Prospective Fellows Admissions


Fellowship Programs
 

The Postgraduate Medical Education Office offers clinical and clinical research fellowship programs (post residency programs) for recognized specialists or family physicians.

Residents who have obtained their MD in Québec and/or who are currently registered in a residency training program or did a residency training in a Québec Faculty of Medicine in a contingent régulier or contingent particulier position can ONLY apply for fellowship programs via formation complémentaire.

Fellow: A trainee enrolled in programs not recognized by the RCPSC and gaining an educational experience beyond the requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and/or the College of Family Physicians.

Fellowship: A fellowship is an opportunity to obtain advanced training and/or to acquire more specialized expertise not normally acquired during residency training, and it does not lead to certification by the RCPSC or the CFPC, and cannot be credited toward national certification requirements. Applicants must have satisfactorily completed residency training as well as Royal College or Board Certification.

Applicant Categories:

Below are the applicant profiles who may apply according to the process described on this page:

  • International Medical graduates (not sponsored by contracts with McGill University): Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, U.S Citizens, and Foreign Citizens can apply for a maximum of three years of training in Quebec.
  • Graduates from U.S Medical Schools: U.S Citizens can apply for a maximum of three years of training in Québec
  • Graduates of Canadian Medical Schools (Non-Québec)

If you are an International Applicant sponsored by contracts with McGill University, please see our International Medical Graduates (sponsored by contracts) page and contact your sponsoring agency for information on the admissions process.

Residents who have obtained their MD in Québec and/or who did a residency training in Québec or are currently registered in a residency training program in a Québec Faculty of Medicine in a contingent régulier or contingent particulier position can ONLY apply for fellowship programs via formation complémentaire .

Applicants to Pediatrics Fellowship programs who do not have funding can check the Department of Pediatrics website for more information related to bursary awards.

    Admissions Requirements

    Applicants to fellowship training programs must have satisfactorily completed residency training as well as either Royal College or Board Certification.  Candidates must be deemed eligible to receive a training card by the Collège des Médecins du Québec.

    Fellows must meet all of the following criteria:

    • Be medical doctors who are graduates of medical schools listed in the Faimer Directory.
    • Be physicians who are recognized as specialists in Canada or abroad. In order for a physician to be able to be considered for a fellowship (post residency training) they must hold a specialty certificate from a Board or College (e.g. in order to be able to apply for the Sleep Medicine Fellowship, applicants should be recognized specialists in Respirology).
    • Hold proof of funding. Acceptable Scholarships must be granted by a non-profit source. This can be a government, a scientific or international organization, a University, Government Hospital, Faculty of Medicine. All other scholarships (for example, self-funding) will be refused. Unfunded training is not possible. The minimum acceptable amount is the equivalent of the R-1 salary (approximately $48,500 per year). Additionally, the scholarship must cover the tuition and student services fees. Some programs at McGill University may offer internal funding. Please see the Fellowship Programs page for specific program details. The tuition rates are set by the university on a yearly basis, and based on students registered for the full 52 weeks.
      • Applicants to Pediatrics fellowship programs who do not have funding can check the Department of Pediatrics website for more information related to bursary awards.

    Application Process:

    All candidates applying for fellowship programs must apply via the McGill On-line Application Form and pay the application fee $132.90 (The application fee is non-refundable and must be paid by credit card). Payment receipts will be sent by email and available on the Applicant Status Portal. You will be charged for only one submitted application. You will not be permitted to submit a second application until the payment is made. You will be unable to access your Application Status Portal until the Application fee has been paid.

    If questions arise that are not answered on our website, we encourage you to contact us by email:

    Fellowship Applications: pgcoordinator.med [at] mcgill.ca

    Candidates may apply for a maximum of two programs (one fee payment allows for two program selections). 

    The Applicant Guide will help you successfully complete your application.

    1- Create An Application and indicate your Fellowship Program of choice. Once all the information from the Review page has been provided, you may Finalize and Pay your application. The Applicant Status Portal will be accessible upon submission and payment of your application.

    2- Access Applicant Status Portal and check regularly for updates on decisions, activities and required Application Checklist items (as they may take up to 30 minutes to appear). Multiple Applications will be accessible via the drop-down located in the upper –right of the Status Portal.

    3- Submit the required supporting documents listed in the Application Checklist. Decisions cannot be made until we have received all of the required documents. Some required materials will be provided by your sponsor, program directors, UGME Office, Referees and/or PGME.

    The PGME office can only consider files that are complete by the application deadline.

    You may modify your personal information (addresses, email, password),on the Applicant Status Portal but you will not be able to change your application program selections or the name of the referees and their contact information once the application is submitted.

    If you realize that there is a mistake on your application after you’ve submitted it, please contact pgmedoc [at] mcgill.ca, please do not submit a new application, we will make the necessary change.

    Note:  The language of instruction at McGill University is English. Applicants may submit an application in French or English.

    4- Track the status of your application on your Application Status Portal. It is the applicant's responsibility to check their application status on a regular basis, as there may be updates or requests for additional information that must be attended to promptly. 

    The application period for the 2024-2025 academic year will open on May 15th, 2023.

    The deadline to submit your application and a complete file for the majority of Fellowship programs will be September 1st, 2023. For the complete list, kindly consult our Key Dates Page

    Required Documents:

    You must provide us with an official translation of documents written in a language other than English or French, that is, a translation bearing the seal of an official translator. Separate translations must be attached to each corresponding document.

