Academic Calendar 2025-2026

Admission Policies, Procedures and Offers

Admission Policies and Procedures

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

It is your responsibility to ensure that OMSAS receives all the required application components by the specified deadlines for your application to be considered. 

Casper assessment results must also be submitted by our program’s Casper submission deadline, as listed on the Acuity Insights website.

Late submissions will not be considered. Addendums, supplemental materials or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications are not carried over from previous cycles. Applicants who have previously applied must re-submit all application requirements each cycle to be considered. If application issues are not resolved before our selection process begins, it will not be possible to insert the file into our process. 

Due to the nature of our admission process, deadlines are strictly enforced. No exceptions.

Selection Process

The Qualified Applicant Randomization Selection (QARS) Process

For the 2025-2026 application cycle, applicants who meet the following criteria will be considered for random selection to the MMI:

  • Minimum GPA threshold: 3.0
  • Minimum MCAT Threshold:
    • Total Score: 500
    • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems: 125
    • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems: 125
    • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour: 125
    • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills: 125
  • Casper threshold is determined annually and is not disclosed.
  • Applications must be complete and submitted by the specified OMSAS deadlines.

The University will determine the number of MMI spaces available. There is no weighting applied to the threshold criteria for the QARS selection. You will be considered for admission only if you are selected for an MMI.

QARS for the Socioeconomic Accountability Admissions Pathway (SAAP)

Applicants who meet the minimum thresholds for GPA, MCAT and Casper, and do not get an MMI offer in the QARS process but are deemed eligible for the fee waiver program, will be entered into a second randomization selection process for the 8% of MMI seats reserved for SAAP applicants for the MD and MDFM programs. This applies to all applicable pathways.

The University may determine the number of interview spaces available and may adjust these at any point in the process. If you qualify for the OMSAS fee waiver and are entered into the SAAP process, you will be considered for admission only if you are selected for an interview.

QARS for the Combined MD/PhD or MD/MSc Program

Applicants must meet the criteria of the Graduate Study program and the minimum threshold for the MD program for GPA, MCAT and Casper.

These applicants will not be subject to a random selection process. The results of the Graduate Study assessment will be used to determine the candidates selected for MMI.

Applicants are only entered into QARS if they meet the MD program thresholds but do not meet the Graduate Study requirements for interview. 

QARS for the Indigenous Student Admissions Pathway (ISAP)

Applicants must meet minimum thresholds for GPA and MCAT as indicated under ISAP. If there are more applicants than available MMI spots for the ISAP, all eligible ISAP applicants will be entered into a random selection process to determine eligibility to proceed to MMI.

You will be considered for admission only if you are selected for an interview. 

QARS For the Black Student Admissions Pathway (BSAP)

Applicants must meet minimum thresholds for GPA, MCAT and Casper. There are no set MMI or Panel seats for this stream.

All applicants to the BSAP will be entered into QARS for either the Kingston campus or the Durham campus, according to whichever program is selected by the applicant. 

QARS for the Medical Military Training Program (MMTP) Pathway

Applicants must meet minimum GPA, MCAT and Casper thresholds. If there are more applicants than available MMI spots for the MMTP program, all MMTP applicants will be entered into a random selection process to determine eligibility to proceed to MMI.

You will be considered for admission only if you are selected for an interview.

Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)

The goal of using the MMI is to assess the non-cognitive qualities of an applicant more effectively, which could include empathy, critical thinking, ethical decision making and communication skills. 

All interviews will be conducted virtually for the 2025-2026 admission cycle.

If you have been invited for an interview and require accommodation, you must email Queen’s Accessibility Services at the time you accept your interview.

File Review

An initial file review will occur for all applicants to determine eligibility. A further detailed file review, including any supplemental information for various streams or pathways, will take place during the panel interview phase.

Panel Interview

A select number of applicants who complete the MMI will then be invited for a panel interview. 

Policies

Communication Protocol

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 can receive incoming mail. We are not responsible for any correspondence that is not answered by the stipulated deadlines.

Applicants, prospective applicants or other individuals with inquiries about our program are expected to conduct themselves throughout their interaction with our office and/or the application process in a manner that is respectful to the community, our faculty and our staff.

Admission With Advanced Standing

Due to the unique structure of the medical curriculum, you will not be considered for admission with advanced standing in any MD courses.

All applicants must complete the application process, and all students must complete each component of the program curriculum to be eligible to receive an MD degree. 

Applicants Currently or Previously Registered in a Canadian Medical School 

Applicants will be deemed ineligible for admission into the Queen’s School of Medicine program if they: 

  • are a current student, past student or graduate of an undergraduate medical education program at a Canadian medical school and/or 
  • have been required to withdraw from an MD program (to be assessed on a case‐by‐case basis). 

Graduate Applicants

Applicants currently in a graduate program will be required to meet the same minimum thresholds as undergraduate applicants.

Graduate students, as deemed by our Graduate Applicant Policy, who receive a conditional offer of admission must complete all graduate requirements by August 1 of the year of admission.

Review our Graduate Applicant Policy on our Committees & Policies page to determine if you are considered a graduate applicant for your application. 

False Application Information

If it is discovered that any application information is false or misleading, concealed or withheld, the application will be disqualified, or, if discovered after an offer of admission has been sent, that offer will be withdrawn.

If falsified information is discovered after you are admitted into the MD program, you will be required to withdraw.

Queen’s School of Medicine may, at its discretion, refuse to accept future applications to the MD program from a candidate who has submitted a false, misleading or fraudulent application in the past.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use is Not Permitted in Admissions

Using generative AI writing tools, such as but not limited to ChatGPT, to obtain responses is not permitted at any stage of assessment for Queen’s MD Program Admissions, as components of the application are intended to be reflective.

As per the Office of the Provost and Vice Principal (Academic): “This type of use of Artificial Intelligence would constitute a departure from academic integrity as it involves a misrepresentation of an applicant’s work and abilities.”

“Original work, completed wholly by you” is expected to be submitted in your application and within any component of admission, as application components are reflective.

If it is discovered that any AI writing tools or equivalent have been used for any component of an application or at any point during the admission process, the application will be disqualified. If it is discovered after an offer of admission has been sent, that offer will be withdrawn.

If these circumstances are discovered after you are admitted into the MD program, you will be required to withdraw from the program.

Queen’s School of Medicine may, at its discretion, refuse to accept future applications to the MD program from a candidate who has submitted a false, misleading, or fraudulent application in the past.

Information for Successful Applicants

Offers of Admission

Queen’s School of Medicine coordinates the first round of offers with all Ontario medical schools. Therefore, applicants who are invited to panel interviews will receive an email indicating their status in May. MD/PhD and MD/Master’s emails are typically sent in March and MMTP emails are typically sent in April.

All offers are conditional based on the candidate fulfilling the offer requirements by the stipulated deadlines. Further information will be included in the offer letter. 

Upon accepting your offer, conditions will include:

  • Paying the deposit
  • Maintaining an academic standing that is acceptable to the Admissions Committee
  • Completing the required credits
  • Providing an official transcript
  • Submitting a graduate completion letter (if applicable)
  • Providing evidence of citizenship
  • Providing a Police Records Check
  • Submitting immunization screening forms
  • Meeting the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada standards for entry into the medical degree program, as stated in the Essential Skills and Abilities Required for Entry to a Medical Degree Program