2024 Admissions

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Indigenous Candidate Pathway

Quebec Indigenous Candidate Pathway

PDF icon Quebec Indigenous Candidate Pathway Overview

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences welcomes applications from First Nations, Inuit and Métis applicants. We encourage you to self-identify in your application and to contact us if you have any questions about our programs or processes. We also have a specific application pathway for First Nations and Inuit students who are residents of Quebec. In addition, Indigenous applicants may also be eligible for the RSPP (Rural and Small Populations Pathway) if they attended high school in a small community.

The Indigenous Health Professions Program in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences facilitates Outreach visits and programs for youth and supports prospective Indigenous applicants to all health professions programs at McGill.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences offers an Indigenous Health Curriculum to all Medical students, which includes required and elective teaching and clinical opportunities focused on Indigenous healthcare topics. Clinical rotations in Indigenous communities are available for interested students.

Quebec Applicant Category
 

First Nations & Inuit (residents of Quebec)

The province of Quebec created a Quebec First Nations and Inuit Faculties of Medicine Program (QFNIFMP) in 2008. There are up to 10 positions. Students must be from Quebec and have First Nations or Inuit status to be admitted to the program. Selected applicants commit to being available for mentoring/tutoring provided by the Indigenous services unit of the Faculty of Medicine to which they are admitted throughout the duration of their studies.

The eight QFNIFMP places are shared by the four Quebec faculties of medicine (Université Laval, Université de Montréal, McGill University and Université de Sherbrooke). The choice of university is based on a candidate’s preference, as well as available places within those faculties. NB: You must submit an application for each Faculty of Medicine to which you are seeking admission, respecting their deadlines.

 

Questions

For all questions pertaining to the QFNIFMP program, please contact the program coordinator:

Louise Tanguay

(418) 842-1540, extension 2206 or (418) 844-2831 (cell)

E-mail: louise.tanguay [at] cssspnql.com

Requirements

  • Be First Nations under the Indian Act(RSC, C1-5)or Inuit (registered in the Inuit client registry) and confirmed status as a member of the First Nations or Inuit of Quebec. Valid status must be confirmed with the QFNIFMP coordinator and a copy of the status card must be submitted to the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC, Wendake).
    • Contact Program coordinator, at: Louise.Tanguay [at] cssspnql.com , or at: 418-842-1540 ext. 2206, as soon as possible to confirm First Nations or Inuit status. Mme Tanguay is happy to answer any questions you may have about the QFNIFMP program. She will inform you of the method of validation of your First Nations or Inuit status of Quebec. In all instances a copy of your status needs to be sent to the attention of Mme Louise Tanguay by mail or in person to the CSSPNQL of Wendake:

      CSSPNQL
      250, place Chef Michel Laveau, local 102
      Wendake (Québec) G0A 4V0
       
  • Be a Quebec resident;
  • Declare your First Nations or Inuit status on your application form;
  • Have a minimum R-score of 28 or more (for admission to the Med-P Qualifying Year); or the equivalent GPA (approximately 3.2/4.0) for admission to MDCM
  • Meet all other general requirements for admission to the MDCM program (university applicants) or Med-P Qualifying Year (CEGEP applicants);
  • Submit your application and required supporting documents by November 1 (university applicants) or March 1 (CEGEP applicants)
  • Take Casper test, in English or French, prior to the respective candidate category deadline.

Choosing to declare your status

  • Self-identification is entirely optional for Indigenous applicants; furthermore, self-identification can in no way negatively impact the admission decision. McGill recognizes that Indigenous applicants, their communities and connections between the two are extremely varied. For some, Indigenous identity and community connection runs deep, for others it is less significant. If you consider yourself as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, we hope that you will self-identify on your McGill application.
  • Quebec-resident applicants with First Nations or Inuit status must declare and confirm their status if they wish to be considered for the QFNIFMP pathway.  All QFNIFMP applications will also simultaneously be considered in the general Quebec cohort (applications will be evaluated according to the standard selection processes for this cohort and the First Nations and Inuit cohort. It is therefore possible for a candidate’s application to be assessed in both applicant pools.)
  • Applicants who choose not to declare their First Nations or Inuit status will be assessed in the same pool as the general Quebec university cohort (MDCM program) or CEGEP cohort (Med-P Qualifying Year).

