Academic Calendar 2022-2023

Admission

Application Procedures

Applications for the Queen's School of Medicine are made through the  Ontario Medical Schools' Application  Service (OMSAS). Candidates will be assessed based on materials submitted to OMSAS by the application deadlines. Addendums or supplemental materials sent directly to the School of Medicine, or incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who have applied previously must resubmit all application requirements each cycle to be considered. 

If you are choosing to apply to a specific category (i.e. Canadian Armed Forces Applicants, Indigenous Applicants or MD/PhD, MD/MSc Applicants), additional items are required with your OMSAS application. Please ensure that you review these additional items here and submit the appropriate documentation for consideration. 

We admit 100 Canadian citizens or permanent residents annually to first year and have up to 9 additional supernumerary seats for Canadian Forces Members.

They are selected based on:

  • strong academic record
  • MCAT
  • Casper
  • Components of the application such as Autobiographical Sketch and Confidential Assessment Forms
  • Assessment of personal characteristics considered to be the most appropriate for studying medicine at Queen’s University and the subsequent practice of medicine.

The Admissions Committee believes that both academic abilities and specific personal attributes are important in successfully studying and practicing medicine and will assess these factors at different points during the admission process.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are priorities for our Admissions Committee and are guiding principles for our process.

Admission procedures are reviewed annually and requirements from previous years may not apply. Queen’s University reserves the right to change admission requirements at any time, without notice. Submission deadlines are final, and the instructions provided on OMSAS must be followed for your application to be considered. When you submit an application to the Queen’s University Undergraduate Medical education program, you accept the current admission policies and procedures, as well as the methods by which the applicants are selected.

All application components must be submitted to OMSAS by the specified deadlines for the application to be considered.

Casper assessment results must be submitted by our program’s deadline. No late submissions will be considered.

Communication

We communicate with our applicants using the email address provided in your OMSAS application. As such, it is your responsibility to monitor your email and all associated email folders (inbox, spam, junk, etc.) during the application process. This includes ensuring that email inboxes are not full and are able to receive incoming mail. We are not responsible for any correspondence that is not answered by stipulated deadlines.

Application Requirements

It is your responsibility to ensure that OMSAS receives all the required application pieces, including all references, documents, transcripts and registrar statements by the application deadline.

Applications that are incomplete by the specified deadlines will not be considered for admission.

Applications are not carried over from previous cycles. Applicants who have applied previously must resubmit all application requirements for the current application cycle.

Proficiency in the English Language

The Queen’s Medical School Curriculum is conducted in English. Proficiency in English is a prerequisite for admission. Applicants whose native languages do not include English will be required to obtain satisfactory standing in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) proficiency test as part of the application process.

If English is not your native language but you have recently studied for at least 1 complete year at a university where English is the official language of instruction, you may be exempt from the English-language proficiency test. An applicant requesting a waiver of the test for this reason should do so in writing and submit it with their OMSAS application using Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) in their application. The Medical School Admissions Committee will make determinations in these cases.

The Queen’s School of Medicine requires the following minimum TOEFL scores:

  • TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT): 100
  • TOEFL Paper-based Tests: 100

Applicants may submit unofficial TOEFL results through SAM; however, official TOEFL results must be mailed directly to our office by the application deadline.

Academic Eligibility

Course Credits & Grade Point Averages

To qualify for entry into the School of Medicine, candidates are required to have a minimum of 30 half courses or 15 full courses (or in combination) at the undergraduate university level. This would typically equate to a total OMSAS course load weighting of 30 (see OMSAS Weighting in the table below). This requirement must be fulfilled by the June 30th prior to possible entry into the program.

At the time of application:

Applicants must have completed a minimum 20 half or 10 full courses (or in combination) of the 30 half courses or 15 full courses at the Undergraduate level in a University program as described by the OMSAS Weighting at the time that their application is submitted.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits (i.e., International Baccalaureate, Advance Placement and CEGEP programs, exchange credits) appearing on your university transcript are not included in your GPA calculation but are considered in the credit requirement totals provided all other requirements are met.

Credit/No Credit and Pass/Fail Courses

An applicant can have no more than one credit/no credit course in a semester to be eligible for a GPA calculation.

If the structure of your program does not allow for this, then you must submit official documentation from the institution as to why the student does not have a choice to select a numerical or alpha grade. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

This will take effect for any courses taken in Fall 2022 and onward.

Prerequisite Courses

We do not require prerequisite courses. With the elimination of prerequisite courses, applicants are able to select a program of study and courses, which best meet the goals of their undergraduate degree program.  We do not recommend any particular course or degree program since no preference is given to applicants who have studied in any particular university program. Applicants are encouraged to consider all of the undergraduate programs available to them and to embark on the course of study in which they have the greatest interest and that would prepare them for an alternate career should they not gain a place in medicine.

