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Admission Requirements

The Master of Medical Studies (MMS) is an online, asynchronous, Distance Learning Program with no in-Canada requirements for students.

Application Overview:

  1. Choose your program stream: Thesis stream or Course based stream
  2. Ensure you meet the admission requirements listed below. All application documents must be received by the Office of Admissions and Learner Recruitment to be considered a complete application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  3. Review application deadlines. Different components of the application may take extra time to complete, especially for international applicants.
  4. Find a Supervisor (Thesis students only)
  5. Complete Application  Apply for January 2026

Admissions Cycle Timelines:

September:
We encourage MMS applicants to submit a completed application on or before February 1st to be considered in the first cycle of admissions for the September intake, and an early admission decision (March).
Applications for a September intake will close at the end of April at which time a second cycle of admission decisions will take place.

January:
The application for the January intake will open in late spring close at the end of September.

 

General Requirements

Click on the + to see details on each application requirement.

Degree and Minimum GPA Requirement

Applicants must possess one of the following degrees to apply to this program:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in a Health Sciences discipline, or equivalent;
    • Nursing
    • Rehabilitation Sciences
    • Dentistry
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Physiotherapy
    • Human Kinetics
      • This list is not exhaustive: the program committee would consider other medical or health sciences-related degrees not mentioned above, in conjunction with the personal statement provided by the applicants to ensure that they are a good fit for the program.
      • The designation of a degree in Health Sciences is determined by the institution which the applicant has attended.
  • MD Degree, or equivalent

The minimum average grade required for admission into the MMS program is 70% (equivalent to a B average). Programs that are pass/fail only, such as many MD (or equivalent) degrees, will require a grade of ‘pass’.

Note: On the approval of the Post-Graduate Program Director, physicians currently enrolled in a NOSM University post-graduate residency program will also be eligible for admission to the MMS program on a part-time basis.

Transcript Requirements

NOTE: If the language of instruction is not English, the transcript must be accompanied by a certified literal translation to English.

Domestic Transcript (From Canada & USA) Requirements

Applicants are required to upload their official or unofficial transcripts (such as those downloaded from your university’s student portal), or one that has been issued to the student. Your name MUST be visible as well as the name of the institution.

Official transcripts showing degree completion will be required if you accept an offer of admission.

If you do not have access to an unofficial transcript(s), your issuing institution must send a copy of your official transcript(s) directly to NOSM University’s Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment via email to admissions@nosm.ca by the application deadline.

OR

a copy of your official transcript(s), in an envelope sealed and signed by the issuing institution’s Registrar Office can be mailed directly to:

NOSM University
Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment
955 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, ON  P7B 5E1

International (non-Canadian and non-USA) Transcript Requirements

Applicants with international (non-Canadian and non-USA) degrees must have their degree assessed and verified for Canadian equivalency by one of the following agencies:

Health Sciences Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent:

MD Degree:

Your verified transcript(s) must be sent from the agency directly to the Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment and received by the application deadline. Transcripts sent by mail to NOSM University by the applicant will not be accepted and will be destroyed.

NOTE: WES and ECFMG evaluations often take several weeks to complete; it is strongly recommended that you request the required WES or ECFMG evaluation as soon as possible to ensure it is received by the Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment by the application deadline.

English Proficiency Test Score, if Applicable

If English is not the applicant’s first language, applicants must provide evidence of English proficiency. Applicants may meet our English language requirements if three (3) full years of recent study in an English language school system have been successfully completed or are in the process of being successfully completed. If this cannot be demonstrated, applicants will be required to present proof of English language proficiency.

The NOSM University Graduate Studies Programs accepts the following language tests with the required minimum scores as proof of English language proficiency:

Minimum English Proficiency Test Scores

Test Name Minimum Score
TOFEL – Computer Based
Test of English as a Foreign Language		 250 overall score
(with no component less than 25)
TOFEL – Internet Based
Test of English as a Foreign Language		 100 overall score
(with no component less than 20)
IELTS
International English Language Testing System		 7.0 overall score
(with no individual band lower than 6.5)
CAEL
Canadian Academic English Language Assessment		 80 overall score
(with no part below 70)

Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.  It is advised to begin this process 6 to 8 weeks in advance of application closure.

