Selection

The UBC Faculty of Medicine MD undergraduate program has a rigorous admissions process rooted in our values of respect, integrity, compassion, collaboration, and equity. Students are chosen through an intentionally designed process that seeks well-rounded individuals who meet the expanded, distributed program requirements; who can be expected to perform well in the rigorous curriculum and Case-Based Learning format; and who can balance and enrich their academic experience with strong non-academic skills and interests.

About Our Process

The selection of candidates for admission to the UBC Faculty of Medicine MD undergraduate program is governed by guidelines established by the UBC Senate and is the responsibility of the Faculty of Medicine Admissions Selection Committee and the Associate Dean, Admissions. The UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Vice Dean, Education oversees the selection process to ensure that all applicants are given careful consideration without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ancestry, place of origin, family status, physical or mental disability, political belief, religion, marital or economic status. The selection of candidates is made by consensus of the Admissions Selection Committee.

Applicants with BC Residency

Preference is given to residents of British Columbia. Up to 10% of seats (maximum 31) may be available to out-of-province applicants in the medical program each year.

Learn more about BC Residency requirements

Site-Specific Selection

Applicants to the MD undergraduate program will have the opportunity to study medicine in one of four distinct program sites: the Island Medical Program (IMP), Northern Medical Program (NMP), Southern Medical Program (SMP), Vancouver Fraser Medical Program (VFMP) and the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program – Fraser Medical Cohort Year 3 Clinical Clerkship (starting with MED 2026).

In completing the online application, candidates may provide information to help determine their suitability for the Northern Medical Program and the rural positions at the Southern Medical Program and the Island Medical Program. This information is used in the overall admissions process. With other non-academic criteria, references, interview scores and academic criteria, this information aids the Northern and Rural Admissions Subcommittee in recommending admission of students felt to be suitable for a site that offers rural positions.

Applicants will have the opportunity to indicate their site preferences at the time of interview. Applicants will be asked for their sites of first, second, third, fourth and fifth preference (or no interest, if applicable). Members of the Admissions Selection Committee are not aware of an applicant’s site preference during the selection process. Following an admissions decision, applicants offered admission are allocated to sites based on their preferences. However, it is not always possible to allocate all successful applicants to their site of first preference.

Admission Decisions

Candidates are selected after careful review, and decisions are made by committee consensus. Meeting the minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee admission to the program as the number of qualified applicants significantly exceeds the number of available positions. Students considering applying to the program should review the detailed Admissions Statistics and compare their profiles. Due to the significant competition and limits on the incoming class size, not all qualified applicants will be offered admission. Qualified candidates who are not admitted are welcome to reapply in any subsequent year.