Non-Ministry Funded Residency Positions

Applicant Categories

Below are the 3 categories of applicant profiles who may apply according to the process described on this page, provided they have an acceptable proof of funding:

1. 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 Québec.
2. Graduates of U.S Medical Schools: U.S Citizens can apply for a maximum of three years of training in Québec.
3. 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 to determine your local application process.

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

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be medical doctors who are graduates of medical schools listed in the Faimer Directory.
• Have secured funding from their government, embassy or other sponsoring agency. Acceptable Scholarships must be granted by a non-profit source. This can be a government, a scientific or international organization, a University, 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. The funding commitment must also cover any extension of training for up to 6 months.
• Obtain a letter of eligibility from the Collège des médecins du Québec.

The McGill Postgraduate Medical Education Office does not offer positions for trainees to complete a single preliminary year of training. Preliminary training is considered to be part of the core training for the specialty programs offered at McGill University, see (residency levels).

Application Process

Please see the steps outlined on our Application steps and deadlines page.

You may view the list of programs that are closed for applications for the 2024-2025 on the Key Dates webpage

Please submit your online application through the following link: McGill On-line Application Form.

The Applicant Guide will help you successfully complete your application.

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 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

For applicants to entry-level residency (PGY1) programs:

• Medical School transcript
• Proof of success of the Medical Council of Canada exams (MCCEE and/or MCCQE1 exams and/or the USMLE exams (steps 1 and 2)

For applicants to subspecialty residency programs:

• 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 of 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 non-profit source, e.g. 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:

  • Name of the applicant
  • Name and length of the program
  • Salary: The minimum acceptable salary is the equivalent of the R-1 salary (approximately $48,500 CAD per year).
  • Tuition and student fees
  • Scholarship has to cover any extension of training for up to 6 months: These will be approved by the Associate Dean (i.e. probation or academic difficulty).
  • Contact name, full address, and phone number of the sponsor

• 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. Program directors may then invite selected applicants for interviews.

2. Applicants should continue to check their Applicant Status Portal. All program 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.