Please note that the admission policy is reviewed annually and the admission requirements from previous years may not apply. The University reserves the right to review and change the admission requirements at any time, without notice.
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry provides an outstanding education within a research-intensive environment, where tomorrow's physicians, dentists and health researchers learn to be socially responsible leaders in the advancement of human health.
The Doctor of Medicine Program runs simultaneously from two sites: London, and Windsor, Ontario. Each year a portion of the admitted class will complete all of their academic studies through the Windsor program and graduate from The University of Western Ontario. The Windsor program is a partnership between The University of Western Ontario, The University of Windsor, and the London and Windsor hospitals. This new program builds on the strength of clerkship training provided in Windsor through the Southwestern Ontario Medical Education Network (SWOMEN).
Applicants invited for an interview will have an opportunity to indicate their site of preference. When a site reaches its enrollment limit, successful applicants will be offered admission to the available site. Applicants for both programs will be processed by the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, and will be subject to the same entry criteria.
Financial Support
Each year over $3 million is distributed to assist medical students in greatest financial need. Within Schulich Medicine, there are 16 Schulich Scholarships awarded annually ($20,000/year for four years) as well as several endowment funds available for disbursement in the form of scholarships/bursaries and awards. In addition, there are other university-based awards issued by The University of Western Ontario, as well as loans through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Through these and other measures, Schulich aspires to have financial considerations never act as a barrier to any student wishing to study Medicine at this school.
Enrollment is limited. Admission to the Doctor of Medicine Program is highly competitive and possessing the minimum requirements does not ensure an interview or acceptance. Individuals satisfying the following requirements are eligible to apply for admission to the first year of the program.
Academic Admission Requirements
Individuals must satisfy the following requirements to be considered for admission to the first year of the four-year MD program in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
1. Honors and Advanced Degrees
Applicants must have a four-year honors degree or equivalent from a recognized university. They may be in the final year of an honors degree at the time of application. There is no preference given for the undergraduate program of study and there are no course prerequisites.
Applicants who have earned a degree from a recognized university, may elect to continue in full time undergraduate studies. Only the first such "special year" taken by the applicant will be considered for determination of GPA. A special year will be considered only if it contains five full or equivalent courses (30 credit hours) taken between September and April. First-year courses, repeat/antirequisite courses, and second-year courses that do not require a first-year prerequisite, are not acceptable in the “special year.”
Applicants who embark on a second undergraduate degree program are allowed to apply only during the final year of their new program. In order to be considered for GPA purposes, the second degree must be an honors degree or equivalent. In this situation, GPA consideration will be based only on the two best years of the second degree program. Applicants who are given a conditional offer must complete all program requirements for the second degree prior to registration in the MD program. Students who complete a second undergraduate degree within one year of full-time studies must register in five full or equivalent courses. In this situation, at least three of the five courses must be at the third- or fourth-year level, and first- and second-year courses that do not require a first-year prerequisite may be included within the five full courses only if absolutely mandatory for the second honors degree program.
Graduate students are required to have completed all requirements for their graduate degree, and their thesis (if required) must be submitted for defense by the examination committee prior to registration in the MD Program.
Schulich Medicine will consider applications to the first year of the medical program from individuals who are currently or were registered in a Doctor of Medicine Program or equivalent elsewhere. Applicants in this situation will be required to meet the same criteria as other applicants to the Schulich MD program.
2. GPA
The GPA minimums are reset each year. Applicants must meet or exceed this threshold in each of two undergraduate years of full-time study (one of which may be the current year). Full-time study is defined as 5 full or equivalent courses with 30 or more credit hours.
To be considered, each year must contain at least 3 full-course equivalents whose published academic level is at or above the year of study (for example, in third year, at least 3 full course equivalents must be at the third- or fourth-year level). Please note, only ONE Pass/Fail credit will be permissible in each of the two years being considered for GPA.
For applicants who have attended other universities on exchange, GPA calculation will be based on the marks achieved at the exchange institution. Official transcripts from the exchange institution must be provided to OMSAS at the time of application.
3. MCAT
MCAT minimums are reset each year. Applicants must meet or exceed these thresholds in their most recent writing of the MCAT (which must be no more than five years prior to the application deadline). Applicants from designated counties in Southwestern Ontario (Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth, Oxford, Middlesex, Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, and Norfolk Counties) must meet the same overall score but are afforded some flexibility for individual component scores.
