Entrance Requirements
The Department’s minimum admission requirements are a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or equivalent plus an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last ★60 of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.
A master’s degree is expected, but does not guarantee acceptance into the PhD program. Applicants without a master’s degree may be considered for admission provided equivalency in prior relevant education and experiences as approved by the Graduate Studies Committee of the School of Dentistry.
Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to English Language Requirement ). Any one of the following is acceptable:
- TOEFL (internet-based) minimum score 95 with at least 20 per section or equivalent;
- MELAB minimum score of 91;
- CAEL minimum score of 70 with at least 70 on each subtest;
- or an IELTS (Academic) minimum score of 7.5 with at least 6 on each band.
All applicants are also required to submit the following:
- a current curriculum vitae
- a statement of intent
- three letters of recommendation (two must be professional)
- an official letter from their dental school noting their class ranking upon graduation from dentistry is recommended
- Applicants must identify a willing faculty supervisor
- Applicants must identify a potential thesis topic
- Applicants must identify potential funding in their application.
Admission is dependent upon the approval of the Dentistry Admissions SubCommittee, the Department of Dentistry’s Graduate Studies Committee and the Medical Sciences Graduate Program Committee.
For the MSc in Medical Sciences – Dental Hygiene, the MSc and PhD in Medical Sciences – Dentistry, and the MSc and PhD in Medical Sciences – Oral Biology, applications are always open. Applications received by March 1 will receive preference for Fall Term (September) admission. Applications received by June 1 will receive preference for Winter Term (January) admission.
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of ★12 in coursework, consisting of ★6 in required courses and ★6 in elective courses. The program also consists of seminars and a thesis. The program of study is determined by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the supervisor and supervisory committee.
Student progress will be monitored through an oral and written assessment and an interview with the Graduate Program Coordinator in the Spring term.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; however, a maximum of five years is considered normal. The maximum time permitted to complete the PhD program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is six years.