Independent commentary on Western University MD admissions and protected persons
Ontario law allows Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons to fill the non-Ontario-resident share of medical school seats. Western University's published MD criteria list only citizens and permanent residents.
Ontario law names
CitizensPermanent residentsProtected persons
Western's published criteria name
CitizensPermanent residentsProtected persons (not listed)
What the law says
Section 16.0.1 of Ontario's Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act (RSO 1990, c. M.19) sets rules for publicly assisted universities admitting students to a medical program.
- At least 95% of students admitted each year must be ordinarily resident in Ontario (or a different percentage, if one is prescribed).
- Each remaining student must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protected person under section 95(2) of the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, or a person prescribed by regulation.
Ontario Regulation 130/25, in effect since July 1, 2025, defines the terms used in this rule. OMSAS, the application service, describes “ordinarily resident in Ontario” under that regulation as being a citizen, a permanent resident, or a protected person who also meets the residence tests. So protected persons can count toward the 95% as well as the remaining 5%.
OMSAS: Ordinarily Resident in Ontario requirement
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act (ontario.ca)
O. Reg. 130/25 (ontario.ca)
What Western says
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry admissions pages state that MD applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of Canada at the time of application. They also say the school does not accept international applicants. The pages reviewed do not mention protected persons.
Schulich admission requirements
Schulich frequently asked questions
What other Ontario schools list
Some other Ontario medical schools name protected persons in their citizenship criteria.
| Source | Groups listed |
|---|---|
| Ontario statute, s. 16.0.1 (non-resident share) | Citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, prescribed persons |
| Western University (Schulich) | Citizens, permanent residents |
| McMaster University | Citizens, permanent residents, protected persons |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | Citizens, permanent residents, protected persons |
TMU School of Medicine admission requirements
OMSAS program requirements overview (includes McMaster and Western)
Fair context
The law limits who may fill the non-Ontario-resident share of seats. It does not require any school to admit protected persons. This page points out a difference between published criteria and what the law permits. It does not claim that any rule is being broken.
Western also describes an International Pathway: three supernumerary seats at the Windsor campus for applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Check the school's current page for who qualifies, since eligibility and seat numbers can change.
What you can do
- Email the Schulich admissions office politely and ask whether protected persons may apply to the MD program: admissions.medicine@schulich.uwo.ca
- Write to your Member of Provincial Parliament. Find your MPP (Legislative Assembly of Ontario)
- Share this page with someone it affects.
Last verified
Sources last checked on October 8, 2026.