You are required to upload test results (if applicable) with your application. Please ensure it is in .pdf format.

Canadian Status

Should you be accepted to the MMS program, to be considered a domestic student, you will be required to provide the Office of Admissions and Learner Recruitment with proof of Canadian Citizenship or Residency status by the deadline outlined in your Offer Package. In order to be considered a domestic student, one of the following documents is required.

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

  • Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth (Note: Birth Certificate/Act of Birth issued by an authority in Canada must be accompanied by Canadian government-issued photo ID).
  • 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).

Obtaining notarization and proof of citizenship documents should begin 3 weeks in advance of application closure.

Curriculum Vitae

You are required to upload a copy of your most current CV. Please ensure it is in .pdf format

An academic CV should include the following:

  • Contact Information
  • Education
  • Professional Appointments
  • Publications
  • Awards and Honors
  • Grants and Fellowships
  • Conferences

Personal Statement

You are required to upload a Personal Statement. Please ensure it is in .pdf format.

It must not exceed 500 words. It must include:
• a rationale for applying to the MMS program
• future application of the skills learned
• summary of previous research training (if any)

Three (3) Confidential Reference Forms

Applicants are required to provide the names and email addresses of three (3) referees who have agreed to provide a reference by completing and submitting the Request for Confidential References Form. Upon submitting the completed Request for Confidential Reference Form an email will be automatically sent to the named referees at the email addresses provided indicating that they have been named as a referee and providing them with a link to the Confidential Reference Form, which must be completed by the application deadline.

It is strongly recommended that applicants complete and submit the Request for Confidential References Form as early as possible to allow their referees enough time to complete and submit the Confidential Reference Form by the application deadline. Applicants will receive a confirmation email for each Confidential Reference Form that is submitted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all three (3) Confidential Reference Forms have been submitted by the application deadline. It is your responsibility to ensure that the Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment receives the three (3) required Confidential Reference Forms by the deadline.  All applicants are advised to approach their referees 4 weeks in advance and provide the details they will require to provide a reference.  Check back with the referees 2 weeks in advance of the deadline.

Consider selecting referees who can speak to your academic and research experience, and readiness for the Masters of Medical Studies program. This may include managers, supervisors, professors, academics, or other professional contacts. Those who are applying for the thesis-based option should ensure their references outline support of the applicant’s ability to undertake advanced study and research.

Your application will not be considered complete until all three confidential reference forms have been received by the Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment.

Application Fee and Tuition Deposit

Application fee: $100

Tuition deposit:

Full-time program: $1000
Part-time program: $500

NOTE: The tuition deposit is required to secure a spot in the program when an applicant accepts an offer of admission.

 

Additional Requirements for Thesis Option

Click on the + to see details on each application requirement.

Identify up to Three (3) Potential Faculty Supervisors

International applicants: Please contact graduatestudies@nosm.ca to discuss your proposed research project. Depending on the nature of the research, there may be additional administrative requirements to complete.

A list of potential Supervisors and their contact information can be found on our website: Supervisors, Co-Supervisors, and Committee Members. Additionally, for a list of current research opportunities, please visit the Research Opportunities webpage: these may help guide you in identifying a potential Supervisor or Co-Supervisor.

Applicants should contact their proposed Supervisor ahead of time to secure their agreement. Applicants will only be accepted in the program if one of their proposed Supervisors agrees to supervise their thesis project.

Proposed Research Statement

You are required to upload a Proposed research statement. Please ensure it is in .pdf format.

It must not exceed 250 words. It must include:
• overview of the proposed research
• rationale for the project
• the proposed location/area

Additional Information in Confidential Refrence Forms

Those who are applying for the thesis-based option should ensure their references outline support of the applicant’s ability to undertake advanced study and research.

 

Additional Information for International Applicants:

  • International students are only eligible to apply to the thesis-based program at this time. We are not currently accepting applications from international students for the course-based program.
  • Study Permits cannot be issued for this program.
  • Following completion of this program, international students will not be eligible for Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
  • International students must enroll as a full-time student.
  • Are you currently in Canada or planning on coming to Canada for a clinical or research fellowship? You can apply to the program as an international student. 

 

Additional information can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions.

Master of Medical Studies