Explore

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

Visit the College of Medicine's website for detailed admissions information.

SASKATCHEWAN RESIDENTS

Academic performance for Saskatchewan residents is based on the applicant's two best full undergraduate years of study given that performance has been reasonably consistent or has improved and that the Prerequisite/MCAT requirement has been met.

Prerequisite requirement or MCAT requirement. One of two options must be met.

• EITHER Minimum average of 78% in required pre-requisite courses with no individual grade in a prerequisite below 60%.
  • Biology 120 and either Biology 121 or BIOL/BMSC 224
  • Chemistry 112 and 250
  • Physics 115 and 117
  • English 110 or any two of 111, 112, 113, 114
  • 6 credit units of Social Science/Humanities
  • Biomedical Science 200 and 230
• OR an MCAT accumulated score of 26 in the Biological Science, Physical Science, and Verbal Reasoning Sections (with no section below 8) and N in the Writing Sample Section. Note: An MCAT is required from any student who completed their pre-requisite courses outside of University of Saskatchewan or University of Regina

Two full years of undergraduate study (60 credit units) within two standard academic years (September - April) with a minimum average of 78% in the two year average for Saskatchewan residents, and 80% in the two year average for out-of-province residents.

OUT-OF-PROVINCE RESIDENTS

Academic performance for Out-of-Province residents will be based on the MCAT Verbal Reasoning + Physical Sciences + Biological Sciences total score along with a required minimum GPA of 83% over all course work (leading towards a four year degree) that is completed prior to application. Remaining courses completed for the degree after the date of application must minimally average 83%, as well.

• MCAT Requirement. All Out-of-Province applicants must complete the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) prior to application. Scores on the Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences sections must total a minimum of 30 (no score less than 8 on any section), and a minimum writing score of N. Selection of applicants invited to interview will be based on the MCAT Verbal Reasoning + Physical Sciences + Biological Sciences total score (MCAT Sum), with the Verbal Reasoning score being used to break ties. Scores must be obtained in one sitting prior to the application deadline and current within the last 5 years (earliest accepted scores for 2013 entry are 2008). The maximum number of times an applicant may take the MCAT is 5 times (additional sittings will not be accepted unless preapproved in writing by the Admissions Office, College of Medicine). While prerequisites are not mandatory for students applying under the “MCAT” requirement, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete equivalent/similar courses (particularly the biochemistry courses) to ensure readiness for the basic sciences covered in the first two years of the undergraduate medical curriculum. Registration for the MCAT is online at www.aamc.org/mcat.

  Note: The MCAT requirement will be waived for out-of-province applicants that will have completed all of the prerequisite requirements at the U of S/U of R by April 30th, 2013. This exception to the MCAT requirement is for the current application cycle (deadline October 31, 2012) for entry into Medicine the Fall of 2013 ONLY. Future applications will require the MCAT by ALL out-of-province applicants.

• Degree Requirement. Application by out-of-province applicants can be made only during or after the final year of a four year degree. If a four year degree is completed prior to application, course-work for the degree must have been completed within a 48 month period. If applicants are in the final year of a four year degree, a minimum of 90 credit units must have been completed in the 36 months prior to the end of August immediately before application. All courses completed towards the four year degree at the date of application will be used for calculation of the grade-point-average (GPA). The minimum GPA required for application will be 83.0%. The four year degree must be completed by the time study of medicine starts. All remaining courses completed for the degree after the date of application must minimally average 83.0%

• Weighting
  The weighting of academic performance to personal qualities (College of Medicine Multiple Mini Interview - MMI) for Saskatchewan residents is 35:65. Out-of-province applicants invited for an interview will be ranked for admission based 100% on the applicant’s performance in the MMI.
• References
  Three references are required. Reference forms will be released at the time of interview offers. References are not scored; they are used on a rule in/rule out basis.
• Criminal Record Check
  All applicants offered admission will be required to submit a criminal record check, including vulnerable sector screening to the College of Medicine by August 15 of the year of entry.
• Standard First Aid Certificate
  Students accepted into the College of Medicine must provide a copy of a valid Standard First Aid Certificate and proof of certification in CPR for Health Care Providers Level C prior to starting medicine classes in August.

90% of first year positions are reserved for Saskatchewan residents. To increase the number of Aboriginal physicians, 10% of first year positions are available for qualified, self-identified First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students through the Aboriginal Equity Program (Note: these seats are included in the 90% allocated Saskatchewan positions).

