研究生/居民是学术研究计划不可或缺的一部分，被认为是“研究的初级同事”。学术部门的研究成功与否很大程度上取决于学生所从事的工作。要使外科系成为真正的学术系，必须对研究生（基础科学和外科住院医师）进行培训是基于积极研究计划的基础。许多基础科学专业的毕业生继续在北美完成高级学位（博士学位，医学博士学位）或博士后研究金。许多临床住院医师通常不仅根据其临床能力而且还根据他们的学术参与度而获得声望很高的奖学金，无论是硕士还是博士学位。该部门提供的课程均可获得外科理学硕士学位（MSc），医学硕士学位。专门从事外科教育
The Department offers research facilities in the Ray Rajotte Surgical-Medical Research Institute (SMRI), the Alberta Diabetes Institute, the Heritage Medical Research Centre [HMRC Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation (LKS)], Medical Sciences Building (MSB), Katz Building, and the Cross Cancer Institute for graduate students who wish to register for the degree of MSc or PhD in Surgery.<br><br>The Department has several core facilities including surgical suites, simulation facilities, an electron microscopy unit, clinical biochemistry and histology laboratory, and computer graphics and photography with technical staff in these laboratories who are able to assist graduate students who wish to carry out research projects. These facilities are well equipped to meet all the requirements of both the basic and clinical investigators from the Department of Surgery.<br><br>Facilities are available for the following projects which are presently being carried out: islet transplantation, the immunology of diabetes, perinatal physiology, burns/wound healing, xenotransplantation, stem cells and regenerative medicine, tolerance induction and immunoregulation, virology, neurological oncology, orthopedics, surgical education, urological oncology, ischemia-reperfusion and organ preservation/transplantation, surgical simulation and surgical education.