We accept applications from students in good standing who will have successfully completed at least 3 years of full-time studies (5 courses per term each year) in any undergraduate program leading to a university bachelor’s degree.

Any academic year comprised of 4 courses per term will be recognized as full-time provided that the missing courses (credits) to fulfill the full-time (5 courses per term) requirement is completed within another academic year or as spring/summer course(s).

Note: An academic year consists of 2 regular terms – fall and winter (September to April).

Any school year with fewer than 4 courses per term will not count as a full-time year of study.

A full-time spring/summer term does not replace a regular term of studies (except for co-op programs).

Advanced placement, international baccalaureate and transfer credits cannot be used to satisfy the full-time studies requirement.

We do not recognize full-time remote (e.g., online) studies, since the spirit of the full-time studies requirement is to be able to assess and compare how candidates succeed in a full-time course load and to predict their performance and ability to cope with the rigorous demands of the medical program.

Note that studies leading to a diploma, a certificate or to an MD degree are not considered equivalent to an undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree.

Furthermore, when reviewing your file, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to assess:

• the level of difficulty of your program’s courses;
• the relevance of the courses for future medical studies at the University of Ottawa; and
• the performance you achieve in these courses.

We generally consider professional degrees earned at Canadian institutions as undergraduate degrees.

We do not pre-assess files; we will assess applications individually during the evaluation process once you submit your application to OMSAS.

Note: The full-time undergraduate requirement must be met prior to the beginning of June preceding admission into the MD Program.

FAQ

I completed 4 courses in the winter term this year. Does the course I took last summer count towards the required 5 courses per term?

Yes. Courses that are missing to meet the full-time requirement may be taken during another school year or a spring/summer session (before or after the term in which you took 4 courses), except in the summer prior to admission to the MD Program, as all requirements must be met by the beginning of June prior to possible entry into the program.

Can I qualify for admission with part-time studies?

Only full-time studies leading to a bachelor’s degree in a recognized university will qualify you for admission.

The required minimum cGPA is 3.50 on the 4.0 OMSAS scale.

While this meets the minimum criterion for admission consideration, be aware that, given the rising level of competition for a limited number of positions, a significantly higher cGPA would provide you with a better chance of admission.

Admission to the MD program is competitive; possessing the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

When assessing excellence in marks, we will use the cGPA based on your most recent 3 years of full-time (5 courses per term per year) undergraduate studies completed toward a bachelor’s university degree. The cGPA will include all full-time courses taken during the regular academic year (fall and winter terms) and individual courses taken during the spring/summer term during that period.

A school year with fewer than 4 courses per term is not considered full-time and will not be included in the calculation of the cGPA.

Marks obtained in an academic year during which a term (or full year) was completed abroad as part of an exchange program will not be included in the cGPA calculation.

Individual grades received for course work taken as part of a graduate degree will not be included in the cGPA calculation.

Any additional university courses or studies outside that period will be considered during the final comprehensive file review, despite not being included in the cGPA calculation, to ensure academic excellence is maintained.

For the academic year to count toward the cGPA calculation, a maximum of one pass/fail graded course per term may have been completed in accordance with the full-time requirement. Therefore, an academic year in which more than one pass/fail graded course was taken in one term is not considered in the cGPA calculation.

FAQ

How do you assess repeated courses?

All courses shown on your transcript within the most recent 3 years of full-time undergraduate studies in a recognized university will count in the calculation of your cGPA.

My cGPA is 0.02 less than the required minimum required average. Will my application advance in the selection process?

You must have the minimum required cGPA. Under no circumstances will exceptions be granted. 

Will the grades I obtained during the first semester of the year in which I am applying for admission count?

They will not be counted in the initial cGPA calculation but will be taken into account if your application advances further in the process, and you receive an offer of admission.

Specific prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of 3.00/4.00 on the OMSAS scale.

You may complete missing prerequisite courses during the academic year preceding admission to the MD Program. However, you must complete all courses by the end of the winter term (January-April) before entering medical school.

