MD Program

The University of Alberta’s MD Program focuses on life-long learning, problem-solving skills, teamwork and interprofessional education through experiential learning. Students develop a strong theoretical background in the foundational scientific and clinical principles of medicine.

Beginning in pre-clerkship, students apply this knowledge to clinical cases (in both simulated and clinical settings) and develop the clinical readiness required for the patient care setting in clerkship. Students will learn professional identity formation, evidence-based medicine, clinical skills (communication and physical exam) and clinical reasoning principles, all of which are required to function effectively as a physician and lifelong learner. Each course presents the material step-by-step from basic information to clinical application, building on foundational knowledge and skills.

The University of Alberta’s MD Program is one of the only programs in the country to offer a full-dissection anatomy lab. The lab is available to give students the valuable learning opportunity of dissecting human cadavers. Clinical exposure begins in the first and second years, becoming a fully immersive clinical learning experience at the start of the third year.

Admission Requirements

• Residents of Canada, either as a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Registered in a baccalaureate degree from a program recognized by the University of Alberta with a minimum of 60 transferable units of course weight (ucw) or have completed their degree.
• The minimum cGPA required to be eligible to apply for Albertan applicants is 3.30 and for non-Albertan applicants is 3.50 on the UofA 4.0 grading scale.
• Complete the MCAT and meet the minimum requirements for each section in a single test sitting.
• Successful completion of CASPer is mandatory.

What You’ll Learn

• Foundational basic and clinical sciences.
• Gastroenterology reproductive medicine.
• Advanced Care Life Support (ACLS).
• Family medicine.
• Geriatrics.