QFNIFMP Selection Process

Following selection steps: Individual Interview and Mini-Multiple Interviews

If your application is retained after the 1st selection level (the evaluation of your academic file), you will need to fulfill 2 other steps, and this information will be communicated to you in March (date tbc), the virtual individual interview and the Mini-multiple interviews (MMI McGill University).

  • Individual Interview online: April 12 & 13, 2024
  • Mini Multiple Interviews (MMI) held at McGill University in the language of your choice (English or French) on April 26, 2024. The complete information will be sent to you by email by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of McGill University.
  • The virtual MMI is divided into 2 separate Zoom meetings, with a break in between. The length of each zoom interview session is up to one hour. A few days prior to your interview in April, you will receive an email with your two Zoom links, the zoom time(s) to sign in for each of the two interview zoom meeting will be indicated. The sign-in times are approximately 10 minutes before the start of each of your zoom meeting sessions; you will see the ''waiting room'' screen in Zoom and can verify that your connection is working while you wait. There is no need to click on the link earlier than this. All times are Eastern Standard Time (Montreal time). 
     
  • There are two technical check-in and information sessions organized by members of the Admissions staff and Med-P and MDCM students, you must register for one of these sessions.

    • Tuesday April 16: 5:00-7:00pm
    • Thursday April 18: 5:00-7:00pm

    This information session provides you with the opportunity to test your connection or equipment and get comfortable with the expectations for the virtual MMIs. Read the Technical Requirements and Tips document: PDF icon tech_and_tips_for_vmmi_candidates.pdf prior to the technical check-in session.
     
  • Please take note that you may also receive an interview invitation for the integrated francophone MMIs if you are being considered in the resident of Quebec pathway, and you meet the eligibility criteria.
  • There will be an information session for the program and the various training sites online on April 6, 2024.

 

Final Selection

If you have completed the selection process, you are now part of the final selection for the Quebec Indigenous QFNIFMP Pathway.

Important: Please take note that being part of the final selection does not guarantee you will receive an offer of admission.

The final selection is based on the results you have obtained in the 2 steps of the selection process outlined below:

1. Individual Interview: 50%
2. MMI results: 50%

The administrators of the QFNIFMP program and the interfaculty admissions committee of Quebec validate the list of candidates invited to the different steps, as well as the final selection. The results will be sent by email.  For an equitable process, the four faculties of medicine in Quebec have agreed to not provide any individual feedback on the candidate's performance during the individual or the Mini-Multiple Interviews (MMI).

Details

The Quebec First Nations and Inuit Faculties of Medicine Program aims to facilitate access to the medical profession for Quebec First Nations and Inuit students. Interested students may access support through the application process, and successful candidates who are ultimately admitted to medical programs benefit from mentoring from First Nations and Inuit doctors and, wherever possible, First Nations or Inuit medical students.

Consult more information about the Program.

Canadian (non-QC) Indigenous Candidate Pathway

PDF icon Canadian (non-QC) Indigenous Candidate Pathway Overview

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences welcomes applications from First Nations, Inuit and Métis applicants. We encourage you to self-identify in your application and to contact us if you have any questions about our programs or processes.  

The Canadian Indigenous Path for MDCM is open to Canadian First Nations, Inuit or Métis University level applicants who are not residents of Quebec. This pathway aims to attribute 1 of the 11 out-of-province Canadian seats in the 4-year MDCM program to a selected eligible candidate.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis applicants (outside Quebec)

McGill University and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences seek to increase the number of qualified Indigenous students gaining admission to, and excelling in, all programs at McGill University. We encourage all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis applicants to identify themselves on their application form, or by contacting our office. This will allow us to provide additional service and information to applicants about supports and funding opportunities for Indigenous students at McGill.

