FAQ's
Introduction To The “Frequently Asked Questions” Page
The “Frequently Asked Questions” page is meant to provide quick answers to questions that are most often asked through e-mail requests. Due to the excessive volume of e-mails you were referred to the “FAQ’s” link since the answer to your questions is included. We invite you to visit the admissions website for additional detailed information.
- What is the application deadline?
The current application deadlines are published at the following website:
www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/
- How do I get an application form?
The on-line application form is available at the following website:
www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/ It is a common application to all six Ontario Medical Schools. You can apply to any or all six schools using the same form.
- How do I get a paper application?
Paper applications are not available. You must apply using the on-line application.
- Does Ottawa require the MCAT?
No. The MCAT is not required to apply to Ottawa.
- What do I need to be eligible to apply to Ottawa?
You need to complete successfully three years of full-time (5 full year courses/year) university bachelor studies in any discipline of your choice including the following prerequisites courses.
- The equivalent of one full year course (1 credit) or two semester courses in Biology with lab)
- The equivalent of one full year course in Humanities or Social Sciences
- The equivalent of two full-year courses (2 credits) or four semester courses in Chemistry from the following chemistry courses: General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry.
- The equivalent of one full year course (1 credit) or two semester courses in Biology with lab)
- I have already graduated with a four years honours degree. Will my application be looked at more favourably?
No. Since we require three years of full-time studies as general application eligibility requirements, we always weigh the most recent three years completed by a candidate.
- Do I need to have completed my third year of studies before I’m allowed to apply?
No. You would normally apply after the second year of studies. Only the grades obtained in year 1 and 2 will be used in the calculation of your weighted grade point average. If admission is offered to you, it will be conditional upon successful completion of present academic year.
- How many students do you admit in year one?
The University of Ottawa reserves 4 positions for Military Candidates, 8 positions for CNFS special admissions program in the francophone stream, and up to 7 positions for the Aboriginal Program. The number of positions available for the Ministry of Health cohort will vary from year to year depending on the number of individuals who fill the Aboriginal spots.
Over the past few years, the total number of students admitted were:
2006 155
2007 156
2008 156
2009 156
2010 168 - I am of aboriginal ancestry. Should I declare my native status?
Absolutely. There are up to 7 seats reserved within the Ministry of Health cohort. You would be competing for one of these seats with other aboriginal candidates only. Financial help and bursaries could be available for admitted students in need.
- My MCAT results are very good. Will this help my application?
No. We will not look at the results since we do not require the MCAT as an application requirement.
- I am an international student. Am I eligible to apply?
If you have your permanent residence (landed immigrant) status in Canada before the application deadline and you meet the application eligibility requirements, you are eligible to apply.
- How do I determine if my international studies will be recognized?
You must obtain a credentials conversion through the World Education Services (WES). You can contact WES at 1-866-343-0070 or through
http://www.wes.org/ca.
- I started my medical education in another country. Can I apply and be recognized advanced standing? Can I apply for a transfer?
No. Transfers from medical programs from other countries are not allowed.
- I have completed Cegep studies and obtained my degree. Will my Cegep studies be recognized?
Your Cegep studies will be recognized as being equivalent to one year of post-secondary university studies. You will need to complete two years of a bachelor’s program of studies in a recognized university to meet our application eligibility. You would normally apply after your 1st year of university studies. Only the grades obtained during this year of studies will be assessed.
- Will my Cegep sciences courses be recognized towards the required prerequisites?
Please refer to the equivalency table available at www.med.uottawa.ca.
- How will you determine my residency status?
The autobiographical sketch and the permanent address listed on the application form will be used to determine the geographical status of the applicants. Applicants may be asked to provide evidence of geographical status.
- What are my chances of being offered an interview?
To be offered an interview, you must meet the following steps in the assessment of your application file:
- First, meet all application eligibility requirements.
- Second, meet the established minimum cut-off for the accepted weighted grade point average (wgpa) conversion of your grades.
- Third, excellence in the detailed additional submission
- First, meet all application eligibility requirements.
- What does the detailed additional submission involve?
It is a detailed summary of the activities reported in the common autobiographical one-page sketch.
- I wish to have a confirmation that I have completed all necessary prerequisite courses before I apply.
You should send an e-mail to admissmd@uottawa.ca and provide the administrative assistant with a website link to the institution, faculty, course code, and course description of the courses you wish to be assessed.
