At UBC we acknowledge the importance of having a community of physicians that reflects the social identities represented in the growing population of British Columbia. We know that one way to achieve this is through respectful, inclusive, and equitable educational experiences for Black students throughout their academic careers. Through the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway, we are committed to encouraging and supporting you throughout your journey to becoming a doctor and future health care leader.
We are a community that honours our learners’ diverse opinions and experiences. Feeling a sense of belonging is essential to thriving and we want to connect Black students with opportunities to join a healthcare community that encourages and supports their full growth and development into leaders in medicine, medical education, and more.
Why the Black Student Pathway?
Your journey to medicine matters.
The Black Student Pathway was created in response to the under-representation of Black medical learners in the MD Undergraduate Program. It offers a community-informed and affirming admissions process that recognizes the experiences, perspectives, and community connections Black applicants bring to medicine.
The pathway is also about building community. From admissions through to the MD program, Black learners are connected with dedicated supports, including the Black Student Orientation, mentorship, learner events, and opportunities to connect with Black physicians, faculty, staff, and students.
Together, these supports help welcome more Black medical learners into the program and contribute to an incoming class that better reflects the communities they will serve.
Applying Through the Black Student MD Pathway
We encourage individuals who self-identify as Black, or who are multiracial and identify with their Black ancestry, to apply to the MD Program. To apply to the program through the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway, you will be required to:
- Indicate that you self-identify as Black or multiracial with Black ancestry on your MD admissions application by using the appropriate checkbox.
- Write a personal essay.
Personal Essay
You must submit a personal essay explaining why you have chosen to apply through the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway. Your essay will be reviewed by the Black Student MD Admissions Subcommittee, which includes self-identified Black physicians, faculty, staff, medical learners, and community members.
This essay will also be used to help determine your eligibility for the Entrance Award in Medicine for Black Students. The Entrance Award was introduced alongside the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway to provide financial support to exceptional Black students beginning their medical school journey.
Essay Prompt
In a 250-500-word personal statement, please describe your ethno-racial background and how your perspectives, accomplishments, and unique experiences as a Black person, or a Black multiracial person who identifies with their Black identity, have motivated you to apply through the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway. We encourage you to highlight how these aspects of your Black identity have influenced your academic and personal journey and how they have shaped your goals and aspirations.
Black Student Pathway Panel Interview
Applicants invited to interview may also be invited to participate in a virtual Black Student Pathway panel interview as part of the admissions process. If invited, applicants will receive more information about the interview format and what to expect.
Assessment and Evaluation
Pre-interview assessment and evaluation for applicants applying through the Black Student Pathway will be conducted by the Black Student MD Admissions Subcommittee, with Black reviewers involved in the review of applicant files. The subcommittee includes Black physicians, faculty members, medical learners, members of the Black community, members of the MD Admissions Subcommittee, and faculty from across our distributed program, and will make recommendations regarding applicants to be considered for interview.
Black physicians, faculty members, medical learners, and members of the Black community will also be involved across the interview and post-interview review stages.
Meet Our Students
As I begin my fourth year, I’m shocked by how quickly time has passed. Medical school has helped me grow in empathy, resilience, and compassion, but its greatest gift has been the friendships, patients, and mentors. Be kind to yourself, do your best, and remember you are a whole person beyond medicine. You are more capable than you realize, and there is a lot of joy in this journey.
– Audrey Esemezie, Island Medical Program, Class of 2027
Meet more of our MD Undergraduate Program students here
Pre-admissions Support
As part of our commitment to supporting your journey to becoming a doctor and future health care leader, we offer dedicated pre-admissions support where you can learn more about applying to the MD Undergraduate Program as a Black applicant and connect with current learners, physicians, and our Black Student Support Team.
Pre-admissions opportunities include information sessions, Mini Medical School, our annual pre-admissions workshop for Black students, and other events designed to help you learn more about medicine, the MD admissions process, and the supports available through the Black Student Pathway.
Please check this page regularly for upcoming events and opportunities.
Connect with Us
Our team is committed to supporting prospective applicants and Black students on their journey to medicine.
If you are a Black prospective student with questions about applying to the UBC MD Undergraduate Program through the Black Student Pathway or the general admissions stream, please reach out to us. We look forward to connecting with you.
Donneil McNab
Black Student Initiatives Manager
Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program
Johnesha Johnson
Black Initiatives Coordinator
Island Medical Program
Frequently Asked Questions
The Faculty of Medicine recognizes that there is an underrepresentation of Black physicians in British Columbia and is committed to helping remove barriers for Black students in applying to medical school at UBC. We also believe that by supporting diversity in medical training, we contribute to greater diversity and inclusivity in our health care system and beyond.
No. All applicants must meet the same admissions requirements (GPA, MCAT, prerequisites, credit requirements) and they must still engage in intentional community involvement in paid or unpaid environments, like applicants through the general admissions stream. Qualified applicants will be invited to interview based on their file review scores. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee progression to an interview.
No, applying through this pathway is a personal choice, though you may find the process more supportive than applying through the general admissions stream.
No. We encourage you to apply through all MD admission pathway programs that are relevant to you. For example, if you have northern and rural experience or would like to pursue a career in northern or rural medicine, you can apply to the Northern and Rural MD Admissions Pathway in addition to the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway. For more information on other pathways please see the Eligibility page.
No. Beginning with the 2026/2027 application cycle, out-of-province applicants supported through the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway are no longer considered in-province applicants.