Course Weight

Each year we receive applications from candidates who have studied at universities with various credit and grading systems. In order to give each candidate equal consideration, courses are weighted according to their length of study as follows (also see OMSAS Weighting):

Course                                                                                                                                                                 

Full Year Course:  OMSAS'S Equivalent Weighting- 2       

Half year/semester Course:  OMSAS'S Equivalent Weighting- 1    

Three Quarter Course:  OMSAS'S Equivalent Weighting- 1.5

Quarter ( applies only to American Universities)  Course:   OMSAS'S Equivalent Weighting- 0.5

Science laboratory (Graded separately and is weighted as less than half year/semester) Course:   OMSAS'S Equivalent Weighting- 0.5

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The Admissions Committee will use ONLY your cumulative GPA in assessment of your application. (This will apply to the 2022-2023 admissions cycle)

The cumulative GPA includes ALL undergraduate university degree credit courses, regardless of first or second degree, except those taken on foreign exchange and graduate studies, with all years treated equally. Courses and grades must appear on your university undergraduate transcript(s) to be included in the GPA calculation.

The cumulative GPA calculation does not include the current academic year (Sept–June), as grades for your current academic year of study are not available at the time of the application deadline (Oct 1)

Minimum GPA

The minimum cumulative GPA to apply is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale according to OMSAS’ scale. 

GPAs are calculated using converted grade points based on the OMSAS Conversion Scale

Please note that admission to the MD Program is competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

General Information:

The following will not be included in the GPA calculation:

  • Naturopathic and chiropractic medicine
  • Consecutive Bachelor of Education programs
  • College courses (even if transfer credit is granted)
  • Challenge for credit courses
  • Continuing Education programs
  • Graduate courses
  • Undergraduate courses taken as part of a graduate program
  • Doctor of Medicine programs
  • ·Only the cumulative GPA will be calculated.
  • ·For repeated courses, all grades obtained are calculated towards the GPA.
  • ·Degree programs or individual courses are not considered a factor in the calculation of GPAs.
  • ·Calculations include grades from all courses included on the University transcript for Canadian and United States Universities, including repeated courses.
  • ·Courses that a “pass” or “credit” grade is assigned for are counted for credit, but we do not include them in the GPA calculation.
  • ·If you have withdrawn from a course and there is a grade reflected on your transcript for that course, it will be included in GPA calculations. If there is no grade associated with a withdrawn course, it has no effect on your application.

No adjustments are made based on course load or course levels.

International grades:

Applicants attending university outside Canada, or the United States must have their academic credentials/foreign transcripts assessed for Canadian equivalency by World Education Services (WES). Information pertaining to the assessment of international grades can be found on the OMSAS website.

A course-by-course WES evaluation with an overall GPA is required.

Credentialing assessment means converting international academic credentials into their Canadian educational equivalents. If a World Education Services (WES) assessment includes a copy of your official transcript, you are not required to request a transcript from your registrar.

The standard cumulative GPA will not be calculated for candidates submitting foreign transcripts.  WES assessments will be reviewed and applications for these candidates will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Transcripts

You must submit all transcripts through OMSAS, including education taken outside of Canada. 

Your transcripts must demonstrate you have:

  • obtained 15 full or 30 half courses (or in combination) at the undergraduate university level by June 30 prior to possible entry into the program of September of the same year;
  • maintained a satisfactory GPA, as determined by the Admissions Committee; and
  • will have completed post-graduate studies by August 1 prior to entry into the program, if applicable.

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

You must write the MCAT prior to the OMSAS application deadline. You must release all MCAT scores to OMSAS and ensure that they are received by the stipulated deadline. OMSAS will report your scores to Queen’s University.

Each year, the Admissions Committee considers scores from the:

  • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems,
  • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems,
  • Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behaviour,
  • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills and
  • the sum of these parts.

You must meet the minimum score set by the Admissions Committee each cycle for each category and total score.

Notes:

  • The Queen’s School of Medicine imposes no restrictions on the number of times that you may take the test.
  • If you have written the test multiple times, you must ensure that all test results are released to OMSAS by the specified date.
  • All MCAT scores will then be reported by OMSAS to Queen’s University.
  • Test results are valid from any test written within 5 years of the application deadline.
  • Applications will be assessed based on the scores from your best test results.

Applicants who have submitted their MCAT score(s) with a previous application will need to re-submit their scores for the current application cycle to be eligible. It is your responsibility to ensure that these scores are received by OMSAS for the current application by the deadline.

While we use the MCAT in our evaluation process, we do not administer the test. Therefore, we are unable to offer any information or advice on preparation for the MCAT.

