Discover the MD Program at TMU
Discover the MD Program at TMU
The Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine will shape future-ready doctors who are dedicated to delivering primary care to those who need it most. Doctors who are culturally aware, working with our communities to improve health and wellbeing. And doctors who are driven to innovate, disrupt and drive change within the healthcare system for the benefit of those communities—in Brampton and beyond.
That is the kind of doctor students will become at the TMU School of Medicine.
Program Information
Our four-year MD curriculum is rooted in community-driven care and cultural respect and safety, with EDI, decolonization and reconciliation woven throughout. Through active, inquiry-based learning, we will help students to become a new kind of physician: one with the knowledge and tools to not only provide excellent, inclusive care, but to drive real change in the healthcare system.
Phase 1 builds a strong foundation for clinical learning. Students will acquire and apply knowledge, skills and abilities in the basic sciences and in clinical, social and health systems science. Students will also deepen their understanding of anti-racism, equity and bias, as well as the systemic inequities driving health and healthcare disparities.
Courses:
- Principles of Medicine
- Person-Centred Care
- Health Systems Sciences*
- Community & Global Health*
- Indigenous Communities & Health*
- Personal & Professional Development*
*Course runs throughout all four years of the MD program.
During Phase 2, students will be immersed in hands-on clinical learning through a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship primarily based in Family Medicine. Students will also complete clinical learning rotations in specialty areas of medicine such as psychiatry, emergency care and elder care across a variety of settings.
As students prepare to enter residency, the final phase prepares them to succeed by strengthening their skills via electives, preparation for post-graduate studies and completion of a self-directed learning block.
Applications are open now for September 2025!
Applications to the MD Program are only accepted through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) via the Ontario Medical School Application Service (external link, opens in new window) (OMSAS). Applicants are required to register for an OUAC account, or may use an existing account.
The Ontario provincial application period is typically open from July to October for admission the following September. Due to the accreditation process, the TMU School of Medicine’s application period for 2025 entry is off cycle. Applications to our program will be accepted via OMSAS from October 9 – December 2, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. ET, for a September 2025 start.
Each year, key dates (external link) for medical school admissions are outlined on the OMSAS website. The TMU School of Medicine’s admissions timelines will align with these OMSAS key dates as of January 2025.
Please refer to our Important Dates page for important timelines and deadlines for the current admissions cycle.
Our Building
The TMU School of Medicine is housed in the former Bramalea Civic Centre at 150 Central Park Drive in Brampton, Ontario. The building is currently being transformed into a state-of-the-art medical school featuring functional, flexible and collaborative active learning classrooms, lab and study spaces that will support various modes of pedagogy. A four-storey interconnected atrium at the primary west entrance will welcome students, staff and visitors into a vibrant, inclusive and safe environment where they can interact and engage with one another.
The library will provide quiet individual and group study spaces, and additional learning opportunities outside the classroom. Case-based learning teaching labs, simulation and digital anatomy labs will further bolster TMU’s experiential learning approach for medical learners. Equity, diversity and inclusion, decolonization and reconciliation will be intentionally infused into the building’s design; this building project is also the first at TMU to integrate the university’s Indigenous Design Guidelines – developed in consultation with Indigenous community members – in the design process.
The site was chosen for its proximity to both Brampton Civic Hospital and Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health & Wellness as well as its accessibility via municipal transportation, GO transit and highway systems. The site is also close to a variety of services and amenities to support the needs and well-being of our students.
The MD Program’s annual tuition rate for the 2025-2026 academic year is $25,604 CAD. TMU Mandatory Ancillary Fees will also apply. Tuition and fees are subject to change each year over the course of the four-year MD Program and will be listed on our website at the beginning of each admissions cycle, and also communicated to registered students.
Scholarships/awards will be made available through the TMU Student Awards and Scholarships Office to help support TMU medical students with financial need, with a primary focus on students admitted through our Indigenous, Black, and Equity-Deserving admissions pathways, as well as those who demonstrate exceptional aptitude in healthcare innovation and leadership. Guidance and support to apply for scholarships and awards will also be available to our students.
Additional information around tuition, fees, financial aid/Ontario Student Assistance Program, and payment details will be communicated electronically/provided to successful applicants.
OMSAS Application Service Fee: $220
The OMSAS application service fee for the 2025 admissions cycle is $220. This is a one-time fee to applicants each admissions cycle. If the application service fee has already been paid during registration for the 2025 OMSAS admissions cycle, applicants are not required to pay this fee again to apply to our program. The fee only applies to applicants who haven’t already registered and paid this fee for the current application cycle.
TMU Application Fee: $130
Applicants are required to pay a university fee for each medical school to which they apply. The fee to apply to the TMU School of Medicine is $130.
All fees are accepted via the OMSAS portal and are non-refundable. Applicants who do not pay the required fees before the application deadline will not have their application forwarded to TMU by OMSAS.
