Frequently Asked Questions
51. Like in past years, do I still need to submit a photo to the interviewers on interview day?
2. I've heard that University of Toronto medical students are divided into academies. What does this mean?
3. I’ve heard the classes at U of T referred to “class of 2T0” or “class of 9T6”. What does this mean?
4. Do students have any participation in the decision-making process of the school?
5. What support services are offered to med students?
6. What kind of financial aid is offered to med students?
7. When do U of T med students first get to interact with patients?
8. What athletic facilities are available to med students?
9. Are there opportunities to do research during the summer?
10. Why has the Faculty of Medicine expanded to Mississauga?
1. Like in past years, do I still need to submit a photo to the interviewers on interview day?
The MD Program Enrolment Services office has requested that you upload a photo via ShareFile (our secure document collection system) in advance of your interview date. Please see your interview invitation email for more details.
On the day of the interview, you are required to bring government issued photo ID, as this will be requested when you check in at the beginning of the day.
2. I've heard that University of Toronto medical students are divided into academies. What does this mean?
Medical students at U of T are assigned to academies, in an effort to expose students to as many of the incredible teaching hospitals as possible, and to allow students to study in smaller groups.
There are four academies based at various Toronto hospitals: the Fitzgerald Academy at St. Michael’s Hospital; the Wightman-Berris Academy at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, and Toronto Western Hospital; the Peters-Boyd Academy at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Women’s College Hospital; and the Mississauga Academy of Medicine at Trillium Health Partners (Mississauga Hospital and Credit Valley Hospital).
Medical students at U of T will spend all four years at their assigned academy. After your interview date you will be given a chance to rank your preference for campus, and then later academy (if you are given an offer to the St. George campus) - make sure you choose the location that best suits you!
(You may want to wait to find housing AFTER you have been assigned to your academy!)
During years 1 and 2, students spend one morning a week at one of their assigned teaching hospitals, practicing history-taking and physical exam skills, but the academies are also where seminars, case-based learning (CBL), and problem-based learning (PBL) sessions, among other teaching sessions, take place.
No academy is better than the other, as each one will have its own flavour, with medical students making fast friends with the rest of their academy members. Inter-academy challenges are favourite charity events for the class, and different academies will be involved in the university and city community in different ways. Although each academy is unique, one thing they all have in common is the excellent teaching by incredible physicians who are leaders in their field, as well as the dedication on the part of their members to consistently prove that U of T is a fantastic med school and a great place to be.
3. I’ve heard the classes at U of T referred to “class of 2T0” or “class of 9T6”. What does this mean?
2T5 stands for the graduating medical class of 2025 (THAT'S YOU!). It’s a naming system that the medical school has continued to use in the new millennium, but actually makes more sense for the graduating classes in previous years, such as "Class of 9T6" for the class of 1996.
4. Do students have any participation in the decision-making process of the school?
Yes! The Medical Society (MedSoc) is the elected governing body of undergraduate medical students. The Medical Society represents medical students to the Faculty of Medicine, Alumni, other faculties within the university, the medical profession, and the community at large. The Society organizes a wide variety of student events and is concerned with both academic and non-academic aspects of student life. There are also a large variety of other ways to get involved in the decision-making processes of the school through committees and course representation. Also, the faculty are almost always looking for student input on anything and everything!
5. What support services are offered to med students?
In addition to the financial and emotional support offered by the Undergraduate Medical Education Office (particularly the Office of Student Affairs), and The Medical Alumni Association (MAA) are all available to ensure that med students have an academic, social, wellness and financial support system. During your first year you will be connected with a career counsellor from student affairs. This connection is maintained throughout all four years of study and is a great resource to you when you start thinking about different specialties, career paths, applying to residency, perhaps writing the USMLE... you name it, they can help! There is always a place to turn for guidance here at U of T.
6. What kind of financial aid is offered to med students?
For most students, the first source of funding to consider are federal and provincial student assistance programs. Most provinces use an integrated application process that allows you to access both federal and provincial programs using one application. Students may qualify for loan and/or grant funding issued by their home province. In most situations, it is necessary for students to apply for and receive government loan funding in order to be considered for grant assistance provided by the Faculty of Medicine. Students should submit their applications for government loan assistance as early as possible after acceptance in order to ensure that funding is available in early September.
Students who qualify for government assistance may be eligible for grant assistance from the Faculty of Medicine. Grants are based on unmet financial need determined by OSAP when processing your application for funding. During the 2016/2017 academic year, 73% of students enrolled in the MD program qualified for grant assistance. The average funding awarded to first year students was approximately $6300.00. This data is provided for information only. Individual grant amounts will vary from student to student based on your personal financial situation and unmet financial need.
