Northern Ontario School of Medicine University (NOSM University)
The 4-year Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) program at NOSM University provides students with a unique mix of learning opportunities in a diverse range of sites, including Indigenous and francophone communities. All self-identified Indigenous applicants are considered under the General Admissions Stream, unless they choose to apply to the Indigenous Admissions Stream.
Admission Requirements• 4-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from a recognized institution in any discipline• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on the 4.0 scale• Online application – OMSAS (Including 3 references)• Context Score*• Autobiographical Sketch (ABS)• Verifiers• Successful Interview
*Context Score: As part of your application to NOSM University, you must report all towns or cities you have lived in for 1 year or more since birth which will be used to assign you a context score. This is done to admit a class that is reflective of the demographics of the Northern Ontario population.
Admission Requirements• 4-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from a recognized institution in any discipline• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on the 4.0 scale• Online application – OMSAS (Including 3 references)• Context Score*• Autobiographical Sketch (ABS)• Verifiers• Successful Interview
*Context Score: As part of your application to NOSM University, you must report all towns or cities you have lived in for 1 year or more since birth which will be used to assign you a context score. This is done to admit a class that is reflective of the demographics of the Northern Ontario population.
Indigenous Admission Stream
If you wish to apply through the Indigenous Admission Stream, you must submit the following documentation:
(1) Personal Letter (1000 words) In the personal letter, applicants must tell the Indigenous Admissions Subcommittee about their background and their involvement with and contribution to their Indigenous community. The letter should include:• Why the applicant would like to be considered as an applicant in the Indigenous Admission Stream• Details about the applicant’s cultural and personal background. Applicants should provide specific information about their background and how they are involved with their Indigenous community. Indigenous communities could be First Nation, Métis, or Inuit, Treaty community or organizational affiliation, such as a Student Centre, Friendship Centre, or a Volunteer Organization that supports Indigenous people and communities.• Examples of how they are culturally connected to their Indigenous community (activities, ceremonies, celebrations, traditions, language, etc.) (2) Recommendation Letter Applicants must provide a recommendation letter that attests to their connection to the Indigenous community. This letter can be provided by a diverse Indigenous community/organization. For instance, the letter could come from a First Nation Band Council, Métis Community Council, recognized Indigenous leader, community Elder, Indigenous academic scholar, school counsellor, or Indigenous organization. Additional letters will not be considered.
The letter’s author should know about the applicant’s connection and contribution to the Indigenous community. Applicants should choose someone who knows them well and can speak to their community connection. If the Band/Community leadership does not know the applicant well, a Spiritual Leader/Elder/Senator might be more appropriate. The letter should not be from a family member.
In the letter, the author must include their:• full name• title• address• telephone number and• email address. AND
the author must answer the following questions:
• What is your relationship to the applicant?• In what capacity do you know the applicant?• How many years have you known the applicant?• Describe the activities supporting the applicant’s connection and involvement with the Indigenous community. The following details would support your letter: Nature of the activity, the frequency or the duration of said activity/activities. (3) Declaration of Ancestry Documentation Provide documentation regarding First Nation (status and non-status), Inuit, Métis, Band Council, Tribal Council, Treaty, community, nation or organizational affiliation.
Photocopies should be clear, showing all information, and include the front and back of documents.
Acceptable documentation may include:• A copy of a Status or Treaty card;• A copy of a Nunavut Trust Certificate card, roll number or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities;• A copy of a membership card issued by a Métis registry from the Métis Nation of Ontario, Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, Métis Nation of Alberta and Métis Nation British Columbia;• Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, on the band list of an individual band or the Inuit roll;• Written confirmation of Indigenous ancestry from the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada;• Written confirmation of membership in a band council that has its own membership code;• Other acceptable documentation. Applicants wishing to apply to the Indigenous Admission Stream must submit these three (3) required documents to OMSAS via Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) by the application deadline.
(1) Personal Letter (1000 words) In the personal letter, applicants must tell the Indigenous Admissions Subcommittee about their background and their involvement with and contribution to their Indigenous community. The letter should include:• Why the applicant would like to be considered as an applicant in the Indigenous Admission Stream• Details about the applicant’s cultural and personal background. Applicants should provide specific information about their background and how they are involved with their Indigenous community. Indigenous communities could be First Nation, Métis, or Inuit, Treaty community or organizational affiliation, such as a Student Centre, Friendship Centre, or a Volunteer Organization that supports Indigenous people and communities.• Examples of how they are culturally connected to their Indigenous community (activities, ceremonies, celebrations, traditions, language, etc.) (2) Recommendation Letter Applicants must provide a recommendation letter that attests to their connection to the Indigenous community. This letter can be provided by a diverse Indigenous community/organization. For instance, the letter could come from a First Nation Band Council, Métis Community Council, recognized Indigenous leader, community Elder, Indigenous academic scholar, school counsellor, or Indigenous organization. Additional letters will not be considered.
The letter’s author should know about the applicant’s connection and contribution to the Indigenous community. Applicants should choose someone who knows them well and can speak to their community connection. If the Band/Community leadership does not know the applicant well, a Spiritual Leader/Elder/Senator might be more appropriate. The letter should not be from a family member.
In the letter, the author must include their:• full name• title• address• telephone number and• email address. AND
the author must answer the following questions:
• What is your relationship to the applicant?• In what capacity do you know the applicant?• How many years have you known the applicant?• Describe the activities supporting the applicant’s connection and involvement with the Indigenous community. The following details would support your letter: Nature of the activity, the frequency or the duration of said activity/activities. (3) Declaration of Ancestry Documentation Provide documentation regarding First Nation (status and non-status), Inuit, Métis, Band Council, Tribal Council, Treaty, community, nation or organizational affiliation.
Photocopies should be clear, showing all information, and include the front and back of documents.
Acceptable documentation may include:• A copy of a Status or Treaty card;• A copy of a Nunavut Trust Certificate card, roll number or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities;• A copy of a membership card issued by a Métis registry from the Métis Nation of Ontario, Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, Métis Nation of Alberta and Métis Nation British Columbia;• Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, on the band list of an individual band or the Inuit roll;• Written confirmation of Indigenous ancestry from the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada;• Written confirmation of membership in a band council that has its own membership code;• Other acceptable documentation. Applicants wishing to apply to the Indigenous Admission Stream must submit these three (3) required documents to OMSAS via Secure Applicant Messaging (SAM) by the application deadline.