The University of Calgary, also known as UCalgary or U of C, was started in 1944 as an extension of the University of Alberta before separating into its own institution in 1966. Today, the University of Calgary is one of the top-ranked universities in Canada, and among the top 150 universities in the world, with an excellent reputation for education, leadership and research.
Calgary is an excellent choice to study not just for its university, but for its livability. The city has been named one of the most livable cities in the world many times over, and ranks highly among desirable places to live in Canada overall for its young, friendly atmosphere, plenty of festivals and overall agreeable weather. It you want to know how to study in Canada as an international student, Calgary is a great choice for undergraduate and graduate students alike.
Students at the University of Lethbridge prepare themselves to apply for admission to a number of professional programs offered at other institutions, like veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary. Students will gain the necessary course work and experience to apply to veterinary medicine at uCalgary by pursuing a Bachelor of Science (BSc) at uLethbridge with a major in:
Most successful applicants to veterinary medicine programs will have completed a baccalaureate degree prior to admission. However, to be considered, prospective students must have completed a minimum of two full years of university courses at the time of application. Students should refer to the current Academic Calendar for a list minimum admission requirements.
Interested students should refer to the program planning guide for detailed information about the veterinary medicine program, relevant uLethbridge BSc degrees (e.g. biological sciences) and recommended courses.
The veterinary medicine (University of Calgary) enclosure is located within the preparatory programs section of the Program Planning Guides page. Please refer to the year of your intended start (e.g. 2021/2022).
The likelihood of acceptance increases with the level of education achieved. Admission to veterinary medicine is not solely based on the courses completed and the GPA obtained, academic and extracurricular involvement at the uLethbridge is strongly recommended. This can include applied studies, co-operative education and volunteering.
Dream big, and have the confidence in your education to get you there. Make uLethbridge your destination.
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
In the Western Canadian Provinces, Veterinary Medicine is available at the University of Calgary and at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. Students considering veterinary school should consult www.aavmc.org for detailed information
The Veterinary Medicine program consists of two years of Pre-Veterinary Medicine and four years of Veterinary Medicine at either University. Applicants to the U of C must be Alberta residents. Admission to Veterinary Medicine is normally very competitive.
How to Become a Veterinarian
A veterinarian is a doctor responsible for the health of animals who has trained at a university for at least six years and is licensed to provide medical and surgical care for animals. Prospective vet school students need to have a strong track record in the sciences and a sharp analytical mind.
Carleton’s undergraduate science programs are designed to provide students with a comprehensive science education. Carleton science students benefit from small classes, personalized interaction with their professors, lab experience (including hands-on labs in your 1st year), and excellent co-op opportunities. Science students will also be enrolled in a First Year Seminar wherein they are taught by an experienced faculty member in a class of no more than approximately twenty-five students. There is a specialized seminar for science students entitled Seminar in Science that introduces students to advancements in the field and current research questions.
These Seminars not only help to bridge the gap between high school and university-level study but they also provide a great opportunity for students to get to know one of their professors on a more personal level, which is highly beneficial for obtaining academic letters of reference.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary
Admission Requirements
Applicants must be Alberta residents and have completed at least two academic years of full time study (minimum of 4 courses each semester). Students will be assessed on their best two full academic years, performance in their most recent year of undergraduate study, and completion of the 10 required courses.
To be considered for admission, students must present a minimum GPA of 3.0 on the 10 required courses listed below and an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 for the most recent year of undergraduate study.
Program Curriculum
First and second year
- Biology (6 credits)
- General Chemistry (6 credits)
- Junior English (3 credits)
- Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Biochemistry (3 credits)
- Genetics (3 credits)
- Ecology (3 credits)
- Options (30 credits)
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan
Admission Requirements
It is best to consult the University of Saskatchewan website for details on admission and pre-professional requirements for this program. Students who have not taken a full course load, 30 credits for an academic session, could be at a disadvantage when evaluating academic performance.
Program Curriculum
First and second year
- Biochemistry (3 credits)
- Biology (6 credits)
- General Chemistry (6 credits)
- Junior English (6 credits)
- Genetics (3 credits)
- Mathematics or Statistics (6 credits)
- Microbiology (3 credits)
- Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
- Physics (3 credits)
- Options (21 credits)
Admission Requirements
If you’re ready to submit your application to UCVM, please ensure you understand the entry requirements.
