Global Health Science Program

Global Medical Summer Program

The Global Health Science Program is an academic medical program offered by the University of Alberta's Office of International Programs, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. It is designed for clinical and medical science students, dental students, students in health sciences related programs, young physicians, teachers, researchers, and experts in health related fields. The course is offered in both in-person and online formats and includes an optional dental track. It provides an interactive and unique format for participants to gain exposure to the Canadian healthcare system, family medicine, clinical medical practices, dentistry curriculum, and the health sciences program offered at the University of Alberta. The program aims to meet the needs of those interested in both clinical and research paths and allows participants to meet health faculty and trainees from various cultural and international backgrounds with similar career goals.

There is an option to include during the 4 week GHSP, participation in the International Academic Elective program.  Go here for more details.

The Global Health Science Program provides:

  • An interactive medical course in a unique format
  • Dental track and likely a laboratory science track and other related tracks
  • Meaningful exposure to the Canadian health-care system, including hospital, family medicine and clinical medical practices
  • An opportunity to meet with renown medical researchers such as U of A's Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Michael Houghton
  • An opportunity for participants to learn about Canadian society and culture
  • An opportunity for participants to meet new friends with different cultural backgrounds

This program will be of particular interest to:

  • Clinical medicine & medical science students 
  • Students in any year of their medical or health sciences program
  • Students from Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry international partners
  • Young physicians, teachers, researchers, experts in health related fields

Winter 2025 Online Cohort

The online offering of this 3-week program has been launched and runs from Sunday to Thursday, January 19 - February 6, 2025, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm MST Canada & USA. Cost is $1,500 CAD/person or $50,000 CAD/institution (up to 200 participants/institution) and includes online sessions, course materials and publications through eClass External.  Institutional sponsors are asked to contact the GHSP office at gmsp@ualberta.ca to sign up for the institutional rate.  Deadline for payment is January 6, 2025.   Refunds less a $75 administration fee are provided until January 6, 2025.  After this date, no refunds are available.  

Register Here for the Winter 2025 Online Cohort

Pay with a Credit Card on UAlberta Marketplace

GHSP Online Brochure

Chinese Translation of GHSP Online Brochure


Marketplace accepts Union Pay, Amex, Mastercard, Visa and Diners cards. If you do not have a credit card, please contact gmsp@ualberta.ca and we will help you find an alternate means of payment. We allow refunds up to the start date less a $75 administration fee. After the start date, there are no refunds.

Summer 2025 In-Person Cohort

The next in-person offering of this program is Monday to Friday, July 14 - Aug. 8, 2025, 9 am - 4 pm. Cost is $5,000 CAD and includes course materials, some meals, health insurance while in Alberta and shared room from arrival on Saturday, July 12, 2025 to departure on Saturday, August 9, 2025.  Participants are asked to provide their arrival and departure information by the payment deadline using this form.  If participants are arriving before July 12 or departing after August 9, and wish to stay at Lister, they must pay the additional costs of their room directly to the front desk of Lister upon arrival. Note that check in time at Lister Residence is after 4 pm. The security guard will be alerted if you are arriving after 11 pm and be watching for you to open the door.  Check out time is by 11 am on the day of departure.

Letters of invitation will be sent out as soon as registrations are received. 

Visa Requirements:  Registrants should use their letter of invitation to apply immediately for a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) to allow for any potential delays in the processing time. To check processing times for your country go here.

Registrants should not pay their registration fee until they receive their visa.  Deadline for payment is June 16, 2025.  Refunds less a $175 administration fee are provided until this date.  After June 16, 2025, no refunds are available. 

Register Here for the Summer 2025 In-Person Cohort

Pay Here with Credit Card on UAlberta Marketplace

GHSP In-Person Brochure

Chinese Translation of GHSP In-Person Brochure

Marketplace accepts Union Pay, Amex, Mastercard, Visa and Diners cards. If you do not have a credit card, please contact gmsp@ualberta.ca and we will help you find an alternate means of payment.

Twelve different international educational institutions were represented at the GHSP Summer 2023 Cohort including Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Peking University Health Science Centre, Chongqing Medical University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jinan University, Alfaisal University and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine & Health Sciences to name a few. Participants offered the following comments at the conclusion of the course:

“I really love this program! It was meaningful for me".  

“This program was valuable and amazing!”

Questions?  Contact gmsp@ualberta.ca

Last updated: July 26, 2024