5.3.3 Doctor of Medicine - Application Assessment and Admission Process
A. Admissions Committee
The Admissions Committee of the Cumming School of Medicine consists of representatives of the School, physicians-in-training, other health-care disciplines, and the community at large. The committee is charged with the final selection of medical students on the basis of academic and non-academic qualifications.
B. Application File Review
Application files are evaluated by the Admissions committee and sub-committees. Each application is given a score taking into account academic and non-academic attributes. These are outlined in the Applicant Manual in Section 5 and 5.1 and are subject to change. Invitations to interview for a position in the MD program are then made based on the file review score obtained. File review scores and decisions made regarding invitations are final and are not subject to appeal.
C. Interviews
Interviews will take place as either virtual interviews, in-person interviews, or a combination of virtual or in-person. Applicants will be notified in February regarding the format and whether or not they will be invited to attend. The interviews take place in February or March.
The cost of participating in the interview process will be at the expense of the applicant. A bursary program is available for applicants. Details are sent in the invitation letter to applicants. The interview process is meant to assess the applicant’s non-academic attributes.
Each interviewed applicant is assigned an interview score based on performance in the interview.
D. Overall Application Assessment
The final admission offer decisions are made based on the final application score, which consists of 50 per cent File Review Score and 50 per cent Interview Score.
E. Alternative Admissions Process
In a limited number of cases, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to interview and admit eligible individuals to the MD program regardless of their file review or final Application Score, if the committee is sufficiently convinced that the applicant has the academic and personal qualities necessary to succeed, and that doing so will assist the Cumming School of Medicine in meeting the health needs of the Canadian public.
F. Admission of Students by Transfer
The Committee is able to consider requests for students from another Canadian university to take clerkship education at the University of Calgary in mandatory clerkship courses, or their equivalents, for the entire clerkship year provided that:
1. There is support from the Associate Dean UME (Undergraduate Medical Education) at the University of Calgary and the counterpart at the Canadian university from which the student is transferring. This must include justification for the request and confirmation of good academic and professional standing in the university from which the student is transferring.
2. There are sufficient resources at the University of Calgary, such that the transfer student will not displace University of Calgary students.
These requests can be considered in the same manner that the Committee will consider requests from University of Calgary students for extensions to clerkships and special leaves of absence.
Students accepted for transfer will become a University of Calgary student, and will, upon completion of all the requirements for an MD degree, be conferred a University of Calgary medical degree.
For more information on Medical Student Transfers, refer to: Medical Students Transfer Policy.
G. Pathways to Medicine
The Cumming School of Medicine offers a Pathways to Medicine program to individuals entering an undergraduate program at the University of Calgary. The program includes a scholarship and guaranteed admission to the MD program upon completion of the undergraduate degree, provided specific conditions are met. Eligibility for the Pathways to Medicine program is focused on supporting diverse and under-represented groups including those from low-income backgrounds, Indigenous identity and/or rural communities. For details, visit: cumming.ucalgary.ca/pathways.
Admission to the MD program upon completion of the undergraduate degree is conditional upon the following:
• Maintenance of an overall GPA of 3.40 or greater over the course of their undergraduate studies.
• Achievement of the minimum MCAT score required of all applicants at the time of application, if such minimums are in place at the time.
Completion of the application process in the same manner as for all applicants with a score on the file review and the interview above the twentieth percentile.
H. Admission Decisions
Admission to the MD program is competitive. Meeting the admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program or allow students to register in courses. The University of Calgary reserves the right, the published regulations notwithstanding, to deny applicants admission or registration in courses on the basis of their overall academic records, or if, during the course of the application process, the applicant has demonstrated behaviours or characteristics deemed to be incompatible with the practice of medicine. This includes misrepresentation, misleading information or other irregularities or concerns identified on application review. Admissions decisions are final and not subject to appeal.