In addition to the grant program outlined above, the faculty also offers bursary opportunities for students with higher than average financial need. You can find out more about these programs by visiting the Student Financial Services web pages at the following address:
http://www.md.utoronto.ca/financialaid.htm
The Faculty of Medicine also offers a number of academic scholarships and awards, most of which do not require an application. Additional details can be found at the following address:
http://www.md.utoronto.ca/admissions/finance/awards.htm
7. When do U of T med students first get to interact with patients?
Starting in first year, med students are divided into small groups (usually 5 to 6 students), which meet once a week (usually Friday mornings in first year) at one of the assigned teaching hospitals. Students spend their morning practicing their history-taking and physical exam skills, so exposure to patients happens as early as the first week of med school. In second year, med students continue to meet once a week at the hospital (usually Thursday mornings in second year), but once third year comes around, clerkship begins and med students are at the hospital most of the time.
By the end of your second week of med school you will have had your first (of many!) interactions with patients (once classes resume in person)!
8. What athletic facilities are available to med students?
The university has three major athletic centres – Hart House, the Athletic Centre (AC) and the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. All U of T med students (including those in the Mississauga Academy of Medicine) are automatically members of these centres through the payment of their incidental fees. Hart House is a five-minute walk from the Medical Science Building (MSB), while the AC and Goldring Centre are each a ten-minute walk from MSB. For more information on these facilities click here. Mississauga students will also have access to the RAWC facilities at UTM.
9. Are there opportunities to do research during the summer?
The Comprehensive Research Experience for Medical Students (CREMS) is a student program for medical students that has recently been created with the stated purpose of providing an enhanced summer and curriculum experience for medical students in the fundamentals of research. This program has linkages with graduate supervisors from across the full spectrum of departments, including biomedical, health outcomes, and international health research.
10. Why has the Faculty of Medicine expanded to Mississauga?
As part of a province-wide initiative, the University of Toronto expanded its class size to 259 spots back in 2011 for the class of 2015. To further accommodate this expansion, a fourth academy opened at the University of Toronto at Mississauga, in partnership with Mississauga community hospitals. This fourth academy opened in 2011 and provides the same opportunities and education as the downtown academies
Advanced videoconferencing and other technologies have allowed students at all teaching sites to interact and share learning experiences. Infrastructure for the Academy includes classrooms, seminar rooms, lab facilities, a library and other learning spaces. Intercampus transportation among U of T campuses and hospital campuses will be available. See the Mississauga Academy of Medicine page for more info.
Further information is available on the MD Program website at http://md.utoronto.ca/
Other questions? Email admissions.uoftmed@gmail.com.
2. I've heard that University of Toronto medical students are divided into academies. What does this mean?
3. I’ve heard the classes at U of T referred to “class of 2T0” or “class of 9T6”. What does this mean?
4. Do students have any participation in the decision-making process of the school?
5. What support services are offered to med students?
6. What kind of financial aid is offered to med students?
7. When do U of T med students first get to interact with patients?
8. What athletic facilities are available to med students?
9. Are there opportunities to do research during the summer?
10. Why has the Faculty of Medicine expanded to Mississauga?
1. Like in past years, do I still need to submit a photo to the interviewers on interview day?
The MD Program Enrolment Services office has requested that you upload a photo via ShareFile (our secure document collection system) in advance of your interview date. Please see your interview invitation email for more details.
On the day of the interview, you are required to bring government issued photo ID, as this will be requested when you check in at the beginning of the day.
2. I've heard that University of Toronto medical students are divided into academies. What does this mean?
Medical students at U of T are assigned to academies, in an effort to expose students to as many of the incredible teaching hospitals as possible, and to allow students to study in smaller groups.
There are four academies based at various Toronto hospitals: the Fitzgerald Academy at St. Michael’s Hospital; the Wightman-Berris Academy at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, and Toronto Western Hospital; the Peters-Boyd Academy at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Women’s College Hospital; and the Mississauga Academy of Medicine at Trillium Health Partners (Mississauga Hospital and Credit Valley Hospital).
Medical students at U of T will spend all four years at their assigned academy. After your interview date you will be given a chance to rank your preference for campus, and then later academy (if you are given an offer to the St. George campus) - make sure you choose the location that best suits you!
(You may want to wait to find housing AFTER you have been assigned to your academy!)
During years 1 and 2, students spend one morning a week at one of their assigned teaching hospitals, practicing history-taking and physical exam skills, but the academies are also where seminars, case-based learning (CBL), and problem-based learning (PBL) sessions, among other teaching sessions, take place.
No academy is better than the other, as each one will have its own flavour, with medical students making fast friends with the rest of their academy members. Inter-academy challenges are favourite charity events for the class, and different academies will be involved in the university and city community in different ways. Although each academy is unique, one thing they all have in common is the excellent teaching by incredible physicians who are leaders in their field, as well as the dedication on the part of their members to consistently prove that U of T is a fantastic med school and a great place to be.
