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Selection Process & Offers of Admission

Selection Process


All applications to NOSM University’s Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Program (MD Degree) are initially screened and scored based on three (3) components:

  1. Grade Point Average (GPA)
  2. Autobiographical Sketch and School Submission Questions
  3. Context Score

The scoring weight of each component is approximately 1/3. The combination of the scores from these three (3) components will determine if you are offered an interview. Approximately 300 of the top ranked applicants are invited to participate in the admissions interviews.

The final selection of applicants receiving an offer of admission is based on a combination of:

  • the pre-interview score (50%)
  • the interview score (50%)
  • a complete file review by the Admissions Selection Committee.

It is at this point in the selection process that Confidential Assessment Forms (CAF) are reviewed.

These items are not considered in selection:

  • Age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, religion, sexual orientation
  • MCAT (you are not required to write the MCAT to apply to NOSM University)

Incomplete applications and/or those that do not meet the minimum requirements will be disqualified.

To ensure that an application is competitive throughout the entire application process, applicants will want to ensure that they meet all the requirements (i.e. have submitted all three (3) CAFs, have the expected courses, etc.).

Interview Information

NOSM University invites approximately 300 of the top ranked applicants for an interview based on their total pre-interview score (GPA + Autobiographical Sketch & Supplementary Questions score + Context score). Achieving the minimum requirements does not guarantee that we will invite you for an interview. We will notify you via e-mail in January/February of the potential enrolment year if you will or will not be invited for an interview.

Admission interviews are normally conducted in March of the potential enrolment year. The NOSM University 2024 interviews will be conducted through an online platform. If we invite you to interview with NOSM University, we will send you further information and a description of the interview process in your invitation to interview package.

The NOSM University 2024 Interviews are scheduled for: Saturday March 2, 2024 and Sunday, March 3, 2024

If we interview you, we will notify you about your application status (i.e. admitted, wait listed, unsuccessful) on the second Tuesday of May in the potential enrolment year.

We do 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 admissions cycle.

Accommodation for Interview

If you require accommodation for a documented disability for the interview, you must notify the Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment in writing at least one (1) month prior to the first interview date. You will be connected with the Accessibility Advisor in Learner Support Services to discuss your accommodation request. You will be required to provide complete documentation to support your request.

Interview Confidentiality

NOSM University is committed to the highest standards of ethical and professional behaviour of students, faculty, and staff. All candidates who are interviewed will be required to sign a confidentiality statement. Your signature will confirm your agreement to not disclose the following:

  • The identity of the interviewers
  • The interview questions
  • Answers made by you during the interview

Information for Unsuccessful Applicants

Application to medical school is very competitive, and NOSM University has the smallest incoming class in Canada, which makes our program that much more competitive.

We have prepared a resource that will enable you to complete a self-evaluation of your application and we encourage applicants to carefully review the information available on the NOSM University Admissions webpages. To complete a self-evaluation of your application please visit our Information for Unsuccessful Applicants webpage.

 

Offers of Admission


Offers of admission for the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Program are sent via e-mail on the second Tuesday of May of the potential enrolment year. Acceptance may be conditional upon fulfillment of specific requirements. We outline these conditions in the offer letter. If the offer of admission is accepted, you are required to make a non-refundable $1,000 deposit, which will be applied to your Year 1 tuition. Detailed information will be provided to successful applicants in their offer of admission package.

All official correspondence with applicants with respect to the status of the application is sent via e-mail. Please do not call us to inquire about the status of your application. We are unable to release this information over the phone.

Wait List

Some applicants who are offered admission do not accept their offer. We maintain a short wait list for additional offers. We will not disclose an applicant’s position on the wait list (absolute or relative).


Below you will find important information regarding the requirements for candidates who are offered a seat in the class.

Campus Assignment

For the first two years of study at NOSM University, UME students will be assigned to one of two campuses: NOSM U in Sudbury or NOSM U in Thunder Bay. This will be the student’s home campus and is the campus that they are expected to attend.

Convocation for the UME Program is held on one campus. Students assigned to the campus not hosting convocation would be required to travel to the hosting campus if they plan to attend the convocation ceremony.

Final Transcript(s)

If you receive an offer conditional upon the completion of your undergraduate degree, you will be required to submit proof of receiving your degree by providing a final undergraduate transcript to OMSAS by June 30 of the potential enrolment year.

If your Registrar’s office sent an official letter to OMSAS stating that you met all the requirements of your graduate degree and were eligible to graduate in the spring of the potential enrolment year, you will be required submit your final transcript to OMSAS by June 30 of the potential enrolment year.

Deferral Policy

For information on the Admissions Deferral Policy, please visit the UME (MD Degree) Program Policies & Procedures webpage. Information is available under the Deferrals heading.

Registration Requirements

A registration package will accompany the offer of admission on the second Tuesday of May in the potential enrolment year with information on the conditions of accepting an offer of admission. These include:

  • Proof of Citizenship
  • A Police Information Check
  • Immunization/Health Screen
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) training for Health Care Providers (HCP)
  • Cultural Safety & Active Offer Training
  • Essential Skills and Abilities for Entry to a Medical Degree Program

Proof of Citizenship

As a condition of acceptance to NOSM University, all candidates must provide proof of Canadian citizenship/permanent resident status to the Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment.

Notarized/certified copies must be notarized/certified by a notary public, and must not be older than two years from the application submission deadline; otherwise, a new notarized/certified copy is required.

One of the following documents will be required:

  • Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth. Note: Notarized/certified photocopy of Birth Certificate/Act of Birth issued by an authority in Canada must be accompanied by a Canadian government-issued photo ID
  • Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
  • Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of card)
  • Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
  • Confirmation of Permanent Residence in Canada. Note: Confirmation of permanent residence must be accompanied by a Canadian government-issued photo ID.

Police Records Vulnerable Sector Check

Throughout your medical school program, you 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 you provide confirmation of the absence of a criminal conviction or outstanding criminal charges.

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

At the beginning of each subsequent academic year in the MD program, you 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.

Your offer of admission is contingent upon 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 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.

Basic Life Support (BLS) Training for Health Care Providers (HCP)

If you are offered admission, you must provide evidence of a current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers (HCP) certification before enrolment in the MD Program.

Courses are readily available in most communities, both from the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance Associations. We will send specific information about BLS requirements in the offer of admission to the program.

Cultural Safety & Active Offer Training

All incoming students are required to complete Cultural Safety and Active Offer training prior to your first day of medical school at NOSM University. This training will help incoming you better understand the context within which you will be training and maximize your learning opportunities throughout the UME curriculum. It will also help give you a better grasp of the Social Accountability mandate that drives everything we do at NOSM University.

Specific information regarding Cultural Safety and Active Offer training will be included in the offer of admission to the program.

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, you must acquire competency in a wide range of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

If you require accommodation to undertake the Medical Program at NOSM University, we advise you to review the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine policy: Essential Skills and Abilities Required for Entry to a Medical Degree Program.

If you require accommodation for the medical program, please contact the NOSM University Learner Support Services Office at learnersupportservices@nosm.ca.