The Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary runs one of only two three-year MD programs in Canada, with 185 first-year seats, 90% of them for Alberta residents[2]. You can apply after just two full-time years of university, with no science prerequisites (but an Indigenous education requirement). Calgary also publishes unusually detailed statistics, including the exact cutoff scores for interviews and offers[1].
University of Calgary medical school requirements at a glance
| Program | 3-year MD (one of two in Canada), taught in English in Calgary.[2] |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. About 90% of seats go to Alberta residents.[2] |
| University study | Two full-time years of university or college. No science prerequisites, though the school suggests some courses.[2] |
| Minimum GPA | 3.20 for Alberta residents, 3.80 for applicants from outside Alberta (4.0 scale).[2] |
| MCAT | Required. Out-of-province applicants need at least 128 in CARS.[2] |
| Casper | Not required.[2] |
| Interview | In-person MMI at the Health Sciences Centre in February–March 2027; 662 interviews planned (543 Albertans, 119 others).[2] |
| Deadline | October 1, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. MST (opened July 1, 2026). Fee $150.[2] |
| Offers | May 15, 2027; $1,000 deposit.[2] |
| First-year tuition | $25,244 plus $2,588 in fees.[2] |
| Indigenous education | Required by October 1: the free Indigenous Canada online course, UCalgary Indigenous Relations Training, the UCalgary Indigenous Peoples and Reconciliation certificate, or a 3-unit Indigenous studies course.[4] |
| GPA calculation | Full-time undergraduate years only; your lowest year is dropped if you will have finished your degree.[4] |
| Written application | Employment history, Top 10 Experiences with verifiers, and one essay (700 words).[4] |
| References | Three referees, each answering a different form.[4] |
Indigenous education requirement: every applicant must upload proof by the October 1 deadline of one of: the free Indigenous Canada online course (MOOC), the University of Calgary Indigenous Relations Training Program, the UCalgary Continuing Education Indigenous Peoples and Reconciliation Certificate, or a post-secondary Indigenous studies course of at least 3 units[4].
GPA requirements
| Minimum to apply (in-province) | Minimum to apply (out of province) | Average admitted | Lowest admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.20 | 3.80 | 3.88 (2024–25 class) | 3.28 (2024–25 class) |
The minimum GPA is 3.20 for Alberta residents and 3.80 for everyone else[2]. The class that matriculated in the 2024–25 cycle averaged 3.88, with a range of 3.28 to 4.0[1]. Out-of-province applicants who were interviewed averaged 3.96, so the bar is much higher if you are not from Alberta[1].
Calgary: average GPA of admitted students
On a 4.0 scale.
Calgary only counts full-time undergraduate years (no part-time or spring/summer courses), and if you will have finished your degree it drops your lowest GPA year, as long as that year has at least 18 graded credits[4]. Completed graduate degrees can count as an extra year or replace weak courses, under set rules[4].
MCAT and Casper
| Casper required | MCAT required | How the MCAT is used |
|---|---|---|
| No | Yes | CARS (128 minimum out of province) |
| CARS | |
|---|---|
| Minimum to apply | 128 (out of province) |
| Average admitted (2024–25) | 127.35 |
C/P = Chemical and Physical Foundations, CARS = Critical Analysis and Reasoning, B/B = Biological and Biochemical Foundations, P/S = Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations. Each section is scored 118–132.
The MCAT is required[2]. Calgary’s published statistics only report the CARS section: the 2024–25 matriculated class averaged 127.35 (range 122–132), and out-of-province applicants need at least 128 in CARS just to be considered[2][1]. Casper is not required[2].
Calgary: average CARS score of matriculated students
Calgary only publishes the CARS section (118–132).
Preparing for the MCAT? The Princeton Review is one long-standing prep option, and our guide to MCAT sections explains what each score means.
The file score: how Calgary picks interviewees
Before interviews, Calgary scores your file out of 100%[4]:
A general review committee scores the five attributes without seeing your GPA or MCAT. Every score is standardized so that the year’s average is 100[4]. Calgary stresses that the same quality can show up in ordinary places: teamwork as a short-order cook can count as much as a university sports team[4].
You submit your full employment history, up to 10 top experiences (each with a description, impact statement and verifier), and one essay of up to 700 words[4]. You also name three referees. Each gets a different form aimed at one attribute, so choose people who can speak to it. Family, family friends and peers are not allowed, and you cannot change a referee once they open the form[4].
How Calgary decides: the cutoff scores
Calgary turns your file into an interview decision score, then combines it with the MMI into a final score. It publishes the cutoffs every year. In the 2024–25 cycle[1]:
| Cutoff (2024–25) | Albertans | Non-Albertans |
|---|---|---|
| Score to get an interview | 103.04 | 107.46 |
| Score to reach the waitlist | 206.83 | 215.10 |
| Score for an initial offer | 214.23 | 222.00 |
Calgary received 1,964 complete applications (1,534 from Albertans and 430 from elsewhere), and 58 Albertans were still on the waitlist at the end of the cycle[1]. The school lists every past year on its reference statistics page, back to 2011[1].