- Am I allowed to complete the missing prerequisites courses during the application year?
Yes, provided they are completed by June preceding registration in Medicine. You would normally not be allowed to complete prerequisites courses in the summer preceding registration in Medicine.
- I have received recognition for AP credits. Will these credits be recognized for admission eligibility to Medicine?
No. Advance placement credits are not recognized within our admission process.
- Can I apply to both the French and the English program?
No. Candidates are allowed to apply to only one of the two streams. Once the application is submitted you are not allowed to change the choice of language of instruction.
- Can I qualify for admission with part-time studies?
Only full-time studies will qualify you for admission.
- How do you assess repeated courses?
All courses shown on your transcript will count in the calculation of your wgpa.
- My wgpa is .02 less from the required minimum required average. Will my application advance in the selection process?
Under no circumstances will exceptions be granted. Candidates must reach the set required minimum wgpa.
- Do you look at the grades obtained in the required prerequisites courses separately?
No, as these will reflect in the calculation of your overall wgpa.
- Will the grades obtained during the first semester of my application year count?
No. As the file studies of the application cycle are well in progress, only grades obtained in previous years of studies are used.
- Do you give preference to different undergraduate degrees?
There is no special weight or preference to any particular baccalaureate degree. The degree of difficulty of the program is not assessed.
- Do you give special consideration to graduate students?
Graduate students must meet the total eligibility requirements as undergraduate applicants. All applications will be evaluated on the basis of the grades obtained during the candidate’s undergraduate studies.
- Do you accept summer courses?
Summer courses are accepted for the credit value but the grades obtained will not count in the calculation of the wgpa. Prerequisites courses can be taken during summer sessions but not during the summer session immediately preceding admission in medicine.
- Can prerequisite courses be taken as distance education courses?
Yes, provided you can show proof of laboratory completion where laboratory sessions are required. Please note that we do not accept home labs therefore make sure to take the on site laboratory.
- Can I qualify for admission through full-time studies completed by distance education?
No, since the spirit of the full-time studies requirement is to be able to assess and compare how candidates succeed in a full-time course load and to predict how the candidates will perform and cope with the rigorous demand of the medical program.
- What is the cost of tuition fees?
Current tuition fees for the medical program can be verified at the following website address:
www.registraire.uottawa.ca
- Are there reserved seats for out-of-province candidates?
We do not admit students by regional or provincial quota. All interviewed candidates are placed on the list of excellence in order to determine who receives an offer of admission.
- Can I call the admissions office to verify the status of my application?
No. All status decisions will be communicated to the candidates via e-mail from the end of January to mid-February.
- Do you admit students in the Winter-term?
No. Students are only admitted in the fall session of an academic year.
- Do you accept transfer students?
Applications for transfer will be accepted only from Canadian schools and only under exceptional circumstances, provided that the person met our admission standards, that his/her curriculum to date is compatible with our own and only if space is available. If these conditions are met the candidate will be invited to an interview. Transfers will only be considered into year 3 of the 4-year undergraduate medical program.
- Can I submit additional reference letters?
Additional reference letters will not be reviewed. Only the three reference forms/letter required within the application form will be accepted.
- Does the University of Ottawa offer the MD/PhD combined program?
The University of Ottawa has submitted a detailed proposal for an MD/PhD Program to the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies. Conditional to its approval, the new program will offer exceptional students the opportunity to pursue two degrees over the course of seven years. It is expected that the MD/PhD Program at the University of Ottawa will enroll its first four students in the summer of 2010 and will be based on a single integrated curriculum.
- Can I apply as a mature or special student?
No, all applicants must meet the eligibility requirements.
- Why are decisions communicated to candidates so late in the process?
File studies take 4 to 6 months to complete. The Admissions Committee must review the complete applications before the decisions are communicated to the candidates.
- Do you take into consideration the candidate’s age and/or gender in your application process?
Age, gender, race, religion and socio-economic status play no part in the selection process.
- Is preference given to University of Ottawa students?
No, there is no weight or preference given to the university you have attended.
- For the Humanities or Social Sciences prerequisites would two separate semester courses in different disciplines count?
Yes, this is perfectly acceptable.
- Will a course in Psychology be accepted as a Humanities or Social Sciences prerequisite?
Yes.
- Can I find out the results of the detailed sketch assessment or the interview results to help me improve for further application?
No, we do not provide feedback.