The Ontario Medical School Application Fee Waiver Program (external link) was developed to support medical school applicants facing financial barriers to applying to medical school. The program subsidizes the OMSAS application service fee and application costs for up to three (3) Ontario medical schools for qualifying applicants. This program was collaboratively developed by the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine, OUAC and Price of a Dream.
Details around eligibility criteria and how to apply to be considered for the fee waiver program are available on the program website (external link) .
Due to TMU School of Medicine’s off-cycle timelines, our participation in the 2025 Ontario Medical School Application Fee Waiver Program will be unique for this inaugural year only. Applicants who were already granted a fee waiver for the current application cycle will automatically have their waiver applied to their application to the TMU School of Medicine MD Program should they choose to apply.
A Holistic, Mission-based Admissions Approach
Training innovative, inclusive physicians starts at recruitment. With that in mind, TMU has developed intentional application and admissions processes that have the school’s mission at their core, and that reflect community and societal needs.
The school will use a multifaceted, holistic approach to identify students who possess the necessary academic capabilities, interpersonal skills and personal attributes required to excel in the medical profession. The TMU School of Medicine is founded on equity, diversity and inclusion, decolonization and reconciliation, and our admissions process will seek to identify applicants who have lived experience and/or are committed to advancing these principles.
Our admissions process is also designed to purposefully admit equity-deserving students and to identify and select applicants interested in primary care practice, particularly in medically underserved areas, including the Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities.
Academic Requirements
Completion of a minimum four-year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in any program/discipline is required prior to the start of Year 1 of the MD Program. Applicants from part-time undergraduate studies can also apply, provided that they complete their undergraduate degree prior to the start of Year 1 of the MD Program and transcripts are submitted by the established deadline.
TMU reserves the right to be the final arbiter of what is equivalent to a four-year undergraduate degree.
A minimum OMSAS GPA of 3.3* in any undergraduate degree is required. This inclusive floor value of 3.3 aims to minimize barriers to entry and create an inclusive and diverse learning environment that welcomes applicants from various academic backgrounds, while ensuring that applicants have the academic abilities required to succeed in the program.
*In exceptional circumstances, applicants in the three admissions pathways (Indigenous, Black, and Equity-Deserving) with a GPA below the minimum requirement of 3.3 may have their application considered for admission by the relevant pathway subcommittee.
In line with our holistic admissions approach, GPA considerations will be one of a number of factors outlined in the application process to inform selection/ranking decisions.
Please note: Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Admission is highly competitive, with limited seats available each year.
The TMU School of Medicine has intentionally refrained from mandating a specific program of study or undergraduate prerequisite coursework for candidates applying to the MD program in order to attract a diverse range of applicants with varied educational experiences.
As well as assessing applicants on their academic achievements, our holistic admissions process will value lived, learned, and work-related experiences without preferential treatment for science-related degrees.
Although transcripts from graduate and professional studies are required to validate/confirm educational activities and provide a greater overview of an applicant’s journey, graduate or professional studies will not be factored into the GPA calculation.
Applicants are required to submit official transcripts by the application deadline for each university, college, CEGEP, junior college, graduate school or other postsecondary or professional institution attended. This includes studies that are currently in progress and all institutions that were previously attended, including any exchange programs, or studies that resulted in a withdrawal or dismissal.
To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from the institution's registrar’s office to OMSAS. The transcript must be printed on the institution’s official transcript paper, or be imprinted with the institution’s seal and/or bear the appropriate signatures, or be sent electronically, where that procedure is established.
Learn more about transcript requirements on the OMSAS website. (external link)
Evaluation of International Transcripts
Applicants who have completed studies outside of Canada or the United States must have their academic credentials/foreign transcripts assessed for Canadian equivalency by World Education Services (WES) (external link) . Further details regarding the assessment of international grades (external link) are available on the OMSAS website.
The WES evaluation must include an evaluation of all courses, along with an overall GPA. If a WES evaluation contains a copy of the official transcript that has been evaluated, applicants are not required to submit a separate copy of that transcript.
The WES transcript evaluation (and accompanying transcript) must be sent directly to OMSAS by the TMU application deadline.
Non-academic Requirements
Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents (landed immigrants) of Canada by the application deadline to be considered for admission to our program. Permanent residents must submit a copy of the front and back of their current/valid permanent resident card by the application deadline. Canadian citizens are not required to submit citizenship documentation at the time of application, but will also be required to provide such documentation as a condition of acceptance/registration.
The TMU School of Medicine is not currently accepting applications from international applicants.
Applicants must submit an autobiographical sketch (ABS) that provides a detailed and comprehensive list of employment history, volunteer activities, extracurricular activities, research, awards and accomplishments, and other relevant activities since the age of 16.
For each activity mentioned in the ABS, applicants are required to provide the name, address, telephone number and email address of a contact who can verify their involvement in that activity. Applicants may use the same verifier for multiple activities where appropriate.
The TMU School of Medicine reserves the right to confirm the information provided in the application/ABS by contacting any of the listed verifiers.
