Navigating Admission to the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Ontario is home to some of the best medical schools in Canada and the world, and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto (U of T) stands out as the oldest medical school in Ontario, founded in 1843. Located in Canada’s largest city and Ontario’s provincial capital, U of T runs a 4-year MD program with 230 yearly spots at the St. George campus. It is crucial for prospective students to understand the admission requirements, application process, and what the admissions committee looks for in candidates. This article provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the admission requirements for the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, helping aspiring medical professionals prepare for a successful application.

Overview of Ontario Medical Schools

Ontario boasts several esteemed medical schools, each with unique programs and requirements. The Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) serves as the primary application portal for these institutions. Recent legislation changes require Ontario medical schools to reserve 95% of seats for Ontario residents and 5% of seats for other Canadians; applicants are now considered international medical students in Canada. Here’s a glimpse of some Ontario medical schools:

The Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University: Offers a 3-year MD program with training 11 months out of the year.
North Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) at North Ontario University: Runs a 4-year MD program with 88 spots. Notably, NOSM and the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine do not require MCAT scores from their medical school applicants.
University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine: Conducts a 4-year MD program with 184 seats each year, roughly 128 English-speaking slots and 56 French-speaking slots.
Queen’s University: Offers a 4-year MD program with up to 140 spots each year. Up to 6 spots are reserved for Canadian Forces Members through the Military Medical Training Program (MMTP) Pathway.
The Temerty Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto: The oldest medical school in Ontario, founded in 1843. University of Toronto is home to Canada’s largest medical research hospital, the SickKids Centre for Learning Health.
Toronto Metropolitan University: This brand new school of medicine will welcome its first cohort of 94 medical students in September 2025. It offers a four-year MD program, and due to its accreditation process, its OMSAS application cycle will be slightly different in 2025. Students will not require the MCAT to apply.

Preparing Your Application

As a pre-medical student, strong organizational skills are essential to prepare your application effectively. Here are some steps to take:

Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) and Personal Essays: Write drafts of your Autobiographical Sketch and personal essays well in advance.
Reference Letters: Request reference letters from potential referees early, even months before the deadline.
MCAT: Take the MCAT in May to have your scores ready and avoid last-minute stress.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Mid-August: Apply for fee reduction to the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada for the Ontario Medical School Application Fee Waiver Program.
Mid-September: OMSAS suggests sending reference letters by mid-September, but sending them earlier is advisable.
Early October: Submit applications by the OMSAS application deadline (academic document, references, payments). There are no exceptions to this rule.
Late October: Send your MCAT scores into OMSAS.

The OMSAS Application

To apply to Ontario medical schools, you must fill out the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS). This includes several key components:

Autobiographical Sketch (ABS)

The Autobiographical Sketch (ABS) allows applicants to share activities and experiences that contributed to their professional and personal growth. This includes:

Employment activities
Volunteer experiences
Extracurricular experiences
Research experiences
Awards and accomplishments

The OMSAS ABS provides AdComs with a more holistic applicant picture than what is possible through transcripts alone, emphasizing extracurricular activities. Applicants can include up to 32 items, and each item requires a "verifier."

Letters of Recommendation

Medical school letters of recommendation are a vital part of the admissions process. For OMSAS, these are called Confidential Assessment Forms (CAFs), and the letter writers are called referees. You need to obtain and submit 3 letters of recommendation:

1 academic- or employment-related reference
1 non-academic reference
1 reference of your choosing

OMSAS recommends sending reference requests to your referees no later than September 15th to ensure timely submission.

Personal Essays for the University of Toronto

The University of Toronto (Temerty Faculty of medicine) requires two personal essays (separate from the Autobiographical Sketch), each limited to 250 words or fewer. The prompts are:

In what way(s) are you a product of the world around you? How has it, or how will it, impact your journey in medicine?
Explore how the following Charlie Munger quote may affect your career in medicine: “We all are learning, modifying, or destroying ideas all the time. Rapid destruction of your ideas when the time is right is one of the most valuable qualities you can acquire.”

The Casper Test

Most OMSAS applicants must complete the Casper test, but Toronto Metropolitan University and Western University do not require it. Casper is a holistic virtual exam designed to test a medical school applicant’s communication and interpersonal skills.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Post-Application

After you apply to Ontario medical schools, admissions committees will start sending out interview invitations. Each applicant must pay an OMSAS application service fee of $220.

University of Toronto MD Program: An Overview

Why Choose the University of Toronto?

Reputation: The University of Toronto consistently earns accolades for its medical programs, often ranking at the top in Canada for Medicine.
Comprehensive Learning Experience: The four-year MD Program offers a transformative learning experience with an evidence-based approach and student-centered learning.
Exceptional Location: Students can choose between the historic St. George campus in downtown Toronto and the modern Mississauga campus, both at the heart of Canada's largest healthcare network.

Tuition Fees

Understanding the tuition fees is essential for financial planning. Here’s a breakdown for the 2023-2024 academic year:

St. George Campus

Fee Type	Ontario Domestic	Non-Ontario Domestic	International
Tuition Fee (Year One)	$23,090	$24,960	$91,760
Incidental + Ancillary Fee	$2,157.17	$2,157.17	$1,791.17
University Health Insurance Premium	-	-	$756
Total Fee Payable (Year One)	$25,247.17	$27,117.17	$94,307.17

Mississauga Campus

Fee Type	Domestic	Non-Ontario Domestic	International
Tuition Fee (Year One)	$23,090	$24,960	$91,760
Incidental + Ancillary Fee	$2,631.46	$2,631.46	$2,631.46
University Health Insurance Premium	-	-	$756
Total Fee Payable (Year One)	$25,721.46	$27,591.46	$95,147.46

Additional first-year student budget items include approximately $1,000 for books and equipment and $17,577 for living expenses.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Temerty Faculty of Medicine provides a transparent breakdown of the annual fees for the MD Program and is committed to financial accessibility. A robust financial aid program is available to assist students.

