UofC

Location: Health Sciences Centre, Room 341B
Program number: 403.210.6689
Fax: 403.210.8109
Email address: cvrgrad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL: cumming.ucalgary.ca/gse/programs/cardiovascular-respiratory-sciences

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based

All MSc and PhD students are considered full-time. In exceptional circumstances part-time status may be considered and must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Cumming School of Medicine regulations, the program requires:

a) Qualifications

Master of Science

• Four year BSc degree or equivalent 
• A minimum admission grade point average of 3.30 (on the University of Calgary four-point system; equivalent to a "B+") based on the last two years of the undergraduate degree consisting of a minimum of 60 units (10 full-course equivalents).

Doctor of Philosophy 

• MSc degree, or relevant master’s degree, recognized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, or transfer from MSc program, or, in exceptional cases, four year BSc degree or equivalent. 
• A minimum admission grade point average of 3.30 (on the University of Calgary four-point system; equivalent to a "B+") based on the last two years of the undergraduate degree consisting of a minimum of 60 units (10 full-course equivalents) and any master’s course work if applicable.

b) English language Proficiency

See Medicine Programs.

c) Immunizations

See Medicine Programs.

d) Additional Requirements

• Master’s applicants are required to arrange for the submission of two reference letters and doctoral applicants are required to arrange for the submission of three reference letters. References must follow the guidelines posted on the program’s website for prospective students.
• Students must have confirmed a faculty member willing to supervise their studies. 
• Endorsement by the Graduate Program Director that the applicant is acceptable and that adequate supervision in the proposed program is available.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria above does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Applications will be ranked according to academic excellence, prior research experience and commitment to the study of cardiovascular and respiratory sciences.  

Deadlines for submission of required documents are available on the Future Students website:

Master of Science: ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/cardiovascular-respiratory-sciences-master-science-thesis-based

Doctor of Philosophy: ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/explore-programs/cardiovascular-respiratory-sciences-doctor-philosophy-thesis-based

Applicants must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission. Any credit to be given for courses completed will be included in the letter of offer for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The amount of course work to be undertaken is determined by the student’s supervisory committee; however, it also must meet the minimum requirements of the program.

Master of Science

a) The minimum academic course requirement is normally 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent). At least one course (3 units) should be from the list of recommended MDCV graduate courses.

Doctor of Philosophy

Students holding a completed BSc degree entering the PhD program are required to successfully complete a minimum of 9 units (1.5 full-course equivalents).

Students holding a completed MSc degree in the same area of study entering the PhD program are required to complete a minimum of 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) provided that a minimum of 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) were completed during their MSc program.

Students transferring from the MSc program to the PhD program are required to complete a minimum of one additional 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent).

Students holding a completed MSc degree in an unrelated field of studies entering the PhD program are required to complete a minimum of 9 units (1.5 full-course equivalents) unless otherwise agreed by the student's supervisory committee.

Each student is required to participate regularly in journal club and work-in-progress seminar programs administered by the Institute or Research Group to which the student and supervisor belong, and the student will present at least one journal club seminar and one work-in-progress presentation per year.

Research Integrity Day

See Medicine Programs.

Under exceptional circumstances, credit may be given for courses taken below the 600 level. At least one half of a graduate student’s course work must be at the 600 level or higher. Students may receive credit for completing a course numbered 500-599 providing that the course is recommended by the supervisory committee and a written approval is received by the program director.

Completion times follow the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations (see Time Limits): 

• Maximum completion time for a thesis-based master’s program is four years. Expected completion time is two years. 
• Maximum completion time for a doctoral program is six years. Expected completion time is four years.

he selection of a graduate supervisor must be by mutual agreement between the student and the faculty member concerned at the time of application to the program and approved by the Graduate Program Director. The supervisor will be a member of one of the recognized research institutes within the Cumming School of Medicine (e.g. Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Snyder Chronic Disease Institute, etc.).

Supervisory committees, required for both master’s and doctoral students, are established based upon the needs of the student and the expertise of the committee members, following discussions between the student and the supervisor and approved by the Graduate Program Director. A supervisory committee, consisting of supervisor and co-supervisor (if applicable), plus two additional members, must be in place no later than 3 months after the student's first registration in the program.

Doctoral Candidacy

Candidacy requirements must be completed within 28 months (for MSc to PhD transfers) or 24 months (direct entry PhD) from the program start date. Admission to candidacy is an acknowledgement that a student is fully prepared to devote their full attention to the thesis research.

To enter into candidacy, students must: (1) successfully complete all required courses, (2) attend Research Integrity Day (3) have their thesis proposal approved at a proposal evaluation meeting, and (4) successfully complete a Field of Study oral examination.

Students who do not pass their candidacy requirements by the twenty-eighth month of their program may be required to withdraw from the program. Specific details of the examination format and other candidacy requirements can be found at: wcm.ucalgary.ca/gse/files/gse/csm-candidacy-examination-process-effective-september-1-2015.pdf.

Thesis Examination

All students in thesis-based programs (MSc and PhD) must successfully pass the Final Thesis Oral Examination (see Thesis Examinations). The examination will consist of a public seminar followed by an open oral examination.

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

All MSc and PhD students must defend a written research proposal to their supervisory committee. For MSc students, this document must be submitted within 12 months after initial registration in the program. For additional information about the PhD research proposal, refer to: wcm.ucalgary.ca/gse/files/gse/csm-candidacy-examination-process-effective-september-1-2015.pdf.

All students who are accepted into the program and are full-time will receive a minimum stipend ($21,000 per annum for MSc students and $23,000 per annum for PhD students) generally funded by their supervisor’s operating grants, internal awards, and/or external awards. Self-funding is not an option except for MD holders also enrolled in a clinical training program.

Students are expected to apply to external agencies for financial support from scholarships or studentship awards and for University of Calgary Scholarships (see Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar). Possible sources of financial support are listed on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website: grad.ucalgary.ca/awards.