Find more information about MCAT preparation from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Financial Assistance for MCAT Registration Fees

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) offer a fee assistance program for Canadian examinees in financial need who register for the MCAT. The AAMC and the AFMC are committed to providing support to Canadian students who would be unable to take the MCAT without financial assistance. This will contribute to a diversity of students enrolled in Canadian medical schools.

If paying for MCAT expenses out of pocket would be challenging for you, please consider applying.

Casper

All applicants to the Undergraduate Medical Education Program at Queen’s University are required to complete an online assessment, Casper through the Atlus Suite platform, to be eligible for admission. We do not require applicants to complete Snapshot or Duet, and they will not be included in review of your application.

Casper is a standardized online assessment that measures different competencies and attributes such as personal and professional characteristics that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. Casper is a 100-120 minute online, open-response situational judgement test. It is a compliment to the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing Casper , we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.

In order to take Casper , you will be responsible for securing access to a laptop or desktop computer with webcam and audio capabilities and a reliable internet connection with a internet speed of at least 1.5 Mbps and upload speed of at least 2 Mbps. You will require the following for both account creation and taking the test:

  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Valid email address (Please use the email address that you used on your OMSAS application as this is used as one of our identifiers when linking your score to your application)
  • Working webcam
  • Working microphone
  • Reliable high-speed internet connection
  • Your OMSAS Reference Number for the current application cycle. (i.e. 8xxxxx) as this is used as one of our identifiers when linking your score to your application (Do not use previous OMSAS reference numbers )
  1. Please go to www.TakeAltus.com to register your Casper account and sign up for the CSP-10201 – Canadian Professional Health Sciences version of Casper using a piece of government-issued photo ID and your OMSAS ID (8xxxxx) for the current admissions cycle.
  2. Select a Casper test date. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your Casper test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly and that you have used for your OMSAS application; there may be updates to the test schedule.
    1. Exceptions will not be provided for applicants who are unable to take Casper during one of the available test dates.
    2. Important: To account for identity verification and payment processing timeline, ensure that you register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time. Last-minute bookings are not recommended.
  3. Ensure you have selected Queen’s University for distribution before the posted Distribution Deadline. Likely, there will be no additional tests scheduled, but the most up to date information can be found by browsing the Test Dates and Times  on TakeAltus.com.
  4. Please direct any inquiries on Altus Suite to support@altus.as. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen on the TakeAltus.com website.

Accommodations: If you require testing accommodations for Altus Suite you will need to submit the Accommodations Request Form signed by you and your qualified professional 3 weeks in advance of your desired test date. More information regarding accommodations can be found here.

Notes:  

If you take Casper during this cycle but before one of our testing dates that is okay! You will still be able distribute your score to us. You simply will need to wait until you have received your OMSAS ID (8xxxxx) for this year's application and then request that your score is distributed to Queen's as the OMSAS ID is a requirement. Please do not use an OMSAS ID from previous years or make one up as we use this number as one of our identifiers when linking it to your application. The testing dates listed under Queen's are there because it will be at that time you will have your OMSAS ID available.

  • Casper scores are only available for one application cycle and the test is only offered on a select number of days. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years are expected to re-take it.
  • If you do not follow these instructions, then your Casper score may not get linked to your application and will be considered incomplete. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the correct information to Casper that correlates with your current OMSAS application. We are not responsible for Casper scores that are not linked to an application due to incorrect or mismatched information being supplied.
  • If you are applying to another university or program that requires you to write the Casper assessment in French, you will need to write it again in English for this application.
  • If you are writing a different version of the Casper assessment (other than CSP-10201 – Canadian Professional Health Sciences for you MD application) you will need to complete the CSP-10201 – Canadian Professional Health Sciences version as well for this application. 
  • There is a separate fee for that Casper test which is paid by the applicant directly to Altus Assessments. This fee is not included in the OMSAS/Queen’s application fee.

Autobiographical Sketch (ABS)

Autobiographical Sketch:

The Queen's School of Medicine uses the detailed autobiographical sketch as part of the application evaluation. This submission provides our assessors with a snapshot of a candidate's personal experiences and achievements. We consider the following 5 categories in the Autobiographical Sketch:

  • Employment
  • Volunteer Activities
  • Extra-Curricular Activities
  • Awards & Accomplishments
  • Publications & Research

Ensure that items selected are those most relevant to a medical school application. Items listed in the Other category will not be considered.

General Information:

  • The Admissions Committee will not review activities from high school
  • The autobiographical sketch is completed through the OMSAS application and then disseminated to the Admissions Committee for review.
  • Please ensure that items selected to include are those most relevant to a medical school application.
  • There is room in the form to provide information relating to 32 items. You are not required to fill all available spots.
  • Submissions are assessed based on the quality of the listed items and the characteristics they represent (not the number of items listed). 
  • The candidate must list:
    • What year in your education the activity occurred (i.e. 1st year undergraduate, summer between 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate, graduate, post graduate etc.)
    • The length of time each activity has taken,
    • The location of the activity and
    • A brief description, which can be in point form/

When you indicate the number of hours, specify if it is per week or per month.