Course Requirements

• 6 units in humanities/social sciences
  • You may fulfill the humanities/social sciences requirements with any courses that are not science-based. These include, but are not limited to: sociology, psychology, mathematics, religion, administration, English literature, creative writing, etc.
  • We do not accept any second language courses toward the humanities/social sciences requirements.
• 6 units in biology
  • Anatomy and physiology courses are also accepted.
• 3 units in organic chemistry
  • Examples of topics covered in the course may include: classification, identification and structural characterization of organic compounds, the mechanisms of organic reactions, basic principles of organic stereochemistry, properties and preparation of hydrocarbons, halogen derivatives, alcohols, ethers and selected polymers.
• 3 units in general chemistry
  • Examples of topics covered in the course may include: chemical bonding, molecular geometry, chemical equations and quantitative relations, kinetics and equilibrium, redox reactions, electrochemistry, ionic equilibria, acids and bases in solution.
• 3 units in biochemistry
  • Examples of topics covered in the course may include: the chemistry and biological properties of amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates and vitamins.
• 3 units in statistics
  • Examples of topics covered in the course may include: concise survey of probability, theory of statistical inference, point and interval estimation, tests of hypotheses, introduction to analysis of continuous variables, sampling distribution, quantitative analysis, regression analysis, use of statistical software.

Notes

• Units are equivalent to credits.
• 3 units are equivalent to a one-term course, and 6 units are equivalent to either 1 full-year course or 2 term-long courses.
• We will accept courses where the title or content includes topics related to the category required. For example, a course entitled “Introduction to Chemistry” or “General Chemistry” would count towards the 3 units required in general chemistry.

• Having more courses in one category does not compensate for missing courses in other categories. For example, having 6 units in organic chemistry does not compensate for missing units in general chemistry or vice versa.

• For more information on prerequisite courses taken at the CEGEP or college level, please refer the “I am applying as a student from a CEGEP or a community college” section of our website.
• Prerequisite courses will not be validated in advance; they will be assessed as part of the application evaluation process.
• The 3 years of full-time undergraduate study and the prerequisite courses (with the supporting transcript) must be completed prior to June 30 preceding admission into the MD Program.
• Prerequisite courses with the minimum grade of 3.00/4.00 on the OMSAS scale completed outside of the most recent 3 years of studies will count toward fulfilling the prerequisite units; however, the grades will not count toward the cGPA.

Laboratory Requirement

You must have a laboratory component in 2 of the science courses from the categories listed or have completed 1 exclusive laboratory course equivalent to 6 units.

FAQ

Can distance learning courses (e.g., online) be taken to fulfill prerequisite course requirements?

Yes, courses taken through distance learning are accepted. However, we do not accept courses with home-study laboratory components; you must have completed the laboratory component onsite, at the university.

Are courses taken at CEGEP or college recognized as prerequisites?

Only some biology and chemistry courses from CEGEP or college are recognized as equivalent to our science prerequisites, provided you have obtained a minimum grade of 70%. For more information on course equivalencies, please see the “I am applying as a student from a CEGEP or a community college” section.

I completed the Advanced Placement (AP) and/or the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Are these recognized as prerequisites?

We grant PA and BI equivalencies only for science prerequisites (biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry) provided you passed with a minimum score of 5.

For your courses to be recognized, you must provide your AP or IB transcript. The official documentation can be uploaded via the Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) within your OMSAS application.

Can I complete prerequisite courses at a university other than the one where I am currently enrolled?

Yes. It is important to note that you must provide a transcript from the university where you took this course to confirm your grade. A notation of CR (credit) on your current university transcript is not sufficient. 

I completed more than one prerequisite course per required category. Do I need to include all of them in my application?

No. Please select only the number of courses/credits required per category. For example, 2 courses (6 credits) in humanities/social sciences. 

If you selected a course that does not meet the requirements, we will review your transcript(s) to determine if you have successfully completed another course that meets the requirements. 

I can’t find the link (URL) for one of my prerequisites. What should I do?

A course description is required for all prerequisites. 

If course descriptions are not available on your school’s website, you must provide a detailed and official syllabus for each of the courses you have selected. This document can be uploaded via the Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) within your OMSAS application.

