Further education

See below for advice on:

Further education advisor

If you are applying to a graduate or professional program, such as medical school, optometry, or pharmacy, and are looking for in-depth one-on-one support, the University of ݮƵ offers appointments with a further education advisor.

Woman sitting cross-legged with items around her.

Here are some supports you can receive during appointments with a further education advisor:

  • Talking about your concerns regarding your further education path
  • Helping you with decision-making about your further education plans
  • Discussing how to become competitive for a specific program (e.g., grades or admission tests)
  • Working with you on your application documents (e.g., personal statements or CVs)
  • Supporting your interview preparation for professional programs

See additional Further Education Resources.

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Faculty of Health graduate programs

The School of Public Health Sciences offers various coursework-based and thesis-based graduate programs in the Faculty of Health. These programs can be completed in 2 years on a full-time basis or in 4 years if taken part-time.

Coursework-based

Thesis-based

Interested in a graduate program?

  • Explore coursework-based and thesis-based program options

  • Review the program requirements and application deadlines

  • Find tips for preparing a strong application

  • Learn about scholarships, and funding opportunities

Explore student stories

Explore more profiles.

Discover more

For more information on all of the graduate programs in the Faculty of Health, how to apply, alumni career stories and more, see Graduate studies in the Faculty of Health or contact the graduate studies representative.

Consider subscribing to the to stay informed on updates on important deadlines, admissions and special events, delivered straight to your inbox.

Additionally, access the graduate studies guides.

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Planning for medical school

The University of ݮƵ contains many resources on preparing for medical school and becoming a physician. See Potential careers – Physician and How to get into medical school.

General steps to becoming a physician

  1. Research careers in health care and medicine
  2. Become familiar with application deadlines and fulfill the academic requirements for medical programs
  3. Complete the
  4. Apply to medical school
  5. Attend medical school and receive a medical degree (typically four years of schooling)
  6. Choose a specialization
  7. Complete residency (anywhere from three to seven years, depending on the specialty)

Each medical school may have different prerequisites, so make sure to check out the and their requirements.

Tips for the MCAT

  • ٴDz’t rush to complete your MCAT; instead, decide on a schedule that works best for you. There are no rules specifying when you must take it
  • Visit , which offers lots of great explanation videos
  • Start studying early. Although you may not take the MCAT until a few years into your undergraduate program, you must allow yourself time to memorize and learn the vast amount of content required
  • ٴDz’t feel discouraged if you do not do well the first time. Many people take the test twice, if not multiple times
  • Practice! Various resources are available online to assist with MCAT studying, including , , and

Tips for reference letters and asking someone to be a referee

  • Only ask referees who can provide a strong reference based on your performance and interactions with them. They need to know you well enough to be able to properly answer the questions in the reference form. See below for questions asked in the Ontario Medical School Confidential Assessment Form.
  • When asking a professor, ideally, ask someone with whom you have taken more than one course and who knows you well from regularly visiting their office hours and asking questions during class. Smaller courses such as seminars, independent studies, and thesis courses are ideal due to the greater level of interaction with your professor.
  • For Ontario Medical Schools, three references are usually required: one academic/employment-related, one non-academic, and one personal.
  • The four questions asked in the Confidential Assessment Form (CAF) for Ontario medical school applications are:
    1. Would this applicant make a good physician?
    2. Rate the applicant on each of the following attributes:
      • Communication skills
      • Problem-solving skills
      • Professionalism (e.g., commitment to ethical practice, standards of behaviour and accountability to others)
      • Empathy (e.g., demonstrating consideration of others’ perspectives)
    3. Identify and comment on one area of improvement for the applicant.
    4. Share any other information that may be relevant to a medical school’s admission committee.
  • You can help out your referee by providing bullet-point examples of how you demonstrated the above skills (e.g., communication, problem-solving) in your interactions with them or in the courses you took with a professor (e.g., communication and leadership demonstrated on a group project, problem-solving in analyzing a case study in class). If a professor did not observe you demonstrating a specific skill in their course, such as commitment to ethical practice or empathy, provide an example from your personal life, for example, such as volunteer work.

