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Note: This is the 2022–2023 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
Note: This is the 2022–2023 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
If there is any discrepancy between the information presented here and at www.mcgill.ca/medadmissions, the latter will prevail.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Æ»¹ûÒùÔº conducts a rigorous, multi-criteria evaluation of applications to its programs. Æ»¹ûÒùÔº criteria and the selection process correspond to the Faculty's mission to equip students to meet the highest standards of medical practice and professionalism and to ensure career-long excellence in whole-person care. The Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Committee's guiding principles are: seeking excellence, inclusivity, alignment, fairness, and transparency.
Understanding that our graduates will go on to serve diverse communities in Quebec, Canada, and beyond, applicants should demonstrate a deep commitment to, and evidence of, a pursuit of excellence in academic work, ethical and professional conduct, and awareness of the complexities of the world in which they will go on to hold privileged positions of service and leadership.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences welcomes and encourages applications from students from all backgrounds, including students from under-represented ethnic, cultural, and racial groups, sexual minorities, and from all socio-economic backgrounds.
Indigenous Canadian Applicants
Æ»¹ûÒùÔº and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences welcome applications from candidates from across the provinces and territories who self-identify as belonging to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. A number of resources covering academic and non-academic support are available to Indigenous students within the Faculty and across the University campus, such as First Peoples' House, the Indigenous Access Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Program (housed in the School of Social Work), and the Aboriginal Health Interest Group (a medical student association).
For more information, please consult Eligibility for Special Admission Pathways, and the Office of Æ»¹ûÒùÔº website.
Canadian Armed Forces pathway: Programme militaire d'études en médecine (PMEM)
Full time Canadian Armed Forces members who have a minimum of 1 year experience in the military can apply for a position through the military program for medical studies. This program is financed by the Canadian Armed Forces and ensures the admission of francophone students to medical programs. The objective of the program is to increase the number of positions for francophone Family Medicine military students in the years ahead. Students admitted via this cohort need to complete their medical studies and then complete Postgraduate medical training in Family Medicine.
For more information, please consult mcgill.ca/medadmissions/applying/categories/canadian-armed-forces-pathway
The Quebec First Nations and Inuit Faculties of Medicine Program (Programme des facultés de médecine pour les Premières Nations et Inuits au Québec; PFMPNIQ) was established in 2008. Under this program, six positions for medical training in any of the four Quebec faculties of medicine are available for eligible applicants. Eligibility requirements:
The six spots are available for all of Quebec's faculties of medicine (Université Laval, Université de Montréal, Æ»¹ûÒùÔº, and Université de Sherbrooke). The choice of university is based on the candidate's preference and the available spots in the faculties.
Applicants with First Nations or Inuit status may choose whether or not to declare their status. If they decide to declare and confirm their status as a member of the First Nations or Inuit of Quebec, they will be considered as part of the regular Quebec contingent (evaluation of application according to the regular selection process for this contingent, with participation in the Æ»¹ûÒùÔº bilingual multiple mini-interviews (MMI) based on academic record) as well as part of the First Nations and Inuit contingent. It is thus possible for a candidate's application to be processed for both contingents in parallel.
Applicants who elect not to declare their First Nations or Inuit status will be considered along with every other applicant in the regular Quebec contingent.
For more information on this program, please contact the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission program coordinator at . More information is available at .
Candidates in this category with a university degree or whose degree will be conferred by July 31 before the program start date can apply for the M.D.,C.M. program. The Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Committee may require a preparatory year as a condition of admission. Candidates in this category who have not started university-level studies must apply for the Med-P program. A bachelor's degree is required for application to the joint programs.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences welcomes applications from First Nations, Inuit and Métis applicants. We encourage you to self-identify in your application and to contact us if you have any questions about our programs or processes. The Canadian Indigenous Path for MDCM is open to Canadian First Nations, Inuit or Métis University level applicants who are not residents of Quebec. This pathway aims to attribute 1 of the 11 out-of-province Canadian seats in the 4-year MDCM program to a selected eligible candidate.