Further details regarding ABS requirements are outlined on the OMSAS website. (external link)
Applicants who are submitting an application via OMSAS to the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) School of Medicine’s MD Program for the 2025 cycle may choose to submit an Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) Addendum. The ABS Addendum allows you to submit up to five (5) additional entries to supplement your original Autobiographical Sketch, regardless of the number of previous entries.
The ABS Addendum is completely optional. No preference is given to applicants choosing to submit the ABS Addendum over applicants who submit only the OMSAS ABS.
Click below to access the TMU ABS Addendum Guide, which includes a link to the template. ABS Addendums submitted in any other format will not be accepted.
Completed ABS Addendums can be submitted through Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) using the “TMU ABS Addendum” document type. All submissions must be received by the TMU application deadline: December 2, 2024 at 4:30pm ET.
Applicants are required to submit responses to four (4) supplementary questions. Each response should be no more than 250 words.
Questions are framed around four (4) identified clusters that align with the TMU School of Medicine’s mission and vision, as well as with the overall objectives of the MD program.
Supplementary questions for the 2025 admissions cycle are listed below.
- How have your lived experiences contributed to your personal growth and desire to pursue a career in medicine?
- What leadership roles and/or community engagement experiences have you undertaken within your community, particularly in efforts aimed at supporting and advocating for marginalized groups? How have these experiences prepared you to address the needs of underserved communities as a future healthcare professional?
- How have your personal, professional, or extracurricular experiences with diversity, inequity, and/or marginalization influenced your efforts to create a more inclusive environment in your school, community, or workplace?
- Describe your connection(s) to the Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities and/or your interest in practicing in culturally diverse communities such as these, that represent the future of Canada. For the purpose of this question and your response, we define Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities as follows:
- Peel: Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon
- Bolton
- Dufferin
- Halton: Milton, Burlington, Oakville, Halton Hills
- North Etobicoke
- West Woodbridge
**If you have identified a connection to the Brampton/Peel Region or surrounding communities, you are required to submit supporting documentation to verify your connection to the area.**
Applicants must request a Confidential Assessment Form (CAF) from three (3) separate referees. A CAF serves as a structured reference letter.
TMU School of Medicine does not require any additional references/Confidential Assessment Forms beyond the standard three (3) that are required as part of the OMSAS application. If an applicant already has these references in an existing application, no further action is required.
For each applicant, a CAF must be completed by:
- One (1) academic- or employment-related referee
- One (1) non-academic referee
- One (1) referee of choice
Applicants are encouraged to select referees who have extensive personal knowledge of them and are not family members or friends. Referees should be in a position to answer the following questions:
- Would this applicant make a good physician?
- Rate the applicant on each of the following attributes:
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Professionalism (e.g., commitment to ethical practice, standards of behaviour, accountability to others)
- Empathy (e.g., demonstrating consideration of others’ perspectives)
- Identify and comment on 1 area of improvement for the applicant.
- Share any other information you feel may be relevant to a medical school’s admission.
Confidential Assessment Forms must be received via OMSAS. Learn more about how to request a CAF from a referee. (external link)
It is the applicant's responsibility to contact their referees and to ensure that all CAFs are submitted prior to the TMU School of Medicine’s application deadline.
The MD Program is only offered in English; therefore, TMU School of Medicine MD students must be proficient in spoken and written English. Although English language proficiency testing is not an application requirement, applicants’ written and spoken communication skills will be evaluated in the admissions process.
In alignment with all Ontario medical schools, the MD Program and TMU School of Medicine have endorsed, as a reference, the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine's (COFM) guidelines on "Essential Skills and Abilities Required for Entry to a Medical Degree Program." Applicants for and Students enrolled in the MD Program must possess the ability to satisfy Essential Skills for admission to, retention in, and graduation from the program.
All MD Program applicants and enrolled students are expected to review the guidelines to assess their ability to meet these standards, as well as all other registration and program requirements established by the MD program.
More information is outlined below; the full report is available on the Council of Ontario Universities website (external link) .
COFM Guidelines
The Ontario Faculties of Medicine are responsible to society for providing a program of study that graduates Doctors of Medicine with the knowledge, skills, professional behaviours and attitudes necessary for postgraduate medical training and independent practice in Canada. Graduates must be able to diagnose and manage health problems and provide comprehensive, compassionate care to their patients. For this reason, students in the MD program must possess the cognitive, communication, sensory, motor, and social skills necessary to interview, examine, and counsel patients, and competently complete certain technical procedures in a reasonable time while ensuring patient safety.
In addition to obtaining an MD degree, and completing an accredited residency training program, an individual must pass the licensure examinations of the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) in order to practice medicine. Therefore, MD programs have embedded expectations of competencies both knowledge- and skills-based. Prospective candidates should be aware that cognitive abilities, physical examination proficiencies, management skills, communication ability, and professional behaviours are all evaluated in timed simulations of patient encounters.
All students must therefore have the required skills and abilities described in the following Section on Technical Standards. These are standards that are necessary for success in the MD program, and to be sufficiently competent to participate in supervised residency training.