How do I indicate which prerequisite courses have a laboratory component on my application?

There is no option to indicate this information in your application for admission.

We will use the links (URLs) to your course descriptions to identify courses with a laboratory component. This information is also available in your transcript.

Official transcripts are required for each university, college, CEGEP, junior college, graduate school or other postsecondary institution you currently attend, previously attended or withdrew from. You must submit a separate transcript even if your home school transcript shows an exchange or transfer course, and regardless of whether the course of study is relevant to your application.

This includes transcripts for:

• work taken on letter of permission;
• transfer credit;
• exchange program credit;
• international baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) transcripts [if the courses are prerequisites].

To be official, transcripts must meet these criteria:

• Be sent directly from the registrar’s office to OMSAS (we will not accept transcripts sent by you).
• Be either:
  • printed on the institution’s official transcript paper or be imprinted with the school’s seal and/or bear the appropriate signatures; or
  • sent electronically, where that procedure is established.

Note: It is not possible for OMSAS to notify you of any outstanding transcripts before the application deadline. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that OMSAS receives all transcripts and registrar statements by the application deadline.

The University of Ottawa’s MD Program is offered in both official languages. The teaching activities of the Anglophone and Francophone streams correlate, which is conducive to the development of linguistic skills in both English and French.

Choice of Language of Instruction

When applying for admission to the MD Program, you must choose to study in either English or French. You can apply to the Anglophone or Francophone stream regardless of your mother tongue or the first language you learned.

You must be able to function in the language of instruction you have chosen, both orally and in writing. We conduct interviews in the language of instruction you chose in your application. If you are invited for an interview, the interview will be conducted in the language of instruction you chose on the application in order for us to assess your language skills.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to request a language proficiency test at any time, if required.

Important: 

• Once you submit your application and/or are admitted, you cannot switch from one language stream to the other. You agree to participate in all teaching activities in the language chosen. 
• Francophone stream applicants: It is essential for students admitted to the Francophone stream to be proficient in English for clerkship. A large part of the patient population in the National Capital Region is Anglophone and we cannot guarantee that clinical placements in exclusively Francophone environments will be offered.

 Bilingualism

You are considered bilingual if you can speak both English and French.

Note: If you claim bilingual status, we will assess your ability to have a functional conversation in both languages at the time of the interview.

We do not accept applications from applicants who are not Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents (landed immigrants), except for eligible children of University of Ottawa alumni who have completed studies at the Faculty of Medicine.

You must forward proof of permanent resident (landed immigrant) status to OMSAS at the time you submit your application.

Within the OMSAS application, you must complete the detailed ABS, which provides information that allows an assessor to judge the scope of your activities.

The purpose of this questionnaire is for us to obtain more information about you. When completing the autobiographical sketch, you will be prompted to provide more specific details for all of the categories (employment, volunteer and extracurricular activities, awards and accomplishments, research and other).

It is in your interest to be complete, yet brief and to the point, and be specific in the time of completion (academic or non-academic) and number of hours. Answers in point form are easier to peruse. You are not writing a personal letter. We want to know what you have done in your life so far, why you did it and what you have gained from it as a person and as a future physician.

We are unable to advise you on the ABS, as we want to see how applicants choose to present their information. It is the applicant’s responsibility to use their best judgment.

You will be prompted to identify the top 3 activities in each category (maximum of 18 in total) that you feel have best prepared you to apply to medicine.

You must provide a verifier for each activity listed on your detailed ABS. We are unable to guide you in selecting your verifiers. However, it is recommended to avoid using friends or family members as verifiers.

You must comply with the instructions provided or your application will be disqualified.

Note: We randomly contact verifiers. We may, at our discretion, refuse to invite you for an interview if you submit a false, misleading or fraudulent ABS. This standard also applies to the names of the verifiers.

Employment

List employment you have held in chronological order. Specify your education level during employment (e.g., first year of university). Indicate if the employment was during the summer or the academic year, if it was part-time or full-time, the total number of hours (per week or per month) and the start and end date. Provide the location, your title and briefly describe your responsibilities.

