For more information about the requirements for the Francophone Admission Stream in French, visit the NOSM University website.
About NOSM University
April 1, 2022, marked history as the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) became NOSM University, Canada’s first independent medical university.
Founded in 2002 as a strategy to address the critical physician shortage in Northern Ontario, NOSM has much to show for its short history. The University’s unique distributed, community-engaged learning (DCEL) model has grown into something extraordinary. This model includes strong ties and engagement with remote, rural, Indigenous and francophone communities.
NOSM University is purpose-built to respond to the emerging challenges of a complex and fragile health care system in Northern Ontario. We strive to transform the system and reach underserved communities to deliver true and sustainable health equity to the 800,000 people in the region.
Our aim is to have class profiles that reflect the demographics of the Northern Ontario population by recruiting students who have lived in Northern Ontario and/or students who have demonstrated a strong interest in, commitment to and aptitude for practicing medicine in northern urban, rural and remote communities.
We are committed to recruiting medical students with diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous, Black, 2SLGBTQI+ and francophone students. Competitive applicants will demonstrate a high level of self-motivation, be self-directed, and thrive in a small-group, case-based and distributed-learning environment.
With campuses in Thunder Bay and Sudbury, NOSM University collaborates with more than 100 organizations, in more than 90 communities, and with more than 1,800 clinical, human and medical sciences faculty dispersed across all of Northern Ontario.
Program Information
The 4-year Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) program at NOSM University provides students with a unique mix of learning opportunities in a diverse range of sites, including Indigenous and francophone communities.
Graduates of the UME program have earned a Medical Doctor (MD) degree and are ready and able to undertake post-graduate training anywhere in Canada. We are proud that, historically, based on the strength of the UME program and their hard work, our graduates have been successful in matching to residency programs.
More information about the UME program curriculum, including clinical learning experiences and Integrated Community Experience (ICE) placements.
Admission Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to apply for admission to our UME program (MD Degree):
- A 4-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from a recognized institution in any discipline. We do not give preference to any 1 particular discipline over another.
- We will accept a 3-year degree for mature applicants (25 years of age or older by application deadline) for the application cycle of 2024.
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident (landed immigrant) status by application deadline.
- A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on the OMSAS 4.0 scale.
Academic Requirements
Disability-based or Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Requests
NOSM University recognizes that some applicants may have faced barriers along their path to applying to medicine. As part of our commitment to equity and inclusion, we wish to mitigate barriers where possible while ensuring fairness for all applicants.
Applicants may choose to submit either a disability-based consideration or an exceptional circumstances consideration request.
Whether and to what extent adjustments will be made is at the discretion of the Office of Admissions. All decisions are final.
For disability-based or exceptional circumstances consideration requests to be considered, you must meet the minimum academic eligibility requirement of a 4-year undergraduate university degree (3-year for mature applicants), or equivalent, from a recognized institution in any discipline.
If your application does not meet the minimum requirement, your application will not be assessed. There is no flexibility regarding this requirement.
English-language Proficiency
NOSM University students must be proficient in written and spoken English. Application materials must be submitted in English except for the following:
- Confidential Assessment Forms (CAFs), which may be submitted by referees in French.
- Essay and letter of recommendation for the Francophone Admissions Stream, which must be submitted in French.
NOSM University reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant whose facility in written and spoken English is judged to be inadequate.
Applicants are not required to take the TOEFL testing.
Course Prerequisites
While we do not require the completion of specific preparatory course work, and while there are no course prerequisites, we value applicants who present evidence of a broad undergraduate education.
Non-academic Requirements
Context Score
NOSM University’s aim is to admit a class whose profile reflects the demographics of the population of Northern Ontario. This aim includes the commitment to recruiting Indigenous and Francophone students and those with a strong desire to live and work in Northern Ontario, or in rural and remote areas in the rest of Canada. One of the ways we achieve this is by assigning a context score to each applicant.
As part of your application to NOSM University, you must report all towns or cities you have lived in for 1 year or more since birth.
New: If you do not have significant living experience in Northern Ontario, and/or in rural and remote areas in the rest of Canada but are currently serving northern, rural and/or remote communities, you can demonstrate your commitment to NOSM University’s mandate by submitting the Employment Verification Form along with proof of your employment experience in the Employment-Related Experience in the OMSAS Application.
Autobiographical Sketch (ABS)
When reviewing the ABS, supplementary questions and CAFs, we assess attributes, activities and achievements in relation to NOSM University’s mission and values, and the MD program competencies.
To be competitive, you must demonstrate a high level of self-motivation, be self-directed and thrive in a small group, case-based, distributed learning environment.
Supplementary Questions
In addition to the ABS, applicants are required to answer 4 supplementary questions.
Verifiers
The Office of Admissions may wish to verify additional information about activities that are described in your ABS or supplementary questions.
Confidential Assessment Forms (CAFs)
You are required to ask 3 different individuals to provide a reference on your behalf by completing a CAF.
NOSM University now requires all 3 references to be completed and submitted to OMSAS by the application deadline. Failure to submit all required documentation to OMSAS by the application deadline will result in your application being deemed incomplete and disqualified. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit all documents by the deadline.
