The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Calgary offers a three-year professional degree leading to a Doctor of Medicine (MD). Each academic year consists of 11 months of instruction and one month of unassigned vacation time.
Following completion of the undergraduate medical program students must complete postgraduate medical training prior to starting independent practice. They need to obtain certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (a minimum of two additional years of training) or a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada program (a minimum of four additional years of training). The University of Calgary has more than 50 residency training programs.