The Application Process
Step 1: Research your university options and the application process
- Check out university publications, university websites, etc.
- Review the:
- Become familiar with and follow the application process for each medical school you apply to.
- If you are considering a degree program in medicine, you should be aware of the guidelines developed by the Ontario medical schools. Direct any questions about the policy to the university’s accessibility services or admission office.
Step 2: Prepare your application and submit the required documentation
Submit your application and all required documents and transcripts by the deadlines, as specified by the medical schools you apply to.
Required documentation includes:
- Transcripts
- References
- Send requests for references to your referees by September 13, 2024, to give them enough time to complete their reference and submit it to OMSAS by the deadline. References cannot be submitted after the application deadline.
OMSAS will forward required documentation we receive after the deadline to the applicable medical schools; however, we cannot guarantee that they will consider these documents. The application process may be delayed until all required transcripts and documents are received, as specified by the universities and programs you apply to.
Normally, medical schools will not consider unsolicited application materials and information for admission purposes.
Step 3: Upload supplementary documentation
Any time after you start your application, you can use Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) to upload your supplementary documentation, as required by the universities you apply to.
Supplementary documentation includes:
- Proof of permanent resident (landed immigrant) status (not required if you are a Canadian citizen)
- Academic curriculum vitae (University of Toronto MD/PhD applicants only)
- Disability-based Consideration documents
- Indigenous documents (proof of status, letter of support, personal statement, etc.)
- NOSM U Black Admission Stream Letter
- NOSM U Employment Experience Northern Ontario
- NOSM U Exceptional Circumstances Document
- NOSM U Francophone Curricular Admission Stream Essay
- NOSM U Francophone Curricular Admission Stream Recommendation
- University of Ottawa Nunavut Candidate documents
- University of Ottawa Social Accountability Initiative Document
- Queen’s University PhD Graduate Letter of Explanation
- Western University Access Pathway documentation – due October 1, 2024, at 4:30 pm (ET)
- Other
Check Document Tracking in your application frequently to ensure that all documents are received by their respective deadlines.
Step 4: Submit your application by the deadline
- Prepare and submit your application by October 1, 2024.
- You will receive an OUAC/OMSAS Reference Number (2025-80xxxx) and an acknowledgement email from OMSAS when you submit and pay for your application.
- If you do not receive an acknowledgement email, contact us immediately via SAM.
- We will perform an item‑by‑item review to compare all courses on the academic record against your official university transcripts. Beginning in November and after this review, you will be able to verify the application data we have on file.
Step 5: After You Apply
Accept Your Offers of Admission
- First-round offers of admission are sent out on May 14, 2025.
- You may hold only 1 offer of admission to an Ontario medical school at any time.
- Once you accept an offer of admission, you will be removed from the wait lists of the other Ontario medical schools.
Apply for Advanced Standing and Transfer (if applicable)
- Applicants for advanced standing and transfer must contact the individual medical schools directly.
Research Scholarships
- Some medical schools offer scholarships to certain applicants from specified groups. For information about scholarship availability and criteria, consult the academic calendar of the particular university or medical school.
Your Responsibilities
Residency
You can obtain information about the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) from:
CaRMS
300‑171 Nepean Street
Ottawa ON K2P 0B4
Telephone: 613‑237‑0075
Email: help@carms.ca
If you are considering applying to non‑Canadian medical schools, understand that your access to residency positions in Ontario after graduating from such schools could be severely limited.
Registration and Licensure
You should obtain regulations about licensure in Ontario from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Note: If you can answer “yes” to either of the following questions, you are strongly advised to consult with the admission offices of the medical schools you are applying to or consult with the College of Physicians and Surgeons at: 416‑967‑2600.
- Have you ever been convicted of an offence (not including traffic violations) that a pardon has not been granted for?
- Are there any criminal charges pending against you?
Medical school graduates with criminal records may not be eligible to receive registration (licence) to practice medicine.
Graduates from a medical school outside of Canada and/or the United States should contact the Touchstone Institute.
Police Record Check
Once you are accepted, some schools require you to undergo a Police Record Check. You will not be registered until this check is complete.
The medical schools reserve the right to withdraw an offer of admission based on the results of the Police Record Check. For specific details, refer to each university’s information page in the OMSAS Application Guide.
If any criminal charges are laid against you after the Police Record Check is completed, you are required to disclose this information to the medical schools that offered you admission. The medical schools reserve the right to revoke admission offers and/or registration at any time as a result of reviewing information pertaining to criminal charges.
CPR
You must complete a CPR Basic Rescuer Course (Level C) and be able to produce valid certificates before enrollment in medical school.
For McMaster University, NOSM University and the University of Ottawa, incoming students must provide evidence of a valid certificate in Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers.
Other Responsibilities and Reminders
Your OMSAS Application
- Each Ontario medical school has its own admission requirements. Be aware of variations in admission requirements and make sure you qualify for consideration before you submit your application to OMSAS.
- The application process is lengthy. The amount of time required depends on the number of medical schools you apply to. Allow 5 to 25 hours to prepare your application.
- Submit only 1 OMSAS application for 2025.
- Submit only 1 set of application materials and academic documents, regardless of the number of schools you apply to.
- We will process and forward applications to all requested medical schools regardless of your qualifications or the completeness of your application.
- If you fail to comply with admission requirements and deadlines, your application may not be considered by the medical schools.
- Contact the medical school directly for additional information about their academic program and admission requirements.
Your OUAC Account
- If you already created an OUAC account, you do not need to create a new one. Do not take over an account created by someone else.
- Protect the personal information in your OUAC Account and your application. Do not provide it to anyone else or to other organizations in any form (e.g., paper, PDF).
Fees and Documentation
- Application fees are non‑refundable.
- We will not accept faxed or emailed documentation.
- We do not accept “collect” courier deliveries (COD) of any documents.