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Medical Science

Master of Science (MSc)

Thesis-based program

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Program overview

For over 40 years the graduate program in Medical Science has prepared students for independent scientific careers in academic and non-academic settings. Graduates of the master's program have gone on to doctoral studies or jobs in industry at leading institutes across Canada and around the world.

One of the University of Calgary's largest graduate programs, Medical Science offers specializations ranging from cancer biology and critical care to molecular and medical genetics (but training is not limited to these specialties). Our program is supported by collaborations with related programs throughout the Cumming School of Medicine and the University of Calgary.

Completing this program

  • Courses: Topics will be determined according to the student's research area.

  • Research Ethics: Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program.

  • Seminars: Students will participate in a research in progress seminar and journal club relevant to their program.

  • Research Proposal: Students must defend a written research proposal to their supervisory committee.

  • Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.

Specializations

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

Outcomes

Academic researchers, education, medicine, government agencies, health organizations, and the private sector/industry; biotechnology start-up companies, clinical trials, research-oriented positions in pharmaceutical/biotech companies and Fortune 500 businesses.

A master’s degree in medical science will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.

Thesis-based program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Courses

Two courses

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

Two years full time; four years maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required; potential supervisors must be listed when applying to the program

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary’s (UCalgary) Foothills Campus from anywhere. Experience all that the Cumming School of Medicine has to offer for interested prospective graduate students. Explore this state of the art campus from wherever you are. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.

Take the Foothills Campus Virtual Tour

Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.

  1. Ning photo

    Ning Cheng

    Seeking Students
    Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, Translational studies on neurodevelopmental disorders using animal models
  2. Carla Coffin

    Carla Coffin

    Accepting Inquiries
    Hepatitis B Virus Infection
  3. Alastair Cribb

    Alastair Cribb

    Unavailable
    Pharmacogenetics, Molecular toxicology
  4. Placeholder Profile Image

    Jeroen De Buck

    Accepting Inquiries
  5. Deborah Dewey

    Deborah Dewey

    Unavailable
    pediatric health and neurodevelopment, Other Degrees I Supervise
  6. Antoine Dufour

    Antoine Dufour

    Unavailable
    Proteomics, proteases, systems biology, inflammation, immunity
  7. Jeff F Dunn

    Jeff F. Dunn

    Accepting Inquiries
    Disease processes, Medical imaging
  8. Kirsten Fiest

    Kirsten Fiest

    Unavailable
    Epidemiology
  9. Nils Daniel Forkert

    Nils Daniel Forkert

    Seeking Students
    Medical Image Processing
  10. Richard Frayne

    Richard Frayne

    Accepting Inquiries
    Brain and Cerebrovascular Imaging

Admission Requirements

GPA

A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

A four year baccalaureate degree, or equivalent from a recognized institution.

Work samples

None

Documents

None

Reference letters

Two

Test scores

None

English language proficiency

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

Deadlines

For admission on May 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Mar. 1 application deadline
  • International students: Dec. 1 application deadline

For admission on Sept. 1

  • Canadians and permanent residents: June 1 application deadline
  • International students: Apr. 1 application deadline

For admission on Jan. 1

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Oct. 1 application deadline
  • International students: Aug. 1 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Learn more about this program

Medical Science - Graduate Studies

Health Sciences Centre, HSC G341C
3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 4N1

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Cumming School of Medicine

Health Sciences Centre
Foothills Campus, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB T2N 4N1

Visit the Cumming School of Medicine website

Learn more about UCalgary by taking a virtual tour

Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.