The University of Ottawa was the first medical school in North America to teach its MD in both English and French, and, like NOSM, it does not require the MCAT[2][3]. It ranks you on your GPA from your last three full-time years. Competition is intense: 5,920 applications for 189 places in the 2026 cycle[2].
University of Ottawa medical school requirements at a glance
| Program | 4-year MD, in an English stream (about 128 students) or a French stream (about 56). You cannot switch streams later.[2] |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Canadian citizens, permanent residents and convention refugees. 95% of seats are reserved for Ontario residents, with priority for regional applicants.[3] |
| University study | Three years of full-time study leading to a bachelor’s degree.[3] |
| Prerequisites | 6 units of humanities or social sciences, 6 units of biology (anatomy and physiology accepted), 3 each of organic chemistry, chemistry, biochemistry and statistics, plus lab work; at least 3.00 in every prerequisite.[3] |
| Minimum GPA | 3.50 cumulative GPA on the OMSAS scale, calculated on your last three years of full-time undergraduate study (including summers).[3] |
| MCAT | Not required.[3] |
| Casper | No longer used. Ottawa is replacing it with a new asynchronous MMI developed with other Ontario schools.[3] |
| Interview | Semi-structured panel with a physician, a community member and a fourth-year medical student, in February–March 2027; about 600 interviewed.[3] |
| Deadline | October 1, 2026 through OMSAS (opened July 5, 2026).[3] |
| Offers | Second Tuesday in May 2027, about 183 offers; $1,000 deposit.[3] |
| First-year tuition | $25,487 for Ontario residents, $29,504 for other Canadians, plus $1,525 in fees (2025–26).[3] |
| References | Three confidential assessment forms: one academic or employment, one non-academic, one of your choice.[4] |
GPA: your last three years
| Minimum to apply (in-province) | Average admitted |
|---|---|
| 3.50 (last 3 years) | 3.93 (2025 entering class) |
Ottawa calculates your cumulative GPA on your last three years of full-time undergraduate study leading to your bachelor’s degree, including summer courses taken in that time[3]. The minimum is 3.50, but the 2025 entering class averaged 3.93[3]. Because only recent years count, a weak first year matters less here.
Each year in your CGPA must have at least four graded courses per term (12 graded units). AP, IB and transfer credits do not count toward full-time study, and courses outside your last three years can still be looked at in the final file review[4].
Prerequisite courses
Ottawa has one of the longest prerequisite lists in Canada, and you need at least 3.00 in each course[3]:
| Subject | Units |
|---|---|
| Humanities or social sciences | 6 |
| Biology (anatomy and physiology also accepted) | 6 |
| Organic chemistry | 3 |
| Chemistry | 3 |
| Biochemistry | 3 |
| Statistics | 3 |
You also need lab work: either 6 units of the courses above that include a lab, or up to 6 units of lab-only courses[3].
Autobiographical sketch, references and the new MMI
| Casper required | MCAT required |
|---|---|
| No (new asynchronous MMI) | No |
Your autobiographical sketch (ABS) shows the breadth of your non-academic activities: what you have done, why you did it and what you gained, both personally and as a future physician[4]. For each entry give your education level at the time, whether it was during the school year or summer, dates, hours, and your role. You need a verifier for every activity, high-school-only activities are not assessed, and the whole ABS may be reviewed, not just your top three activities[4]. If you apply only to Ottawa, you can write the ABS in French[4].
You need three referees who each fill in a confidential assessment form: one academic or employment-related, one non-academic, and one of your choice. No family members or co-applicants, and extra letters are not accepted[4]. Referees rate your communication, problem-solving, professionalism and empathy, say whether you would make a good physician, and name one area to improve[4].
For 2027 entry, Casper has been replaced by an asynchronous MMI developed with other Ontario schools[3].
The Ottawa interview
| Interview format | Applicants interviewed | Entering class size |
|---|---|---|
| Panel interview | 621 (2026 cycle) | About 183 |
Shortlisted applicants have a semi-structured panel interview with a physician, a community member (who may also be a physician) and a fourth-year medical student, in February or March[3]. About 600 applicants are interviewed each year, and the 2026 interviews were held online[3]. Interviews are available in English and French, and your language skills are assessed during the interview[3].
Interviews are held in the language of the stream you chose, and Francophone-stream applicants are assessed in both languages[4].
Key dates for 2027 entry
- July 5, 2026OMSAS opens[3]
- October 1, 2026OMSAS deadline[3]
- February–March 2027Panel interviews[3]
- Second Tuesday in May 2027Offers[3]
For 2028 entry, expect OMSAS to open in early July 2027 and close on October 1, 2027.
Tuition and fees
First-year tuition is $25,487 for Ontario residents and $29,504 for other Canadians, plus about $1,525 in fees (2025–26 rates)[3].
University of Ottawa admission statistics and trends
Applications grew from 4,802 in the 2021 cycle (600 interviewed, 165 admitted) to 5,920 in the 2026 cycle (621 interviewed, 189 admitted)[6][2]. In 2023, 5.4% of applicants received an offer: 5.9% of Ontario residents and 3.8% of other Canadians[3].
Ottawa: applications received, 2005–2025
Applications reported to AFMC by entering year.
| Entering year | Applications (AFMC) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,641 | [1] |
| 2006 | 3,159 | [1] |
| 2007 | 3,354 | [1] |
| 2008 | 3,269 | [1] |
| 2009 | 3,841 | [1] |
| 2010 | 3,638 | [1] |
| 2011 | 3,562 | [1] |
| 2012 | 3,669 | [1] |
| 2013 | 3,805 | [1] |
| 2014 | 4,167 | [1] |
| 2015 | 4,298 | [1] |
| 2016 | 3,921 | [1] |
| 2017 | 4,150 | [1] |
| 2018 | 4,294 | [1] |
| 2022 | 4,816 | [1] |
| 2023 | 4,953 | [1] |
AFMC counts may differ slightly from the school’s own counts. No published figure for missing years (2019, 2020, 2021).
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Ottawa require the MCAT?
No. The MCAT is not an admission requirement at Ottawa.[3]
Does uOttawa still use Casper?
No. For 2027 entry Ottawa replaced Casper with a new asynchronous MMI developed with other Ontario schools.[3]
What GPA do you need for Ottawa medicine?
At least 3.50 over your last three full-time years; the 2025 entering class averaged 3.93.[3]
Can you study medicine in French at Ottawa?
Yes. Ottawa has a French stream of about 56 students and an English stream of about 128.[2]
What is Ottawa’s medical school acceptance rate?
In 2023, 5.4% of applicants received an offer.[3]
Sources
- AFMC: Canadian Medical Education Statistics
- University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine: about admissions
- AFMC: Admission Requirements of Canadian Faculties of Medicine (PDF)
- University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine: application process
- OUAC: Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS)
- University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine: admissions
Figures were checked against these sources on November 4, 2026. Schools change their rules every cycle, so confirm on the official site before you apply.