Indigenous applicants who are not Quebec residents will be considered for seats in the (non-Quebec) Indigenous Canadian or International residency cohorts, as applicable. Self-identification is entirely optional for Indigenous applicants; furthermore, self-identification can in no way negatively impact the admission decision. McGill recognizes that Indigenous applicants, their communities and connections between the two are extremely varied. For some, Indigenous identity and community connection runs deep, for others it is less significant. If you consider yourself as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, we hope that you will self-identify on your McGill application.

Registered Inuit Beneficiaries (residents of Nunavut)

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences welcomes applications from any applicant who is an Inuk, a Canadian citizen, and a Registered Inuit Beneficiary and who is associated with the Nunavut Settlement Area. Eligible candidates will be considered for admission to the MDCM program.

McGill University and the Government of Nunavut have in the past agreed to provide successful candidates with access to academic support, faculty and peer mentoring, and tuition payment by the Government of Nunavut. Note that students may be required to complete a return-to-service agreement.

Candidates may be required to complete a qualifying year before entering the MDCM program.

For more information about this possibility, please contact our office.

Selection Process

Step 1: Prescreening

Candidates must have a GPA of 3.4 on the 4.0 scale. All eligible candidates will move forward to the next step. Eligible candidates must submit documentation of formal Indigenous status (First Nations, Inuit, or member of a Métis National Council-recognized nation).
 

Step 2: Holistic Review

A newly created Indigenous admissions advisory committee then ranks candidates based on a holistic review of the file which includes:

  1. Standardized CV
  2. Personal statement
  3. CASPer and;
  4. Basic science prerequisites

The top ranked candidates are invited to interviews.

The Indigenous admissions advisory committee can include the following membership categories: Indigenous Faculty member(s), Indigenous upper-year medical students or residents, an Indigenous Elder, and other faculty members or McGill community members with experience in Indigenous health education, teaching or other relevant fields.

Step 3: Interviews

  1. Multiple Mini-Interviews
  2. Individual Interview with Indigenous admissions advisory committee

Step 4: Offers

For candidates recommended by the Indigenous advisory committee, offers will be made based on MMI performance. Candidates in this pathway are also considered for the general Canadian cohort seats simultaneously; Indigenous students admitted in the general cohort have access to the same support described below.

How to Apply

Follow the application process for university-level Canadian residents and indicate on the online application system that you are selecting this pathway. Candidates are also encouraged to self-identify on the web application system. Candidates are also assessed simultaneously in the general Canadian cohort. Note that Indigenous candidates are not required to self-identify; candidates who prefer not to select this pathway will be assessed in the general Canadian cohort.

Required documents

  1. Indigenous personal statement template  

    The personal statement will be completed on the online application system. Here is the template below for your reference:

  2. Indigenous identification, please upload one of the following valid documents to the Applicant portal for the Proof of Citizenship or Residency (you can upload multiple documents here, see the Proof of Citizenship or Residency webpage to be sure you include any other documents needed to confirm your Canadian residency.)
    • Federal Certificate of Indian Status card
    • Confirmation of recognition by an Inuit Land claim organization (card or official letter)
    • Membership card recognized by the Métis National Council or Manitoba Métis Federation

Support

The Indigenous Health Professions Program in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences facilitates Outreach visits and programs for youth, and supports prospective Indigenous applicants to all health professions programs at McGill.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences offers an Indigenous Health Curriculum to all Medical students, which includes required and elective teaching and clinical opportunities focused on Indigenous healthcare topics. Clinical rotations in Indigenous communities are available for interested students.

Tags: 
Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (OOPC)
Resident of Québec (ROQ)
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