Academic Requirements

Applicants must report on the OMSAS Academic Record Form all grades received in the undergraduate credit courses in which they have ever registered. Failure to report courses, programs or grades on the OMSAS Academic Record Form will result in the disqualification of the application. All grades are converted by the applicant on the Academic Record Form to a 4.00 scale according to the OMSAS Undergraduate Grading System Conversion Table. (The Conversion Table is provided with the OMSAS Application.)

There are four absolute requirements for eligibility to apply to the program:

• By May 2013, applicants must have completed a minimum of three years of undergraduate degree level work (30 half year credits or 15 full year credits or a combination). There is no requirement that applicants carry a full course load. Those applying in the third year of their undergraduate education (prior to completion of 30 half-year credits) are given offers conditional upon completion of the minimum number of credits and are required to submit their final undergraduate transcript with course codes and grades to McMaster by June 30, 2013 as evidence that this requirement has been met;
• By October 3, 2012 applicants must have achieved an overall OMSAS converted average of 3.00 on the 4.00 point scale. Those applying in the third year of their undergraduate education are given offers conditional upon maintaining an average in their third year of at least 3.00 and are required to submit their final undergraduate transcript with course codes and grades to McMaster by June 30, 2013 as evidence that this requirement has been met;
• All applicants to the MD Program are required to write the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) prior to the application deadline date and must release their scores to OMSAS by October 12, 2012. The score from the Verbal Reasoning section of the MCAT will be used in both formulae (offer of interview and advancement to Collation). A minimum score of 6 on the Verbal Reasoning component is required. The Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences and Writing Sample scores will not be considered in the selection process. MCAT test results will be accepted provided the test was written no more than five years prior to the application deadline. The most recent test result will be used for those applicants who attempt the MCAT more than once. For information on the MCAT, click here.
• On one of two dates in late October 2012 (dates TBA), all applicants to the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University will be required to complete a 90 minute computer-based test, called CASPer, as part of the selection process. CASPer, the Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal characteristics, is a web-based assessment of interpersonal skills and decision-making, to be completed at a computer.  Successful completion of CASPer is required to maintain applicant eligibility.

No other aspects of the application will be considered if these requirements are not met.

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Please note: Only degree courses taken at an accredited university will be considered. To satisfy the minimum requirements, academic credentials from a Canadian University must be from an institution that is a full member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) or the Council of Ontario Universities (COU).

An applicant who has completed a diploma at a CEGEP (Province of Quebec) must have completed by May, 2013 at least two additional years (20 half year credits) of degree credit work at an accredited university.

Applicants who have satisfactorily completed the requirements for a baccalaureate degree in less than three years by the time of the application deadline, and who meet the "3.00" average requirement, are also eligible.

An overall simple average will be calculated using the grades from all undergraduate degree level courses ever taken (with the exception of credits taken on exchange outside of Canada/USA). Work of different years is treated equally. This average is calculated by the applicant on the OMSAS Academic Record Form and verified on the OMSAS Verification Report which is sent to applicants. McMaster University may also review and revise this average. The marks from supplementary and summer courses will be included in the GPA calculation. Courses for which a "Pass" grade is assigned are counted for credit, but will not be included in the GPA calculation. In order for the GPA to be evaluated, independent grades from a minimum of 5 half-year or 5 full-year courses in total, are required, without which the application will not be considered.