All applicants must arrange for verified results of the revised MCAT to be submitted directly to the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS).
Additional Non-Academic Requirements
1. Citizenship
Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada.
2. Confidential Assessment Form
Any three persons who, in the opinion of the applicant, will give an informed critical assessment will be acceptable as referees.
3. Interview
Select applicants will be invited for an interview beginning in March. Individuals who satisfy the academic requirements as determined by the Admissions Committee each year will have their applications reviewed carefully and will receive consideration for an interview. Interviews are structured, standardized 45-minute interviews with a panel of three: one faculty member/physician, one senior medical student, and one community representative.
Many factors contribute to the final determination of which applicants will be invited for an interview. Achieving the minimum GPA and MCAT scores does not guarantee an invitation to be interviewed.
4. Proficiency in English
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant whose facility in written and spoken English is judged to be inadequate.
5. Basic Life Support Training
Applicants should complete a St. John’s Ambulance course or the equivalent in Standard First Aid and a CPR Basic Rescuer (CPR-C) course, and be able to produce valid certificates before enrollment in the medical program.
6. Immunization Records
Students in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry will be required to care for persons with infectious diseases (including Hepatitis B and HIV) should they be assigned to them. Students accepted into the medical program will be sent complete documentation regarding health status policies and immunization requirements. Documentation of immunization and tuberculin status will be required.
7. Police Records Check & Vulnerable Sector Screening
All medical students will interact with vulnerable populations through the course of their academic programs. In recognition of the requirements of clinical agencies to ensure that medical students do not place vulnerable populations at risk, the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry requires that all students provide, as a condition of their admission into the MD program, a current Police Records check and a Vulnerable Sector (Position) Screening. At the beginning of each subsequent academic year in the MD program, students will be required to sign a criminal record and disclosure form to confirm that there has been no change in the information contained in the police records check.
In the rare instance where an applicant does not receive "all clear" status, the applicant may request a hearing before the Police Records Check Committee. The PRC Committee's decision is final.
Any student who has been convicted of a criminal offence for which he or she has not received a pardon is strongly urged to consult with his or her provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons, as medical graduates with criminal records may not be eligible to receive licensure to practice medicine.
Admission and Application Policies
The maximum number of places available in first year is 171 with 133 students enrolled in the London Program and 38 students enrolled in the Windsor Program.
Following the final date for application, an applicant may file any supplementary information relevant to the application with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, on or before the last day of May in the year following submission of the application.
Applicants may request a review of the decision of the Medicine Admissions Committee, provided that such a request is based upon new and significant information pertinent to the application. This request must be filed with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, no later than two weeks after the issue of the original decision. The request should contain information not available to the applicant prior to the last Wednesday in May in the year following submission of the application. This request will be passed on to the Appeals Committee whose decision is final.
Health Care Improvement in Southwestern Ontario and Indigenous Communities
As a component of its mandate, Schulich Medicine will give special consideration to applicants who have indicated on their OMSAS application that they are from designated communities in Southwestern Ontario (Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth, Oxford, Middlesex, Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, and Norfolk Counties) and/or from the Indigenous communities.
The Southwestern Ontario Medical Education Network (SWOMEN) is a partnership of over 40 communities throughout Southwestern Ontario which provides rural/regional medical education and training experience to undergraduate and postgraduate trainees from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
The clinical clerkship or third year of the medical program is constituted so that all clerks will be expected to spend time outside of London or Windsor in the SWOMEN teaching sites. For those students with a particular interest in community medicine a rural/regional clerkship stream is available. Each year a section of students will complete the majority of the clerkship year in some of the SWOMEN locations. It is important that applicants to the Schulich Medicine MD undergraduate program understand that all students will be mandated to spend at least part of third year away from London or Windsor. There are no exceptions to this policy. By accepting an offer of admission to this program, students are consenting to participate fully in this approach to learning.
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is committed to increasing the number of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit physicians. It has established the Indigenous Student Affairs and Admissions Committee to increase the enrollment of Indigenous students in Medicine and to provide Indigenous applicants and students with support and counseling to facilitate their success in medical school. Schulich Medicine has designated three seats in each entering class for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students. Applicants self-identified as Indigenous persons and one of Canada's First Peoples who wish to be considered for a designated seat must provide official documents of Indigenous status or proof of ancestral Indigenous origin to OMSAS. Such applicants are encouraged to submit additional letters of support from Indigenous communities or organizations. Applicants will be assessed on a balanced portfolio which includes academic achievements, MCAT scores, and involvement in the Indigenous community.
