Disability-based Consideration Requests for MD Program Admission
McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine is an inclusive, diverse community and we encourage applicants with disabilities to apply to the UGME program if they have the skills and abilities to meet the requirements of the medical degree. Applicants must confirm they can meet the Functional Abilities for Students Entering Medical School.
Unknown, undiagnosed, and/or unaccommodated disabilities may result in grades that disadvantage applicants unfairly. If you have an unaccommodated disability, you may request additional consideration in the undergraduate MD program admission process if you:
- Were not aware that you had a disability, or
- Were not appropriately accommodated for a documented disability during your undergraduate and/or graduate studies.
This request applies only to the initial assessment of your OMSAS application and pertains only to the treatment of the applicant’s undergraduate grades (GPA).
McMaster University will normally require at least 1-semester (5 credits or equivalent) of undergraduate marks with accommodations to demonstrate evidence of the applicant’s academic ability.
Supporting document must be submitted to OMSAS including:
- Documentation from the Accessibility Services Office
- Letter from a Regulated Health Practitioner
- OMSAS Disability-based Consideration for GPA Changes Form
To learn more about the process and documentation required, visit OMSAS – Disability-based Consideration Requests.
Please note: Requests for accommodations for the AAMC MCAT® and/or Acuity Insight Casper should be made directly to the respective administering organizations, as McMaster University or OMSAS do not grant these accommodations.
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The Ontario Faculties of Medicine are responsible to society to provide a program of study that graduates Doctors of Medicine with the knowledge, skills, professional behaviours and attitudes necessary for postgraduate medical training and independent medical practice in Canada. Graduates must be able to diagnose and manage health problems and provide comprehensive, compassionate care to their patients which ensures patient safety. For this reason, students admitted into the MD Program must demonstrate – with or without the use of reasonable accommodation and/or assistive technology – functional abilities in the domains of: learning and assessment of learning; communication; knowledge integration; patient safety and quality and professionalism.
All applicants are encouraged to review the document “Functional Abilities for Students Entering Medical School”
If you require accommodation for the medical program, please connect with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) as soon as possible after acceptance to identify appropriate accommodations.