Indigenous Student Application Program

Recognizing the commitment to social responsibility in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s mission, the MD Program implemented ISAP to strengthen Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) representation in medicine at the University of Toronto.

Members of the Indigenous community, including faculty, physicians, residents, medical students and members of the public, take part in admission file review and interview processes.

To apply to this program, you must meet the same minimum requirements for MCAT, GPA and course prerequisites as all other applicants. The program does not have a designated quota for admission.

1. University of Toronto’s Indigenous Substantiation (IS)

Applicants who choose to identify as Indigenous* and apply through the ISAP are required to complete the University of Toronto’s Indigenous Substantiation process. To substantiate your Indigenous Membership, Citizenship, or Enrolment (M/C/E) in accordance to the University of Toronto’s Indigenous Substantiation Framework, please review and complete steps 1 and 2 as outlined on this webpage by October 1, 2026: https://indigenous.utoronto.ca/initiatives-protocols/indigenous-substantiation/

Note, your documents must be issued by a federally recognized nation or organization.

*Indigenous peoples of North America are invited to apply through this application stream.

2. The ISAP Personal Statement

The ISAP Personal Statement is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and share more about your decision to apply through the ISAP. Consistent with the practices of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC)’s Indigenous Identity Verification for IPAC Board Members (effective July 12, 2024), you are expected to “speak clearly and confidently to [your] identity” as an Indigenous person. We recommend that your statement be no more than 500 words in length. 

From your statement, the ISAP Advisory Circle will consider:

• Your rationale for applying through the ISAP pathway;
• How you situate yourself as an Indigenous person (e.g. your experiences, relationships, and current community connections).

If you have questions about the Personal Statement, Indigenous Substantiation process or would like further information about ISAP, email our Office of Indigenous Health: indigenoushealth.support@utoronto.ca

Program Information

• 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].