    The following items may appear within the Application Checklist details depending on information provided within the application:

    Upload in the Applicant Status Portal:
    • Curriculum Vitae/Resume
    • Personal Statement: This should clearly outline why you wish to apply to the program.
    • Copy of your Proof of Citizenship: 
      • For non-Canadians: Please submit a copy of your passport.
      • For Canadians: Please submit a copy of your birth certificate, Canadian permanent residency card, or Canadian citizenship card.
    • Copy of your Medical Degree
    • Copy of your Specialty Certificate(s) issued by a Board or College.

    NOTE: For applicants who are in their final year of training, or who have completed postgraduate training and are waiting to receive their specialty certificate, the PGME office may provisionally accept a proof of success for the Medical Council of Canada (MCCEE and/or MCCQE1 exams and/or the USMLE exams (steps 1 and 2) to satisfy this requirement. The specialty certificate must be submitted once it is issued.

    NOTE: Candidates registered in residency programs in Canadian medical schools and/or U.S. medical schools and applying to fellowship programs are exempt from this requirement.

    Required materials to be provided by your sponsor, program directors, UGME Office, Referees and/or PGME (Do not upload or send to us directly). These materials will NOT be selectable in the material uploader, but WILL appear on your Application Checklist.

    • Three reference letters, signed and on institutional letterhead. All reference letters are confidential and cannot be disclosed to candidates. The indicated referees will be notified by email of a reference letter request as soon as “Send to recommender” has been selected and  they will be able to upload the reference letter on the application. Indicated referees can be updated if they have not already provided a recommendation letter. Please contact the PGME office at pgmedoc [at] mcgill.ca to edit unsubmitted referee information.
    • Sponsorship letter, signed and on institutional letterhead: Proof of funding granted by a government, scientific or international organization, hospital, university, or faculty of medicine. All other sources of funding (for example, self-funding) will be refused. Unfunded training is not possible. The letter must include:
    • Attestation of residency training: The letter must be signed by the residency program director, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine or by the Chief Executive Officer of the institution where the training was conducted. The letter must describe:
      • The start and end dates of your residency
      • The rotations you have completed
      • Your overall performance in the program
      • Any leaves or absences

    NOTE: Physicians who have completed or are completing their residency program in a Canadian or U.S. medical school DO NOT have to submit an Attestation of Residency Training. Instead, please provide the two required documents below:

    • Evaluations of all previous postgraduate training (for physicians currently completing a residency program in a Canadian or U.S medical School only).
    • Letter of Standing from your current program director (for physicians who have completed and/or physicians currently completing a residency program in a Canadian or U.S medical School). The letter must describe the rotations you have completed and your overall performance in the program by the end of your Residency, including mention of any leaves. Candidates who have started a residency program in a Canadian or a U.S Medical School and who withdrew from the program are also required to submit a letter of standing from the program director.

    NOTE: You must register the name of your program director on your online application. The indicated program director will provide the evaluations/attestation/letter of standing of any previous postgraduate training. It is your responsibility to ensure that your program director submits the required documents by the application deadline, and to remind them as the deadline approaches. The indicated program director will be notified by email and will be able to upload the required documents on the Applicant Status Portal. The Program Director will only be notified once if you have indicated them for both applications.

     

    Documents submitted to McGill University in support of an application, including, but not limited to, transcripts, diplomas, letters of reference and test scores (in paper or electronic format), become the property of McGill University and will not be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution.

    After You Have Applied

    1. The Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office sends the files of eligible applicants to the various department Program Directors for review (September). Program directors may then invite selected applicants for interviews.

    2. Applicants should continue to check their Applicant Status Portal. All decisions are final.

    3. If an application is successful, the PGME Office will issue an offer letter. Only offer letters emanating from the PGME Office are valid and binding.

    • Should an applicant wish to accept the offer, they must upload their acceptance documents, and any other post-offer documents.
    • Please note that International Medical Graduates who do not have Canadian citizenship or permanent residency must sign a written affidavit committing to return to their country of origin at the end of their residency training. 

    4. Once post-offer documents are received, PGME will email applicants to provide details of the Letter of Eligibility application process:

    • The applicant must open an account with the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) by going to physiciansapply.ca, and submit the required documents for source verification. Fees apply for every document verified, and applicants are responsible for paying these fees.
    • The PGME office will send applicant files to the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ). The CMQ will then send the applicant an email inviting them to fill in a form giving them access to their Medical Council of Canada (MCC) documents. There is a fee for this application, which the applicant is responsible for paying.
    • Once source verification is complete, the CMQ will issue the Letter of Eligibility and also send a copy to the PGME office.

    For applicants who do not have Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residency:

    5. The PGME office will send trainees instructions and the required supporting documentation to apply for a Work Permit. The Letter of Eligibility is a required document for the Work Permit application, and must be received before we can initiate the Work Permit application. Applicants cannot apply for the type of Work Permit required (LMIA-exempt) until the PGME office has initiated the application and sent them a unique identifying number. Applications submitted before receiving instructions and the required supporting documents will be denied, and will slow down the process. Trainees from certain countries may also need to apply for a Temporary Residence Visa.

    6. After the Work Permit is received, trainee files will be passed over to the Registrations team. For more information on the Registration process, see To Do List: For New Trainees.

    Extensions of training are not automatic and can be obtained for valid pedagogical reasons only, pending renewal of eligibility. Please contact your Program Director 12 months in advance to discuss an extension of training.

    For questions related to Fellowship training at McGill University, please email pgcoordinator.med [at] mcgill.ca.

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