Doctor of Medicine (MD) — University of Ottawa

SpaceCat Fit Notes

1. CASPer: Used as a significant pre-interview screening factor alongside CGPA and ABS. No MCAT required, so CASPer carries proportionally more weight than at schools that also factor in MCAT scores. Anecdotal reports indicate most English-stream interviewees are 4th quartile CASPer scorers. SpaceCat’s very high CASPer directly addresses one of the three pre-interview components — a genuine advantage.
2. GPA window & upgrading strategy: Most recent 3 years of full-time undergraduate study (5 courses/term), which is more favorable than cumulative. SpaceCat could shift the window by completing 1-2 additional full-time years with strong grades. Prerequisites completed outside the window still count for eligibility but grades are excluded from CGPA. Minimum 3.5 is a hard cutoff; competitive average is ~3.9. Science prerequisites required (biology, organic chemistry, general chemistry, biochemistry, statistics — minimum 3.0 each) could be completed during upgrading years.
3. Experiential / written advantage: The ABS (Autobiographical Sketch) is one of three pre-interview components — top 3 activities per category since age 16. Shelter work maps strongly to empathy, community service, resilience, and crisis management. CAFs (3 references) evaluate empathy and communication. The 40-minute semi-structured panel interview (not MMI) allows SpaceCat to build rapport and showcase interpersonal skills; criteria include empathy/compassion, conflict resolution, communication, and resiliency — all aligned with shelter work. Post-interview, ranking is based primarily on interview score (out of 4) with CGPA as tiebreaker.

4. Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - SpaceCat qualifies as an Ontario resident. Starting Fall 2026, all Ontario medical schools must allocate at least 95% of seats to Ontario residents. Ontario IP criteria: resided in Ontario 12+ consecutive months after age 14, plus either Ont…

5. Overall assessment: Reach — Ottawa is a strong conceptual fit (no MCAT, CASPer-weighted, ABS + panel interview favor experiential strengths), but the 3.5 GPA minimum is a hard cutoff and the competitive average is ~3.9. The regional initiative (~50-70% of seats for Ottawa-area graduates) narrows the pool for non-regional applicants. Science prerequisites are an additional barrier. The 3-year GPA window creates a viable upgrading path: 1-2 years of full-time study to shift CGPA upward while completing prerequisites. If GPA reaches ~3.7+, the combination of very high CASPer + strong ABS + strong interview potential makes Ottawa a meaningful target.

Quick Facts

• Institution: University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine
• Program name: Doctor of Medicine (MD) — Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME)
• Degree granted: MD
• City, Province: Ottawa, Ontario
• Program type: First professional degree (4-year MD)
• Duration: 4 years (pre-clerkship: 64 weeks + clerkship: 2 years)
• Delivery format: In-person
• Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only
• Language of instruction: English (Anglophone stream) or French (Francophone stream) — candidates select their stream at application. First medical school in North America to offer MD in both official languages. Source
• Start date(s): September (Fall entry only)
• Intake frequency: Annual
• Application deadline(s): OMSAS deadline October 1 (4:30 PM ET); references should be requested by September 15; final transcripts due June 30 of admission year. No exceptions to published deadlines. Source | Source
• Application system: OMSAS (Ontario Medical School Application Service) through OUAC. Source
• Application fee: $135 institutional fee (deducted from tuition if admitted) + OMSAS fees. Fee waiver program available (covers up to 3 Ontario schools + $220 OMSAS fee; application window June 27 - August 22, 2025). Source
• Program URL: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-medicine/undergraduate/admissions
• Accredited: Yes — CACMS/AFMC accredited
• Citizenship restriction: Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. International students are not considered. Source

