Application 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.

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 are only evaluated as part of our initial screening to confirm eligibility, and will not be subsequently factored into selection/ranking decisions.

Learn more about OMSAS GPA calculations here. (external link) 

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 are available on the OMSAS website (external link) .

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.

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 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.

1. How have your lived experiences contributed to your personal growth and desire to pursue a career in medicine?
2. 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?
3. 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?
4. 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:
   1. Peel: Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon
   2. Bolton
   3. Dufferin
   4. Halton: Milton, Burlington, Oakville, Halton Hills
   5. North Etobicoke
   6. 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:

1. Would this applicant make a good physician?
   
2. Rate the applicant on each of the following attributes:
   1. Communication skills
   2. Problem-solving skills
   3. Professionalism (e.g., commitment to ethical practice, standards of behaviour, accountability to others)
   4. Empathy (e.g., demonstrating consideration of others’ perspectives)
3. Identify and comment on 1 area of improvement for the applicant.
4. 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.