We recognize that the cost of attending medical school can be a barrier. If your goal is to make a difference in the health of Indigenous communities through medicine, financial concerns should not stand in the way.

There are several options available to help defray the cost of your professional education.

Financial Supports     Student Resources

To help increase the number of Indigenous physicians, five seats are designated in each incoming class for students applying through this pathway.

To be considered for one of these seats, applicants must complete the following steps and submit their documents by the OMSAS application deadline.

Indigenous Citizenship or Membership

In accordance with Western University's Policy for Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership, applicants must:

• Upload any two documents demonstrating proof of citizenship or membership to the Indigenous Nation claiming you.
• Submit a statement of relational positionality that outlines your lived experience, lineal descent, and community connection (per guidance provided in the List of Approved Modes of Affirmation.

To submit a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership and upload the requisite documentation, please complete the Declaration of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership Form.

Personal Statement

A personal statement in the form of a letter describing:

• Why are you applying through the Indigenous Applicant Pathway.
• Your current and past experiences/involvement in Indigenous communities and the impact of these experiences/involvement.
• Your intended future contributions to your respective community.

Letters of Support

Letters of support from Indigenous communities or organizations attesting to your involvement and/or contributions to the community.

Applications are assessed wholistically based on GPA and MCAT scores, Western autobiographical sketch (ABS), references, personal statement, and letters of support from Indigenous communities or organizations as described above.

Only in exceptional circumstances will Indigenous applicants with a GPA less than 3.30 or MCAT scores below 125 in each section be considered for a designated seat.

Admission Requirements

Indigenous applicants selected for interviews will be welcomed by Indigenous Elders and have the opportunity to share a meal, receive cultural and social support, and connect with Indigenous medical students, staff and faculty at Western University.

Schulich Medicine admission interviews are structured, standardized and conducted virtually by a 3-person panel that may include an Indigenous physician, an Indigenous community member, and a current medical student.

This process is designed to uphold principles of cultural safety and Indigenous representation.

Indigenous Student Centre

The Western Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) offers an array of cultural supports and services to new and returning Indigenous students across Western campus including orientation, academic advising, cultural events and nutrition support, visiting elders and knowledge keepers, circles of support and counselling.

The ISC also provides financial support through a dedicated Indigenous Financial Aid Coordinator who can assist Indigenous students to navigate tuition and fees, as well as access scholarships, awards and bursaries offered through Western's Office of the Registrar and external providers.

Wampum Learning Lodge

The Wampum Learning Lodge (WLL) acts as a home for Indigenous learning initiatives at Western and a touchstone for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to gather and learn together, building relationships in the spirit of reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenization.

Schulich Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization 

The Schulich Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDI-D) serves to support, engage and empower the Schulich community with guidance and resources to create an equitable and inclusive space for all, and seeks to embed principles of equity, inclusion, anti-racism, anti-oppression and decolonization in everything we do to meet the needs of the communities we belong to and serve.

The Office of EDI-D hopes to earn allyship by listening, learning and supporting collaborative responses to the pressing health needs of our region and beyond

Schulich Learner Experience 

Learner Experience strives to provide a supportive learning environment for students enrolled in the MD, DDS and Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education programs. The support comes in many forms, depending on the needs of the learner.

A broad network of faculty, campus and community colleagues assist in providing additional resources to help learners at all points in their journey, such as: 

• personal counselling and/or referral to campus and community professionals,
• academic support and accommodations,
• career guidance and support services to encourage and enhance success,
• support related to equity and mistreatment concerns within educational, work, and research activities, and
• workshops.

Mushkiki Miikan

Mushkiki Miikan is a collaborative initiative across Ontario medical schools including the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University (NOSM University), the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine (Temerty Medicine), Queen's University, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), McMaster University, Western University (Schulich Medicine), and the University of Ottawa with the goal of improving access, providing tailored support, and creating a nurturing environment for Indigenous students throughout their medical educational journey.

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