Graduates of Foreign Medical Schools outside North America without Canadian Legal Status
In order to train in Ontario, a foreign medical graduate must be officially sponsored by a funding source from their country of origin. Acceptable funding sources are strictly limited to government agencies or health-related charitable organizations. Private or personal funds are neither acceptable nor permissible. Before any applicants can be accepted by our programs, the sponsor must sign a formal agreement with the University of Ottawa. The agreement provides both parties with clear, written arrangements for training residents and fellows at the University of Ottawa. By and large, the agreement stipulates that sponsors:
- agree to financially support their trainees to the completion of their residency or fellowship program.
- agree to pay, for each of their trainees, the annual training fee of $100,000 CAD per year as well as provide them with a salary and benefits. The salary and benefits for residents must be equivalent to the PARO-CAHO Agreement.
- guarantee a position to their trainees once they return to their country of origin upon completion of training.
Since each agreement is valid for a period of six years, the University of Ottawa will be able to consider any sponsored applications for the duration of the agreement. Please note that signing the agreement does not guarantee that programs will offer a position to the applicants.
Note that for fellowship positions only, funding may be available through a hospital here in Ottawa; therefore, sponsorship would not be mandatory.
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Residency Programs
Applications must be submitted online through uoCampus. Deadline to apply for a residency position beginning in July 2022 was September 30, 2021. Please visit our website between May 1 to September 30, 2022, for a list of programs available for July 2023 and for details on how to apply. Please note that we are not accepting residency applications at this time.
In order to be admissible for a residency position, you must meet the following criteria:
- have a medical degree from an accredited institution listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools https://search.wdoms.org confirming school is recognized in Canada (Sponsor Notes tab);
- written and passed the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I or the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) http://www.mcc.ca;
- be officially sponsored by a funding source from country of origin;
- have successfully completed an English proficiency test, if applicable. See requirements below.
*Language Requirements:
Must provide proof of English or French language proficiency through ONE of the following:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 7 in each component, OR;
- TOEFL-Ibt; passing score of 93 including a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section, OR;
- Candidates for whom their primary and secondary, medical school education was conducted in English or French, proof must be attached to application, OR;
- World Directory of Medical Schools Language Option – If the instruction and the language of patient care at the undergraduate medical school was conducted completely in English or French, then a candidate can submit a copy or printout of the World Directory of Medical Schools website listing the medical school which clearly states that the language of instruction is English or French https://search.wdoms.org/.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Foreign Programs Coordinator by email at PGMEForeign@uottawa.ca.
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Fellowship Programs
Applications must be submitted online through uoCampus. Please note that applications received by mail, email or fax are no longer accepted.
In order to be admissible for a fellowship position, you must meet the following criteria:
- have a medical degree from an accredited institution listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools https://search.wdoms.org/ confirming school is recognized in Canada (Sponsor Notes tab);
- have successfully completed a specialty program before the beginning of the fellowship;
- be certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or another recognized international certification board (organization outside of Canada that certifies medical specialists), or at a minimum, have completed a residency program and be admissible to take the Royal College, CFPC or USA certification exams;
- have successfully completed an English proficiency test, if applicable. See requirements below.
*Language Requirements:
Must provide proof of English or French language proficiency through ONE of the following:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 7 in each component, OR;
- TOEFL-Ibt; passing score of 93 including a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section, OR;
- Candidates for whom their primary and secondary, medical school education was conducted in English or French, proof must be attached to application, OR;
- World Directory of Medical Schools Language Option – If the instruction and the language of patient care at the undergraduate medical school was conducted completely in English or French, then a candidate can submit a copy or printout of the World Directory of Medical Schools website listing the medical school which clearly states that the language of instruction is English or French https://search.wdoms.org/.
Note that you may apply only to a Clinical Fellowship in the same discipline (or subdiscipline) in which you are recognized as a specialist.
If you meet all the requirements and wish to be considered for a fellowship position in one of the programs listed below, please submit your application via the uoCampus admissions portal.
How to apply
The application process is done entirely online in 2 steps.