Admission Requirements

GPA

• Minimum GPA: 3.50 on the 4.0 scale (OMSAS GPA scale). Source
• Competitive GPA: Not officially published. Third-party sources estimate the average GPA of admitted students is approximately 3.9-3.96/4.0, with a minimum competitive threshold around 3.85. Source | Source | Source
• GPA calculation window: Most recent 3 years of full-time undergraduate studies (minimum 5 courses per term, fall and winter terms). Individual spring/summer courses within those 3 years are included (unless completed abroad). Years with fewer than 4 courses per term are excluded. Source
• Pass/Fail limit: Maximum one pass/fail graded course per term per academic year. Exceeding this disqualifies that year from the GPA calculation. Source
• Repeated courses: Both the original and repeated grades are included if both fall within the 3-year window. Source
• Graduate coursework: Graduate degree coursework grades are excluded from the CGPA calculation. Source
• Application-year courses: First-semester grades in the admission year are not counted in the initial CGPA but may be considered in final review if the applicant advances. Source
• GPA scale used: OMSAS Undergraduate Grade Conversion Table (4.0 scale). Source

Prerequisites

Minimum prior study: At least 3 years of full-time undergraduate study (5 courses per term). A completed bachelor’s degree is not explicitly required, but 3 full years are mandatory. Source

Prerequisite courses (minimum grade of 3.0/4.0 required in each):

Laboratory requirement: Must have a lab component in 2 science courses OR complete 1 exclusive 6-unit lab course. Virtual labs are NOT accepted for the lab requirement — must be on-site. Source

Online/distance courses: Distance learning is accepted for prerequisite courses, but the lab requirement must be completed on-site. Source

Prerequisites completed outside the 3-year GPA window: Accepted for fulfilling the requirement, but the grades are not counted toward the CGPA. Source

Units definition: 1 unit = 1 credit; 3 units = one-term course; 6 units = full-year course or two term-long courses. Source

AP/IB credit: Minimum score of 4 (AP) or 5 (IB) accepted for science prerequisites only; official transcript required. Source

CEGEP equivalencies (70% minimum required): General Biology I or II = 3 units biology; General Chemistry AND Chemistry of Solutions = 3 units general chemistry; Organic Chemistry I = 3 units organic chemistry. CEGEP-level humanities, biochemistry, and statistics are NOT accepted. Source

Source for all prerequisites | Source

MCAT

Not required. The University of Ottawa does not require completion of the MCAT to apply or to be admitted. This is one of the distinguishing features of the program. Source | Source

CASPer

• Required: Yes — all applicants must complete the CASPer test through the Acuity Insights platform. Source
• Exceptions: CASPer is waived for Indigenous Program and Government of Nunavut pathway applicants. Source
• Language: Must be completed in the language stream selected in the application (English or French). Failure to match results in disqualification. Source
• Validity: Scores are valid for one application cycle only. Source
• How CASPer is used: CASPer is used as a pre-interview screening measure alongside CGPA and ABS. The exact weighting is not publicly disclosed. Anecdotally, “most applicants who receive interviews for the English stream are 4th quartile (4Q) scorers.” CASPer does not appear to carry weight after the interview stage. Source | Source
• Cost: Separate fee paid directly to Acuity Insights (not included in OMSAS fees). Source

Supplementary Requirements

• Autobiographical Sketch (ABS):
• Documents activities since age 16 across categories: employment, volunteer activities, extracurricular activities, awards and accomplishments, research, and other.
• Up to 32 entries total; applicants must identify their top 3 activities in each category (maximum 18 highlighted activities). Source
• Each entry requires: time period, hours per week/month, start and end dates, location, specific title/role, brief responsibility description (point form preferred). Source
• Each entry requires a verifier (not a friend, family member, or co-applicant). Verifiers may be contacted randomly by admissions. Source

• Fraud warning: False or misleading information results in disqualification. Source

• Confidential Assessment Forms (CAFs) — 3 referees required:

• One academic- or employment-related referee
• One non-academic referee
• One referee of the applicant’s choosing
• Family members and co-applicants are excluded. Referees may submit in French or English regardless of stream. Source
• Referees are asked: (1) Would the applicant make a good physician? (2) Rate communication skills, problem-solving, professionalism, empathy. (3) Identify one area for improvement. (4) Share other relevant information. Source

