NOTE: The following policies and procedures are specific to NOSM University’s Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Program (MD Program).

Admissions Policy

To review the Admissions Policy as approved by the NOSM University Senate please refer to the UME Admissions Policy document.

Communication Protocol for UME Admissions

Email Communication

All communication with applicants will occur through the email address provided in the OMSAS application. Applicants are responsible for:

• Regularly monitoring their designated email account throughout the application process
• Checking all email folders, including inbox, junk, and spam folders
• Ensuring their email inbox has sufficient storage capacity to receive messages

NOSM University is not responsible for missed communications due to unmonitored or inaccessible email accounts.

Professional Communication Standards

All applicants, prospective applicants, and individuals inquiring about the program must engage with the Office of Admissions and Learner Recruitment in a respectful manner.

Proper Inquiry Channels

All inquiries regarding admission to the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Program must be directed to admissions@nosm.ca.

Sending multiple emails regarding the same inquiry and/or contacting various individuals at the University will not expedite a response and may cause further delays. To ensure efficient processing:

• Avoid contacting multiple university personnel regarding the same matter
• Respect the response timelines outlined in automated email replies
• Allow the Admissions Team adequate time to respond within established timeframes

Applicants, their family members, delegates, or friends should not contact university leadership, deans, the registrar, or facilities regarding admissions matters. To do so will be considered a breach of professionalism, and any such contact or overtures will be noted and may jeopardize the individual’s application.

Third-Party Inquiries

The Office of Admissions does not respond to third-party inquiries submitted on behalf of applicants. All communication must come directly from the applicant using their designated email address.

Essential Skills and Abilities Required for Entry to a Medical Degree Program

To fulfill the MD Program requirements, and avoid serious risk to the health and safety of patients, students must acquire competency in a wide range of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Students in medicine must be able to communicate with patients and colleagues, make observations about patients, gather information, and analyze data in order to arrive at medical judgments.

Applicants and incoming students are advised to carefully review the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine policy: Essential Skills and Abilities Required for Entry to a Medical Degree Program.

Applicants who require accommodation for a documented disability for the interview must notify the Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment in writing at admissions@nosm.ca at least one (1) month prior to the first interview date. Applicants will be connected with the Accessibility Advisor in Learner Support Services to discuss their accommodation request. They will be required to provide complete documentation to support their request.

Incoming students who require accommodation for the medical program should contact the NOSM University Learner Support Services Office at learnersupportservices@nosm.ca.

Falsification of Application Information

If it is discovered that any application information is false or misleading, or that information has been concealed or withheld, the application will be disqualified; or, if discovered after an offer of admission has been sent, that offer will be withdrawn. If these circumstances are discovered after the student has been admitted into the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Program, the student will be required to withdraw from the Program. An applicant so discovered will be barred from applying to NOSM University for five years. Other medical school admissions committees will be notified of the nature of the offence and the name of the applicant.

Incomplete Applications

All documents and application materials must be submitted through OMSAS. Candidates will be assessed solely based on materials submitted to OMSAS by the application deadline. Addenda or supplemental materials sent directly to NOSM University will not be considered and will be destroyed.

Please be aware that application deadlines are strictly enforced. All required documentation must be received by the specified deadlines as outlined on the OMSAS website. Applicants who fail to comply with application deadlines and/or requirements will be disqualified.

NOSM University does not hold applications from one year to the next. Unsuccessful applicants will be required to re-apply through OMSAS with a new application for the following admission cycle.

Deferrals

NOSM University’s UME Program does not generally grant deferrals of admission, though it will consider deferrals in exceptional circumstances. Requests are received through the Office of Admissions and are forwarded to the Deferrals Committee for consideration. Decisions of the committee are final and not open to appeal by the candidate.

Police Records Check

Throughout the medical school program, students will serve vulnerable populations. In an effort to protect these vulnerable people against potential risk of harm, the Ontario Faculties of Medicine and many clinical agencies require that students provide confirmation of the absence of a criminal conviction or outstanding criminal charges.

Incoming students are required to complete and submit the results of your Police Records Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Screening, at their own expense.

At the beginning of each subsequent academic year in the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) program, students will be required to sign a Criminal Records and Disclosure form to confirm that there has been no change in the information contained in the Police Records Check.

An offer of admission is contingent upon the provision of these checks. We will review any files presented with a “Not Clear” check to determine what action, if any, will be taken.

For more information about obtaining a Police Records Check with a Vulnerable Sector Screening, contact your local police agency.

Immunization/Health Screening

All incoming students must complete the Year 1 NOSM University Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Immunization Form. NOSM University’s screening requirements meet the current OHA/OMA Communicable Disease Surveillance Protocol for Ontario Hospitals, in accordance with Regulation 965, Section 4, of the Public Hospitals Act RSO 1990. We will send more details about health regulations in the offer of admission to the program.

Failure to comply with this requirement may result in students being denied access to clinical settings.

For more information refer to the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine (COFM) Immunization Policy document.