GENERAL INFORMATION
- Campus – Total of 192 students:
- University of Alberta’s North Campus in Edmonton – Approximately 162 students
- Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie (Northern Alberta Medical Program) – up to 30 students
- Numbers (Estimates from previous cycles):
- Total number of Applicants: 1802 Applicants (2021-2022 Cycle)
- Total number of Interview Invites: Approximately 520-550 Applicants (Estimation/Speculation)
- Total number of Admissions: 192 Applicants
- Program length: 4 years
Application Overview
| In Province (IP) Status | Preferences given to Alberta residents |
| Minimum GPA Required | 3.3/4.0 (IP) & 3.5/4.0 (OOP) |
| GPA Calculation Options | Adjusted GPA (AGPA) – Lowest year dropped Cumulative GPA (cGPA) |
| Required Course Load | None |
| Minimum Credits Required | Baccalaureate Degree with 60 minimum units (3 units = 1 semester course) |
| Pre-requisite Courses | No required courses |
| CASPer | Not required |
| MCAT | Required (Cut-off) – 124 per section (IP) + 128 CARS (OOP) |
| Interview Format | MMI + Panel Hybrid – Virtual |
| References | 2 References |
| Pathways | Combined Programs (MD/PhD, MD/MBA) Black Applicants Indigenous Applicants Rural Applicants Military Medical Training Program (MMTP) |
| International Students | Not considered |
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
- GPA: University of Alberta uses 4.0 scale. To convert your GPA, use the applicable chart on this page. However, it is believed that University of Alberta uses an alternative GPA conversion chart that is not accessible to the public for their medical school applicants. For detailed how-to for calculating your GPA, please see this post.
- University of Alberta calculates both the cumulative GPA (cGPA) & Adjusted GPA (AGPA). AGPA calculation is only applied for applicants with 4 or more full-time academic years, where they drop the lowest academic year from the calculation. The lowest academic year cannot be the most recent academic year.
- For the academic year to be considered a full-time, applicants must have taken 18 units of course weight (ucw) during the academic year or 12 ucw in Spring/Summer year.
- All courses taken during the full-time studies, for both the fall/winter and spring/summer years, are included in the calculation.
- University of Alberta calculates both the cumulative GPA (cGPA) & Adjusted GPA (AGPA). AGPA calculation is only applied for applicants with 4 or more full-time academic years, where they drop the lowest academic year from the calculation. The lowest academic year cannot be the most recent academic year.
- Minimum GPA
- Minimum GPA required to apply is 3.3/4.0 for IP applicants and 3.5/4.0 for OOP applicants. However, the mean GPA of admitted students for 2023-2024 cycle was 3.83 for IP applicants and 3.91 for OOP applicants.
- Required Course Load
- University of Alberta has removed the full course load requirement in 2023.
- Minimum Credits Required
- University of Alberta requires applicants to obtain baccalaureate degree from a recognized program by the year of admission. The degree itself must contain a minimum of 60 ucw.
- Pre-requisite Courses
- There are no mandatory pre-requisite courses to apply to University of Alberta.
- It may be in the interest of applicants to take courses that can help them prepare for MCAT.
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS
- MCAT
- University of Alberta uses MCAT as a cut-off/threshold. IP applicants must have a minimum of 124 for each section of the MCAT. OOP applicants must have a minimum of 124 for each section with a minimum of 128 CARS.
- CASPer
- CASPer is not required to apply to University of Alberta, effective July 1, 2025.
RESIDENCE
- University of Alberta gives preference for Alberta residents, where 85% of the seats are allocated for IP applicants and 15% allocated for OOP applicants.
- To be considered as an Alberta resident, applicant must have continuously resided in one of Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut for at least one year immediately before the first day of classes. Indigenous and military applicants are also considered as an IP applicant.
EXTRACURRICULARS
- You will be required to submit personal activities, categorized based on:
- Employment (1-4 entries): Any jobs you held within the last 10 years should be listed under this category.
