Medicine Programs” entry in this Calendar.

None.

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.

None.

Information about institutes in the Cumming School of Medicine can be found at .