- You will first be required to create an account, or log into your account if you already have one. Once an account has been created, you will be able to start a new admission application by entering your personal information and selecting the program you are interested in applying to. Note if you want to apply to two programs, you will be required to submit the application twice.
- Once you have submitted your admission application, you will receive an email from the University of Ottawa with login instructions to complete your application via uoZone. Please note that it may take a few days after you submit your application to receive the email. Once you have successfully logged in, you must go in the "Applications" section to have access to the uoDoc: Upload Admissions Documents, where you will be able to upload your documents.
Documents required in the application for fellowships are:
- personal statement
- CV
- copy of medical degree (including original and English translation)
- copy of specialty degree (including original and English translation) in the specialty or sub-specialty sought
- proof of English proficiency
- three (3) letters of recommendation
- proof of sponsorship, if applicable
There is a three-year limit of licensure for all clinical fellowships. Please note that a clinical fellowship does not lead to any type of Canadian certification.
If admitted, all foreign Clinical Fellows must undergo a Pre Entry Assessment Program of four (4) to twelve (12) weeks prior to the commencement of their fellowship program.
Fellowship programs accepting applications from International Medical Graduates:
Adult Cardiology
- Advanced Adult Clinical Cardiology
- AFC - Adult Interventional Cardiology
- AFC - Adult Cardiac Electrophysiology
- AFC - Adult Echocardiography
- Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation
- Cardiac Imaging (Cardiac CT, Cardiac MR, PET and Nuclear Cardiology)
Adult Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Bariatric Medicine
- Clinical Lipidology
- Pituitary
- Thyroidology
Adult Nephrology
- Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease
- Advanced Hemodialysis
- AFC - Solid Organ Transplant
- Critical Care Nephrology
- General Nephrology
- Glomerulonephritis
- Home Dialysis
- Renal Hypertension
Adult Neurology
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Headache
- Movement Disorder
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuromuscular
- Stroke
Anesthesiology
- Acute Pain
- Cardiac Anesthesiology
- Global Health
- Neurosurgical Anesthesia
- Obstetric Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Perioperative Hemodynamic Echocardiography
- Perioperative Medicine
- Perioperative Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS)
- Regional Anesthesiology
- Research and Clinical Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
- Simulation & Medical Education
- Thoracic Anesthesiology
- Vascular Anesthesiology
Cardiac Surgery
- Cardiac Surgery
Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Emergency Medicine
- Point of Care Ultrasound in Emergency Medicine (POCUS-EM)
- Prehospital and Transport Medicine
- Simulation and Medical Education
Gynecologic Oncology
- Gynecologic Oncology
Medical Oncology
- Breast Cancer
- Gastrointestinal Oncology
- Genitourinary Oncology
- Lung Cancer (Thoracic Oncology)
- Medical Oncology
Neonatal Perinatal Medicine
- Neonatal Perinatal Medicine
- Neonatal Transport Medicine
- Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
Neurosurgery
- Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery
- Endovascular Neurosurgery
- Functional Cranial and Spine Surgery
- General Neurosurgery
- Neurosurgical Oncology
- Skull Base Surgery
- Spine Surgery / Complex Spine
Nuclear Medicine
- Nuclear Medicine
Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
- Urogynecology and Reconstructive Surgery
Ophthalmology
- Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery
- Neuro-Ophthalmology
- Oculo-plastics
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Retina
Orthopedic Surgery
- Adult Reconstruction Arthroplasty
- Arthroplasty/Deformity Correction
- Comprehensive Knee
- Foot and Ankle
- Hand and Wrist
- Musculoskeletal Oncology
- Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
- Trauma
- Upper Extremity
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
- Advanced Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
- Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstruction
- Microscopic Neurotology and Cochlear Implantation
- Otology/Neurotology
Pediatric Neurology
- Pediatric Epilepsy
Pediatric Surgery
- Clinical Research Fellowship
Urology
- AFC - Solid Organ Transplantation
- Endourology and Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Functional and Reconstructive Urology
- Men’s Health
- Pediatric Urology
- Urologic Oncology
Please refer to this FAQ for helpful information on the application process.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Foreign Programs Coordinator by email at PGMEForeign@uottawa.ca.