UCalgary DVM Admissions: Guide 2026-2027

University of CalgaryVeterinary MedicineCalgary, Alberta, Canada2026-2027 cycle

UCVM's four-year DVM combines study at its Foothills and Spy Hill campuses with distributed clinical rotations. Applicants need qualifying undergraduate coursework, an MCAT score, Casper, and, except for the Indigenous residency pathway, Alberta residency. Academically qualified files are reviewed for non-academic attributes before interview invitations; MMI, essay and Casper results determine offer rankings.

Program: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Credential: DVM
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Casper: Required
Next deadline: November 30, 2026 (Application and required documents)
Interview: Multiple mini interview (MMI)
Seats: Approximately 100 students per year
Length: Four years

Casper Requirement for University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine

University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.

Languages: English
Distribution fee: $20 CAD plus applicable GST

Upcoming Casper test dates

January 7, 2027 at 8:00 PM (time zone not specified)

Test dates can change: confirm availability in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.

All applicants must take Casper. UCVM lists one sitting and requires scores to be available before the end of January of the application cycle.

Casper format

Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.

Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.

University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine Application Deadlines 2026-2027

Apply through: UCVM online DVM application through the University of Calgary Student Centre
Applications open: October 1, 2026
Application fee: $125 CAD, non-refundable

What	When
Application and required documents	November 30, 2026upcoming
MCAT score release to UCVM	November 30, 2026upcoming
Signed applicant declaration	November 30, 2026upcoming
Three referee responses	December 18, 2026upcoming
Fall 2026 transcripts	January 15, 2027upcoming
All prerequisite courses completed	April 30, 2027upcoming
Winter 2027 transcripts	May 14, 2027upcoming
Seven prerequisite courses completed	Before December 31, 2026
Casper scores available to UCVM	Before the end of January 2027

University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine Admissions Statistics

Period: 2026-2027 cycle: planned intake

Seats / class size: Approximately 100 students per year

Eligibility Requirements for University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine

Degree / credits: At least four full-time undergraduate terms at a recognized university or college offering university-equivalent coursework; a completed bachelor's degree is not required.
Residency: Alberta residency at application is required except for eligible Indigenous applicants from elsewhere in Canada. Submit a current Alberta driver's licence or Alberta identification card AND a valid Alberta Health Care card; Indigenous applicants provide proof of status.
Citizenship: Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person with protected status in Canada.
Language proficiency: If English is not your first language, demonstrate proficiency through two full years in a degree program at an accredited university in a UCVM-recognized exempt country, TOEFL iBT 100 with at least 27 in each sub-score, or IELTS Academic 8.0 with no band below 7.0. The English course prerequisite also applies.

Admission pathways

Indigenous applicants: First Nations, Métis and Inuit applicants from across Canada may be considered without meeting Alberta residency requirements if they meet academic requirements and provide proof of Indigenous status.

Contact UCVM Admissions about residency eligibility or documents before applying.

Other requirements

Alberta residency documents: Upload a current Alberta driver's licence or Alberta identification card and a valid Alberta Health Care card after submitting the online application; the Indigenous residency exception applies.
Signed Declaration of Applicant: Sign and upload the declaration through the Student Centre by the application deadline.
AAMC ID and MCAT release: Enter your AAMC ID and separately release your current-cycle MCAT score to UCVM.

Selection Factors University of Calgary Considers

Prerequisites

Course	Requirement
Introductory biology: two courses	Passing grade; a lab in each UCVM examples: BIOL 211 and BIOL 213 or 205.
Introductory chemistry: two courses	Passing grade; a lab in each UCVM examples: CHEM 201 and 203.
Introductory English: one course	Passing grade; writing component UCVM example: ENGL 251.
Introductory organic chemistry: one course	Passing grade; lab required UCVM example: CHEM 351.
Introductory statistics: one course	Passing grade UCVM example: STAT 205.
Introductory biochemistry: one course	Passing grade; lab optional UCVM examples: BCEM 341 or 393.
Introductory genetics: one course	Passing grade; lab optional UCVM example: BIOL 311.
Introductory ecology: one course	Passing grade; lab optional UCVM example: BIOL 313.

GPA

How it is calculated: Combined GPA from the four most recent full-time undergraduate Fall/Winter terms, normally at least four first-attempt courses per term. For a current full-time student, the latest three completed terms determine interview eligibility and four terms determine admission eligibility.
Minimum: 3.0 across the four most recent full-time terms

UCVM's minimum-academic-requirements section states 3.0. Its interview-selection section says above 3.0; applicants at exactly 3.0 should clarify interview eligibility with UCVM.

Admissions tests

MCAT (required): A score above 495 on an attempt within three years before application submission is required. Enter your AAMC ID and release scores specifically to UCVM by the application deadline.
TOEFL iBT (required for some applicants): If English is not your first language: 100 overall, with at least 27 in each sub-score; an accepted English-language study route is an alternative.
IELTS Academic (required for some applicants): If English is not your first language: 8.0 overall, with no band below 7.0; an accepted English-language study route is an alternative.

