Special Admissions Pathways

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In keeping with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' Diversity statement, we seek to increase the diversity of our incoming classes because it is through a diverse Faculty constituency that we are best able to serve our communities and society in scholarship, research, and clinical care. Our class aims to reflect the community around us, and populations that have historically been underrepresented in the medical profession, belonging to under-represented ethnic, cultural, racial groups, sexual minorities, and from all socio-economic backgrounds.

Quebec First Nations and Inuit Faculties of Medicine Program

The Quebec First Nations and Inuit Faculties of Medicine Program (Programme des facultés de médecine pour les Premières Nations et Inuits au Québec; PFMPNIQ) was established in 2008. Under this program, twelve positions for medical training in any of the four Quebec faculties of medicine are available for eligible applicants. Eligibility requirements:

  1. Admissions Criteria
    1. The applicant must be a resident of Quebec and a member of the First Nations or Inuit, under the Indian Act (RSC, C1-5) or in the Inuit registry.
    2. The applicant must have a minimum R Score of 28 (if applying to the Med-P Qualifying Year) or equivalent university CGPA (approximately 3,2/4.0) to apply to the M.D.,C.M. and/or the M.D.,C.M. & Ph.D. program.
    3. The applicant must meet the educational and basic science requirements, and submit all other supporting documents listed, including proof of French language proficiency and the Casper test.
       

      Note: Applicants are invited to contact the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office to learn about options for support or accommodations in meeting the language proficiency requirement.

The twelve spots are available for all of Quebec's faculties of medicine—Université Laval, Université de Montréal, McGill University, and Université de Sherbrooke. The choice of university is based on the candidate's preference and the available spots in the faculties.

  1. Selection Process

    Applicants with First Nations or Inuit status may choose to declare their status. If they declare and confirm their status as a member of the First Nations or Inuit of Quebec on the online application system, they will be considered as part of the regular Quebec contingent (evaluation of application according to the regular selection process for this contingent) as well as part of the First Nations and Inuit contingent. It is thus possible for a candidate's application to be processed for both contingents in parallel. Applicants who elect not to declare their First Nations or Inuit status will be considered in the regular Quebec contingent.

    The top ranked candidates are invited to interviews. Candidates invited to the individual interview and applying for consideration in the (PFMPNIQ) pathway are evaluated by Indigenous First Nation, Inuit, and professional members of the medical and university communities.

    Candidates in this category with a university degree or whose degree will be conferred by July 31 can apply for the M.D.,C.M. program. The M.D.,C.M. Admissions Committee may require a preparatory year as a condition of admission. Candidates in this category who have not started university-level studies must apply for the Med-P Qualifying Year. A bachelor's degree is required for application to the joint M.D.,C.M. & Ph.D. program.

2. Final Selection (PFMPNIQ)
Candidates will have an individual interview weighted at 50% and the Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMIs) weighted at 50%. Offers of admission are based on the combined results of the individual and the MMIs, within the M.D.,C.M. or the Med-P cohorts.


3. Support
Candidates who choose to apply through the Indigenous Candidate Pathway, must confirm their First nationals or Inuit of Quebec status with the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission program coordinator at:  louise.tanguay@cssspnql.com.  More information is available at jedeviensmedecin.com.

Canadian Indigenous Pathway

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences welcomes applications from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis applicants. We encourage candidates to self-identify on their application and to contact the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office if they have any questions about our programs or processes. The Canadian Indigenous Pathway for M.D.,C.M. is open to Canadian First Nations, Inuit, or Métis University-level applicants who are not residents of Quebec. This pathway aims to attribute two of the eleven out-of-province Canadian seats in the four-year M.D.,C.M. program to a selected eligible candidate.

  1. Admissions Criteria
    1. The applicant must be a Canadian (non-Quebec) resident, member of First Nations, Inuit or Métis National council-recognized nation, and must submit documentation of formal Indigenous status.
    2. The applicant must be applying to the M.D.,C.M. and/or M.D.,C.M. & Ph.D. program.
    3. The applicant must have a GPA of 3.4 on the 4.0 scale. All eligible candidates will move forward to the next step.
    4. The applicant must meet the educational and basic science requirements, and submit all other supporting documents listed, including proof of French language proficiency and the CASPer test.

      Note: Applicants are invited to contact the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office to learn about options for support or accommodations in meeting the language proficiency requirement.

      How to Apply

      Candidates must follow the application process for university-level Canadian residents and indicate in the online application system that they are selecting this pathway. When their application is processed, the personal statement will be added to their online application document checklist, and they must upload it to the Applicant Portal using the Indigenous personal statement template found on the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office website. Candidates are also assessed simultaneously in the general Canadian cohort. Note that Indigenous candidates are not required to self-identify; candidates who prefer not to select this pathway will be assessed in the general Canadian cohort.