Selection Process
Candidates in this pathway are also considered for the general Canadian cohort seats simultaneously; Indigenous students admitted in the general cohort have access to the same support described below.
How to Apply
Follow the application process for university-level Canadian residents and indicate in the academic history workbook that you are selecting this pathway. When your workbook is processed, the personal statement will be added to your Minerva document checklist. Upload it using the form below. Candidates are also encouraged to self-identify on the web application system. Candidates are also assessed simultaneously in the general Canadian cohort. Note that Indigenous candidates are not required to self-identify; candidates who prefer not to select this pathway will be assessed in the general Canadian cohort. The Indigenous personal statement template to complete and upload is found on the admissions website.
Required identification
Candidates must upload one of the following valid documents to the Minerva checklist item Proof of Citizenship or Residency: Federal Certificate of Indian Status card Confirmation of recognition by an Inuit Land claim organization (card or official letter) Membership card recognized by the Métis National Council or the Manitoba Métis Federation.
Support
The Indigenous Health Professions Program in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences facilitates Outreach visits and programs for youth, and supports prospective Indigenous applicants to all health professions programs at Æ»¹ûÒùÔº. Contact the Indigenous Health Professions Program at mcgill.ca/indig-health/ for information about their services and events!
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences offers an Indigenous Health Curriculum to all Medical students, which includes required and elective teaching and clinical opportunities focused on Indigenous healthcare topics. Clinical rotations in Indigenous communities are available for interested students.
Learn about Æ»¹ûÒùÔº's First Peoples' House mcgill.ca/fph/ - a home away from home on campus.
Quebec-resident university-level applicants who attended public secondary school in rural or small town areas of Quebec may choose to apply in the Rural and Small Populations Pathway. This pathway reserves two to five seats in the 4-year M.D.,C.M. program for selected eligible candidates.
Our commitment to underrepresented populations in medicine
In keeping with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' Diversity and Social Accountability statements, we seek to increase the diversity of our incoming classes because it is through a diverse Faculty constituency that we are best able to serve our communities and society in scholarship, research, and clinical care. Our class aims to reflect the community around us, but some populations have historically been underrepresented in the medical profession. Notably, people living in rural areas and small towns are a vital part of the community we serve, but have not always been encouraged to seek a career in a healthcare profession, and may have faced systemic barriers in the recognition of the excellence that they may bring to the practice of medicine. At the same time, many rural and small town areas do not have enough physicians to serve their communities. The RSPP is one step toward addressing these needs.
RSPP Æ»¹ûÒùÔº criteria
The RSPP is open to applicants in the Quebec Resident - University category. All Quebec Resident - University level criteria and requirements apply. Please see Applicant Categories for details.
Applicants must have completed the majority of secondary school (i.e. 3 of 5 years) in a public secondary school located in an area of Quebec classified as a rural or small population centre by Statistics Canada. Transcripts will be verified for eligibility purposes.
Selection process
All steps of the selection process are the same as for the general Quebec - University pathway, but applicants in the RSPP are assessed against each other. Candidates in this pathway will also be simultaneously assessed in the general Quebec - University pool, and will receive an offer in that cohort if their ranking permits. This allows the next candidate on the RSPP ranking list to receive an RSPP seat.
How to apply
Indicate that you wish to be considered in the RSPP in your Academic Workbook and provide the requested details about your secondary school studies. Your eligibility will be reviewed by the admissions office during the file review period and, if eligible, you may be asked to upload a copy of your unofficial secondary school transcript. An official transcript will be required if you receive an RSPP offer of admission.
Support
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' Social Accountability and Community Engagement office is not involved in the admission or selection process for the M.D.,C.M. program. The Office does have a mandate to provide support for underrepresented groups, and can provide support to RSPP students through mentorship opportunities with current students from similar backgrounds, career planning discussions, etc.
For specific questions about admission policies and procedures for the RSPP, please consult the Office of Æ»¹ûÒùÔº website.