Admission Categories
UME Admission Streams
NOSM University’s aim is to have class profiles that reflect the demographics of the population of Northern Ontario. It is our intention to maximize the recruitment of students who have lived in Northern Ontario and/or students who have demonstrated a strong interest in, commitment to and aptitude for practicing medicine in northern urban, rural and remote communities.
We are also committed to recruiting Indigenous and francophone students.
All applicants to the NOSM University UME program are considered for admission through the General Admission Stream unless they have applied to 1 or more of the following streams:
- Indigenous Admission Stream
- Francophone Admission Stream
- Access the information and requirements for the Francophone Admission Stream in French.
- Military Medical Training Program (MMTP) Stream (this stream will be paused for the entry year of 2024)
Applicants applying through any of the UME streams must meet the admission and application requirements outlined in Admission Requirements.
Admission Policies and Procedures
We reserve the right to review and change the admission requirements at any time without notice.
We strictly observe all application deadlines. This applies to receiving the application and all relevant documentation. We advise you to follow the application instructions precisely.
If you fail to meet the deadlines or to follow the application instructions, your application will be disqualified.
We do not hold applications from one year to the next. Unsuccessful applicants will be required to re-apply through OMSAS with a new application for the following admission cycle.
Selection Process
Application
Applications are initially screened and scored based on 3 components:
- Grade point average (GPA)
- Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) and supplementary questions score
- Context score
The scoring weight of each component is approximately 1/3. The combination of the scores from these 3 components will determine if you are offered an interview.
We do not have any “out-of-province” spots or quotas. We consider all applicants by the same criteria, as listed in the Admission Selection Process.
Interview
NOSM University invites approximately 300 of the top-ranked applicants for an interview based on their total pre-interview score (GPA + ABS and supplementary questions score + Context score).
Achieving the minimum requirements does not guarantee that we will invite you for an interview. We will notify you via email in January or February of the potential enrollment year whether you are invited for an interview.
Those invited to interview for NOSM University’s UME program will be asked to indicate their preferred campus (Sudbury or Thunder Bay).
Final Selection
We base the final selection of applicants receiving an offer of admission on a combination of:
- the pre‑interview score (50%),
- the interview score (50%) and
- a complete file review by the Admission Selection Committee.
We also review CAFs at this point in the selection process.
We do not consider the following in selection:
- Age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, religion, sexual orientation
- MCAT (you are not required to write the MCAT to apply to NOSM University)
Incomplete applications and/or those that do not meet the minimum requirements will be disqualified.
Falsification of Application Information
We reserve the right to determine the veracity of any and all statements in the application.
If any application information is found to be false or misleading, concealed or withheld, your application will be disqualified. If this is discovered after your offer of admission is sent, your offer will be withdrawn.
If these circumstances are discovered after you are admitted into the medical program, you will be required to withdraw from the program and be barred from applying to NOSM University for 5 years.
Deferral Policy
We do not generally grant deferrals of admission, though we will consider deferrals in exceptional circumstances.
Requests are received through the Office of Admissions and are forwarded to the Deferrals Committee for consideration. The Committee’s decisions are final and not open to appeal.
During the admission process, if you require accommodation:
If you receive an offer of admission and have inquiries about accommodations, or need clarification on how to get an accommodation, contact the Learner Affairs Officer or the Accessibility Advisor.
Information for Successful Applicants
Citizenship
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (landed immigrant) prior to October 2, 2023, to apply.
Proof of citizenship will be required as a condition of offer of admission.
Offers of Admission
NOSM University is expanding and the number of UME seats has the potential to increase from 78 in 2023 to 108 by 2026. The seats are distributed between the Sudbury and Thunder Bay campuses.
While we will endeavour to assign you to your preferred campus upon admission, we cannot guarantee you will be offered a seat at your preferred campus.
We send offers of admission via email on the second Tuesday in May.
Acceptance may be conditional upon fulfillment of specific requirements. We outline these conditions in your offer of admission letter.
If you accept your offer of admission, you are required to make a non-refundable $1,000 deposit that will be applied to Year 1 tuition.
We will provide additional information to successful applicants in their offer of admission package.
Wait List
Some applicants who are offered admission do not accept their offer. We maintain a short wait list for additional offers.
We will not disclose an applicant’s position on the wait list (absolute or relative).
Final Transcript
Successful candidates may need to submit their final transcript to OMSAS by June 30, 2024. We will outline the details of this requirement in the offer of admission.
Requirements for Registration
A registration package will accompany the offer of admission letter with information on the requirements for accepting an offer of admission. These include:
- Proof of citizenship
- A Police Records Check
- Immunization/Health Screening
- Basic Life Support Training for Health Care Providers
- Cultural Safety & Active Offer Training
- Essential Skills and Abilities Required for Entry to a Medical Degree Program
Contact Information
NOSM University
Medical School Building, Rm 2003
Office of Admissions & Learner Recruitment
955 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay ON P7B 5E1
Toll-free (Canada-wide): 1-800-461-8777, ext. 7454
Fax: 807-766-7368
Email: admissions@nosm.ca