      Required Identification

      Candidates must upload one of the following valid documents to the online application system as proof of citizenship or residency: Federal Certificate of Indian Status card, Confirmation of recognition by an Inuit Land claim organization (card or official letter), Membership card recognized by the Métis National Council or the Manitoba Métis Federation.
  2. Selection Process

    Holistic Review: The Indigenous admissions advisory committee then ranks candidates based on a holistic review of the file which includes standardized CV, personal statement, CASPer, and basic science prerequisites. The top ranked candidates are invited to interviews. The Indigenous admissions advisory committee can include the following membership categories: Indigenous Faculty member(s), Indigenous upper-year medical students or residents, an Indigenous Elder, and other faculty members or McGill community members with experience in Indigenous health education, teaching or other relevant fields.

    Candidates in this pathway are also considered for the general Canadian cohort seats simultaneously; Indigenous students admitted in the general cohort.
  3. Final Selection

    Candidates will complete both Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMIs) and an Individual Interview with Indigenous admissions advisory committee members. For candidates recommended by the Indigenous advisory committee, offers will be made based on the performance in the MMIs within the Canadian Indigenous M.D.,C.M. cohort.

    Support

    The Indigenous Health Professions Program in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences facilitates Outreach visits and programs for youth and supports prospective Indigenous applicants to all health professions programs at McGill. Contact the Indigenous Health Professions Program at mcgill.ca/indig-health for information about their services and events!

    The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences offers an Indigenous Health Curriculum to all Medical students, which includes required and elective teaching and clinical opportunities focused on Indigenous healthcare topics. Clinical rotations in Indigenous communities are available for interested students.

    Candidates are invited to learn about McGill's First Peoples' House mcgill.ca/fph—a home away from home on campus.

Rural and Small Populations Pathway (RSPP)

Quebec-resident university-level applicants who attended public secondary school in rural or small-town areas of Quebec may choose to apply in the Rural and Small Populations Pathway. This pathway reserves two to seven seats in the four-year M.D.,C.M. program for selected eligible candidates.

  1. Admissions Criteria
    1. The applicant must be a resident of Quebec and applying to the M.D.,C.M. and/or M.D.,C.M. & Ph.D. program.
    2. The applicant should have a CGPA of 3.5 or above to be considered within the competitive range.
    3. The applicant completed the majority of secondary school (3 of 5 years) in a public secondary school located in an area of Quebec classified as a rural or small population centre by Statistics Canada.  The High School transcripts, report card or letter of attestation will be verified for eligibility purposes.

      Note: Review the population centres here on Statistics Canada's website; they can be sorted by small, medium, and large, and you can click through to open a detailed map. Rural areas of Quebec are any area outside a large, medium, or small population centre. In general, rural areas have a population of <1000, and small population centres have a population of <29,999 people.

      Note: Applicants are invited to contact the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office to learn about options for support or accommodations in meeting the language proficiency requirement.

      How to Apply

      Candidates must indicate they wish to apply to the RSPP in the online application system and provide the requested details about their secondary school studies. Eligibility for this pathway will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office during the file review period and, if eligible, candidates may be asked to upload a copy of their unofficial secondary school transcript, High school report card or letter of attestation. An official transcript will only be required for candidates who receive an RSPP offer of admission.
  2. Selection Process

    All steps of the selection process are the same as for the general Quebec university level, but applicants in the RSPP are assessed against each other. Candidates in this pathway will also be simultaneously assessed in the general Quebec university pool and will receive an offer in that cohort if their ranking permits. This allows the next candidate on the RSPP ranking list to receive an RSPP seat.

3. Final Selection
Selected candidates will be invited to the Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMIs). Offers of admission will be based on the MMI performance within the RSPP or the Quebec Resident M.D.,C.M. cohort.


4. Support
For more information about Diversity at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and details about various initiatives, programs and services for all underrepresented groups, please see the following links:

Indigenous Health Professions Program (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)
Undergraduate Medical Admissions - Special Pathways - Underrepresented Groups
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Initiatives and Resources

For specific questions about admission policies and procedures for the RSPP, please consult the Undergraduate Medical Admissions site.

McGill Black Candidate Pathway

Black Candidate Pathway

This application stream is open to Quebec Resident Med-P (CEGEP-level) and Quebec Resident M.D.,C.M. (university-level) candidates who self-identify as Black. There is no limited number of seats for admission. All candidates who apply through the pathway will be simultaneously considered in the general Quebec cohort and may receive an invitation to interview through either pathway.

  1. Admissions Criteria
    1. The applicant must be a resident of Quebec.
    2. The applicant must meet the academic and non-academic excellence criteria GPA of 3.5 or higher for the (M.D.,C.M. and/or M.D.,C.M. & Ph.D. programs) or R Score of 33.0 or higher for the Med-P Qualifying Year. Casper and CV scores must be comparable to applicants in the Quebec applicant pool.
    3. The applicant must meet the educational and basic science requirements, and submit all other supporting documents listed, including proof of French language proficiency and the CASPer test.
       
      Note: Applicants are invited to contact the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office to learn about options for support or accommodations in meeting the language proficiency requirement.

