No, the MCAT is not an admissions requirement for NOSM University’s UME Program. Any MCAT scores that are submitted as part of an application are not taken into consideration in the review of the application.

Information regarding entering classes to NOSM University’s UME Program may be found on the Class Profiles page.

No. There is no age limit for application to NOSM University’s UME Program.

No. However, NOSM University has a mandate to prepare students from the north for careers in medicine. Applications from students who are from Northern Ontario and/or students who have a strong interest in and aptitude for practising medicine in northern urban, rural and remote communities are encouraged. While seats in the UME Program are not reserved for northern students, we are committed to maximizing the recruitment of these students.

NOSM University’s UME Program looks for highly motivated students from a variety of backgrounds, who are self-directed, who will thrive in a small group- based, distributed learning environment, who have a genuine interest in helping us fulfill our mandate and who uphold our values.

The aim is to have class profiles which reflect the demographics of the population of Northern Ontario. It is the intention of NOSM University to maximize the recruitment of students who are from Northern Ontario and/or students who have a strong interest in and aptitude for practising medicine in Northern urban, rural and remote communities. We are also committed to recruiting Indigenous and Francophone students.

We are looking for a concrete, demonstrated interest in living and working in Northern Ontario, and/or other rural, remote or northern urban communities. Volunteer experience, work experience, extracurricular activities and research are all areas one can endeavour to demonstrate this interest. You have the opportunity to outlines these experiences in the application questionnaire & autobiographical sketch.

The applications are initially screened and scored based on 3 components: 1) the GPA, 2) the application questionnaire & autobiographical sketch and 3) context. The context score is based on where you have lived and are living in Canada. It is based upon the above three elements that an invitation to interview at NOSM University is extended. Approximately 300 are invited each year.

Both Laurentian and Lakehead Universities offer a range of high quality university programs that would provide excellent preparation for admission to the medical school. Choosing a northern university for undergraduate studies might be one way that students can demonstrate their interest in studying and working in Northern Ontario. However, place of undergraduate studies is only one of many indicators of a student’s interest in the North.

NOSM University’s UME Program does not have any “out of province” spots or quotas. All applicants to the UME Program are considered by the same criteria: 1) the GPA, 2) the application questionnaire & autobiographical sketch and 3) context. The context score is based on where you have lived and are living in Canada.

You are eligible to apply to the UME Program if you have completed the DEC (diplome d’etudes collegiales) from Quebec (CEGEP) and a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in Quebec (three (3) years of university after the DEC). Completion of the DEC and the three (3) years leading to a bachelor’s degree from a Quebec university are considered the equivalent of a four (4) year degree for the purposes of applying to NOSM University’s UME Program.

Yes, as long as the courses and/or degree program you are completing is from a recognized university.

Due to the integrated nature of the curriculum, NOSM University’s UME Program cannot accept transfer students. If you are accepted to the medical school, you must complete the full four (4) years of the medical program.

NOSM University’s UME Program does not accept international students. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (landed immigrant) to be eligible to apply.

No, college credits will not be used. NOSM University’s UME Program requires the minimum completion of a four (4) year recognized university undergraduate degree (three (3) year, if applying as a Mature Student). Only university degree level course credits are used in the calculation of the GPA. NOSM University recognizes the programming partnership and collaboration that exists between many universities and community colleges.

For those applicants whose four (4) year degree is completed through a transfer of credits from a college, they are required to have completed a minimum of ten (10) full course credits, twenty (20) half course credits or, a combination of at the university degree level at the time you apply.

Professional degrees earned at Canadian institutions are generally considered undergraduate degrees. These degrees include education, engineering, law and veterinary medicine. Applications will be individually assessed upon application to NOSM University’s UME Program.