Note: The Admission Committee is unable to review and evaluate Autobiographical sketches that are not written in English.

Confidential Assessment Forms/References

Confidential Assessment Forms:

You are required to ask 3 different individuals (we refer to them as referees) to provide a reference on your behalf:

  • 1 academic or employment related referee
  • 1 non-academic referee
  • 1 referee of your choosing

Applicants should choose referees who have more than a casual relationship with you and can evaluate you in a nonbiased fashion, avoiding family members, family friends, neighbours acquaintances, friends or spiritual advisors for example. We do not consider them to be objective. Ideally, applicants should choose referees who can collectively address qualities and attributes in both academic and non-academic domains. Forms from non-objective references will not be considered.

Select referees who have extensive personal knowledge of you and, as a result, are in a position to answer the Confidential Assessment Form (CAF) questions. 

The Admissions Committee desires referees who have more than a casual relationship with you. We recommend choosing referees that have known you for a minimum of 6 months. You should ask your referee to provide examples of the characteristics they are being asked to comment on.

In order for referees to provide uniform information that admission committees are specifically looking for from the reference process, each of your referees will be asked to fill out a CAF. It is your responsibility to inform your referees that they must fill out the CAF, and that additional letters of reference will no longer be accepted.

On the CAF, your references will be asked to respond to the following:

  1. Would this applicant make a good physician?
  2. Rate the applicant on each of the following attributes:
    • Communication skills
    • Problem-solving skills
    • Professionalism (e.g., commitment to ethical practice, standards of behaviour and accountability to others)
    • Empathy (e.g., demonstrating consideration of others’ perspectives)
  3. Identify and comment on 1 area of improvement for the applicant.
  4. Share any other information you feel may be relevant to a medical school’s admission committee.

Information about Dates of Submission

All Confidential Assessment Forms must be received by OMSAS by October 31st of the application cycle. It is each candidate's responsibility to ensure they have selected three appropriate referees to submit a Confidential Assessment Form. In the event less than 3 letters are submitted by the submission deadline, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be assessed further. 

Note: The Admission Committee is unable to review and evaluate Confidential Assessment Forms that are not written in English.

Methods of Selection

Step 1: Initial Assessment

Each year the Admissions Committee establishes the minimum acceptable GPA score, MCAT score and Casper score for the admissions cycle. At Queen’s, we review the cumulative GPA. If the applicant meets the minimum established score set for the admissions cycle with a complete application then they progress to Step 2. If they are below the minimum, they do not progress in the process.

Step 2: File Review

Autobiographical sketch and reference letter review.

Autobiographical Sketches

The Admissions Committee reviews of the submitted sketch components; Employment, Extra-Curricular Activities, Volunteer Activities, Awards and Accomplishments, Research. Submissions are assessed based on the quality of the listed items and the characteristics they represent (not the number of items listed).

Confidential Assessment Forms/References

Applicants are expected to choose appropriate referees to complete the Confidential Assessment Forms and write letters of reference. Referees should have extensive personal knowledge of the applicant and be in a position to reasonably make statements concerning the applicant's character, personal qualities and academic capabilities. It is recognized that referees may not be in a position to evaluate all of the characteristics requested; however, applicants should ensure that, in choosing their three referees, the subject areas are covered. At least one referee should be a non-academic/character referee.

Step 3: Interview(s)

Interviews - Multiple mini-interview (MMI) and panel interview

Based on GPA, MCAT, CASPer, Sketch and Reference Letter scores, a rank order list is generated and based on the rank order list a select number of applicants are invited for an interview. If an applicant chooses to withdraw or decline their interview or does not respond to the interview invitation, we will offer the interview spot to the next person on the rank order list.

The Queen’s School of Medicine uses a combined MMI and panel interview in the assessment of qualifying candidates. The goal of using the MMI is to more effectively assess non-cognitive qualities of an applicant, which could include empathy, critical thinking, ethical decision making and communication skills. Selected candidates will be invited to the MMI portion. From the applicants that complete the MMI component, a select number of these candidates will then be invited for a panel interview.

Please note: For 2022-2023 admissions cycle, all interviews will be conducted virtually.

Step 4: Decision

Final Decision

Successful applicants are reviewed and ranked by the Admissions Committee and offers are made based on a ranked list. Offers will be made after the first round on a rolling basis until the class has been filled. Once the class is complete all waitlisted applicants will be notified via email that offers are no longer being made.