Experience and volunteer hours

Recommended.

Animal or veterinary-related experience is an asset, not a requirement; UCVM expects an understanding of the veterinary profession and relevant animal industries. No minimum work or volunteer hours are specified.

Supplementary application

The UCVM application asks about career interests, accomplishments, work, extracurricular and volunteer activities. Enter three referees: a post-secondary instructor, a work or volunteer supervisor, and a personal referee who is neither a relative nor a close friend. Invited applicants write a timed essay.

How applicants are ranked

Academically qualified applications receive a holistic file review by at least three reviewers, who do not see GPA, MCAT or Casper scores. File-review and Casper scores determine interview invitations. Among interviewed applicants, offers are ranked by MMI 65%, essay 30%, and Casper 5%.

Interview Format at University of Calgary

Format: Multiple mini interview (MMI)

Invited applicants complete a timed essay and a multiple mini-interview with a series of 10-minute stations assessing understanding of the veterinary profession and non-academic attributes. UCVM lists the MMI as online.

Who is invited: Academically qualified applicants selected after file review and consideration of Casper scores
When: Essay: March 12, 2027; online MMI: March 13, 2027. Invitations are expected by approximately February 22, 2027.

Practice under timed, realistic conditions with Bright Doctor's AI Interview Simulator.

Prepare for Casper and Your Interview

Access Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank with 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert-crafted responses, AI Interview Simulator with realistic practice conditions, and personalized mentorship from current medical students, all on one web-based platform.

Start Practicing Free

Curriculum at University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine

Program length: Four years
Structure: Four calendar years and nine terms: three years of classroom, laboratory and experiential learning, followed by a full-calendar-year practicum with 40 weeks of rotations plus assessment time.
Campuses: Foothills Campus, Spy Hill Campus

The curriculum integrates clinical medicine, surgery and basic sciences; final-year rotations include distributed practice settings.

Campus and facilities

The first three years are taught predominantly at Foothills and Spy Hill. Final-year practicum rotations take place on and off campus through UCVM's Distributed Veterinary Learning Community.

Tuition and Funding at University of Calgary

2026-2027 annual DVM tuition: $14,901 CAD
2026-2027 annual general fees: Approximately $1,787.80 CAD

Tuition and general fees are reviewed annually.

What Applicants Are Saying

Matriculated students describe a culture valuing variety in experiences—such as animal handling, research, and leadership—over extensive time in a single domain. Students report that sustaining grades amid diverse experiences positions applicants effectively. Students report that variety across fields like animal care and leadership, rather than depth in one, aligns with reviewer scoring for program fit. Applicants advancing past initial reviews face a challenging interview process, noted by students as a key hurdle in this competitive field.

Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.

How to Prepare Your University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine Application

Check that you can complete four qualifying full-time terms and all ten prerequisite courses.
Confirm your residency pathway and gather the required documents.
Arrange your MCAT score release to UCVM and enter your AAMC ID.
Book the UCVM-listed Casper sitting; use Acuity Insights' free full-length practice test to learn the format.
Choose your three required referees and prepare examples of your relevant activities.
If invited, practise timed MMI stations and essay writing.

Frequently Asked Questions About University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine

Is Casper required for University of Calgary DVM admissions?

Yes. All applicants must take Casper. UCVM uses its score in interview selection and gives it 5% weight when ranking interviewed applicants for offers.

What is the minimum GPA for UCalgary DVM?

UCVM's minimum-academic-requirements section states a 3.0 GPA across the four most recent full-time terms. Its interview-selection section says above 3.0; ask UCVM about eligibility if your GPA is exactly 3.0.

Does University of Calgary DVM require proof of Alberta residency?

Generally, yes: upload a current Alberta driver's licence or identification card and a valid Alberta Health Care card. Eligible Indigenous applicants from elsewhere in Canada are exempt from the Alberta residency requirement and provide proof of Indigenous status.

What English proficiency is needed for UCalgary DVM if English is not my first language?

Qualify through accepted English-language university study, TOEFL iBT 100 with at least 27 in each sub-score, or IELTS Academic 8.0 with no band below 7.0. The English course prerequisite also applies.

How should I prepare for Casper for UCalgary DVM?

Familiarize yourself with the test format and try Acuity Insights' free full-length practice test; Acuity does not set a minimum number of practice scenarios.

What experiences does UCalgary DVM value?

Animal or veterinary-related experience is an asset but not required. UCVM expects applicants to understand the veterinary profession and animal industries relevant to their interests.

How do I apply to the UCalgary DVM program?

Apply through UCVM's online DVM application in the University of Calgary Student Centre, not VMCAS. Check the application deadlines for required documents and Casper scores.

Is there an interview for University of Calgary DVM?

Yes. Selected applicants complete a timed essay and an online multiple mini-interview. MMI, essay and Casper scores determine offer rankings.

Sources

Last updated: September 26, 2026