Volunteer Activities

List your volunteer activities in chronological order. Specify your education level at the time (e.g., second year of university). Indicate if the activity was during the summer or the academic year, the total number of hours (per week or per month) and the start and end date. Provide the name and location of the organization, and briefly describe your responsibilities.

Extracurricular Activities

List your extracurricular activities in chronological order. Specify your education level at the time (e.g., first year of university). Indicate if the activity was during the summer or the academic year, the total number of hours (per week or per month) and the start and end date. Indicate the type of activity: individual activity, team activity or club activity (i.e., sports, arts, music, student governments, personal activities such as camping, etc.) For sports activities, indicate at which level you performed: recreational, varsity, intramural, provincial, national or international.

Awards and Accomplishments

These may include: university entrance scholarships, service awards, humanitarian awards, community awards/service, athletic scholarships, etc. Specify when they were received (e.g., third year of university), and the duration.

Research

Specify your education level during the research (e.g., first year of university) and the title of the project. Indicate the type of publications: paper, abstract and presentation at a scientific meeting, etc., accepted or published with a reference, submitted or in preparation.

You are required to ask 3 people to provide a reference on your behalf:

• one academic- or employment-related referee;
• one non-academic referee; and
• one referee of your choosing.

In order for the Admissions Committee to receive uniform information, each of your referees will be asked to fill out a confidential assessment form (CAF). It is your responsibility to inform them that they must fill out this form, and that letters of reference are not accepted.

Note: We will not accept CAFs from family members. Select people who have extensive personal knowledge of you. They will be asked to respond to the following:

1. Would this applicant make a good physician?
2. Rate the applicant on each of the following attributes:
   • Communication skills
   • Problem-solving skills
   • Professionalism (e.g., commitment to ethical practice, standards of behaviour and accountability to others)
   • Empathy (e.g., demonstrating consideration of others’ perspectives)
3. Identify and comment on one area of improvement for the applicant.
4. Share any other information you feel may be relevant to a medical school’s admissions committee.

Your referees must complete their references online using CAFs. References are due by the OMSAS application deadline along with the remainder of your application.

Requests for references should be sent to your referees by September 15 to allow enough time for them to complete the CAF by the deadline.

All applicants to the MD and MD/PhD Program at the University of Ottawa are required to take the Casper test through the Acuity Insights platform to be eligible for admission. Applicants are only required to do the Casper (Duet is not required).

Casper assesses the non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. It also complements our other applicant screening tools.

To take Casper, you must have access to a computer with audio capabilities, equipped with a webcam and a reliable internet connection on your selected test date. Casper can be taken anywhere that you can satisfy these requirements.

You do not need to study for Casper, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the Casper test structure and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test in.

Casper Registration and Test Dates

1. Sign up for a Casper account.
2. Register for the CSP-10201 – Canadian Professional Health Sciences version of Casper using a piece of government-issued photo ID.
3. Select a testing date and time. You will be provided with a limited number of dates and times based on the admission timeline and requirements. There will be no additional tests scheduled.

Notes:

• You must complete Casper in the language of instruction you selected when submitting your application to the University of Ottawa. If you fail to complete Casper in the language you chose to apply in, your application will be disqualified.
• Casper scores are available for only one application cycle and the test is offered only on a selected number of days. If you have already taken the test in previous years, you are expected to retake it.
• If you have written Casper in the summer (August or September) for other schools, you are not required to rewrite the test, unless you are applying for a different language stream.
• Once you submit your application and have received your OMSAS ID, you must remember to log into your Acuity Insights account and request that your results be sent to the University of Ottawa before the posted deadline.
• Exceptions will not be provided for applicants who are unable to take Casper during one of the available test dates.

Direct any inquiries about your Casper test to the Acuity Insights Support Team using the chat bubble located on the bottom right-hand corner of your screen on the Acuity Insights website.

If you require testing accommodations for the Casper, you will need to submit the Accommodations Request Form (PDF) signed by you and your qualified professional at least 4 weeks before your desired test date. Find more information about Casper testing accommodations.

There is a separate fee for the Casper test that you must pay directly to Acuity Insights. This fee is not included in the OMSAS/Ottawa’s application fees.