This pathway is aligned with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) Diversity and Social Accountability statements and the Faculty’s and University’s Action Plans to Address Anti-Black Racism. The MDCM Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Committee looks forward to welcoming excellent candidates from diverse backgrounds to the Æ»¹ûÒùÔº community and to increasing the number of professionals from underrepresented populations in medicine. The Committee also recognizes the invaluable input it received throughout the creation of this pathway from members of the Faculty’s Social Accountability and Community Engagement Office (SACE), the Black Medical Student Association of Canada, and the Dr. Kenneth Melville Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Black Faculty and Staff Caucus.
Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Criteria
This application stream is open to Quebec Resident Med-P (CEGEP level) and Quebec Resident MDCM (University level) candidates who self-identify as Black. There is no limited number of seats for admission. All candidates who apply through the pathway will be simultaneously considered in the general Quebec cohort and may receive an invitation to interview through either pathway. Academic and Non-Academic Excellence Criteria GPA of 3.5 or higher (University level) or R-score of 34.5 or higher (CEGEP level), and CASPer and CV scores comparable to other applicants in the Quebec applicant pool.
Admission involves a holistic assessment approach that takes into account academic and non-academic criteria as well as life experience. Applicants are invited to submit a personal statement that contextualizes their life experience. Black community members and health professional admissions file reviewers will review each personal statement. This step in the candidate selection process was developed in conjunction with stakeholder input and is aligned with the CanMeds roles and values used for all admissions processes.
How to apply
Self-identification and participation in this pathway are optional and can in no way negatively impact the admission decision. Therefore, we hope that you will choose to self-identify on your Æ»¹ûÒùÔº application. To be considered for the pathway, you must: Meet eligibility requirements as above and submit the personal statement and all test and document requirements by the deadlines indicated. Please consult the non-academic criteria and the CV instructions to learn more about the competencies that are important for the Medicine program.
Final Selection: Candidates will proceed to the Mini Multiple Interviews (MMIs) if they have been endorsed by the file reviewers. Offers of admission will be based on MMI performance within the Quebec resident MDCM or Med-P cohorts.
Support
Candidates will have support from the Social Accountability and Community Engagement (SACE) Office during the application process. Email sace.med [at] mcgill.ca for more information about Social Accountability at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and to benefit from the community of support for Black candidates.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences accepts applications from international medical graduates (IMG), i.e., applicants who have obtained a recognized medical degree outside of Canada or the United States, who are also residents of Quebec. Applications will be accepted from qualified international medical graduates (from a university outside of Canada or the U.S.). The application deadline is November 1, and the program begins the following April.
Successful IMG applicants will enter the program at the Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP) component, starting in April and will continue into the clerkship and graduate with an M.D.,C.M. degree from Æ»¹ûÒùÔº.
The number of positions available is contingent on the number of attritions from previous years and will vary; there may be years when no positions are available.
To be eligible, applicants must have obtained the Recognition of Equivalence of a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the by November 1; note that this requires the completion of the MCCQE part 1 exam and one of the NAC-OSCE exams, or be included on the Canadian Medical Register (LMCC designation). Please see for more information. Applicants must grant Æ»¹ûÒùÔº access to their test results via , must provide a Medical Student Performance Record together with an academic transcript, and must provide proof of English or French proficiency (see Proof of Proficiency in English and/or Language Requirements for Professions). Applicants must meet the basic science requirements and meet all other essential requirements listed, including the CASPer test.
Applicants who do not meet these conditions of eligibility or are seeking alternative options should contact the Collège des médecins du Québec.
Interviews are by invitation only and are conducted in a multiple mini-interview (MMI) format.
For more details, please consult the Office of Æ»¹ûÒùÔº website.
The Canadian Armed Forces pathway (Programme militaire d'études en médecine -PMEM) is open to full time Canadian Armed Forces members who have a minimum of 1 year experience in the military. Applicants must indicate their intention to apply for a position by sending an email to the attention of: admissions.med [at] mcgill.ca and confirming their eligibility with the CAF by contacting the positional mailbox: CFHSAttractionCell-CelluledattractionSSFC [at] forces.gc.ca ( ).