• Must be submitted by the OMSAS deadline. Request by September 15 to allow time. Source

• Interview:

• Format: Semi-structured panel interview — approximately 40 minutes with two Admissions Committee members (faculty or community representatives) and one fourth-year medical student. Source | Source
• Delivery: Virtual for the 2026 cycle (February-March). Confirmation letters sent last week of January. Source
• Evaluation criteria: Motivation, empathy/compassion, conflict resolution/teamwork, communication skills, professionalism, critical thinking/ethics, resiliency. Role-play scenarios are possible. Source | Source
• Scoring: Interviews are scored out of 4. Post-interview, admission offers are based on a rank-order list determined by interview performance. A poor interview may not be ranked. CGPA is used as a tiebreaker. Source | Source
• Three-interview rule: Application is rejected if the applicant has been interviewed 3 times (regardless of language stream or pathway). Source
• No admission without an interview. Source

• Accommodations: Must inform Admissions Office immediately upon receiving interview invitation. Source

• Personal statement / essay: Not required. There is no essay component. Source

• MCAT: Not required (see above).
• GRE: Not required.

How Applications Are Evaluated

The evaluation process occurs in stages:

1. Eligibility screening: Citizenship, full-time study requirement, prerequisite completion, minimum CGPA (3.5).
2. Pre-interview ranking: An undisclosed combination of CGPA + CASPer score + top ABS entries is used to determine interview invitations. Approximately 576 applicants are invited to interview out of ~5,200+ applicants. The exact weighting formula is not published. Source | Source | Source
3. Interview stage: Following the interview, a rank-order list is prepared based on interview performance. Post-interview, the interview score (out of 4) is the dominant factor, with CGPA used as a tiebreaker. “Given the important weight attached to the interview performance for our MD Program.” Source | Source
4. Final review: The Admissions Committee considers the overall file, including course difficulty, relevance, and performance. Bilingual capability may receive preference, “other factors being equal.” Source

Important: Specific percentage breakdowns for CGPA vs. CASPer vs. ABS in the pre-interview ranking are not publicly disclosed. Source

Out-of-Province Considerations

• Ontario residency: SpaceCat qualifies as an Ontario resident. Starting Fall 2026, all Ontario medical schools must allocate at least 95% of seats to Ontario residents. Ontario IP criteria: resided in Ontario 12+ consecutive months after age 14, plus either Ontario Secondary School Diploma OR not resided elsewhere 12+ months since Ontario residency period. Source
• Regional Initiative: Approximately 70% of seats (some sources say ~50%) are reserved for “regional candidates” — those who completed secondary school in Ottawa and surrounding designated areas (Brockville, Cornwall, Hawkesbury, Renfrew County, and 10+ other municipalities). Regional status is determined by the postal code of your home address when you attended high school. Non-regional applicants can submit a letter arguing for regional consideration. Source | Source | Source
• Impact for non-regional Ontario residents: SpaceCat, as an Ontario resident who did not attend high school in the Ottawa region, would compete for the ~30-50% of non-regional seats. This is a meaningful disadvantage compared to Ottawa-area applicants.
• International applicants: Not accepted. Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. Source

Equity and Special Pathways

Cost

Tuition & Fees

• Annual tuition (domestic, Ontario resident): Approximately $26,899 CAD/year (as of 2025-2026 estimates). Source | Source
• Total 4-year program cost (tuition only, approximate): ~$107,600 CAD
• Out-of-province Canadian tuition: Slightly higher; one source estimates ~$14,000/year for out-of-province vs. ~$13,000 for in-province, but these figures appear to be from an older source and may not reflect current rates. Source
• Deposit: $1,000 required with acceptance of offer (deducted from tuition). Source
• Note: Official 2025-2026 fee schedules are posted in late May each year. The $26,899 figure is from third-party sources and should be confirmed at the official fees page. Source

