These students will be able to contribute, in an ethical and professional manner, and be responsive to the changing needs of society by:

• providing exemplary and compassionate patient care;
• advancing the public’s health;
• conducting ethical medical research; and
• maintaining their personal wellness.

The Admissions Committee of the Faculty of Medicine is responsible for developing recommendations related to admissions policies and procedures that align with the Faculty’s mission for the MD Program. The committee selects, on a competitive basis, eligible candidates best suited for medical training in accordance with criteria approved by the Undergraduate Education Executive Committee. Additionally, it ensures the admission of a diverse cohort representing varied backgrounds and fields of study.

Established in 1945, the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine was the first medical school in North America to offer its MD Program in both English and French.

Candidates select their language of study during the application process.

On average, 184 students are enrolled each new academic year, roughly 128 in the Anglophone stream and 56 in the Francophone stream.

The application and admissions processes are the same for all categories of applicants.

The University of Ottawa offers its MD Program in English and French in a faculty where both the Anglophone and Francophone teaching activities correlate. These teaching activities enhance the development of linguistic skills in both languages.

During your undergraduate training, you will acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes you need to recognize, understand and apply effective, efficient strategies for the prevention and management of the most common and important health problems. Our program integrates the foundational sciences, clinical sciences, social sciences and humanities throughout the 4 years of study. It also emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention; leadership and research. It is responsive to individual needs and abilities and to the changes occurring in society and the health care system.

Emphasis is placed on self-learning; principles and facts are learned in a multidisciplinary fashion, in the context of clinical problems. Whole-class lectures and seminars are used to discuss basic concepts, explore new developments and provide overviews of the biomedical sciences fundamental to the practice of medicine. Training occurs in ambulatory, primary, secondary and tertiary settings, and you function as a member of the medical team in collaboration with other health professionals.

Our training program fosters trust and compassion, communication skills, ethical professional conduct and patient advocacy.

Our 4-year program is divided into 2 phases:

1.    Pre-clerkship (64 weeks)

• Study of essential biomedical and biopsychosocial principles.
• Consists of 6 multidisciplinary units.

2.    Clerkship (2 years)

• Core rotations in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, family medicine and acute care, and mandatory selective rotations.
• Mandatory 1-month rotation in a rural setting.
• 18 weeks of elective rotations in fourth year.

The admissions office is closed to the public. Please send your questions by email to [email protected].

Page update: June 2026