- Teamwork, Collaboration, and Leadership (1-4 entries): Any activities where you worked with others as a member or as a leader can be listed here.
- Volunteer (1-4 entries): Any volunteer works you have completed within the last 10 years can be listed under this category.
- Life experience & Achievements (1-4 entries): You can share any other personal experiences or accomplishments you value here.
- You will also be asked to write a personal highlights section, comprised of three questions:
- 1. Please list and describe top two personal achievements/experiences (750 characters per activity)
- 2. Please share a life experience where you encountered challenges and describe how you addressed the situation (2000 characters)
- 3. Please share an experience that you have had which was significant enough, potentially life altering, that helped you become a better person (1500 characters)
- University of Alberta’s selection criteria for applicants are as followed:
- For Interview Invites: GPA + Personal Activities/Highlights + MCAT (Threshold) + CASPer (Threshold)
- For Admissions: 30% GPA + 35% Personal Activities/Highlights + 35% Interview/MMI + Reference letters (Check for concerns)
INTERVIEW
- University of Alberta conducts MMI/Panel hybrid style interview for selected applicants virtually. This means that the interview will consist of MMI stations and a panel interview. There is no official information regarding interview format posted otherwise, but it is presumed that the interview is conducted synchronously.
- According to some comments on ‘premedcanada’ or ‘premed 101 Forums’, the interview has around 6 MMI stations with 2 minutes of planning and 8 minutes of speaking and one 20 minute-long panel interview with 2-3 interviewers. However, these are not verified sources of information.
- For special stream applicants, such as rural applicants, may have additional panel interview with rural practitioners and community members.
REFERENCES
- All applicants are required to submit two referees. You must only select referees who know you in a supervisory or professional capacity (i.e. coach co-worker, employer) and who can speak to your moral and ethical character effectively.
PATHWAYS/SPECIAL STREAMS
- There are 5 pathways available to apply to University of Alberta’s medical school:
- Combined Programs: MD/PhD program, MD/MBA program, Research program
- Black Applicants Admissions Process (BAAP): Applicants are able to self-identify as black applicant in their application. Self-identified candidates are still required to meet the same requirements. However, the file review process will involve Black representation.
- Indigenous Applicants: As an Indigenous applicant, you will be expected to:
- Provide a proof of Indigenous ancestry
- Write a personal statement that describes your involvement in or connection to Indigenous communities or organizations
- (Optional) Provide a reference letter from someone who can attest to your involvement or connection to Indigenous communities or organizations
- Rural Applicants: University of Alberta has up to 30 seats allocated for rural applicants. The candidates must meet the minimum requirements as well as rural applicant criteria. Rural applicants will be assessed based on their residence, written statement and an interview with rural practitioners and community members. To be considered for a rural position, you must:
- Be a current resident of Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon, or Nunavut
- Have lived for a minimum of 36 months between your 12th-18th birthdays within communities located 40km+ from city with a population greater than 500,000 in Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon or Nunavut.
- Military Medical Training Program (MMTP): University of Albert has up to 6 seats allocated for currently serving Regular Force members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Once MMTP status is confirmed with Department of National Defence, military applicants will be considered as IP applicant.
- Graduate students: Although it is not an official pathway or stream, University of Alberta grants additional points if applicants complete a Graduate degree prior to the time of admission offers.
HELPFUL LINKS
- University of Alberta Admissions Site: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/programs/md/admissions/before-you-apply/application-requirements.html
- University of Alberta MD Selection Criteria: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/programs/md/admissions/apply-now/selection-and-admission.html
- University of Alberta Admissions Statistics: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/programs/md/admissions/before-you-apply/admission-statistics.html
- GPA Conversion link (Not med-specific): https://www.ualberta.ca/en/registrar/examinations/assessment-and-grading/grading-system-explained.html
- Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/programs/md/admissions/faq.html
- Important Notices & Dates: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/programs/md/admissions/before-you-apply/important-notices-and-dates.html