Prerequisite Courses
The prerequisite course requirements are that you successfully complete:
- two full course equivalents (FCEs) in any life science.
- one FCE in any of social sciences, humanities, or a language.
You may take two half courses in different disciplines to satisfy the requirement e.g. a half course in History (humanities) and a half course in Economics (social science).
There is no minimum required grade for prerequisite courses. It will not make your application more competitive to list a course in which you got a high mark. We recommend prerequisite courses be completed prior to application. If they have not been completed, and are not showing as current registrations on your transcript, your application will not be considered.
We also recommend but do not require that you complete a university level course in statistics and at least two FCEs in courses that require expository writing. Demonstrated high-level proficiency in oral and written English is essential for success in the medical curriculum and in medical practice. As these are recommendations, rather than prerequisites, it is not necessary to check course acceptability.
We base our assessment on the course description in your university calendar, so you may be able to assess the course yourself. If you are not sure whether the course fits the definitions given here, please e-mail us with the course description.
Although this is not a comprehensive list of approved courses, examples of prerequisite courses may include:
Life Sciences
Life sciences are defined as any courses that deal with any kind of life system as the main content. It is not necessary to have a lab component. We do not consider Chemistry and Physics to be life sciences. If you are listing Chemistry courses to meet requirements for other medical schools, you must also list two FCEs in life sciences. Courses include:
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Biology – including Biomedical Engineering courses that focus on the life systems
- Botany
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Genetics & Molecular Biology
- Some Nutritional Sciences
- Pharmacology & Toxicology
- Physiology
- Zoology
All Psychology courses at the University of Toronto are taught as life sciences. Please note this may not apply to other universities. Please check with the university you attended.
The following life science courses from the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies are also acceptable:
Social Sciences
Courses include:
- Economics
- Geography (Social)
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Gender Studies
- Criminology
Languages
- Courses in a language other than your first language.
Humanities
Courses include:
- Classics
- English literature, French literature etc.
- History
- Religious Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Philosophy