Indigenous Applicants

Up to a maximum of four qualified Indigenous students per year may be admitted to the MD program by the alternate process. Indigenous candidates may also choose to apply through the mainstream admission process. Applicants must apply through OMSAS and indicate in the OMSAS application that they are applying as an Indigenous applicant.

If an applicant wishes to be considered by Indigenous application category, they must submit the following documentation through OMSAS by the application deadline:

  • A separate letter to the Chair, Admissions Committee, in which they declare their Indigenous ancestry and give
  • specific information about First Nation, Treaty, community, or organizational affiliation. The letter should request
  • consideration by this alternate process, and should expand on the candidate's academic and personal
  • background, how you are culturally connected to your Indigenous community, as well as reasons and motivation
  • for wishing to become a physician. Maximum 1 page.
  • A letter of support from a representative of the candidate's First Nation, Band Council, Tribal Council, and/or
  • Treaty, community or organizational affiliation. This individual should be able to speak to your Indigenous
  • community involvement, and personal character traits that would qualify you as a promising candidate to pursue
  • a future in medicine. Maximum 1 page.
  • Proof of Indigenous ancestry. Indigenous applicants must submit one of the following documents:
  • Indian status cards from First Nations who are federally recognized and those listed on the Indigenous &
  • Northern Affairs Canada website.
  • For Non-Status First Nations, your parents and/or grandparents Indian status card and your long form birth
  • certificate or baptismal certificate.
  • A membership card indicating that you are a Non-Status First Nations who is currently in a court case
  • (example: Algonquin).
  • Métis citizenship from organizations that are members of the Métis National Council.
  • Nunavut Trust Certificate card or Inuit roll number

A panel consisting of representatives from the Admissions Committee and the Indigenous community will review the files of all candidates who wish to be considered by this alternate process and select candidates for interview. The panel will pay particular attention to academic commitment towards a career in medicine. (Only in exceptional circumstances will candidates with a GPA of less than 3.0 and a MCAT score of less than 120 in each section be selected for interview.)

For recruitment events or Indigenous involvement at Queen's School of Medicine, please contact Cortney Clark cortney.clark@queensu.ca

Military Medical Training Program (MMTP) Applicants

At the request of the Department of National Defence, the Queen’s University Undergraduate Medical Education program has completed arrangements with the Department of National Defence (DND) to create up to 9 additional training positions in the Queen’s Medical Doctorate Program that are above and beyond our provincially funded 100 seats. Canadian Forces Staff who are supported by the DND would be eligible to apply for these positions and offers of admission will be made to those who qualify.

Regular Force military candidates interested in the Military Medical Training Program (MMTP) can obtain more information by consulting the Officer Specialist Training intranet website.

Military candidates who apply through the MMTP must meet all application eligibility requirements, including the necessary requirements as outlined by the military. These candidates must follow the same application procedures as all other applicants. The application fees will apply, and the candidates must follow the same method of payment as all other applicants.

For additional information regarding the MMTP application process, contact:

Name: DMCPG 5-2

Title: Commissioning and Education Programs Supervisor, Director General Military Careers

Email: cmp.dmcpg5@forces.gc.ca

For additional information regarding Medical Officer Recruitment, roles, responsibilities and prospective military service in Health Services, it is strongly encouraged that you also contact:

Canadian Forces Health Services Attraction Cell

Email: CFHSAttractionCell-CelluledattractionSSFC@forces.gc.ca

Applicants must apply through OMSAS.

International Applicants

(Please note that the continuation of this stream is currently under review and a decision is pending.  Please be aware that the result will impact this upcoming application cycle.)

Queen’s University School of Medicine may admit up to a maximum of five international students (non-Canadian citizens, non-permanent residents) per year. If accepted into the program, international students are responsible for ensuring that all licensing requirements of the country in which they intend to practice medicine are fulfilled. All international applicants must have completed (or be in their final year of study of) the equivalent of a Canadian 4-year university bachelor’s (honors) degree. No specific course prerequisites are required.

Applicants attending university outside Canada or the United States must have their academic credentials assessed for Canadian equivalency by World Education Services (WES). A course by course WES evaluation with an overall GPA is required. When applicants apply as an international student, they are required to notify Queen’s School of Medicine immediately if their immigration status changes. Failure to do so will make the applicant ineligible for the program. If the applicant becomes a permanent resident (landed immigrant) or citizen during the admission process, their application data will be moved to the domestic student applicant pool.

Fees

Each international student enrolled in Queen’s School of Medicine is responsible for paying annual fees. These fees include tuition, student activity fees, and a university health insurance premium. Please note: These fees are subject to change each academic year. The fees listed do not include books and equipment, housing and food, or other living expenses. There are no admissions scholarships or bursaries available to international students currently.

Applicants must apply through OMSAS.