All individuals are expected to review this document to assess their ability to meet these standards. Students with disabilities that could negatively impact their capacity to meet these standards should notify their University so that appropriate accommodations may be arranged. Where a student has a disability, the University will assess the needs of that student and whether those needs can be met short of undue hardship, including any cost and issues of patient care and safety.
Technical Standards for Entry into an MD Program
A candidate for the MD degree must demonstrate in a timely fashion the following abilities as they relate to the competencies.
- Observation: A student must be able to participate in learning situations that require skills of observation. In particular, a student must be able to accurately observe a patient and acquire all relevant sensory information.
- Communication: A student must be able to efficiently elicit verbal and non-verbal information pertinent to the patient’s medical history and physical examination. A student must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families and any member of the health care team. A student must also be able to summarize coherently a patient’s condition and management plan verbally and in writing.
- Motor: A student must demonstrate sufficient motor function to safely perform a physical examination on a patient (e.g. palpation, auscultation and percussion). A student must be able to use common diagnostic aids or instruments either directly or in an adaptive form. A student must be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general and emergency medical care to patients.
- Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: A student must demonstrate the cognitive skills and memory necessary to engage in clinical problem solving.
- Behavioural and Social Attributes: A student must consistently demonstrate the emotional health required for full utilization of her/his intellectual abilities. The application of good judgment and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients is necessary. The development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients, families and other members of the health care team are also required. The student must be able to tolerate the physical, emotional, and mental demands of the program and function effectively under stress. Adaptability to changing environments and the ability to function in the face of uncertainties that are inherent in the care of patients are both necessary. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that physicians must demonstrate and are expected qualities of students.
Students with Disabilities
Disability is defined by Section 10 (1) of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
COFM is committed to facilitating the integration of students with disabilities into the University and medical communities. Each student with a disability is entitled to reasonable accommodation that will assist her/him to meet the standards. Students must be prepared to provide supporting medical documentation in a timely manner and to cooperate with the University in determining an appropriate accommodation.
Information Provided by COFM
First Approved: November 2003
Revised: October 2016; Approved by UE: COFM October 11, 2016; Approved by COFM Deans October 26, 2016.
Please note that a connection to the Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities is not required in order to apply. We look forward to welcoming a diverse cohort of students committed to serving communities such as these, both from the region and beyond.
The TMU School of Medicine campus is located in Brampton, and the school’s primary clinical partner is William Osler Health System, a hospital system serving Brampton/Peel Region. We understand that many applicants to the TMU School of Medicine will have a connection to Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities; this may include any of the following in the Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities:
- Previous/current residence
- Attending school (elementary/secondary/postsecondary/graduate)
- Employment/volunteer history
- History of extracurricular involvement of any kind
We also understand that many applicants will have an interest in serving culturally diverse and medically underserved communities.
All applicants will be required to describe any connections to the Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities in the supplementary question section of the application and/or to describe their interest in practicing in communities like Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities, an area that represents the future of Canada.
For the purpose of the question and response, we define Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities as follows:
- Peel: Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon
- Bolton
- Dufferin
- Halton: Milton, Burlington, Oakville, Halton Hills
- North Etobicoke
- West Woodbridge
Applicants with a connection to the Brampton/Peel Region and surrounding communities will also be required to submit supporting documentation to verify their connection to the area. Examples of supporting documentation that confirms a connection to the Brampton/Peel Region or surrounding communities include, but are not limited to:
- a report card/record of attendance or registration from an academic institution that the applicant has attended in the region (does not have to be an official document, can be a screenshot etc.);
- letter from an employer or other organization in the region that confirms their location and the applicant’s length of time/involvement with the organization; and
- other documentation that clearly shows previous or current residence in the region.
Note: Documentation should not include any sensitive information such as a Social Insurance Number, licence or health insurance number, credit card information, or other personal details. If the documentation contains any of the above, applicants are asked to redact the information from their documentation before submission.
The TMU School of Medicine recognizes that many groups face barriers in both applying and being admitted to medical school. With this in mind, we have created three purposeful admissions pathways for applicants representing equity-deserving groups in order to account for systemic bias in applicant review processes and eliminate barriers to success for these groups in relation to medical school admissions processes.
- Indigenous Admissions Pathway
- Black Admissions Pathway
- Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway
The School of Medicine is dedicated to welcoming a diverse pool of applicants; these pathways provide an important mechanism to provide access to medical education.
Prospective students may apply through these admissions pathways to address the under-representation of identified equity-deserving groups in medical education and the population representative of Brampton/Peel and surrounding communities. The pathways are designed to provide an inclusive and supportive process for applicants from these groups.
Prospective students applying through these pathways are required to verify their eligibility by providing a self-attestation and/or supporting documentation, and have additional submission requirements for their applications; however, the application process is otherwise the same as that of the General Admissions Stream.
TMU is committed to protecting applicant privacy. Any information or documentation submitted for the purpose of verifying an applicant's eligibility for an admissions pathway will be kept confidential and used solely for the evaluation and confirmation of eligibility. This information will not be shared with any unauthorized parties without explicit consent.
