Admissions Pathways for Equity-Deserving Groups
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 majority of students will be selected from the three pathways.
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 and have additional submission requirements for their applications; however, the application process is otherwise the same as that of the General Admissions Stream.
Indigenous Admissions Pathway
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.
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.
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.
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.
Black Admissions Pathway
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 (Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, Black South American, and/or multi-racial students who have and identify with their Black ancestry).
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.
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.
Applicants will be required to confirm their eligibility for the pathway by completing a self-attestation.
Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway
Applicants to the MD Program who identify with one or more of the groups listed below may elect to apply through the Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway if they wish to do so. Applicant files will be evaluated by members of equity-deserving communities who will implement specific measures for a holistic and equitable review.
Eligible applicants in the Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway may include (but are not limited to) people who have lived experiences as a member of one or more of the groups listed below. (The TMU School of Medicine recognizes that applicants may have lived experience of more than one of these groups.)
- Individuals who identify as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and/or gender or sexual minorities
- Individuals with disabilities and/or neurodivergence, and/or those who are living with chronic health conditions
- 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
- Mature students and students from non-traditional pathways
- Racialized immigrants and the children of racialized immigrants (including children born in Canada)
- Racialized people
- Other equity-deserving group (applicant must specify in personal statement)
In addition to meeting the admissions requirements for the General Admissions Stream, those applying through the Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway will be required to submit the documentation below.
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.
Applicants will be required to submit supporting documentation to verify pathway eligibility; verification of any one eligibility group will be sufficient for this purpose.