Metadata
Title
Veterinary Medical Sciences
Category
graduate
UUID
0bbe858a9cc44f3d831511f5fa724796
Source URL
https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/veterinary-medical-%20...
Parent URL
https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore...
Crawl Time
2026-03-24T03:46:23+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Veterinary Medical Sciences

Source: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/veterinary-medical-%20sciences-phd Parent: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore-programs/biomedical-engineering-msc-thesis

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Start your application

Program overview

Our graduate program is preparing the next generation of international leaders in animal and public health. Students will expand on their understanding of core competencies in veterinary medical sciences. They will acquire specialized expertise through the course of their thesis projects, deepening their skills as they embark on careers as highly-trained academics and professionals.

The graduate mission of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is to be a world leader in the training of animal health researchers and postgraduate veterinarians, creating experts who will advance animal and public health as well as the veterinary profession.

Completing this program

Specializations

Outcomes

Academia; government (regulatory--food safety; water safety); feedlot; zoos; centre for disease control; biotechnology; pharmaceuticals; vaccine development; diagnostic pathology.

A PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences is usually considered a final degree for pursuing academic and non-academic careers in the above sectors.

Thesis-based program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Courses

Four courses

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

Two years full time; six years maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required; potential supervisors must be listed when applying to the program

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.


Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.\ Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.


  1. Faizal Abdul-Careem

Accepting Inquiries

Avian viral immunology 2. Herman Barkema

Accepting Inquiries 3. Jeff Biernaskie

Accepting Inquiries 4. Johnathan Canton

Accepting Inquiries

Immunology 5. Prasanth Chelikani

Accepting Inquiries

Obesity, Diabetes, Nutrition 6. Li-Fang (Jack) Chu

Seeking Students

Genetic Regulation of Developmental Clocks, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Biology of species-specific pluripotent stem cells 7. Eduardo Cobo

Accepting Inquiries

Innate immunity in the gut 8. Alastair Cribb

Unavailable

Pharmacogenetics, Molecular toxicology 9. Jeroen De Buck

Accepting Inquiries 10. Rob Deardon

Seeking Students

Items per page 10All

Admission requirements


GPA

A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

A Master's degree from an accredited institution with course work appropriate for VMS graduate training from a recognized institution.

Work samples

None

Documents

Curriculum Vitae, and a Letter of Understanding signed by the prospective student and supervisor with a statement outlining the supervisor’s commitment to the training of the student, as well as their commitment to fund the student in accordance with the minimum VMS guidelines.

Reference letters

Two

Test scores

None


English language proficiency (ELP)

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in different ways. For accepted criteria, please refer to the program “Admissions” tab in the Academic Calendar.

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.

Deadlines

For admission on September 1

Canadians and permanent residents: Jun. 1 application deadline

International students: Jun. 1 application deadline

For admission on January 1

Canadians and permanent residents: Nov. 1 application deadline

International students: Nov. 1 application deadline

For admission on May 1

Canadians and permanent residents: Mar. 1 application deadline

International students: Mar. 1 application deadline

For admission on July 1

Canadians and permanent residents: May 1 application deadline

International students: May 1 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Are you ready to apply?

Application process

Learn more about this program

Veterinary Medical Sciences Graduate Program

Veterinary Medical Sciences Graduate Programs (Foothills Campus)\ TRW 2D08, 3280 Hospital Drive NW\ Calgary, ABT2N 4Z6\ 403.210.8764

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

TRW 2D01\ 3280 Hospital Drive NW\ Calgary, ABT2N 4Z6\ 403.210.3961

Visit the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine website

Learn more about UCalgary by taking a virtual tour

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

Veterinary Medicine

Thesis-based MSc

Biomedical engineering

Course-based MEng

Thesis-based MSc

Thesis-based PhD

Medical Science

Thesis-based MSc

PhD


Highlights of the Veterinary Medicine program

Battling parasitic worms in the developing world

John Gilleard is bringing knowledge of parasites in livestock to understand parasites in humans

Read More

William Ghali is investigating the use of antibiotics in food animals and its impact on human health

Read more

Gentle giants

Vet med researchers are looking at the effects of competing in the Stampede's Heavy Horse Pull

Read more

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