Applicants to the MD Program who identify as Indigenous may elect to apply through the Indigenous Admissions Pathway. These applications are considered by a diverse Committee of Indigenous People, and applicants are guided through an alternate process developed entirely by Indigenous People to reflect culturally appropriate, holistic evaluation for entrance to the MD program.
Eligible applicants in this pathway identify as Indigenous: First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.
In addition to meeting the admissions requirements for the General Admissions Stream, those applying through the Indigenous Admissions Pathway will be required to submit the documentation below.
Personal Statement
Indigenous Admissions Pathway applicants must submit a supplemental essay of 500-1000 words wherein they self-identify as Indigenous and reflect on their connection to their community, their lived experiences that demonstrate suitability for a career in medicine, and how they envision contributing as future leaders in Indigenous health and wellness throughout Canada.
The minimum academic requirement for admission to the MD program is a 3.3 GPA achieved during a four-year undergraduate degree program from an accredited institution. If the applicant has encountered barriers to achieving the required 3.3 GPA, they may address this here for consideration.
Verification of Eligibility
Applicants to this pathway may verify their eligibility by providing proof of Indigenous ancestry in the form of one of the following:
- a verifier from the applicant’s home community such as a Chief from their home First Nation, Director of Indigenous Student Centre, President of local Indigenous Friendship Centre, etc. who can be contacted to provide an oral or written attestation to the applicant’s Indigenous ancestry and status of community connection; or
- formal identification/documentation such as a membership card in a Métis registry recognized by the Métis National Council, Secure Certificate of Indian Status, or Nunavut Trust Certificate Card.
Curriculum Vitae (Optional)
Applicants to this pathway may submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) to supplement their autobiographical sketch, should they wish; however, this is not a mandatory component of the application.
Applicants to the MD Program who identify as Black may elect to apply through the Black Admissions Pathway. Applicant files will be evaluated by members of Black communities who will implement specific measures for a holistic and equitable review.
Eligible applicants in this pathway identify as Black (such as but not limited to Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, Black South American and/or multi-racial Black, or part of the global Black diaspora).
In addition to meeting the admissions requirements for the General Admissions Stream, those applying through the Black Admissions Pathway will be required to submit the documentation below.
Personal Statement
Black Admissions Pathway applicants are required to submit a written statement of 500-1000 words indicating how their life experiences and their connection to their Black ancestry and community have impacted or influenced their educational path and goals.
The minimum academic requirement for admission to the MD program is a 3.3 GPA achieved during a four-year undergraduate degree program from an accredited institution. If the applicant has encountered barriers to achieving the required 3.3 GPA, they may address this here for consideration.
Verification of Eligibility
Applicants will be required to confirm their eligibility for the pathway by completing a self-attestation within their application.
To ensure that our student body represents the fullest possible range of social, economic, ethnic and cultural perspectives, the Admissions Committee considers many factors. The goal of the Committee is to evaluate each applicant’s potential by completing a holistic review of the application.
Applicants to the MD Program who identify with one or more of the groups listed below or who have other relevant lived experiences related to their identities, may elect to apply through the Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway if they wish to do so. This is a pathway for applicants from additional equity deserving groups that is distinct from our pathways for Black and Indigenous applicants. Applicant files will be evaluated holistically to identify students who will serve diverse populations. (The TMU School of Medicine recognizes that applicants may identify and have lived experiences related to more than one of these groups.)
- Individuals who identify as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. 2SLGBTQ+ is a term used at TMU to refer to people who identify as Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender independent, non-binary, queer, genderqueer or similarly express gender or sexual diversity.
- Individuals with disabilities. Persons with disabilities include those who may experience disadvantage or barriers to education as a result of long term, chronic or episodic physical, mental/emotional, psychiatric or learning disabilities. It should also be noted that the social model of disability recognizes that disability is not created by any particular medical or physical condition, but rather by societal barriers.
- Individuals who have faced familial and/or socio-cultural barriers such as loss of both parents, long term involvement with the child welfare system, and/or precarious housing
- Individuals with lived experiences of poverty or low socio-economic status
- Racialized people. The term “racialized people'' includes all people of colour, sometimes referred to as racial or visible minorities in Canada and the United States, who are not White.
In addition to meeting the admissions requirements for the General Admissions Stream, those applying through the Equity-Deserving Pathway will be assessed on their personal statements related to how their identity informs their educational pursuits, experiences working with underserved communities and desire to uplift and engage communities they represent. Those applying through the Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway will be required to submit the documentation below.
Personal Statement
Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway applicants are required to submit a written statement of 500-1000 words describing how their lived experiences or positionality have significantly influenced their educational pursuits, and how this influences their aspirations to become a physician. Considering their background and experiences, applicants are asked to outline the contributions they envision making to medicine, particularly in relation to uplifting and engaging communities they represent and that the healthcare system has historically underserved.