Students are encouraged to explore federal and provincial student assistance programs, such as the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
The Faculty offers non-repayable grant funding through the Faculty of Medicine Student Grants Program.
MD Admission Bursaries offer $20,000 in the first year and potential additional assistance in subsequent years.
A travel stipend is available for eligible placements in remote community sites.
The Scholars at Risk Award Program supports refugees whose education has been disrupted.

How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide

Review Academic Prerequisites: Ensure you have completed at least three years of undergraduate study (15 full course equivalents) toward a Canadian university bachelor's degree.
Understand Non-Academic Qualifications: Personal essays, autobiographical sketches, and references are essential. Assess your attributes based on the CanMEDS Framework.
Apply Online through OMSAS: Submit your application through the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) online platform by the specified deadline.
Submit All Application Materials: Arrange for the submission of all required documents to OMSAS, including academic transcripts.
Release MCAT Scores: Ensure your Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores are sent to OMSAS.
Review the OMSAS Verification Report: After submission, review the online verification report to ensure completeness.

Admission Requirements in Detail

The academic requirements for the University of Toronto MD Program vary based on your educational background:

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Applicant Type	Degree	Prerequisite Courses	Minimum OMSAS GPA	MCAT Score	Academic Explanations Essay
Undergraduate Applicants	Completion of at least three years of undergraduate study (15 full course equivalents) towards a Canadian university bachelor's degree.	Two FCEs in life sciences and one FCE in a social science, humanities, or language.	3.6	Threshold score of 125 in each section, with an allowance of 124 in one section.	Optional
Graduate Applicants	Completion of Master's or PhD.	Two FCEs in life sciences and one in social science, humanities, or language	3.3	Threshold score of 125 in each section, with an allowance of 124 in one section.	Optional
Internationally Educated Applicants	Completion of a non-medical bachelor's degree equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree in Canada with WES transcript assessment.	See undergraduate or graduate requirements.	See undergraduate or graduate requirements.	See undergraduate or graduate requirements.	See undergraduate or graduate requirements.

Non-Academic Attributes and the CanMEDS Framework

The University of Toronto MD Program evaluates non-academic attributes through personal essays, autobiographical sketches, and references, assessed based on the CanMEDS Framework:

Cluster	Attributes, Activities, and Achievements
Professional	Maturity, reliability, perseverance, and responsibility.
Communicator/Collaborator/Manager	Communication, collaboration, teamwork, time management, and leadership.
Advocate	Advocacy, community service, and social responsibility.
Scholar	Academic standing, achievements in leadership, research, and social responsibility demonstrated by awards, presentations, publications, and scholarships.

What Canadian Medical Schools are Looking For

Canadian medical schools, like their American counterparts, seek students with the personal qualities necessary to care for diverse patient populations. The CanMEDS framework is central to this evaluation, emphasizing roles such as communicators, community collaborators, leaders, health advocates, scholars, and ethical professionals.

Medical schools use metrics like short descriptions of extracurricular activities, the Casper test, and the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) to assess these qualities.

Acing Canadian Medical School Admissions

Check Deadlines: Deadlines vary between universities and regions. The six Ontario medical schools centralize their applications through OMSAS.
GPA Calculation: Each Canadian medical school has its own way of calculating GPA due to varying university grading systems.
Activity Lists/OMSAS Autobiographical Sketch: These lists provide insight into your personal life, so select activities that align with CanMEDS traits and describe them concisely.

University of Toronto: A World-Ranked Institution

The University of Toronto consistently ranks among the world's top universities. According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, the University of Toronto is ranked 21st in the world and 1st among Canadian universities. In the QS World University Rankings 2025, the University of Toronto is ranked 25th in the world, again the highest ranking among Canadian universities.

University of Toronto Campuses

The University of Toronto has three campuses:

Downtown Toronto (St. George)
Mississauga (UTM)
Scarborough (UTSC)

Notable Alumni

The University of Toronto has graduated many globally renowned individuals, including:

Lester B. Pearson
Roberta Bondar
Margaret Atwood
David Cronenberg
Erving Goffman
Rudy Giuliani
Frederick Banting
Marshall McLuhan
Drake

Faculties at the University of Toronto

The University of Toronto offers a wide variety of departments spanning different disciplines. Some of the most popular faculties include:

Engineering
Medicine
Law
Business
Arts and Science

Programs

The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in many different fields, including:

Molecular Biology
Sociology
Psychology
Cinema Studies
Civil Engineering
Design of Architecture, Landscape
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Data Science
Economics
Industrial Engineering
Chemical Engineering
International Relations
Management
Statistics
Electrical Engineering
Engineering Science
Information Security

Admission Requirements and Calendar

The application requirements and timetable for international students vary by faculty and program. In general, international students need to follow these steps:

Academic Documents: Submit a high school diploma or equivalent.
English Proficiency Certificate: Provide results from TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, CAEL, or Duolingo English Test.
Additional Documents: Some programs may require a portfolio, CV, reference letter, motivation letter, or interview.

Application deadlines may vary by program but are typically between January and February.

Tuition Fees (Undergraduate Programs for International Students)

International students pay an average annual tuition fee of 60,000 Canadian Dollars for undergraduate programs.

Accommodation

There are many accommodation options for students at the University of Toronto, including on-campus residence halls, off-campus private residence halls, homestay, or rented accommodation.

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