Pathways to Medicine Scholarship

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.

How to apply for the Pathways to Medicine scholarship

Applicants will be informed of award decisions by the end of June

Become a student

Apply to the University of Calgary by March 1

Go to application page

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.

How to apply for awards

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.

Download the applicant manual

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.

Up to Five students will receive:

  • Tuition and fees: $5,000/year (for four years)
  • Relocation allowance: up to $1,000
  • Summer internship: $6,000 (in third year)

Scholarship recipients will also have:

  • Access to formal clinical shadowing experiences within the Cumming School of Medicine while an undergraduate
  • Access to a sponsored MCAT preparatory course
  • Assistance from program staff to secure external tuition support
  • Involvement in an enrichment program throughout undergraduate studies

Award Criteria

  • Applicants must apply to their undergraduate degree program of choice at the University of Calgary independently.
  • The Scholarship applies solely to students completing their undergraduate degrees at the University of Calgary.
  • Applicants must be residents of Alberta as defined by the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) Admission Policy. See MD Program Applicant Manual
  • Only students from a low socioeconomic status background are eligible for this scholarship. Consideration will be given to applicants who are of Indigenous ancestry and/or from a rural community.
    • Note: Low socioeconomic status is defined as having an average gross familial income (as reported on line 23600 of parental & personal tax returns) that is 1.5 times or less than the Statistics Canada before tax “Low Income Cut Offs” (LICO) for the past 2-3 years. More information can be found in the Pathways to Medicine Scholarship Applicant Manual.
    • Note: Applicants whose parents hold graduate or professional degrees (e.g. MBA, PhD, MD, LLB, etc.) will be considered on a case by case basis, but are unlikely to be awarded a scholarship.  The scholarship is intended to primarily support individuals who come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in addition to financial disadvantages.
    • Note: Rural is defined as having graduated high school in a community of less than 15,000 inhabitants.
    • Note: Indigenous applicants must provide a status card/certificate of Indian Status or offer other documentation of indigenous ancestry. Metis applicants must provide a valid Metis membership card issued by a recognized provincial Metis organization associated with the Metis National Council.
  • All applicants must provide a Nomination Letter from your high school (principal, teacher, counsellor, coach etc.) or a representative from a recognized community organization, Indigenous group or rural community.
    • Note: Community organization is defined as a non-profit or geographic entity that serves or represents the target populations (rural, indigenous, or under-served urban). Organizations may nominate a maximum of two applicants per application year.

Application and Selection Process

The deadline to apply to a program at the University of Calgary is March 1, please see the How to apply page for more information.

All applicable students who indicated an interest in our scholarship program will be asked to complete a Preliminary Application.

The Pathways to Medicine Committee will review the preliminary applications and shortlist based on the following:

  • That the applicant fits with the vision and criteria of the Pathways Program
  • That the applicant demonstrates strong academic ability

Shortlisted applicants will be required to complete a secondary application and take part in an interview process organized similarly to the MMIs.

All applicants will be notified of award decisions no later than July 1.

Participation Options for Faculty and Students of the Cumming School of Medicine

 

In addition to financial support, Pathways scholars are provided with an enrichment program consisting of a monthly seminar series, formal mentorship opportunities, as well as clinical and educational shadowing. 

The different opportunities for Cumming School of Medicine faculty and students are as follows, and are available in more detail in the Participation Options Guide.

  1. Faculty Mentorship
  2. Clinical Shadowing
  3. Seminar Series
  4. Medical Student Shadowing

If you are interested in becoming involved with the Pathways to Medicine Scholarship Program or its students, please make yourself known to Ms. Zainab Malik (pathways@ucalgary.ca), and tell us in what areas you would like to contribute. It would be helpful if you would include the following information:

  • Name
  • Current position
  • Particular areas of interest
  • Brief description of your background (particularly helpful for potential mentors)