MD/PhD and MD/Master's Applicants

The combined MD/PhD and MD/ Master’s Programs provide benefits to both scholarship and to the professional development of physician-scientists by allowing better integration of clinical and research training experiences, and also provide better opportunities for fostering translational research.

Our programs are in keeping with the strategic directions of both the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategic Plan and Government of Canada's Science and Technology Strategy, which emphasize the need for providing increased trans-sectorial and multidisciplinary training, building research excellence, translating knowledge into practical applications and deepening the pool of highly skilled individuals. Students in combined MD/graduate programs bring a distinctive, clinical/translational perspective into their laboratories, and conversely, these students also bring a basic science perspective to share with their fellow medical students. This is especially relevant in the context of the greater emphasis now being placed on team-based learning approaches as an important component of the Queen’s medical curriculum.

Applicants must apply through OMSAS.

Graduate Applicants

Graduate applicants that have met the minimum threshold requirements, will be given consideration of their graduate student status.

1. Applicants must have completed their graduate degree by the August 1 prior to the commencement of medical school;

2. Applicants must be in their final year of a multi‐year graduate degree program to be eligible to apply as a graduate applicant;

3. Applicants that are in a 1‐year graduate degree program must complete their graduate degree prior to applying to be eligible as a graduate applicant. Otherwise, they will be considered as an undergraduate applicant;

4. A subcommittee will assess the suitability of the candidate’s performance and if the graduate degree was completed at an accredited university;

5. If the subcommittee determines that the applicant is suitable, they will progress to the next step in the method of selection.

If your application qualifies as a graduate applicant and you are offered a seat in our program, the offer is based on the expectation that your graduate degree will be completed by the August 1st prior to the commencement of medical school. We require an official transcript as proof of graduate studies conferral.

Offers

All applicants will receive an email regarding the status of their application to the email that was supplied with their OMSAS application.

Queen's School of Medicine coordinates the first round of offers with all Ontario Medical Schools. Therefore, applicants who were invited to panel interviews; will receive the results of their application in May, with the exception of MD/PhD & MD/Master’s offers which are typically sent in March and MMTP offers which are typically sent in April.

Please refer to OMSAS’ Important Dates page for admission cycle timeline.

Offers will be delivered on a rolling bases until the class has been filled. Information on an applicant’s waitlist position or any further information relative to our wait list process will not be provided. Once the class has been filled, an email will be sent to applicants remaining on the waitlist. It is the responsibility of the applicant to monitor their email and all associated email folders during the application process. This includes ensuring that email inboxes are able to receive incoming mail. Applicants who receive an offer must respond by the deadline stipulated in the email. Any offers not answered by the deadline, will be set to declined.

For these reasons, it is important that if you change your email from the one appearing on the OMSAS application that you let us know. 

All offers of Admission are conditional upon the following (shall be reviewed and updated in the Spring 2023):

1. Accept Offer

2. Pay a non-refundable deposit of $1050. This amount is applied to the minimum tuition payment.  (*Please note payment processing can take up to 3-5 business days. You may wish to submit a copy of your proof of payment prior to the deadline  should you be concerned that your deposit takes longer to process.*)

3. Maintain an academic standing that is acceptable to the Admissions Committee and complete all required credits. (The minimum acceptable GPA would normally be 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for OMSAS applicants)

4. Provide an official final transcript for the requirements for entry into the MD program. (This includes all course work at the graduate or doctoral level of study). *ONLY REQUIRED IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED ADDITIONAL EDUCATION SINCE THE TIME OF YOUR OMSAS APPLICATION

5. Submit Graduate Completion Letter (if applicable). If you are considered a graduate applicant, you are required to submit a letter from your supervisor confirming your graduate degree requirements will be completed by August 1, 2022. Please have the School of Graduate Studies/Registrar's office send this letter directly to us as a PDF. Completion letters must be on letterhead.

6. Evidence of Canadian citizenship, a copy of your Canadian passport, birth certificate or certificate of Canadian citizenship, or proof of Canadian permanent residency.  A Social Insurance Number does not fulfill this requirement. 

7. Submit Vulnerable Persons Police Sector Check at the candidate’s expense.  (MD/PhD & MD/Master’s candidates: this is required the year that you enter the MD component of your combined program.)

If you require a Toronto Police service screening form, please contact our office. 

