FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY

ACADEMIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Application Deadline: Second week of October for admission to Medicine for the following September. Please refer to The OMSAS application booklet for exact deadline dates.

Notes

Enrolment is limited. Admission to the Doctor of Medicine Program is competitive and the possession of the minimum requirements does not assure acceptance. Individuals satisfying the following requirements are eligible to apply for admission to the first year of the four year MD program in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry:

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry will consider applications to its first year medical program from individuals who are currently (or were) registered in a Doctor of Medicine Program (or equivalent) elsewhere.

    1. Three Years of University Studies
      Those who are in the third year of, or who have successfully completed three full years of study (minimum fifteen full or equivalent courses) in any degree program at a recognized university.

      A minimum of five full or equivalent courses (30 credit hours) must be included in the final undergraduate year plus in one other undergraduate year. In addition, three full or equivalent senior courses (second year and above) must be included in each of the two undergraduate years (one being the final undergraduate year).

    2. Special Students: University Graduates
      Applicants who have earned a degree from a recognized university, may elect to continue in full time undergraduate studies for the purpose of improving academic standing for application to medical school for a one year period only. The special year must contain five full or equivalent courses (30 credit hours) with a minimum of four full or equivalent courses at the honors level (numbered 200 or higher at Western).

      Note: Prospective applicants who are deemed academically competitive may complete summer courses and part-time academic year courses in order to fulfil the mandatory course requirements listed in #3 prior to admission consideration. (See Selection Criteria (Pointer) for more details on academic requirements).

  2. Graduate students are required to have complete all requirements for their graduate degree prior to registration in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry MD Program.
  3. Prior to being permitted to register in the MD Program, all applicants who are granted admission will be required to have successfully completed the following University Level courses:
    1. Science Courses (interpreted as being equivalent to the science courses in Western's Academic Calendar)

      A total of three full, or equivalent, Science courses as follows:

      • one full or equivalent course in Biology with a laboratory component,
      • one full or equivalent course in Organic Chemistry with a laboratory component,
      • one other full or equivalent Science course from a discipline unrelated to Biology and Chemistry

    2. Non-Science Courses (as interpreted by Western's Academic Calendar) A total of three non-science full-course equivalents, as follows:
      • two full or equivalent non-science courses, from different disciplines, one of which must be at the first year level. One of these courses must be in English or History, if the applicant does not have OAC English, or equivalent from secondary school.
      • one full or equivalent non-science course from one of the two disciplines chosen above (to show progression). This course must be equivalent to a senior level course at Western.

Additional Non-Academic Requirements

Confidential Assessment Form

Any three persons who, in the opinion of the applicant, will give an informed critical assessment will be acceptable as referees.

Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

All applicants must arrange for verified results of the revised Medical College Admissions Test (April 1991 or later) to be submitted directly to the Ontario Medical School Application Centre. The MCAT must be written prior to the October application deadline. Refer to the OMSAS application booklet for exact deadline dates.

Interview

Interviews will be conducted beginning in March. Applicants who satisfy the course load, the GPA, and the MCAT requirements (obtaining the minimum in each of the four sections of the MCAT) as determined by the Admissions Committee each year will have their applications reviewed carefully and will receive consideration for an interview. However, 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.

Proficiency in English

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant whose facility in written and spoken English is judged to be inadequate.

Basic Life Support Training

Applicants should complete a St. John Ambulance course or the equivalent in standard first aid and a CPR Basic Rescuer course, and be able to produce valid certificates before enrolment in the medical program.

Selection Criteria

Admission to the MD Program is based primarily on the academic undergraduate record, MCAT scores, and the interview score. Although careful assessment is made of the academic record throughout all years at university, the academic marks obtained during the final and the best other full undergraduate year will be used to formulate your grade point average (five full courses in each year, (30 credit hours) September to April, being considered).

International (Student Visa) Applicants

A limited number of international (student visa) admissions may be available each year into the Doctor of Medicine Program. Interested individuals should contact the Admissions/Student & Equity Affairs office directly for specific information.

Admission Policies

The maximum number of places available in first year is 103.

Following the final date for application, an applicant may file any supplementary information relevant to the application with the Faculty 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 Faculty 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 and will be passed on to the Appeals Committee whose decision is final.

Advanced Standing and Transfers

The structure of the medical curriculum at The University of Western Ontario is such that transfer from another Canadian medical school can be considered only in very exceptional cases and subject to space being available. Applicants considering transfer must first contact the office of Admissions/Student & Equity Affairs. Western does not accept advanced standing or transfers from non-Canadian Medical Schools.

Academic Calendar
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

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