The University of Toronto medical school is one of the most prestigious medical schools in Canada and the world. The program is divided between two campuses, the historic St. George campus in downtown Toronto and the modern Mississauga campus. In this blog, you will learn UofT medical school statistics and eligibility, available programs, selection factors, and tips for how to get accepted!
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Mission Statement
“We teach, create and disseminate knowledge in primary care, advancing the discipline of family medicine and improving health for diverse and underserved communities locally and globally.”
Available Programs
Academic Curriculum
The four-year MD program is divided into two phases. The first two years of the program are called foundations where you build knowledge and skills for the future practice of medicine. Clerkship, the second two years, involves learning while working with physicians and other health care team members in the hospital and clinic.
Grading System
University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine uses a programmatic assessment that checks student proficiency across diverse professional competencies. This includes frequent lower-stakes assessments with feedback designed to support learning.
Application Timeline
To apply to the University of Toronto medical school, you will be using the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS). This is the general OMSAS application timeline:
Admissions Statistics and Eligibility
- Acceptance rates (overall): 6%
- Average MCAT: minimum of 125 in each section, with the exception of 124 in 1 section
- Average accepted GPA: 3.93
- Location: Toronto and Mississauga, ON
University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine doesn’t give any preference to Ontario residents over non-Ontario residents.
University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine overall acceptance rate:
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Wondering about your admissions chances? Check out our Ontario Medical School Chance Predictor!
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Eligibility
In addition to admitting Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada, the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine is one of the Canadian medical schools that accept US students and international students who meet both academic and non-academic requirements. International applicants must complete a non-medical bachelor's degree equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree in Canada with a World Education Services (WES) transcript assessment. Applicants from the US do not need to have their transcripts evaluated by WES.
International medical graduate students who have completed their master's or PhD degree will also be considered.
All applicants must have an MCAT score obtained within the last 5 years.
Did you know that UofT is one of the few medical schools in Canada that accepts international students? Check out our video below:
Recommended Courses
You must complete at least three years of study (the equivalent of 15 credits) towards your Bachelor’s degree in a discipline of your choosing by the end of April in the year of entrance to the MD program. You do not have to complete your degree before entering the MD program, but you must provide proof of completion of all prerequisites and other coursework that was undertaken during the application period.
Additionally, UofT recommends that the courses you are enrolled in should match the level of studies you are completing. For example, if you’re applying in your third-year, make sure your coursework is mainly third or fourth-year courses.
In terms of medical school prerequisites, you must complete:
- 2 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in any life sciences
- 1 full-course equivalent in any social sciences, humanities, or a language
Additionally, the following courses, while not mandatory, are highly recommended:
- 1 FCE in statistics
- 1 FCE in any writing-focused course such as English
If any of your coursework falls short of these expectations and requirements, you can provide an explanation in your Academic Explanations Essay, discussed below.
Tuition Costs
The tuition at University of Toronto varies depending on the campus and the student profile.
University of Toronto also estimates the additional first year costs, including living expenses and the cost of books and equipment, as CAD$18,577 per year. The actual additional costs may vary depending on the students' spending habits and lifestyle.
Funding Opportunities
The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine offers a variety of funding opportunities to its students. Most UofT MD students do incur some debt by accessing government student assistance programs and professional student lines of credit. However, there are some grants and bursaries and scholarships that are offered by the school. Learn more about how much medical school costs in our blog.
Selection Factors
The University of Toronto medical school evaluates applicants on the basis of a number of factors. Like many other medical schools in Ontario, UofT does not have a preference regarding what discipline you study before you apply to medical school. There are no quotas or age limits; there is no ideal applicant profile that you can fit to ensure matriculation. Applicants who matriculate also demonstrate involvement in a variety of extracurriculars for medical school.
While they have minimum GPA and MCAT thresholds, if you meet them, the actual numbers do not play a role in the rest of your application review. They consider your courseload, as well as your non-academic attributes, and how well they align with UofT's mission and their MD program core competencies.
Let’s consider the University of Toronto medical school requirements you need to know about to complete your application.
GPA
UofT has a fairly strict medical school GPA requirement. The applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 OMSAS scale to be considered. However, admissions statistics show that matriculants into this MD program typically have a GPA of at least 3.8 and above. The final GPA they calculate might be different than your OMSAS scale GPA and UofT does not release this data to applicants. Make sure you review their rules for Full Course Equivalents (FCES), full-time status, and grades that are eligible to be dropped from your GPA in order to get your most accurate result. While U of T is high competitive and a high GPA is a factor in admissions, U of T underwent a major update in their GPA calculation and cutoff system in order to consider a wider range of applicants. As long as you meet the cut off and the other areas of your application are strong you may still be successful if you fall below the typical GPA.