Information Regarding Police Records Check:

  • All students who accept an offer of admission into a Medical, Residency, Nursing or Rehabilitation Therapy program will provide evidence of a Police Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening, conducted at their expense, before they will be permitted to register in the program.
  • An applicant or student who submits false, misleading, or incomplete information about a criminal charge or criminal record may be subject to sanction by the School of Medicine and/or the University.
  • As all medical students undertake significant portions of their education in settings with exposure to vulnerable populations, students are required to complete and submit the results of a Vulnerable Persons Police Record Check, at their own expense prior to the commencement of Medical School.  This process must be initiated through your local police service.
  • Police forces may use slightly different language to describe the various levels of Records Checks available. Please be sure that the check you undergo includes at least a check of local records, as well as the RCMP’s CPIC, and the register of pardoned sexual offences (vulnerable sector screening).  This high level of check is the one required by volunteer and other agencies who serve children and other vulnerable populations.  As these checks can take several weeks, we recommend that you begin the process as soon as possible to ensure compliance with our deadline.
  • The majority of students will have checks resulting in a “clear” report, indicating that no police record was found. A very few students may receive a “not clear” report. There are many circumstances that could lead to this finding, and each such case will be considered individually. The School of Medicine reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission or cancel registration based on a review of this Report.
  • If you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence for which you have not received a pardon, you are strongly urged to consult with your provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons, as medical graduates with criminal records may not be eligible to receive licensure to practice medicine.

8. Submit completed AFMC Immunization and Testing Form 

Submit as PDF, with title "Last Name_First Name_Meds26 AFMC"

(MD/PhD & MD/Master’s candidates: this is required the year that you enter the MD component of your combined program.)

Form must be fully completed by your health care provider. Queen’s students are required to provide a recent serology report for Hepatitis C and HIV testing on admission to medical school. This requirement will be updated again prior to clerkship.

NOTE: The length of time this process can take to acquire all necessary vaccinations, follow up, testing and documentation is often greatly underestimated. Please review the Communicable Diseases Protocol

 If you have an immunization related inquiry, please email Queen's Learner Wellness learnerwellness@queensu.ca

If applicable, they will submit the inquiry to the Occupational Health Nurse for an appropriate response. Please allow 2-5 business days

9. Submit Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Completed Vaccination

Submit as PDF, with title "Last Name_First Name_Meds26 COVID IMMUNIZATION"

(MD/PhD & MD/Master’s candidates: this is required the year that you enter the MD component of your combined program.)

Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is required for clinical teaching activities and clinical placements. Medical learners should follow NACI recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Medical learners who choose not to have COVID-19 vaccination should be notified that university and hospital policies may preclude them from clinical teaching and/or clinical placements that are curricular requirements.

You are responsible to receive the vaccine at your earliest convenience and when available, providing confirmation

If you have an immunization related inquiry, please email Queen's Learner Wellness learnerwellness@queensu.ca

10. Ability to meet the standards for entry in the medical degree program as stated in the document "Essential Skills and Abilities Required for Entry to a Medical Degree Program"

Offers of admission may be rescinded if the selected candidate fails to meet any admission requirement or any one of the conditions of their offer.

Deferred Registration

Requests for deferred registration will be considered by the Admissions Committee from highly qualified students wishing to complete the requirements for their undergraduate or graduate degree before enrolling in the School of Medicine.

Requests for deferral are limited and will be considered as they are received and must be received within 7 days of acceptance of your offer to be considered. Acceptance of your offer requires you to accept on OMSAS, accept on SOLUS and pay your deposit. Normally, deferred registration will be granted for one year. Deferral requests after June 30, prior to the commencement of medical school will generally not be accepted.

A request for deferral letter must be emailed directly to the Queen’s School of Medicine Admissions Office.

Please review policy AD-05 v3

Queen’s University Accelerated Route to Medical School (QuARMS)

The entire QuARMS section will be reviewed and updated in the Fall 2022 for the 2022-23 Admissions Cycle. There will be changes to the application process.

QuARMS is the only pathway of its type in Canada.

QuARMS is a unique program allowing graduating high school students to apply to Queen's Medical School after only two years of undergraduate study at Queen's without taking the MCAT. This pathway is the only one of its kind in Canada. Open exclusively to Black-identified and Indigenous students.

Candidates for the QuARMS pathway must meet the following criteria:

Be a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Canada

AND

Identify as:

Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, or a multi-racial person who has and identifies with their Black ancestry

and/or

Indigenous

AND

Applicants must meet the academic requirements of the eligible programs to which they are applying (see "How to Apply" for more information)

AND

Applicants must be currently in high school and must be enrolled in the final year of high school when they apply. Students residing in Quebec must be in their 1st year of CEGEP to be eligible to apply

*Please note: Applicants who have taken any University or College credits that are not counted towards the completion of their High School diploma, are not eligible to apply to this pathway.

Candidates for the QuARMS pathway may also demonstrate the following qualities:

exceptional leadership qualities

curious by nature

diverse academic interests

commitment to service

proven academic ability

critical and creative thinking

ability to relate to people

maturity and integrity

humility, altruism, and humanitarianism

Admission procedures are reviewed annually and requirements from previous years may not apply. Queen’s University reserves the right to change admission requirements at any time, without notice. Submission deadlines are final, and the instructions provided and must be followed for your application to be considered. When you submit an application to the QuARMS, you accept the current admission policies and procedures, as well as the methods by which the applicants are selected.

