Effective July 1, 2025, all publicly assisted universities in Ontario are required to reserve no less than 95% of their annual admissions to medical health education programs for Ontario residents and the remaining 5% for Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons/convention refugees.
The new regulations (www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r25130) define “medical health education program” and “ordinarily resident in Ontario” as follows:
Medical Health Education Program
An undergraduate program of postsecondary study that leads to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, Medicinae Doctor or an equivalent basic degree in medicine (but not the combination of such a degree with a Doctor of Philosophy) and where the enrolment of students in the program is funded, at least partially, by the government of Ontario.
Ordinarily Resident in Ontario
A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) who fulfills the following criteria:
- They or their spouse have lived in Ontario for at least 12 consecutive months after the age of 14, and either:
- received an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or
- have not subsequently lived for 12 or more consecutive months in any other Canadian province or territory since completing the most recent 12-month period of residency in Ontario.
- In determining whether an individual or their spouse has resided in Ontario or in another province or territory of Canada for 12 consecutive months for the purposes of point 1, the time that the individual or spouse spent in full-time studies at a postsecondary institution is not included unless:
- the individual or spouse was in a full-time, in-person degree program in Ontario; and
- the degree program is one that is ordinarily completed in 4 or more academic years.
Applicants will be required to indicate whether they are an Ontario resident based on this definition.