Saskatchewan Residents

• Applicants must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants and have lived in Canada for at least three years prior to September 1 of the year in which admission is being sought. Applicants normally must have resided in Saskatchewan for three years directly preceding September 1 of the year in which admission is being sought. However, applicants who have left the province, but have previously lived in Saskatchewan for an accumulated period of 15 years (permanent residency) will be treated as residents.
• Applicants who have previously lived in Saskatchewan for an accumulated period of less than 15 years, and do not qualify under the three year condition, will receive credit of one year toward the three-year requirement for every five years residency in the province.
• Applicants who meet the same criteria based on residency in Yukon, Northwest, or Nunavut territory can apply as a Saskatchewan resident. An exception to the three-year ruling may be made for members of the Armed Forces of Canada or RCMP, or for an applicant whose spouse, parent, or guardian is a member of the Armed Forces of Canada or RCMP, who has moved to Saskatchewan due to being reassigned. In these cases, the applicant must have resided in Saskatchewan for at least 12 consecutive months directly preceding September 1 of the year of application and obtained written approval to waive the 3-year requirement.
• Individuals who have been in three years of full time study at the University of Saskatchewan or University of Regina directly preceding the date of entry being sought are considered to be Saskatchewan residents.

Canadian Out of Province Residents

Up to 10% of positions may be offered to out of province applicants. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and have lived in Canada for at least three years prior to September 1 of the year in which admission is being sought.

Aboriginal Equity Access Program

Ten percent (10%) of first-year spaces are reserved for persons of Canadian Aboriginal descent (with a preference for applicants meeting the Saskatchewan residency requirement and a maximum of five equity seats open to out-of-province applicants of Aboriginal descent accepted through the equity seats each year).

Note: Applicants of Aboriginal ancestry are first considered within the Saskatchewan pool, and if not competitive, then within the equity pool. Applicants applying through the Aboriginal Equity Access Program will have the option of either completing the prerequisite requirement or presenting the MCAT.

Special Case Category

• The Admissions Committee will consider special case entrants submitting requests in writing.
• Note: Advice on the suitability of special case requests should be obtained from the Admission’s Office prior to submission. An example would be a single parent whose family responsibilities prevent them from attending university full time or a student involved on a university sports team with a significant time commitment (training, games/competitions, and travel) making it difficult to take a full course load.
• Special case requests should be made prior to each academic year, and previous requests will be taken into consideration when reviewing subsequent requests.

Admission with Advanced Standing

All applicants must follow the complete admissions process. After being accepted into the first year class, formal application may then be made to the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee for any advanced standing, or individual class exemptions.

2012-2013 Medicine Entry Admission Statistics

Quota: 100

Total Applicants: 937
445 (SK)
492 (non-SK)

Admission Averages
81.65 to 96.1%

Gender Admitted
Females: 57
Males: 43

Years of University
2 years: 22
3 years: 28
4 years: 22
5 years: 17
+5 years: 11

Age Range: 19-31

• The diverse research areas of our faculty include biomedical imaging using synchrotron technology; cardiovascular research; cancer and cell cycle regulation; developmental biology; diabetes and other metabolic disorders; immunology; infectious diseases; neurosciences; and structural biology. Our research projects often involve collaborations with clinical scientists.
• The College of Medicine offers a number of health-care training programs that lead to both undergraduate and post-graduate certification in medical health care.
• Graduates from the College are recognized across the country for their success in licensing exams and are well-respected by post-graduate specialty training programs.
• The College has adopted a distributed model of medical education. In addition to the main campus at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, there are satellite campuses located in Regina and Prince Albert.
• Since the College of Medicine is one of Canada’s smallest medical schools, you will get to know everyone in your class, as well as develop strong relationships with physicians, faculty and staff.
• We have many diverse student groups. There is sure to be one that interests you! Some examples include:
  • Aboriginal and Rural Remote Health Interest Group
  • Health Sciences Camp
  • Living Well: Physician Wellness Initiative
  • Equity, Diversity and Gender Group

• MED 204: Professional Skills II
• Through direct student/patient interaction and small group tutorials, stresses the refinement of basic clinical skills, the physician/patient relationship, and will introduce diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
• MED 302: Systemic Pathology
  Study of the pathogenic mechanisms and pathology involved in clinical disease processes as applied to patient management.
• MED 404: Family Medicine
  Clerkship students will participate in a six-week primary outpatient-based experience. The students will do two weeks in one of the Family Medicine Teaching Units or an urban practice and four weeks in a rural or remote location. The four principles of Family Medicine will be stressed. The Family Medicine clerkship will provide exposure to the full spectrum of early undifferentiated health problems commonly encountered in the community setting. Clerkship students will also have a two-week rotation in an Emergency Department.

The physician graduating from the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan will possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes basic to all physicians such that he/she may satisfactorily proceed to further training in any area of the profession.

The primary objective is that the physician be able to identify, analyze and manage clinical problems in a way that provides effective, efficient and humane patient care.

The physician graduating from the Faculty will have had an opportunity to pursue an area of interest during the undergraduate training period.