3. I’ve heard the classes at U of T referred to “class of 2T0” or “class of 9T6”. What does this mean?
2T5 stands for the graduating medical class of 2025 (THAT'S YOU!). It’s a naming system that the medical school has continued to use in the new millennium, but actually makes more sense for the graduating classes in previous years, such as "Class of 9T6" for the class of 1996.
4. Do students have any participation in the decision-making process of the school?
Yes! The Medical Society (MedSoc) is the elected governing body of undergraduate medical students. The Medical Society represents medical students to the Faculty of Medicine, Alumni, other faculties within the university, the medical profession, and the community at large. The Society organizes a wide variety of student events and is concerned with both academic and non-academic aspects of student life. There are also a large variety of other ways to get involved in the decision-making processes of the school through committees and course representation. Also, the faculty are almost always looking for student input on anything and everything!
5. What support services are offered to med students?
In addition to the financial and emotional support offered by the Undergraduate Medical Education Office (particularly the Office of Student Affairs), and The Medical Alumni Association (MAA) are all available to ensure that med students have an academic, social, wellness and financial support system. During your first year you will be connected with a career counsellor from student affairs. This connection is maintained throughout all four years of study and is a great resource to you when you start thinking about different specialties, career paths, applying to residency, perhaps writing the USMLE... you name it, they can help! There is always a place to turn for guidance here at U of T.
6. What kind of financial aid is offered to med students?
For most students, the first source of funding to consider are federal and provincial student assistance programs. Most provinces use an integrated application process that allows you to access both federal and provincial programs using one application. Students may qualify for loan and/or grant funding issued by their home province. In most situations, it is necessary for students to apply for and receive government loan funding in order to be considered for grant assistance provided by the Faculty of Medicine. Students should submit their applications for government loan assistance as early as possible after acceptance in order to ensure that funding is available in early September.
Students who qualify for government assistance may be eligible for grant assistance from the Faculty of Medicine. Grants are based on unmet financial need determined by OSAP when processing your application for funding. During the 2016/2017 academic year, 73% of students enrolled in the MD program qualified for grant assistance. The average funding awarded to first year students was approximately $6300.00. This data is provided for information only. Individual grant amounts will vary from student to student based on your personal financial situation and unmet financial need.
In addition to the grant program outlined above, the faculty also offers bursary opportunities for students with higher than average financial need. You can find out more about these programs by visiting the Student Financial Services web pages at the following address:
http://www.md.utoronto.ca/financialaid.htm
The Faculty of Medicine also offers a number of academic scholarships and awards, most of which do not require an application. Additional details can be found at the following address:
http://www.md.utoronto.ca/admissions/finance/awards.htm
7. When do U of T med students first get to interact with patients?
Starting in first year, med students are divided into small groups (usually 5 to 6 students), which meet once a week (usually Friday mornings in first year) at one of the assigned teaching hospitals. Students spend their morning practicing their history-taking and physical exam skills, so exposure to patients happens as early as the first week of med school. In second year, med students continue to meet once a week at the hospital (usually Thursday mornings in second year), but once third year comes around, clerkship begins and med students are at the hospital most of the time.
By the end of your second week of med school you will have had your first (of many!) interactions with patients (once classes resume in person)!
8. What athletic facilities are available to med students?
The university has three major athletic centres – Hart House, the Athletic Centre (AC) and the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. All U of T med students (including those in the Mississauga Academy of Medicine) are automatically members of these centres through the payment of their incidental fees. Hart House is a five-minute walk from the Medical Science Building (MSB), while the AC and Goldring Centre are each a ten-minute walk from MSB. For more information on these facilities click here. Mississauga students will also have access to the RAWC facilities at UTM.
9. Are there opportunities to do research during the summer?
The Comprehensive Research Experience for Medical Students (CREMS) is a student program for medical students that has recently been created with the stated purpose of providing an enhanced summer and curriculum experience for medical students in the fundamentals of research. This program has linkages with graduate supervisors from across the full spectrum of departments, including biomedical, health outcomes, and international health research.
10. Why has the Faculty of Medicine expanded to Mississauga?
As part of a province-wide initiative, the University of Toronto expanded its class size to 259 spots back in 2011 for the class of 2015. To further accommodate this expansion, a fourth academy opened at the University of Toronto at Mississauga, in partnership with Mississauga community hospitals. This fourth academy opened in 2011 and provides the same opportunities and education as the downtown academies
Advanced videoconferencing and other technologies have allowed students at all teaching sites to interact and share learning experiences. Infrastructure for the Academy includes classrooms, seminar rooms, lab facilities, a library and other learning spaces. Intercampus transportation among U of T campuses and hospital campuses will be available. See the Mississauga Academy of Medicine page for more info.
Further information is available on the MD Program website at http://md.utoronto.ca/
Other questions? Email admissions.uoftmed@gmail.com.