The Calgary interview
| Interview format | Applicants interviewed | Entering class size |
|---|---|---|
| MMI, in person | 662 planned (543 Albertans, 119 others) | 185 |
Calgary runs an in-person MMI at the Health Sciences Centre in February and March[2]. The 2024–25 matriculated class scored 14.76 out of 20 on average (range 12.6–17.6)[1]. Practise with our sample MMI questions.
Interview invitations go out by email in late January to early February. Assessors include faculty, allied health professionals, current students and community members, and questions ask what you would think or do in a situation[4].
The new Lethbridge campus (SAMP)
The Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP), run with the University of Lethbridge, took its first 20 students in July 2026 out of a class of 190[4]. Training happens in Lethbridge and rural southern Alberta. Applicants who want SAMP add a SAMP referee support letter and a SAMP essay, which produce a SAMP suitability score, and SAMP offers are sent before Calgary campus offers[4].
Key dates for 2027 entry
- July 1, 2026Application opens[2]
- October 1, 2026, 4:00 p.m. MSTApplication deadline[2]
- February–March 2027In-person MMI[2]
- May 15, 2027Offers; $1,000 deposit[2]
For 2028 entry, expect the application to open on July 1, 2027 and close on October 1, 2027.
Offers and the waitlist
Offers usually go out by email in the first two weeks of May, SAMP first. The first round of waitlist offers is made by June 1, 2027, and later spots go down the waitlist until the class is full[4].
Tuition and fees
First-year tuition is $25,244 plus $2,588 in fees[2]. Because the program is three years, the total cost of the degree is lower than at four-year schools with similar yearly tuition.
University of Calgary admission statistics and trends
Complete applications grew from 1,556 in the 2017–18 cycle to 1,964 in 2024–25[1]. In 2024, 167 students registered and 67 offers were declined[2]. Interestingly, out-of-province applicants who apply to Calgary succeed about as often as Albertans (12.4% vs 12.7% in 2024), likely because the much higher out-of-province minimums mean fewer, stronger outside applicants apply[2].
Calgary: applicants, interviews and seats
Each point is one entering class, as reported by the school.
Calgary: share of applicants who got an offer
Success rate by where applicants live. Source: AFMC applicant statistics.
Calgary: applications received, 2005–2025
Applications reported to AFMC by entering year.
| Entering year | Applications (AFMC) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,487 | [3] |
| 2006 | 1,546 | [3] |
| 2007 | 1,490 | [3] |
| 2008 | 1,410 | [3] |
| 2009 | 1,790 | [3] |
| 2010 | 1,912 | [3] |
| 2011 | 2,022 | [3] |
| 2012 | 1,977 | [3] |
| 2013 | 2,006 | [3] |
| 2014 | 1,546 | [3] |
| 2015 | 1,638 | [3] |
| 2016 | 1,273 | [3] |
| 2017 | 1,455 | [3] |
| 2018 | 1,612 | [3] |
| 2019 | 1,602 | [3] |
| 2020 | 1,608 | [3] |
| 2021 | 2,039 | [3] |
| 2022 | 1,838 | [3] |
| 2023 | 1,867 | [3] |
| 2024 | 2,048 | [3] |
| 2025 | 2,013 | [3] |
AFMC counts may differ slightly from the school’s own counts.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA do you need for University of Calgary medicine?
At least 3.20 for Albertans and 3.80 for others. The 2024–25 matriculated class averaged 3.88.[1]
Is University of Calgary medicine three years?
Yes. Calgary’s MD is a three-year, year-round program.[2]
Does Calgary require Casper?
No. Calgary requires the MCAT but not Casper.[2]
What CARS score do you need for Calgary?
Out-of-province applicants need at least 128 in CARS. The 2024–25 matriculated class averaged 127.35.[1]
How many years of university do you need for Calgary medicine?
Two full-time years. There are no science prerequisites, but you must complete an Indigenous education requirement.[2]
Does Calgary drop your lowest year?
Yes. If you will have finished your degree, Calgary drops your lowest full-time year (with at least 18 graded credits).[4]
How many references does Calgary need?
Three, each on a different form aimed at one attribute.[4]
Sources
- University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine: admission statistics
- AFMC: Admission Requirements of Canadian Faculties of Medicine (PDF)
- AFMC: Canadian Medical Education Statistics
- University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine: Applicant Manual (PDF)
Figures were checked against these sources on November 4, 2026. Schools change their rules every cycle, so confirm on the official site before you apply.