If you’re a graduate student, your GPA must be no less than 3.3 on the 4.0 scale to be considered for the program. Statistics show that 3.7 is the average GPA of graduate students matriculating into the UofT MD program.
MCAT
You must have a score of 125 in each MCAT section, with an allowance of 124 in one of the sections. Your MCAT score cannot be older than 5 years at the time of application. Important to note, your MCAT score is not used competitively. All you need to do is meet the required minimum to continue in the admissions process.
Academic Explanations Essay
This OMSAS optional essay component allows you to address any discrepancies in your academic history and your application, similar to the AMCAS statement of disadvantage or a grad school cover letter. If your transcript has gaps, course withdrawals, or if you carried less than a full course load, you have the chance to explain your reasons in the academic explanations essay. Although some of this information may be included in other parts of your application, you should also include this here. If there is any reason why you believe your GPA does not reflect your true ability, please outline your extenuating circumstances in the academic explanations essay.
Non-Academic Requirements
UofT designates four clusters, based on the CANMeds Framework, that identify and describe the abilities a physician must possess to effectively meet the healthcare needs of their patients:
These four clusters and their associated skills and qualities will be evaluated based on your autobiographical sketch, brief personal essays, and reference letters.
Autobiographical Sketch
Not unlike the AMCAS Work and Activities section, your OMSAS Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) is a comprehensive list of your activities outside of school since the age of 16. You will organize them into six categories: employment, volunteer activities, extracurricular activities, awards and accomplishments, research, and other activities. UofT does not expect a specific number of activities or number of hours – what matters is the quality of your experiences.
U of T does not set minimums or requirements for number of hours or types of positions. They are searching for mature, well-rounded candidates, and candidates from diverse backgrounds. Those with experience in either the clinical or research side of medicine are given equal consideration. U of T also states there is no penalty for having fewer volunteer or extracurricular hours based on a need for employment. Make sure to include everything in your ABS that showcases you as a well-rounded future physician, even if you have a strong GPA you will need to prove you have the breadth of skills required for medical school. University of Toronto also asks applicants to submit one accompanying ABS statement of 500 words or less. You need to write this statement in response to the following prompt:
- Write about an impactful experience from your Autobiographical Sketch that demonstrates your personal growth, character and values. How did this experience prepare you for medical school?
To know how to make your OMSAS autobiographical sketch stand out, your essay should show focus on your most meaningful activity and align your experiences with the four attribute clusters.
Brief Personal Essays
You will need to write two brief personal essays that address the questions outlined below. These essays are similar in purpose and style to the American medical school secondary essays. Each response must answer specific prompts related to University of Toronto's mission and values and be 250 words or less. The word count does not include titles, references, or verifiers if you choose to include these. UofT may choose to check your essays for plagiarism.
- The use of artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to replace or assist humans in our daily lives. The basis of artificial intelligence are the complex algorithms that drive the technology. In your opinion, what values, ethical and societal implications should be considered when developing such algorithms for assessing applicants to medical school?
- The Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva said: “it isn't that you need time to think, you need time to feel.” How does this statement connect with your future career in the field of medicine?
Reference Letters
Just like with other Ontario medical schools, you will not submit traditional medical school recommendation letters. You are required to send OMSAS three Confidential Assessment Forms (CAF) as part of your application.
The referees should be able evaluate you based on the four CANMEDs clusters above. Your ideal reference should be able to comment on multiple clusters and should have a strong relationship with you. Those who have directly supervised you in work or volunteer positions, faculty mentors, or even local community/spiritual leaders can make for good references. It is important to consider both the position of the referee (i.e. a tenured professor over a part-time lecturer) and the length of your relationship (i.e. a faculty member you took one course with versus one you studied and worked under). U of T recommends your three referees represent different aspects of your medical school application, including both academic and non-academic excellence.
University of Toronto medical school does not accept "non-objective" referees such as family members, relatives, close friends, neighbors, colleagues of family members, or peers. Your referees need to submit their CAF forms online no later than October 1st.
Interview Format
The University of Toronto's medical school uses a unique interview format they developed, i the Modified Personal Interview (MPI). Both in-person and virtual MPI interview formats will be used for admission to the UofT's MD program. The MPI consists of four independent interviews assessed by four different interviewers. Interviewers may include physicians, medical students, residents, health professionals, and community members. Each interview is approximately 12 minutes in length. The virtual MPI also consists of four independent interviews assessed by four different raters. Each virtual interview is completed asynchronously and you will have approximately 5 minutes for each.
