Prerequisites

No. We classify these as physical sciences.

For application to the U of T MD Program, applicants are not required to complete university level courses in Chemistry or Physics. However, applicants are reminded that the MCAT is an application requirement, and that this test requires knowledge of Biology, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, and Conceptual Physics at a first-year university level. 

If you are not sure whether the course fits the definitions given here, you may e-mail us with the course description. It is not necessary to verify Biology, Anatomy or other medical sciences courses, even if they are taken under the auspices of Nursing or Kinesiology. 

No. We require that prerequisite courses have been passed.

Yes. Although you are not expected to have a large number of lower year courses when you reach the upper years, it is understood that courses outside you major area of study may need to be taken at an introductory level. 

Marks from prerequisite courses are not relevant to the assessment process, except as part of the overall GPA. The most important thing is that you select courses that meet the prerequisite requirements.

Courses involving literary or historical study. Examples would include Literature, History, Film Studies and Philosophy.

Life Sciences are courses where the main content and focus is on life systems. Some examples would be Biology, Zoology, Anatomy and the medical sciences. Please note that Biophysics or Biomedical Engineering courses must focus on the life systems and not on apparatus design. 

Courses involving social, cultural or geographical aspects of a population. Examples would include Sociology, Public Health, Gender Studies, and Anthropology.

All Psychology courses taken at U of T are taught as life sciences; however, some universities classify Psychology as a social science. You must check with the university you attended. We will accept their evaluation. If your university cannot provide the designation of their Psychology course, please send us the course description from your course calendar. 

It is our experience that students who have some knowledge of statistics find it helpful in the MD Program. You should also be aware that application to the MD Program involves strong expository writing and comprehension skills. Expository writing involves a discourse or critical evaluation, conveying information or ideas and explaining or expanding on their meaning. It is not necessary that you check these courses with us.