If the applicant has encountered barriers to achieving the required 3.3 GPA, they may address this here for consideration.
Verification of Eligibility
Applicants will be required to submit supporting documentation to verify pathway eligibility; verification of any one eligibility group will be sufficient for this purpose.
Applicants may submit the following types of documentation. Note that this list is provided as a guide and is not exhaustive. If a document is not appropriate or available for a given applicant, the applicant can provide a (PDF file) signed letter attesting to their eligibility as part of their application.
- Letter from a community organization where applicant volunteers or works that serves the equity-deserving community with which they identify
- Proof of an award applicant received as a result of contributions to the equity-deserving community with which they identify
- Proof of a scholarship or bursary applicant received based on their identification as a member of an equity-deserving group
- Proof of membership in an advocacy club, group or organization at a university that serves the equity-deserving community with which the applicant identifies
- Medical note or other official documentation by a licensed professional (should not identify confidential information, such as a medical diagnosis for example, but should confirm applicant is a member of this equity-deserving group)
- Proof of being in receipt of previous academic accommodation (should not identify confidential information but confirm an accommodation was to be provided)
- Proof of receipt of Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- Proof of a tax credit for people who are members of applicant's equity-deserving community (e.g. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax credit for people living with disabilities)
- Proof of significant financial hardship over a sustained period of time in applicant's life (e.g. CRA notice of assessments, documentation of being in receipt of Ontario Student Assistance Plan (OSAP) bursaries, Ontario Works documentation, etc.)
- Proof of involvement with the child welfare system
Important notice: Applications and supporting documentation will only be accepted via the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) (external link) . Documents sent directly to the TMU School of Medicine will not be considered. Any applications that are missing required documentation will be considered incomplete and will not be considered further in the admissions process.
TMU reserves the right to change the admission requirements at any time without notice.
Applicants to the TMU School of Medicine’s MD Program must complete the Applicant Declaration established by OUAC as part of their application via OMSAS. In doing so, applicants certify that the personal information and documents submitted, or to be submitted, in their application are true, complete and correct, including declarations of citizenship and immigration status in Canada. Applicants must certify that any applicable autobiographical and personal submissions are true, accurate and authored solely and entirely by them. They also certify that all information requested in their application has been disclosed.
Applicants must also declare that they understand that it is their responsibility to keep OUAC and the Ontario medical schools where they apply informed of any changes to the information in their application and agree to update their application immediately after any such change occurs.
The TMU School of Medicine reserves the right to verify any information provided in the application. If an applicant submits any information or documentation in their MD Program application that is found to be false, misleading, concealed, withheld, fraudulent, or written by a third party or generative AI technology, the application will be disqualified. This includes misrepresentation of identity for pathway eligibility purposes. If discovered after an admission offer has been extended, the offer will be revoked. If discovered after enrolment in the MD Program, applicants may be dismissed/withdrawn from the program. Toronto Metropolitan University may, at its discretion, refuse future applications from applicants if any of the above is discovered in their application. The TMU Academic Integrity Policy includes misconduct relating to falsified documents in the admissions process and applies to applicants and enrolled students. Additional information regarding Academic Integrity Procedures pertaining to the submission of falsified information/documents is available here: TMU Academic Integrity Procedures.
The Undergraduate Medical Education Admissions Council (UAC) is responsible for oversight of and decisions directing the governance and operations of admission to the MD Program. The UAC creates, implements, and monitors processes and procedures for MD Program admissions while ensuring alignment of all admissions activities within the mission, vision and values of TMU and the School of Medicine, which emphasize equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), decolonization and reconciliation.
The UAC is accountable to the school’s Faculty Council and leads all decision-making throughout the MD Program admissions process. The UAC holds the final authority for admission decisions, processes and policies, and all admission decisions made by the UAC are final.
Admission requirements and processes are reviewed by the UAC annually and are subject to change.
The selection process for the TMU School of Medicine’s MD program is outlined below. This process is the same for all applicants, with accommodations available upon request with appropriate supporting documentation.
Initial Screening
Applications submitted through OMSAS by the application deadline will be assessed for completeness and to verify that an applicant has obtained, or is in the process of obtaining, their undergraduate degree by the anticipated start date. Cumulative GPAs will be calculated as per the OMSAS Grading Scale (external link) to ensure applicants also meet the TMU School of Medicine’s GPA requirements.
Our Indigenous, Black, and Equity-Deserving admissions pathways will also begin to assess pathway eligibility at this time.
Should an applicant not be eligible in the admissions pathway to which they have applied, their application can be considered in the General Admissions Stream provided they meet the minimum eligibility criteria.
Asynchronous Vendor Assessment
All applicants meeting academic requirements will be invited to participate in an online asynchronous assessment hosted by a third-party vendor, Kira Talent. The assessment is a component of our holistic admissions process that will require the completion of 6 timed questions, both video and written, that seek to further evaluate the applicant’s understanding and commitment to the school’s mission and values, as well as their communication and problem-solving skills.