This program is financed by the Canadian Armed Forces and ensures the admission of francophone students to medical programs offered in French. The objective of the program is to increase the number of positions for francophone Family Medicine military students in the years ahead. Students admitted via this cohort need to complete their medical studies and then complete Postgraduate medical training in Family Medicine. The PMEM is a partnership between the Canadian Armed Forces, the Government of Quebec and the 4 faculties of Medicine who offer medical training in French in Québec: Æ»¹ûÒùÔº (Campus Outaouais only) Sherbrooke University University of Montreal Laval University.
Candidates admitted through the PMEM at Æ»¹ûÒùÔº are placed only at Campus Outaouais located in Gatineau, QC; if admitted through the regular residency cohort, the usual campus selection process applies. Classroom and clinical instruction at Campus Outaouais arein French. The Canadian Armed Forces only recommends candidates who are competent in French for this cohort.
Please take note that members of the Canadian Reserve and non Canadian Armed Forces candidates are not admissible to apply to this program. These candidates can apply through our regular admission pathways.
To be considered in the programme militaire d’études en médecine (PMEM), candidates must first be evaluated as a Quebec resident or Canadian (non-QC) resident depending on their applicant profile. Candidates must first fulfill this selection process that corresponds to their applicant category, ensure that they respect the requirements of their applicant category and familiarize themselves with the selection process. Candidates can decide to not identify themselves as members of the regular Canadian Armed Forces and decide to apply only in the category for which they are initially admissible.
Selection Process
Candidates must complete the regular competitive selection procession for their regular residency cohort. At the end of the selection process, successful candidates will be considered in the programme militaire d’études en médecine (PMEM), if they meet alll of the following criteria:
The provincial government, by decree, determines the number and distribution (by residence) of available places for medical training in Quebec. Each applicant must submit proof of citizenship at the time of application. Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada must confirm the applicant category (set out below) to which they belong to at the time of application.
Applications for admission to the Undergraduate Medicine program are considered and assessed according to the following residence-based applicant categories:
Applicants accepted under the Canadian (Out-of-Province) or International categories are subject to the admission rules and obligations of their assigned category for the duration of their medical studies, regardless of any subsequent change in citizenship or residency status.
The Minister of Health and Social Services of Quebec requires that Canadians (Out-of-Province) and foreign nationals holding a study permit (International applicant category), who are admitted to and wish to register for medical school in Quebec, sign a contract which stipulates a return-of-service obligation or a fine if, upon completion of medical training, they choose to stay in Quebec to practice.
Within the Quebec and Canadian (Out-of-Province) categories some seats are prioritised for candidates admitted by special admission pathways.
Seats for the joint MD-PhD program are open to candidates from any residency category; up to a maximum of the seats allowed overall for that category by the government.
The following applicant categories are for positions supernumerary to those set out in the categories listed above:
Please consult Eligibility Requirements for further information and requirements for all of the above categories.
Undergraduate Degree Performance
The assessment of academic performance for M.D.,C.M. applicants holding university degrees (excluding Quebec First Nations and Inuit, and Quebec International Medical Graduate) is based on the following:
The primary basis of the assessment of undergraduate degree performance is the degree cumulative grade point average (CGPA) used for the basis of admission. Successful applicants have historically demonstrated a CGPA above 3.5 out of 4.0 (average approximately 3.8). Applicants with a CGPA below 3.5 are rarely considered to be competitive.
The Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Committee reserves the right not to consider those who do not have a minimum of 60 consecutive undergraduate graded credits (i.e., two full-time academic years) at the time of application.
For information on degree requirements, consult Eligibility Requirements.
Performance in the Basic Science Prerequisites
The basic science prerequisite course grades must meet the minimum for eligibility for transfer credit/advanced standing or exemption status for Æ»¹ûÒùÔº (normally a grade of C or above) Pass, Satisfactory, credit, etc. grades will be accepted for Winter 2020 courses only.
Candidates seeking an exemption for the basic sciences are encouraged to contact the admissions office between June and September of the year they wish to apply to medicine. The admissions office reserves the right to not consider requests for substitution for basic sciences after September 30.