Must be a resident of Alberta
To be eligible for admission, you must be an Alberta resident, as defined by the Province of Alberta. As such, you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have protected person status under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Criteria are outlined in the Alberta Government Guidelines (within the Student Financial Assistance Regulation) and are used to determine residency status. Details of these residency requirements can be found in the Application Manual (page 5), or they can be accessed on the Alberta Government website (http://studentaid.alberta.ca/before-you-apply/eligibility/).
Indigenous Residency
If you self-identified as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit), Alberta residency requirements do not apply. We will consider all Indigenous applicants from across Canada who meet our academic requirements. Proof of Indigenous status will need to be provided. Click here for details.
Minimum Academic Requirements
- Medical College Admissions Test – MCAT: All applicants must write the Medical College Admission Test in sufficient time to ensure that their MCAT scores will be available to the Admissions Committee by the application deadline (November 26, 2021). This usually means that writing the test by mid-August of the year of application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to take the MCAT and have their score released in time before the UCVM DVM application deadline. Applicants should contact the MCAT Program Office (www.aamc.org/mcat ) for details about the test and they must instruct the organization to release their MCAT results to the University of Calgary.Applicants to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine DVM program should also be aware that all applicants must complete the 2015 MCAT within three (3) years of the submission date of their application. A minimum MCAT score of 495 is required.
- 10 Required Courses: A passing grade is required in each of the 10 required courses (see Required Course section). Each of the ten (10) courses below must be showing on your official transcript. You must have completed or be in the process of completing the TEN (10) required courses with at least SEVEN (7) of the TEN (10) required courses being completed before December 31, 2021. All courses (including in-progress, online or distance learning courses) must be completed by the end of the Winter term preceding admission (April 30, 2022). No exceptions will be made.
- Four (4) most recent full-time semesters: A minimum combined grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (“B” or its equivalent) over the last four full-time terms of undergraduate academic years must have completed or be in the process of completing four or more terms (semesters) of full time post-secondary undergraduate education at a recognized university or at a college providing university-equivalency in coursework. UCVM defines a “full time” term as a minimum of FOUR (4) ‘first-attempt’ courses per term (semester), taken between the months of September – December (Fall term) and January – April (Winter term) for a total of 16 half-course equivalents. The third and/or fourth term(s) may be in progress at the time of application, but at least four terms of undergraduate education must be completed by the end of the Winter term preceding admission (i.e. April 30, 2022).
Required Courses
A passing grade is required in each of the following suggested courses. Each of the ten (10) courses below must be showing on your official transcript.
- Two Introductory Biology Courses (a lab component is required for each course) | University of Calgary Course: BIOL 241 and BIOL 243
- Two Introductory Chemistry Courses (a lab component is required for each course) | University of Calgary Course: CHEM 201 and CHEM 203
- One Introductory English Course (must contain a writing component) | University of Calgary Course: ENGL 251
- One Introductory Organic Chemistry Course (a lab component is required) | University of Calgary Course: CHEM 351
- One Introductory Statistics Course | University of Calgary Course: STAT 205
- One Introductory Biochemistry Course (a lab component is optional) | University of Calgary Course: BCEM 341 or BCEM 393
- One Introductory Genetics Course (a lab component is optional) | University of Calgary Course: BIOL 311
- One Introductory Ecology Course (a lab component is optional) | University of Calgary Course: BIOL 313
**The University of Calgary courses shown in the list above serve as examples of the required courses. Please refer to the Alberta Transfer Guide website (http://acat.gov.ab.ca) or our UCVM Admissions required courses page to determine if your courses are acceptable. Online or distance-learning courses may be used. The UCVM Admissions committee recommends that you contact the academic program counsellor at your post-secondary institution to ensure that you have all of the required acceptable courses.
Albertans who are enrolled at post-secondary institutions outside of Alberta should consult with the academic program counsellor for their program of study to identify 10 acceptable courses.
English Language Proficiency
English language proficiency must be demonstrated for all applicants for whom English is not their first language. English language proficiency can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
(a) Completion of at least two full years within a degree program offered by an accredited university in a country which the University of Calgary recognizes as English language proficiency exempt.
(b) A minimum score of 92 on the Internet-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE); or a minimum score of 237 on the computer-based TOEFL and a minimum score of 50 on the TSE; or a minimum score of 580 on the paper-based TOEFL and a minimum score of 50 on the TSE.
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