      Admission involves a holistic assessment approach that takes into account academic and non-academic criteria as well as life experience. Applicants are invited to submit a personal statement that contextualizes their life experience, and Black community members and health professional admissions file reviewers will review each personal statement. This step in the candidate selection process was developed in conjunction with stakeholder input and is aligned with the CanMeds roles and values used for all admissions processes.

      How to Apply

      Candidates must indicate that they wish to be considered in the McGill Black Candidate Pathway on the online application. When their workbook is processed, they will be invited to submit their personal statement through the Applicant Portal.
  2. Selection Process

    Self-identification and participation in this pathway are optional and can in no way negatively impact the admission decision. Therefore, we hope that candidates will choose to self-identify on their McGill application. To be considered for the pathway, candidates must meet eligibility requirements as above and submit the personal statement and all test and document requirements by the deadlines indicated. They must consult the non-academic criteria and the CV instructions to learn more about the competencies that are important for the Medicine program.
  3. Final Selection

    Candidates will proceed to the Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMIs) if they have been endorsed by the file reviewers. Offers of admission will be based on the performance in the MMIs within the Quebec Resident M.D.,C.M. or Med-P cohorts.

    Community of Support

    Candidates looking for support and mentorship during the application process can contact the PDF icon Community of Support Program.  Applicants are encouraged to learn more about the support available.

International Medical Graduates IMG-2 Pathway (with Advanced Standing)

International Medical School Graduates (from a university outside of Canada) who have obtained a recognized medical degree outside of Canada—and are residents of Quebec—are welcome to apply through this pathway. Successful IMG applicants will enter the program at the Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP) component starting in April and will continue into the clerkship and graduate with an M.D.,C.M. degree from McGill. The application deadline is November 1, and the program begins the following April.

  1. Admissions Criteria
    1. The applicant must be a resident of Quebec.
    2. The applicant must have obtained the Recognition of a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the Collège des médecins du Québec by November 1.
    3. The applicant must have completed the MCCQE part 1 exam, and one of the NAC-OSCE exams, or be included on the Canadian Medical Register (LMCC designation); and grant the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office access of their test results via physiciansapply.ca.
    4. The applicant must provide a Medical Student Performance Record together with an academic transcript.
    5. The applicant must provide proof of French language proficiency and/or English language proficiency, if required. Please refer to Health Sciences' Language Requirements.
    6. The applicant must meet the educational and basic science requirements, and submit all other supporting documents listed, including proof of French language proficiency and the CASPer test.
  2. Selection Process

    Applicants who have met the academic and non-academic requirements will receive an invitation to interview if their ranking permits.
  3. Final Selection

    Selected candidates will be invited to the Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMIs). Offers of admission will be based on the performance in the MMIs within the Quebec resident IMG (Advanced Standing) cohort.
     
    Note: The number of positions available is contingent on the attrition from previous years and will vary. There may be years when no positions are available.

    Applicants who do not meet these conditions of eligibility or are seeking alternative options should contact the Collège des médecins du Québec.

International Medical School Graduates IMG-4 Pathway 

International Medical School Graduate applicants (from a university outside of Canada) can be considered for entry into the first year of the program and apply with their medical degree as their basis of admission degree in their residency cohort. This pathway is open to residents of Quebec, other Canadian provinces (non-Quebec), or international residents.

  1. Admission Criteria
    1. Applicants can be Quebec, Canada (non-Quebec), or international residents.
    2. Official transcripts must numerical or letter grades for all course completed. Pre-clinical and clinical performance will be assessed.
    3. Completion of the MCCQE part 1 exam offered by the Medical Council of Canada is required for file assessment (candidates need to have a passing score in the exam in order to move forward to the selection process).
    4. The applicant must meet the educational and basic science requirements, and submit all other supporting documents listed, including proof of French language proficiency and the CASPer test.
  2. Selection Process

    Applicants who have met the academic and non-academic requirements will receive an invitation to interview if their ranking permits. An IMG application to the first year of the program (to complete all four years) is not restricted to residents of Quebec. The number of positions available is contingent on the attrition from previous years and will vary. There may be years when no positions are available.
  3. Final Selection

    Selected candidates will be invited to the Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMIs). Offers of admission will be based on performance in the MMIs within the Quebec, Canadian, and international M.D.,C.M. resident cohorts.
     
    Note: Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who are international medical graduates and residents of Quebec, who have completed the equivalence requirements, and have received a letter of attestation to this effect from the Collège des médecins du Québec should also contact the Postgraduate Medical Education office to inquire about application directly to a residency program (specialization).

For additional information on the applicant categories and requirements, candidates are welcome to contact the Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office.

Undergraduate Medical Admissions Office, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
McGill University
2001 McGill College Avenue, Suite 1310
Montreal QC H3A 1G1
Telephone: 514-398-3517
Fax: 514-398-4631
Email: admissions.med@mcgill.ca
Website: mcgill.ca/medadmissions

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