Admissions

students having discussion around the table

You may apply for admission into the MD/PhD Program at the same time as your MD application, or during your first year of University of Toronto (U of T) medical school. You do not need to apply to a graduate program until after you have been admitted.

There are three categories of applicants to the MD/PhD Program:

Undergraduate students

A four-year undergraduate degree is required for all applicants to the MD/PhD Program. You may apply to the MD/PhD Program if you are entering your final year of a 4-year undergraduate degree. Review and follow the instructions for the MD application process. You must indicate your application for the combined MD/PhD Program by checking off the appropriate box on the OMSAS application form.

You must also submit the following additional materials prior to the application deadline:

We have a helpful tips and examples document to help you write an Academic CV that highlights your skills for our reviewers. We hope you find it useful.

Graduate students

Graduate students in their final year of a Master’s program are eligible to apply to the MD/PhD Program, or students who have completed their masters program. Review and follow the instructions for the MD application process. You must indicate your application for the combined MD/PhD Program by checking off the appropriate box on the OMSAS application form.

You must also submit the following additional materials prior to the application deadline:

1 personal essay
3 references for the MD/PhD Program, including one from your graduate supervisor
Academic Curriculum Vitae

We have a helpful tips and examples document to help you write an Academic CV that highlights your skills for our reviewers. We hope you find it useful.

Current MD Program student applicants

Students currently enrolled in their first or second year of the MD Program at the University of Toronto may apply to the MD/PhD Program. You must complete the current MD student application.

To apply, please submit the following materials to the MD/PhD Program Office:

Due September 15, 2024, at 11:59pm (ET) via Email:

E-mail addresses of your 3 MD/PhD referees – you must provide the contact information of your referees directly to the MD/PhD programs office. Please provide professional email addresses of your referees (e.g., @sickkids.ca). Upon receipt of this information, the MD/PhD Office will provide a form for your referee to complete.
Ensure that your MD/PhD referees can provide the required information and is available during the application process. We also strongly encourage you to provide your referee’s contact information as soon as possible to give them as much time to complete this reference.
Let your MD/PhD referees know in advance that the MD/PhD Office will email them to complete a reference form

Due October 4, 2024, at 11:59pm (ET) via Email:

You must submit all of the required materials by the above deadline. Applications received after this date will not be reviewed.

Due October 4, 2024, at 11:59pm (ET) via Qualtrics:

3 MD/PhD references

Your referees must submit the required form by the above deadline. References (and therefore applications) received after this date will not be reviewed.

How to Structure your CV

We have a helpful tips and examples document to help you write an Academic CV that highlights your skills for our reviewers. We hope you find it useful.

Learn more about our MD/PhD Program in this video:

The MD/PhD Program is committed to the principles of equity and diversity and we recognize the importance of having a clinician scientist community that reflects the diversity of Canadian society. The admission requirements for all MD and MD/PhD students are identical in Grade Point Average (GPA) and Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores. What differs for those applying through the Black or Indigenous students admissions programs is the requirement to submit a personal essay and to have representation from Black or Indigenous health leadership in MD admissions file review and interviewing during the MD application process. There are no fixed seats or quotas.

Black Student Application Program (BSAP)

The Black Student Application Program (BSAP) is an optional application program for Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents who self-identify as Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, multi-racial applicants who have and identify with their Black ancestry, etc. Applicants may apply to the MD/PhD Program and the Black Student Application Program simultaneously - you simply check both boxes on the OMSAS application.

Indigenous Student Application Program (ISAP)

The goal of the Indigenous Student Application Program (ISAP) is to increase the number of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) medical students at the University of Toronto (U of T). Students interested in the optional application stream will have to opportunity speak to their personal connection to their Indigenous community as part of the MD application materials. Students may apply to the MD/PhD Program and the Indigenous Student Application Program simultaneously - you simply check both boxes on the OMSAS application.

Statistics

Each year, approximately 8 positions are available for admission to the program. In a typical year, students with offers include:

60% have undergraduate degrees prior to applying (vs. 40% with graduate degrees)
60% are male and 40% female
40% are previous U of T students
90% are from other Canadian universities
10% have attended university outside of Canada