Tips for medical school-bound students

  • Reviewthe websites for information about admissions requirements, including specific prerequisite courses.  
  • Familiarize yourself with the information on professional and graduate schools, which can be found in UݮƵ’s .
  • Seekany potential opportunities to grow and strengthen your character, determination, and empathy.
  • Connectwith the Further Education Team in the Centre for Career Development (CCD). You can book an appointment or join the live chat.
  • See more tips from Health Studies alumna Erica MacDonald, now at UBC medical school: How to get into medical school.
  • Networkwith professionals in the industry to get a better idea and appreciation of what a “day in the life of a medical doctor” is like in Ontario/Canada. Understand what obstacles and challenges they have faced in their profession. The knowledge you obtain from your professional interactions will reaffirm your passion and pursuit of the field of medicine. Be confident in your ability to articulate to anyone, including a medical school admission officer, why medicine is a career choice for you.  
  • Do your due diligence, and after you have done your research on the institutions’ admission requirements, come prepared with specific questions to ensure a productive consultation with one of the further education advisors.

The includes a foundational walkthrough of key terms and how things in medicine work.

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Planning for Rehabilitative Sciences

Occupational Therapy

A career in occupational therapy (OT) requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree. It’s common for students to obtain a degree in a related field such as health sciences or psychology. Some programs may have specific prerequisite courses that applicants must complete during their undergraduate studies. To pursue a career in occupational therapy or Rehabilitative Sciences in Ontario, students must apply through the. Refer to the for rehabilitative programs for further information.

After obtaining an undergraduate degree, individuals must apply and complete an accredited occupational therapy program to obtain a Master of Science (MSc) in Occupational Therapy. Occupational therapy programs often include clinical placements, providing students with an opportunity to gain-hands on experience.

There are currently 14 accredited OT Master’s programs in Canada. A full list is available here: .

Upon graduation, individuals need to pass the
. In Canada, this is done through the . Individuals can then apply for licensure to practice occupational therapy in their respective region of practice.

Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy

A career in physiotherapy (PT) requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Some PT programs may have specific prerequisite requirements that applicants must complete during their undergraduate studies. To pursue a career in physical therapy or rehabilitative sciences in Ontario, students must apply through the. Refer to thefor rehabilitative programs for further information.

Following this, individuals enroll in a two-year PT school program to obtain a Master of Science (MSc) in Physical Therapy. PT programs include practical components, such as clinical placements, which allow students to gain relevant hands-on experience. There are currently 16 accredited programs in Canada, and all are accredited by the . See to see the full list.

Upon graduation, individuals must pass the . Following this, individuals must register with the and the Colleges of Physiotherapy in the province/territory of work to obtain professional certification and licensing.

Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology

A career in speech-language pathology (SLP) requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Depending on the SLP or Audiology program, various undergraduate degrees may be accepted. It’s common for students to have a background in health sciences or a related field. Some SLP programs may have specific prerequisite courses that applicants must complete during their undergraduate studies. These courses typically cover areas like human anatomy, linguistics, and statistics. Refer to the for rehabilitative programs for further information.

After graduation, individuals must enroll in a two-year speech-language pathology or audiology program to obtain a Master of Science (MSc). There are currently twelve Canadian universities that offer Master SLP programs and eleven universities that offer Master audiology programs. A full list can be found here: .

To pursue a career in SLP or audiology in Ontario, students must apply through the. These programs include both academic coursework and clinical placements for students to gain hands-on experience in the field.

After graduating from the program, individuals must apply for registration with the provincial regulatory body for speech-language pathologists. In Ontario, individuals need to be registered under the . Depending on the jurisdiction, audiologists may need to acquire a separate license to dispense hearing aids.

For more information on the general admission and application process for Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology programs, see the for further information.

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