The interview is a great time to address any potential negatives in your application, such a gap in your CV or a lower GPA. Remember U of T is looking for well-round candidates, not robots with a perfect GPA! Dr. Jamie Cazes, a graduate of the University of Toronto medical school and former admissions officer for the program, explains how to expertly answer tough questions at the U of T interview:
“The best thing to do when asked tough questions is to acknowledge the gap or red flag as it is. Rather than just apologizing about the situation itself and how sorry you are, talk about what you learned from it and WHY it made you a better candidate for medical school” - Dr. Jamie Cazes, MD, University of Toronto
To get ready for your interview, make sure to research how to prepare for video interviews. Remember, your strategy for how to prepare for your med school interview should not change drastically if the interview is conducted virtually.
Make sure to practice with medical school interview questions and MMI questions. You can also review panel interview questions, as they can be easily incorporated into any interview format.
Check out some sample medical school interview questions and answers:
Acceptance and Waitlist Information
The University of Toronto medical school admission offers are tied to a particular campus. If you decline the campus, you also decline the offer from the university in general. UofT does have a waitlist. If a space becomes available, the MD program will contact the next person on the list but they will not disclose your place on the list and final invitations to applicants on the waitlist will be sent as late as September. Learn how to get off a medical school waitlist in our blog.
Contact Information
Admissions Email: [email protected]
FAQs
1. Should I apply if my GPA and MCAT are slightly below the minimum requirements, even though I qualify in terms of the other requirements?
All applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements to be eligible for the program.
2. Do I have to have a certain grade in my prerequisite courses to qualify for admission?
No, you must simply pass the prerequisites. University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine asks for a minimum GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 OMSAS scale for undergraduate applicants and 3.3 on a 4.0 OMSAS scale for graduate applicants.
3. For MD-PHD applicants, can I have duplicate referees in addition to the graduate supervisor (e.g. references that were used for the MD application)?
You are allowed some duplicate referees, but their letters for MD-PhD should focus on your qualities that relate to this program, i.e. your scientific ability and potential.
4. How many years of undergraduate studies do I have to complete to apply?
If you are a Canadian applicant, you must complete at least three years in a program that would lead to a Bachelor’s degree. If you are applying during your third year of study, you must have the equivalent of 15 credits by the end of the third year and have completed the requirements of your degree.
If you are an American applicant, you must complete a four-year Bachelor’s degree. International students must complete the equivalent of a four-year Canadian Bachelor's degree.
5. Is preference given to Ontario applicants? Is there a quota associated with residency or citizenship?
No, there is no preference given to students on the basis of residency or citizenship.
6. Is there an undergraduate program of study that is most suitable for admission to the MD Program?
No, you can pursue the study of any discipline, as long as you meet the coursework prerequisites. For your application to be competitive, you should also complete the recommended courses.
7. How is the MCAT used in the application process?
The MCAT score is not included in an overall academic calculation but is used as a threshold. You need a score of 125 in each MCAT section, with an allowance of 124 in one of the sections. MCAT scores are not used outside of these cut-offs.
8. How many extracurriculars do I need to succeed?
There is no set amount of experiences you need to indicate in your Autobiographical Sketch. There is no required number of activities or a required number of hours. Remember, the quality of your experiences will always trump their quantity.
9. You said nothing about CASPer. Do I need to submit my score?
No, the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine is not one of the medical schools that require CASPer.
10. What is the admissions interview format at University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine?
The University of Toronto's medical school uses their own interview format, i.e. the Modified Personal Interview (MPI). They use both in-person and virtual MPI interview formats as part of their admissions process.
The MPI consists of four independent interviews evaluated by four different interviewers who could be physicians, medical students, residents, health professionals, and community members. Each interview is approximately 12 minutes in length.
The virtual MPI also consists of four independent interviews assessed by four different raters. Each virtual interview is completed asynchronously and you will have approximately 5 minutes for each.
11. How many letters of recommendation do I need?
University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine does not ask for traditional narrative letters of recommendation. Instead, applicants provide three Confidential Assessment Forms (CAF). Referees should complete and submit these by October 1st.
To your success,
Your friends at BeMo
BeMo Academic Consulting
Disclaimer: BeMo does not endorse or affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. The content has been developed based on the most recent publicly available data provided from the official university website. However, you should always check the statistics/requirements with the official school website for the most up to date information. You are responsible for your own results.
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2 Comments
MUWANGUZI MARY
What if I got a 3 year National diploma in Medical entomology and parasitology studies from Uganda, do I qualify to apply at the school of medicine in Canada?
ReplyNathalia Garcia Martinez
I just graduated High School in Mexico; from my understanding, I will first have to apply to a pre-med before applying to Med School. But I´m still confused. Do I apply to the University of Toronto as pre-med and then MD?
Reply