Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program requires a master’s degree (thesis based) with an overall average of B+. In addition the applicant must hold a medical degree and certification by the College of Family Physicians of Canada or its equivalent in other countries. Applicants must also be currently practicing Family Medicine in the country in which they reside.

All applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English. Applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency.

Fast Track Entry

Outstanding students in the MClSc program may apply to fast track into the PhD program. In this option students must be recommended by their supervisor, have completed the four core courses and have completed a research project of limited scope.

Admissions Procedure:

Applicants must submit the following items with their online application:

  • Copies of transcripts / academic records are to be uploaded to the application.  Original transcripts sent directly from issuing institution are required once an offer has been made. 
  • A current curriculum vitae
  • A written statement (maximum of 6 pages double spaced) detailing the following:
    • Reasons for pursuing doctoral level work in family medicine;
    • Your research experience;
    • Proposed research focus and its alignment with research conducted at Western's Department of Family Medicine;
    • Proposed career track in Family Medicine research;
    • Commitment to and plan for timely completion of the program.

Online Application:

Applications may be submitted any time of year up until the deadline date of April 1, 2025. Admission is effective in the fall term (September).

Onsite Dates for 2024:  September 16 - 20, 2024

Apply Now

Note: For questions regarding the Online Application contact: gradapps@uwo.ca or 519.850.2341.

References

In the online application, you will provide names and email addresses for two academic referees. After you submit your application (with payment of the application fee), the online application system will contact your referees and provide a link where they may add their reference. Once you have submitted your application, you are not able to access it to make changes. Paper based reference forms are no longer used.

English Language Proficiency

Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies receives official test scores and they make these scores available to the graduate programs. On the online application, please enter your score. We will look for the official report using the details provided by the unofficial report.

Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language by a satisfactory* achievement within the last two years in one of the following:

  • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum acceptable score is 86, with no individual score below 20 for the internet based version, or 550 for the paper and pencil version, although some programs require a higher minimum score. [Western's TOEFL ID is 0984].
  • The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) of the British Council. The minimum acceptable score is 6.5 out of 9. The IELTS is offered in 6 test centres in the US and 3 in Canada.
  • The Duolingo English Test.  Applicants must attain a minimum score of 115.    
  • The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) of the University of Michigan. Students must have at least 80 on each of the sections and an overall score of at least 85. Arrangements to write MELAB may be made online.
  • The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL Assessment). The minimum acceptable score is 60. The CAEL Assessment is offered in several countries throughout the world as well as Canada.
  • Western English Language Centre. The requirement is successful completion of the High-Advanced level. Click here for information regarding a conditional offer of admission, pending completion of Western English Language Centre's program.
  • Fanshawe College’s ESL Program. The requirement is graduation from Level 5, Advanced Academic Preparation, with a minimum 80% in all components.

Students who are required to present evidence of proficiency in English must make their own arrangements to write the TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB or CAEL and to have the official results sent directly to the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by the testing agency.

Official Transcripts

Once an admission offer has been made, you will be required to provide official transcripts of all completed studies.  These must be requested through the University and sent directly from the issuing institution.

Please contact our program coordinator if you have further questions:

Graduate Program Coordinator
Master of Clinical Science & PhD Program
Department of Family Medicine
Western University
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Email: fmgrad@schulich.uwo.ca