Doctor of Medicine (MD) — University of Saskatchewan
Program status: Active
SpaceCat Fit Notes
- CASPer: Used in the interview selection formula alongside MCAT, UAA, written submissions, and the connectedness index. SpaceCat’s very high CASPer score is an asset, but the Saskatchewan connectedness index applied at every stage heavily disadvantages applicants without SK ties.
- GPA window & upgrading strategy: UAA is calculated on the most recent 120 credit units. This recent-credits window could favor SpaceCat if later coursework was stronger. Maximum 60 CU distance education allowed; minimum 60 CU must be in-person. Graduate coursework included with percentage augmentation. The 80% UAA minimum is accessible, but with only 5 OOP seats the competitive bar is extremely high.
- Experiential / written advantage: Personal statements are required as supplemental items. References are contacted via 10-minute phone calls. The two-stage interview (MMI + Panel/Conversation Circle) would let SpaceCat’s shelter experience shine. However, the Saskatchewan/Rural Connectedness Index — an unpublished demographic index applied at every evaluation stage — structurally disadvantages Ontario residents with no Saskatchewan ties. The majority of seats go to applicants with strong Saskatchewan connections.
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Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - 5 seats for out-of-province applicants out of ~108 total seats (~4.6%). 20 seats for Indigenous pathway. 7 seats for DSAAP. (. - Tuition appears the same for all domestic Canadian students
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Overall assessment: Not viable — Only 5 OOP seats out of ~108 total (~4.6%), and the Saskatchewan connectedness index structurally disadvantages applicants without SK ties at every evaluation stage. Even strong CASPer and shelter experience cannot overcome these barriers.
Quick Facts
- Institution: University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine
- Program name: Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Degree granted: MD
- City, Province: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (main campus); distributed clinical sites across Saskatchewan
- Program type: Standard (4-year MD)
- Duration: 4 years
- Delivery format: In-person
- Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only
- Language of instruction: English
- Start date(s): August/September (Fall entry only)
- Intake frequency: Annual
- Application deadline(s): October 1, 2025 for Fall 2026 entry. CASPer: check Acuity Insights for deadline. Certificate upload deadline: October 15, 2025. MCAT must be released to USask between August 1 and October 1, 2025. Last accepted MCAT test date: August 29, 2025. (Source)
- Application system: USask online application portal (direct institutional application) (Source)
- Program URL: https://medicine.usask.ca/admission-to-the-md-program/how-to-apply.php
- Accredited: Yes — CACMS accredited
Admission Requirements
GPA
- Minimum GPA (UAA): 80% University Academic Average (UAA) to apply (Source)
- Competitive GPA: Not published separately for OOP, but given only 5 OOP seats, competitive averages are extremely high
- GPA calculated on: Most recent 120 credit units (UAA). Rounded to two decimal places. Maximum 60 CU of distance education allowed; minimum 60 CU must be in-person. Graduate coursework included if within the 120 CU window, with percentage augmentation based on degree level. Up to 60 CU of pass/fail courses acceptable. (Source)
- GPA scale used: Percentage (UAA)
Prerequisites
- Indigenous Studies prerequisite: Must complete an approved course or certificate by application deadline. For the 2025 cycle, the “Indigenous Canada” certificate (University of Alberta via Coursera) and USask’s cultural humility course are acceptable. Beginning with the 2027 cycle, only formal 3 CU courses on the approved list will be accepted. (Source)
- Standard First Aid with CPR BLS and AED required
- Proof of immunizations per Clinical Placement Agreement
- Four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (any subject) required, completed by April 30 of entry year (Source)
Supplementary Requirements
- MCAT: Required. Minimum total score 492 with section minimums of 123 (one section may be 122). Best score from a single sitting used. Acceptable test dates: January 2021 through August 29, 2025. Must be released to USask between August 1-October 1, 2025. (Source)
- CASPer: Required — online situational judgment assessment to assess personal and professional characteristics. (Source)
- Interview: Yes — two stages:
- MMI (Multiple Mini-Interview): January 31/February 1, 2026
- Panel Interview / Conversation Circle: March 21, 2026 — assesses communication and emotional intelligence
- (Source)
- Written Submissions: Personal statements required as supplemental items.
- References: Three references required — contacted via 10-minute phone calls (February-April timeframe), not all three necessarily contacted. (Source)
- Citizenship: Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Must have lived in Canada at least 3 years prior to August 1 of admission year.
- Saskatchewan/Rural Connectedness Index: Demographic-based index assessing connection to Saskatchewan and rural communities. Factors and algorithm not publicly released. Applied at each stage of evaluation. Majority of seats allocated to applicants with Saskatchewan/Territories and/or rural connectedness. (Source)
How Applications Are Evaluated
- Admission model: Multi-stage with Saskatchewan connectedness weighting at every stage
- Interview selection based on: CASPer score, MCAT scores, UAA, written submissions, DSAAP index, Saskatchewan connectedness index
- Saskatchewan/Rural Connectedness Index applied at each stage — heavily favors Saskatchewan residents and those with rural connections
- DSAAP (Diversity and Social Accountability Admissions Pathway): 7 dedicated seats
- Indigenous Admissions Pathway: 20 dedicated seats
- Black Student Admissions Pathway (BSAP): Supplementary pathway, currently no dedicated seats
Out-of-Province Considerations
- Residency quota: 5 seats for out-of-province applicants out of ~108 total seats (~4.6%). 20 seats for Indigenous pathway. 7 seats for DSAAP. (Source)
- OOP restrictions URL: https://medicine.usask.ca/admission-to-the-md-program/how-to-apply.php
- Saskatchewan connectedness index applied at every stage, heavily favoring Saskatchewan residents and rural-connected applicants
- 3-year Canadian residency requirement — must have lived in Canada at least 3 years prior to August 1 of admission year
- Out-of-province tuition differential: Tuition appears the same for all domestic Canadian students.
Cost
- Annual tuition (domestic, 2025-2026): ~$20,517 (Source)
- Total program (approximate): ~$82,000 over 4 years
Competitiveness
- Cohort size: ~108 seats (expanded from 100 in 2023, to 104 in 2023, to 108 in 2024)
- OOP seats: 5 (~4.6%)
- Indigenous pathway seats: 20
- DSAAP seats: 7
- Minimum MCAT: 492 total (123 per section, one may be 122)
Information Not Found
No specific gaps identified for this program.