In order to be considered for the QuARMS pathway, applicants must:

1. Meet the criteria

2. Apply to Queen’s through the Ontario Universities’ Applications Centre (OUAC) and submit a complete application to one, or more, of the following Queen’s University undergraduate programs:

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - QA

Bachelor of Science (Honours) - QS

Bachelor of Computing Science (Honours) - QD

Bachelor of Life Sciences (Honours) - QL

Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) – QH

3. Applicants MUST indicate their interest in the  “QuARMS Pathway” by submitting the appropriate form. (This process is being updated for this cycle and further instructions on how and where to do this component will be posted on our website in the Fall 2022). Applicants must also meet the admission requirements for the undergraduate program to which they apply.

4. Applicants must submit their most up-to-date transcript by the QuARMS application deadline including their course enrollment for the current academic year. Please take into consideration processing time when submitting. Late transcript submissions are not guaranteed to be accepted.

5. Selected applicants will be required to complete a supplemental application and interview (if invited).

Please note that our communication with QuARMS applicants is done through email. It is the applicant’s responsibility to monitor their email and all associated email folders (inbox, spam, junk, etc.) during the application process. Any invitations that are not answered by our stipulated deadline for each piece of the application will be considered declined. (no exceptions)

If accepted into the QuARMS Pathway:

1. Successfully complete two years of undergraduate study including all QuARMS activities.

2. Apply for a seat in the School of Medicine at Queen’s. Admissions to QuARMS does not guarantee admission to the School of Medicine. If you are not accepted or choose not to apply, then you may remain a student in your undergraduate program.

*Please note that due to the competitiveness of the QuARMS pathway, meeting the admissions requirements for the applicable undergraduate program does not guarantee admission into the QuARMS pathway. If you are unsuccessful in the QuARMS Pathway, you remain eligible for the Undergraduate program you applied to.

Indigenous students applying to QuARMS:

Indigenous applicants will need to submit one of the following documents (proof of Indigenous ancestry): Indian status cards from First Nations who are federally recognized and those listed on the Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada website;

Non-Status First Nations applicants may provide their parents and/or grandparents Indian status card & the applicant's long form birth certificate or baptismal certificate;

A membership card indicating that they are a Non-Status First Nations who are currently in a court case (example: Algonquin);

Métis citizenship from organizations that are members of the Métis National Council;

Nunavut Trust Certificate card or Inuit roll number

For assistance with the Indigenous Access Policy, please contact the Indigenous Recruitment & Access Coordinator at the Faculty of Health Sciences: healthsci.indigenous@queensu.ca OR the Indigenous Recruitment Coordinator at the Faculty of Arts & Science: fd.recruiter@queensu.ca

Offers

All applicants will receive an email regarding the status of their application to the email that was supplied with their OUAC application. 

 Applicants who were invited to panel interviews; will receive the results of their application in towards the end of April.

Offers will be delivered on a rolling bases until the class has been filled. Information on an applicant’s waitlist position or any further information relative to our wait list process will not be provided. Once the class has been filled, an email will be sent to applicants remaining on the waitlist.

 It is the responsibility of the applicant to monitor their email and all associated email folders during the application process. This includes ensuring that email inboxes are able to receive incoming mail. Applicants who receive an offer must respond by the deadline stipulated in the email. Any offers not answered by the deadline, will be set to declined.

 All offers of QuARMS admission are conditional upon the following:

1. Accept offer to both the QuARMS pathway and the Undergraduate Program that you have been offered.

2. Successfully complete current academic year and maintain an academic standing that is acceptable to the Admissions Committee.

3. Evidence of Canadian citizenship, a copy of your Canadian passport, birth certificate or certificate of Canadian citizenship, or proof of Canadian permanent residency.  A Social Insurance Number does not fulfill this requirement. (Please ensure the document is legible for print)

4. Submit Vulnerable Persons Police Sector Check at the candidate’s expense.

 Information Regarding Police Records Check Policy:

· All students who accept an offer of admission into a Medical, Residency, Nursing or Rehabilitation Therapy program will provide evidence of a Police Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening, conducted at their expense, before they will be permitted to register in the program.

· An applicant or student who submits false, misleading, or incomplete information about a criminal charge or criminal record may be subject to sanction by the School of Medicine and/or the University.

 If you are under the age of 18 by the submission deadline, then you are required to complete and submit a Criminal Record of Disclosure form by the deadline instead.

Offers of admission may be rescinded if the selected candidate fails to meet any admission requirement or any one of the conditions of their offer.