A shortlist of candidates will be generated via this assessment; shortlisted candidates will progress to the file review stage.
File Review
Shortlisted candidates (including those applying through our three admissions pathways) will progress to a comprehensive file review that includes the autobiographical sketch, confidential assessment forms, supplementary questions, and pathway-specific documentation such as a supplemental essay.
Following the file review, a further shortlist of candidates will be invited to progress to the interview stage.
Interviews
Applicants to the General Admissions Stream, Black Admissions Pathway and Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway who are invited to interview will undertake a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI). The MMI includes a series of eight (8) short, timed, multiple-station synchronous interviews that assess applicants’ non-academic attributes such as empathy, communication, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, ethical reasoning, critical thinking, and cultural competency. The MMIs do not assess core knowledge; rather, they ensure that candidates align with the TMU School of Medicine’s core values and commitment to serving diverse and underserved populations.
Applicants selected for an interview with the Indigenous Admissions Pathway will take part in an alternate interview format, such as a talking-circle, rather than an MMI.
Selection/Ranking
Following the interview stage, a composite aggregate score and rank of each candidate’s skills and abilities will be derived by each stream/pathway. Scores and ranks will take into account the multiple rounds of assessment, including the asynchronous assessment, file review and MMI/interview.
Additional offers of admission will be made on a rolling basis to waitlisted candidates.
For the 2025 admissions cycle, a total of 94 seats are available. Our admissions process is designed to remove systemic barriers for excellent students who traditionally face challenges in accessing medical education. Through the use of dedicated pathways, TMU School of Medicine will admit a student body that is rich in diversity and lived experiences.
Accommodations in the Application Process for GPA
Disability-based Consideration Requests: Eligibility
Should an applicant have an unaccommodated disability, they may request additional consideration in the MD program admission process if they:
- were not aware that they had a disability; or
- were not appropriately accommodated for a documented disability during their undergraduate and/or graduate studies.
This request applies only to the initial assessment of the OMSAS application. Applicants must submit the (PDF file) OMSAS Disability-based Consideration for GPA Changes Form (external link) along with the supporting documentation outlined below. Applicants are to use the Secure Application Messaging (SAM) in their OMSAS application to upload all supporting documentation for their request.
Supporting Documentation
Letter from a Regulated Health Practitioner
All applicants requesting additional consideration must submit a letter from a regulated health practitioner who is licensed to diagnose. The letter must be dated and:
- clearly state the health practitioner’s professional credentials;
- support the need for accommodation;
- specify the accommodation required;
- provide the date of diagnosis; and
- outline the underlying functional impairment and restrictions.
The following types of regulated health practitioners may provide a letter to support the applicant’s request:
- Physician (Family physician or specialist)
- Nurse practitioner
- Psychologist
- Dentist
- Physiotherapist
- Occupational therapist
- Speech and language pathologist
- Audiologist
- Optometrist
- Social worker
- Other regulated health practitioner who is licensed to diagnose
Documentation from the Accessibility Services Office
If an applicant has registered with and received accommodation from the accessibility services office at their institution, they must submit a report from the accessibility services office that:
- confirms their registration for academic accommodations;
- supports the need for accommodation; and
- lists the accommodation given and its duration.
A diagnosis is not required.
Accommodations in the Asynchronous Assessment and Interview Process
Disability-based Consideration Requests
Deadline to submit requests: December 6, 2024
The TMU School of Medicine is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible application process. We strive to ensure all candidates feel respected, valued, and supported, aiming to provide equitable access to our medical program by facilitating the necessary accommodations for candidates with documented disabilities (external link) .
The School of Medicine has partnered with TMU’s Academic Accommodation Support office (AAS) to assess candidate’s eligibility and determine the appropriate accommodations required during the interview process.
Applicants with a disability or disabilities who anticipate requiring accommodations to participate in the online Asynchronous Vendor Assessment and/or MMI/interview (should they advance to these stages of the selection process) must submit an MD Admissions Accommodation Request Form and supporting medical documentation (letter from a regulated health care practitioner) to the TMU Academic Accommodations Support (AAS) office by the stated deadline.
Upon applying to the TMU School of Medicine’s MD Program, applicants will receive additional details and next steps, including a link to submit an MD Admissions Accommodation request.
Applicants are asked to submit their request as soon as possible/by the stated deadline to allow sufficient time for the request to be assessed and implemented.
Applicants will be required to provide a letter from a regulated health practitioner who is qualified to diagnose the specific disability. The letter must be dated and:
- clearly state the health practitioner’s professional credentials;
- confirm the presence of a disability;
- support the need for accommodation;
- specify the recommended accommodation(s);
- provide the date of diagnosis; and
- outline the underlying functional impairment and restrictions.
By requesting an accommodation, applicants agree to have their information shared with AAS. Please note that all requests and supporting medical documentation will remain strictly confidential with AAS. AAS will only inform Admissions of the accommodations needed for implementation purposes.
