Pathways to Medicine Scholarship Program
Our mission is to empower students across Alberta
to overcome obstacles and achieve success towards
a fulfilling career in Medicine.
What is the Pathways to Medicine Scholarship Program?
The Cumming School of Medicine holds an unwavering commitment to fostering equitable opportunities for students from underrepresented communities across our province. We aim to see these exceptional students develop skills within their personal and professional lives before embarking on the journey of becoming esteemed physicians in Alberta. Modelled on successful initiatives in the United States, this scholarship is rooted in our commitment to enhancing access to medical education.
Applicants must be admitted to any University of Calgary undergraduate program to be eligible. Further information on program details is listed below.
Upon completing their undergraduate degree, scholars will earn guaranteed admission to the University of Calgary MD program, provided they meet predefined admission criteria, including GPA, MCAT, and interview requirements.
Join us on this transformative journey to unlock your potential and make a meaningful impact in the medical field. Together, we can pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive future in medicine.
Scholarship winners will receive:
How to apply for the Pathways to Medicine scholarship
Applicants will be informed of award decisions by the end of June
Apply for awards
When applying for student awards, applicants must indicate the desire to be considered for a Pathways to Medicine Scholarship. Deadline for awards application is March 1.
Submitting Preliminary Application
Successful applicants will be contacted and asked to submit a preliminary application. *Note: not all applicants who meet program eligibility criteria will be offered the opportunity to complete a preliminary application.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
-
University of Calgary Application
Applicants must independently apply to an undergraduate program at the University of Calgary by March 1.
-
Alberta Residency
Applicants must be Alberta residents as defined by the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) admissions policy and will be graduating from a high school within the province.
-
Lower-Socio Economic Status
Eligibility is based on lower socioeconomic status, defined as having an average gross familial income of 1.5x or less than the “Low-Income Cut-Offs” (LICO) chart presented by Statistics Canada (before tax) for the past few years. Additional information on this point can be found in the P2M Applicant Manual.
-
Consideration for Indigenous and Rural Backgrounds:
Special consideration will be given to applicants of Indigenous ancestry or from rural communities in Alberta.
Rural for P2M is defined as a community with fewer than 15,000 residents.
-
Nomination Letter Requirement
Applicants must submit a Nomination Letter from a representative of a recognized community, including but not limited to a high school principal/teacher, coach, organization, Indigenous leader, or rural community.
A community organization is a non-profit or geographic entity that serves or represents a population.
Organizations may nominate a maximum of two applicants per application year.
-
Please note:
Please ensure a student meets these eligibility requirements before applying for our scholarship. Please ask for assistance if you have any questions or require further clarification.
The deadline to apply to a program at the university is March 1. Please see the How to Apply page for more information and contact a recruiter. Information on how to accurately apply for the P2M scholarship program can be found in the Application Manual. Below is an outline of the process taken by the program.
-
Preliminary Application Process:
Following the application deadline, the Pathways to Medicine (P2M) program will distribute a Preliminary Application to eligible candidates. Please ensure the accurate completion by carefully following the instructions in the Application Manual and further instructions in an email sent by the program coordinator.
-
Application Evaluation and Shortlisting:
The P2M selection committee will meticulously assess all completed applications received and compile a shortlist of qualified applicants.
-
Connecting with Shortlisted Applicants:
Connecting with Shortlisted Applicants:
Shortlisted candidates will be expected to fulfill two tasks:- Complete the Secondary Application
- Participate in the Multi-Mini Interviews (MMI) at the CSM
Shortlisted applicants will be informed of the final decision no later than July of the application year. Please be mindful that while the demand for the scholarship is substantial, only five scholarship recipients are accepted per year.
-
Questions?
Do not hesitate to contact us for any inquiries or additional information regarding the application process. We appreciate your interest in the P2M scholarship program and wish you the best of luck in your application.
Pathways to Medicine offers different opportunities for Cumming School of Medicine faculty to be involved. Details on these options can be found in our Participation Options Guide . If you want to become involved with the Pathways to Medicine Scholarship program, please don’t hesitate to contact the program coordinator at pathways@ucalgary.ca and share what areas you would like to contribute. Please include your name, current position, area of interest and brief background description.
Would you like to show your support for a Pathways to Medicine student journey? Click here to discover how you can make a difference.