For information on basic science prerequisites, consult Basic Science Prerequisites.
Consideration of the MCAT
Where required valid MCAT results are submitted, results will be considered according to our academic minimum grade.
The best overall MCAT test score from the 5 years preceeding the application deadline will be considered. The lowest competitive score is generally 508+ or above the 80th percentile.
Academic Context
Consideration is given to the overall academic record as represented in the CGPA, as well as the distribution of course levels, graduate studies, and pursuit of professional programs, as evidenced in the official academic records.
Students are encouraged to pursue challenging and diverse topics, to have a progression in their course selection, and are generally expected to pursue a full course load in each of their regular sessions.
CEGEP Performance for Med-P Applicants
Academic performance in CEGEP for candidates applying to the Med-P program is assessed with the overall R-score (Cote R; cote de rendement collégiale). Successful applicants generally have an R-score above 34.0 (average approximately 37.0). Applicants with an R-score below 32.0 are rarely considered to be competitive.
The Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Committee attends not only to academic performance, but also to non-academic qualities. For the preliminary screening of candidates (short listing for interviews), non-academic qualities are assessed by way of the curriculum vitae and CASPer test. For candidates selected for interviews, non-academic qualities are assessed according to their performance in the multiple mini-interviews. Non-academic qualities are aligned with the learning objectives of the M.D.,C.M. program, and are closely linked to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada's .
These qualities include, but are not limited to:
Positions to train in medicine in Quebec are determined by governmental decree; please see Applicant Categories. Students within each cohort compete with each other for a pre-determined number of positions within the particular cohort.
Each year, the Office of Æ»¹ûÒùÔº determines the number of interviews that will be held for each cohort. When an application is received, it is ranked among others in the same cohort according to academic performance. There is no strict GPA threshold; rather, ranking is based upon the relative strength of an academic performance in a given application in comparison to others in the same cohort. The same process is applied for the Casper test score. On the basis of this preliminary academic or Casper performance ranking, a review of the supporting documents for competitive candidates within a given cohort is carried out. Supporting documents are reviewed for approximately four to six times the number of candidates that we anticipate interviewing; i.e., if we intend to interview 50 people in a particular cohort, an evaluation of supporting documents for the top 200-300 files is conducted in order to determine which 50 candidates will be invited to interview.
For those applicants who are invited to attend the multiple mini-interviews, note that a final rank order list (which includes those who will receive an offer of admission and those who will be placed on a waiting list) is weighted 100% on the interview performance score.
The waiting list remains active for as long as is feasible and necessary; sometimes until the beginning of classes.
Special admission pathways
may have adjustments to this general file review process, consult each pathway for details.
Selected candidates will be invited to an interview session. Attendance is by invitation only, sent via email by the date published according to the applicant category. Candidates cannot be admitted without interviews. Interviews are an important tool for the Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Committee to evaluate those strengths and qualities that cannot be evaluated in a transcript or C.V.
Interviews are in multiple mini-interview (MMI) format. Consult the Office of Æ»¹ûÒùÔº website to confirm if interviews are held in-person (Montreal) or online (live video format) for the current application cycle. All candidates in an applicant category will be interviewed using the same format, at the discretion of the Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Committee. Candidates are not permitted to request an alternate interview format. Requests for accommodations for documented disabilities are accepted for all interview types; instructions are provided with the invitation letter. These mini-interviews consist of multiple stations that can be task-oriented, simulation- or scenario-oriented, or discussion-oriented. Stations are designed to evaluate the various qualities, abilities, and skills aligned with the M.D.,C.M. Program Learning Objectives and relevant elements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada . Interviews are offered in both English and French.
Interview sessions are scheduled for a half-day. Applicants are expected to keep their calendar open for interview dates. It is the applicant's responsibility to be available for the scheduled interview and to plan travel accordingly. No repeat interview sessions or special accommodations are available to those who do not attend their originally scheduled time; therefore, if candidates are not present for their interview for any reason, the file will no longer be considered.