🏥 University of Calgary – MPAS Admission Requirements
1. Citizenship / Residency
- Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or hold refugee status in Canada.
2. Education
- Four-year baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution.
- Proof of completion required by July 1 (transcript showing degree conferral or faculty letter).
3. GPA
- Minimum 3.20/4.0 (University of Calgary scale).
- Calculated over most recent 60 units (last 2 years of undergraduate study).
4. Pre-Requisite Coursework
- Must be completed at post-secondary level with minimum grade B (3.0):
Course Units Notes Human Anatomy 3.0 Post-secondary level Human Physiology 3.0 Post-secondary level
- Indigenous Education course requirement must be completed before program start (options include MOOC, university training program, or transcripted course).
5. English Language Proficiency
Required if education was not in English. Minimum scores:
| Test | Score Requirement |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 105 (no section <20) |
| IELTS Academic | 7.5 overall (no band <6.0) |
| CAEL | 70 (no section <70) |
| PTE Academic | 75 |
| Duolingo | 145 (no sub-score <125) |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 | 200 |
| OR Academic Communication Certificate | A- in each course |
6. Healthcare Experience
- Minimum 500 hours patient-facing experience in clinical settings.
- Acceptable experiences: hands-on patient care, clinical placements, healthcare volunteering.
- Documentation must include: organization, hours, location, role, verifier name & phone number.
7. Reference Letters
- Two professional references required.
- At least one must supervise healthcare experience.
- Referees must have direct supervisory roles.
- Professional/organizational email required.
- Acceptable referees: employers, supervisors, clinical preceptors, volunteer coordinators, academic advisors.
8. Personal Essay
- Maximum 500 words.
- Should describe:
- Skills and attributes for program success
- Vision for future role as a Physician Assistant
9. Other Requirements
- Must meet Faculty of Graduate Studies admissions requirements.
- MPAS office cannot pre-approve healthcare experience.
10. Selection Process
- Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
- Applications ranked based on:
- Reference letters
- Personal essay
- Healthcare experience
- CASPer score
- GPA
📚 Prerequisites & CASPer
Prerequisite Coursework
- Human Anatomy – 3 units
- Human Physiology – 3 units
- Indigenous Education – completion required before program start (options: MOOC, training program, transcripted course)
CASPer Assessment
- Mandatory for all applicants.
- 90–110 minute online situational judgment test.
- Registration: Acuity Insights – CASPer
📄 Transcripts for Application
1. Unofficial Transcripts
- Initial assessment uses unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions.
2. Official Transcripts
- Required if admitted.
- Must be mailed or electronically sent as specified.
3. Submission Methods
Hard copy:
Faculty of Graduate Studies
MacKimmie Tower, Second Floor
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Electronic:
4. Questions / Support
- Contact: mpas@ucalgary.ca