Indigenous Student Application Program

University of Toronto’s MD Program is committed to excellence through equity. The admission requirements for all students are identical in Grade Point Average (GPA) and Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores. What differs for those applying through the Indigenous Student Application Program (ISAP) is the requirement to submit a personal essay and to have representation from indigenous health leadership in admissions file review and interviewing. There are no fixed seats or quotas.

The goal of the Indigenous Student Application Program (ISAP) is to increase the number of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) medical students at the University of Toronto (U of T).

Please submit the following additional materials along with all other admission requirements as part of your application through the Ontario Medical Schools Application Service (OMSAS):

1. The ISAP Personal Essay: This essay is an opportunity for you to tell us about your personal connection to your Indigenous community, perhaps in the way you would share with an Elder or Wisdom/Knowledge Keeper. The statement will be read by members of the Indigenous Student Application Program (ISAP) Advisory Circle, which includes an Elder, Indigenous faculty members & Indigenous medical learners. We recommend that this statement be 250-750 words. Please ensure you submit the statement with the OMSAS application. If you are unsure about how to proceed, we invite you to liaise with the Office of Indigenous Health for support: indigenoushealth.support@utoronto.ca 
2. Self-declared Indigenous status via the OMSAS application.
3. As proof of Indigenous ancestry, to apply to the U of T’s medical program through ISAP, you must provide one of:
   • 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 in a Métis registry recognized by the Métis National Council (Métis Nation of Ontario, the Manitoba Métis Federation, the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, the Métis Nation of Alberta and the Métis Nation British Columbia)
   • proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, or on the band list of an individual band, or on the Inuit roll
   • written confirmation of Indigenous ancestry from the Department of Indian Affairs
   • written confirmation of membership in a band council that has its own membership code
   • other acceptable documentation

• Applicants must meet the same academic requirements for Medical College Application Test (MCAT) results, grade point average (GPA) and course prerequisites as all other applicants.
• The ISAP program does not have a designated quota for admission.

• Members of the Indigenous community, faculty, students, and public members will take part in admissions file review and admission interviews.
• Documentation submitted after the OMSAS deadline will not be considered. No updates will be accepted.
• Indigenous peoples of North America are invited to apply through this application stream. 

Related Links

Prospective applicants are invited to join the Community of Support (COS). COS is a collaborative initiative to increase the number of medical students who are Black, Indigenous, racialized or economically disadvantaged at the University of Toronto. Interested students can sign up to join via the COS Form.

• Office of Indigenous Health
• Resources & opportunities for Indigenous Medical Students at the U of T
• Scholarship for Indigenous medical students

This program reflects the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s strong commitment to diversity as demonstrated in its diversity statement [PDF].