Pre-Medicine

Years 1-3: Pre-Medicine at The University of Winnipeg

• Every faculty of medicine has its own entrance requirements. You must consult with the school where you plan to complete your medical studies to ensure you choose an appropriate set of courses.
• To meet the entrance requirements for medicine at the University of Manitoba, you must complete a three-year (90 credit hour) degree and satisfy the “Pre-Professional Requirements”- see below.
• You will graduate from UWinnipeg with a bachelor’s degree. While there are recommended areas of study, there is no one degree or program that is required for entry to medicine.
• The University of Manitoba requires that students take one course to meet their Indigenous Course content requirement. At this time, the following courses have been approved to meet this requirement: HIST-1006(3), HIST-1007(3), HIST-2511(3), IS-1016(3), IS-1017(3) and RHET-2141(3). The University of Manitoba is continually adding courses to this list. If you have a taken a different course that you feel meets this requirement, please contact the Faculty of Medicine Admissions Department for clarification.

Years 4-7+: Professional Studies: Medicine

• After you complete your pre-professional studies at UWinnipeg, you will apply for admission to the faculty of medicine at another university.
• Enrolment in medical programs is limited, and only highly qualified applicants are chosen. Admission to medicine is based on an outstanding academic record as well as performance on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), the Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal characteristics (Casper); and in a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).
• A minimum of three additional years of study is required (four at the University of Manitoba). Once you have finished your degree requirements, you will complete a residency that will take two or more years.

Many students who study Pre-Medicine at UWinnipeg will apply for admission to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba, but you may choose to apply elsewhere. For admission to Medicine at the UManitoba, students must receive a bachelor’s degree by June 30 in the year of application with a 3.30 adjusted GPA.  There are also specific dates by which students need to have completed the MCAT and Casper. 

There are no specific course requirements, but students are encouraged to take courses in these disciplines: biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, psychology, sociology, biochemistry and research methods. For details, see UManitoba Max Rady College of Medicine webpage and the Applicant Information Bulletin.  

What is the MCAT?  The Medical College Admissions Test is a standardized test that is administered periodically during the year, but you must take the test no later than early September of the year preceding your application. Since seating is limited in early September, examinees are strongly encouraged to register for test dates in May to August. The MCAT assesses mastery of basic concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics, facility with scientific problem solving, and critical thinking and writing skills. 

Where can I study medicine?  You may apply to study medicine at any of the 17 faculties of medicine in Canada, or apply to medical school in the US or elsewhere. Explore your options in Canada at www.afmc.ca  

When should I plan to graduate? Write the MCAT?  Students applying to the UManitoba must be eligible to receive a bachelor’s degree no later than the Spring Convocation of the year in which they seek admission to the faculty of medicine. Students must write the MCAT by early September of the year preceding application.

What other factors are considered?  Applicants will also be asked to complete a situational judgement test (the CASPer test), participate in multiple mini-interviews, and identify references.

You must meet The University of Winnipeg’s general admission requirements.
In addition, you need to have Chemistry 40S and either Pre-Calculus Mathematics 40S or Applied Mathematics 40S in order to take courses in some of the recommended areas of study. 
Biology 40S, Physics 40S and Pre-Calculus Mathematics 40S are recommended.

What if I don’t have these high school courses? You can take “Foundation” courses at UWinnipeg that are equivalent to high school-level math and science (MATH-0041 & MATH-0042; CHEM-0100) or complete high school courses at The Collegiate.