Financial Aid

• Multiple Financial Need Bursaries available for MD students. Source
• Fee waiver program for application costs (covers up to 3 Ontario schools + OMSAS fee). Source
• Eligible for OSAP as an Ontario institution.
• Various scholarships available: Dr. John D. Evans Scholarship, Dr. Ronald G. Calhoun Scholarship (Indigenous students), Brighter World Entrance Scholarship, Dr. John T. and Winifred P. Campbell Scholarship, research fellowships. Source

Competitiveness

• Cohort size: 184 students/year (approximately 128 Anglophone stream + 56 Francophone stream). Some sources list 165 or 187 depending on cycle; the most recent official figure from the Faculty is 184 with 187 admitted for the 2025 cycle. Source | Source
• Number of applicants (2025 cycle): 5,664 applicants. An earlier cycle reported 5,244. Source | Source
• Interview invitations: Approximately 576 applicants invited to interview. Source
• Acceptance rate: Approximately 3.3-3.5% (187 admitted / 5,664 applicants for 2025 cycle). Source | Source
• Average admitted GPA: Estimated ~3.9-3.96/4.0. Source | Source
• Decisions timeline: Offers made approximately May (May 12, 2026 reported for current cycle). Source

Program Structure

• Pre-clerkship: 64 weeks of foundational medical sciences and clinical skills
• Clerkship: 2 years of clinical rotations
• Total: 4 years
• Students complete the program entirely in their selected language stream (English or French)
• Source

Licensing & Career Path

• Licensing exam: Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE Part I and Part II)
• Residency match: Graduates enter CaRMS (Canadian Resident Matching Service) for residency placement
• Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes (upon completion of residency and MCCQE)
• Accreditation: Accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) / LCME

Reputation & Notes

• First medical school in North America to offer MD in both English and French
• Located in Canada’s capital, providing proximity to federal health policy institutions
• Strong emphasis on social accountability and community diversity
• Mission: selecting “a culturally and socioeconomically diverse group of medical students” Source
• One of only 4 Ontario medical schools that do not require the MCAT (alongside NOSM, TMU, and McMaster which only requires CARS)
• The regional initiative (70% of seats for Ottawa-area candidates) significantly advantages local applicants
• CASPer is a genuine differentiator — a very high CASPer score can help secure an interview invitation even with a GPA closer to the minimum
• The panel interview format (rather than MMI) allows candidates to build rapport with interviewers over 40 minutes

Information NOT Found (Gaps)

The following could not be confirmed from available sources and should be verified directly with the Faculty of Medicine (ugmeadmi@uottawa.ca):

1. Exact pre-interview weighting formula — the relative weights of CGPA, CASPer, and ABS in determining interview invitations are not published
2. Exact CASPer quartile cutoff — anecdotal reports suggest 4th quartile (4Q) for English stream interviews, but this is not officially confirmed
3. Precise tuition breakdown for 2025-2026 — the $26,899/year figure is from third-party sources; official fee schedules are posted in late May each year
4. Whether the regional seat allocation is 50% or 70% — different sources report different figures (the official application process page says “approximately 70%”; the pathways page says “approximately 50%”)
5. Exact number of seats per stream — 128 English + 56 French is widely reported but varies slightly by source and year

Information Not Found

No specific gaps identified for this program.

Sources

Official program pages: - Faculty of Medicine — UGME Admissions - Application Process - Pathways to MD Program - Description of Prerequisite Science Courses - FAQs

OMSAS / OUAC: - OMSAS — University of Ottawa - OMSAS Key Dates

Tuition & fees: - University Fees — uOttawa - Tuition — Canadians Residing in Ontario

Third-party admissions guides: - BeMo — University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine - MedMed — University of Ottawa - OwlMD — Ottawa - MasterStudent — UOttawa Medical School Requirements - MedApplications — University of Ottawa - Bright Doctor — Ottawa MD - GrantMe — Ottawa Medical School Requirements - Student Doctor Network — uOttawa

AFMC: - Admission Requirements of Canadian Faculties of Medicine 2026 (PDF)