Successful applicants can expect to receive an offer of admission to the MD Program on May 13, 2025; this is the “First Round Offers of Admission” provincial agreed-upon date, as listed in the key dates section of the OMSAS Application Guide (external link) .
Accompanying the offer letter will be further instruction on how to formally accept the offer of admission. Accepted applicants will be required to submit an agreement of their acceptance along with a deposit by a specified date. Failure to do so will result in their offer of admission being revoked. Applicants who register/matriculate to the program will have their deposit applied towards tuition, but it is otherwise non-refundable should an applicant decline their offer or choose to withdraw. This also applies to applicants who submit a request for deferral of admission and choose to withdraw if their request is denied.
All matriculants to the MD program are expected to start studies in September of the calendar year following their application and offer of admission. The UGME Admissions Council, as the sole decision maker for all admissions to the MD program, may consider a request for deferral of admission by a matriculant on a case-by-case basis and where there are exceptional circumstances. Deferral will be considered for any one of the following reasons:
- an unexpected change in the matriculant’s personal health or family status; or
- unexpected and documented sudden financial hardship.
In the case of an unexpected change in the matriculant’s personal health or family status, documents from a personal health care provider or other relevant professional(s) are required. In the case of an unexpected sudden financial hardship, attestation from the matriculant demonstrating financial hardship is required.
A request for deferral must:
- be submitted by the successful matriculant in writing before June 30 of the year they were offered admission and within seven (7) business days of the offer;
- detail the reasons for the request for deferral and provide necessary supporting documentation (as stated above) to support the request; and
- include the acceptance deposit with the request.
A request for deferral will:
- only be granted under exceptional circumstances;
- only be extended for the upcoming academic year;
- have no possibility of extension into a second year; and
- not be appealable if denied.
A comprehensive overview of the deferral process can be found in the Policy on Deferral of Admission to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program.
The Policy on Applications for Advanced Standing/Transfer to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program applies to applicants who are considering transfer into the MD program from another school or college of medicine program.
As outlined in the policy, the UGME Program Council and UGME Admissions Council will not accept any application for advanced standing/ transfer to the TMU MD program regardless of the applicant’s present or past medical school enrollment, for the following reasons:
- The four-year curriculum in the TMU MD program is arranged in three phases across four years and integrated throughout. Within each of the three phases, students undertake a series of courses, four of which run longitudinally across the years to support, develop and enhance their understanding and application of content through their learning journey. The four-year program must be completed in its entirety in order for students to achieve its learning outcomes.
- Several threads are woven throughout the curriculum; these threads also shape the formation of cases, learning experiences and projects. The outcomes-based approaches to assessment using the framework known as competency-based medical education require that for each course in a given year, all learning and assessments must be successfully completed for students to progress to the next year level in that course.
There is no exception to or appeal of this policy.
Applicants with in-progress studies during the admissions cycle who are still being considered for admission by the end of the academic year will be required to have any final official transcripts submitted to OMSAS by June 30th of the intended enrollment year.
Submitting an online transcript request by this date does not satisfy the deadline requirement.
Students admitted to the MD Program will be required to submit a Police Record Check and a Vulnerable Sector Check. This is a requirement for initial and continued registration at the TMU School of Medicine and we reserve the right to revoke admission offers and/or registration at any time as a result of reviewing information pertaining to criminal charges.
Should any criminal charges be laid against an applicant/student following submission of the Police Record Check, the applicant/student is required to disclose this information.
Upon acceptance into the MD program, successful candidates will receive detailed information about immunization requirements. Acceptance of an offer of admission from the TMU School of Medicine implies acknowledgment and acceptance of these immunization and vaccination requirements.
As per the Policy on Immunization and Screening in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program, students are required to be fully immunized and demonstrate proof of immunity before they enter the clinical setting. This policy stipulates that the MD program adheres to the most recent immunization and screening policy approved by the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee of the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine (COFM). Additionally, students are required to meet the immunization and screening standards set by the School's affiliates, the Ontario Hospital Association Communicable Diseases Protocols (external link) , the recommendations outlined in the UE: COFM Blood Borne Virus Policy (external link) (April 2022), and the (PDF file) COFM Immunization and Screening Policy 2022 (external link) .
Each academic year, students must demonstrate ongoing compliance with vaccine and disease prevention standards. Specifically, Year 1 students are expected to submit all vaccination information prior to the start of Phase 1, excluding Influenza and other vaccines with specific seasonal requirements. Similarly, students must ensure their immunizations are up to date before entering Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical settings.
Failure to meet these requirements may result in temporary suspension from clinical activities or training until compliance is achieved. This process is essential to ensure that all MD program students maintain the necessary immunizations to safeguard their health and the well-being of patients and the community.
As a condition of acceptance, candidates are required to complete/provide evidence of valid Canadian Basic Life Support (BLS) training/certification from a recognized provider (e.g. St. John’s Ambulance, the Canadian Red Cross) prior to enrolment. Either Basic Life Support or Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers will satisfy this requirement.
Additional information is provided to successful applicants prior to registration, and students are responsible for the cost of the course.