University of Calgary

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

• Contact Information

  Address:
  G204 Health Sciences Centre
  3330 Hospital Drive NW
  Calgary, AB  T2N 4N1

  Email: mpas@ucalgary.ca

  Phone: 403-220-5287

• Social Media

  Instagram @calgarympas

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Degree: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Length: 2 years

Format: In-Person

Status: Full-time

Class Size: 20 students

Start Date: Fall Start

Tuition:

• Year 1: $19,507.50 CAD*

• Year 2: $20,808 CAD*

* plus graduate student general fees

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Calgary MPAS

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Status

Being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or individual with refugee status in Canada.

Undergraduate Study

Completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree from an institution recognized by the University of Calgary

GPA Requirement

• A minimum admission grade point average of 3.20 (on the University of Calgary four- point system)
• GPA calculated based on the last two years of the undergraduate degree consisting of a minimum of 60 units.

Coursework

• Courses in human anatomy (3.0 units)
• Human physiology course (3.0 units)
• An Indigenous education course

Previous Healthcare Experience

• Applicants must have a minimum of 500 hours of patient-facing healthcare experience in a clinical setting.
• This may include direct hands-on patient care experience in a clinical setting, clinical placements in healthcare education programs, or volunteer experience.

References

2

Standardized Tests Required

Casper Test

Out of Province Students Accepted

Yes

Preferred Admission Criteria

• Candidates who have shown a commitment to service in their communities.
• Alberta residents meeting one of the following criteria:
  1. Have been physically present in Alberta (or NWT, Yukon or Nunavut) on a day-to-day basis for 24 consecutive months at some point between their 15th birthday and the first day of classes (of the year for which they are applying).
  2. Have been on active duty for the 24 months prior to classes starting with the Canadian Armed Forces (not including members of the reserves) or the RCMP.

Calgary MPAS Admissions Process

Pre-Interview Assessments

• A personal essay (500 words maximum) detailing skills, attributes for success & future role as a PA
• Casper Test
• Supplemental Form (via Qualtrics Survey)

Final Interview Format

Multi-Mini Interview (MMI)

Key Dates & Deadlines

Registration Opens:

October 1

Application Deadline

January 9

Reference Forms

January 16

Interview Invites

End of March

Interview dates

Early April

Admission Offers

End of May

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Calgary MPAS

Curriculum

Program Details

Mission Statement

To prepare compassionate, collaborative professionals through a focus on lifelong learning and ethical practice. The program emphasizes building an inclusive environment, fostering team-based care within Alberta's healthcare landscape, and advancing structural competence to improve patient outcomes.

Accreditation

Accredited by Accreditation Canada (accrediting body for PA education programs in Canada.)

Year 1: Didactic Phase

• The first year focuses on core medical knowledge, ethics, and clinical skills through small group learning, simulation, and case analysis.
• Coursework: Involves three overarching, year-long course categories: Fundamentals, Foundations, and Clinical Skills.

Year 2: Clerkship

The second year shifts completely to hands-on clinical rotations under the supervision of licensed medical practitioners.

• Core Rotations: Include Urban Family Medicine, Rural Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, and Psychiatry.
• Electives: Students also complete two 4-week elective rotations of their choice.
• Distributed Learning: Some rotations occur in rural or remote communities outside large urban centers to build specialized skills and foster connections with local healthcare teams.

Clinical Placement Locations

Capstone Project

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Calgary PA Student Stats

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A post shared by Calgary MPAS (@calgarympas)

• Accepted Student Demographics

  • Class of 2026

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CALGARY MPAS Students & Graduate PODCAST INTERVIEWS

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