Only in exceptional circumstances will applicants with a GPA of less than 3.30 or MCAT score below BS 8, PS 8, VR 8, WS O, be considered for the designated seats. Applicants invited to an interview will be welcomed by an interview panel consisting of an Indigenous physician, Indigenous community member, and senior medical student.
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit applicants and students considering a future career in Medicine are encouraged to contact the Indigenous Liaison Officer at the Admissions Office at
admissions.medicine@schulich.uwo.ca or call 519-661-3744 for further information and counseling.
Combined Programs
1. MD/PhD Program
Three seats will be set aside each year for applicants to the MD/PhD program. For further information, please visit the MD/PhD Program website at
http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/medicine/MD_PhD2. MD/BESc Program
Up to three seats will be set aside each year for applicants to the MD/BESc Program who are deemed competitive with the general application pool. Please note only applicants who are pre-registered in the MD/BESc program in the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Western Ontario are eligible for these seats). The combined program is available in conjunction with the Biochemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Integrated Engineering programs. For further information, please visit the Special Programs section of the MD Admissions website at
http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/admissions/medicine/specialprogramsfaq#FAQ 3
3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/MD/MSc Program
One seat will be set aside each year for applicants to the OMFS/MD/MSc program. For details about this program, please visit:
http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/dentistry/oralmaxillofacialsurgeryAdditional Information for Applicants
1. Co-op Programs and Clinical Placements
All degree programs that have a co-op or clinical placement component are dealt with on an individual basis. Questions about how this is considered, should be emailed to
admissions.medicine@schulich.uwo.ca.
If applicants are enrolled in an Honors-level co-op degree program, their academic course work will be considered as follows:
Applicants registered in co-operative programs should submit a separate letter from their Dean or program director that specifies the schedule of their academic and work terms if this information is not clear from their transcript. This letter should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions & Student Affairs, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
2. Graduate Students
Graduate students are required to have completed all course requirements for their degree, and their thesis (if required) must be submitted for defense to the examination committee prior to registration in the medical program. Western does not take graduate courses into consideration for the GPA; only undergraduate years are used. Applicants who currently are enrolled in a Masters program are encouraged to make inquiries about the MD/PhD program
http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/medicine/MD_PhD.
3. Repeat Courses
Schulich Medicine does not accept repeat courses. If a course is repeated, the course is not counted in the course load for that year, nor is it factored into the GPA calculation for that year. Therefore, if 5 full or equivalent courses are taken, but one of them is a repeat course, that year will be considered to have less than a full course load and not suitable for GPA calculations.
4. Summer Courses
Summer courses will not be counted in the overall GPA for interview and admission consideration. Summer courses will not be counted as part of the September to April course load.
5. Disability and Admission to Medicine
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, in accord with the Ontario Human Rights Code and University Policy, is committed to provision of equal access opportunities to all qualified applicants. To fulfill the requirements of the MD degree and to avoid serious risk to the health and safety of patients/clients, students are required to acquire competency in a wide range of knowledge, skills and abilities. Individuals with special needs are advised to contact the Office of Admissions & Student Affairs, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and to carefully review the “Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine (COFM) Policy Document: Essential Skills and Abilities Required for the Study of Medicine” at:
http://www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/omsas-essential.htmlTransfer Students
Transfer consideration is restricted to Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada currently enrolled in a Canadian medical school. Applicants considering transfer must contact the office of Admissions & Student Affairs.
Foreign Courses/Grades
The policy on considering applicants with education completed outside of Canada is currently under review. Applicants with questions in regard to this topic should contact the Office of Admissions & Student Affairs.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please visit the following Web site:
http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/admissions/medicine/Applicants who submit false information will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with UWO policy.
Candidates from Accredited Degree-Granting Institutions
Candidates with acceptable standing at accredited degree-granting institutions may be considered for admission provided that the content of studies completed is equivalent in content to the courses offered by Western, and to the requirements of the program to which the student has applied. The University will review other candidates on an individual basis. Admission in all cases is competitive.
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