International Medical Graduates

Residency, Fellowship, and Elective Training

Our residents and fellows train in dynamic McGill University-affiliated teaching hospitals and community clinics located in the greater Montreal area. As a McGill trainee, you will be a valued member of the McGill medical community.

Our teaching faculty – leaders in their fields – provide residents with personalized training that prioritizes individual needs and goals. Additionally, the Faculty of Medicine places the focus on interprofessionalism. We know collaborative health care improves the quality of patient care, enhances patient safety, and reduces workload issues.

McGill’s high standards spur trainees to excel, and ensure that at the end of their training they confidently transition to independent practice and even go on to become leaders in their field in their own right.

We invite you to learn more about the experience of training in Postgraduate Medical Education with McGill University.

Our residency programs are accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Explore McGill’s wide range of Residency Programs.

The Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office offers 240-clinical and clinical-research Fellowships for recognized specialists or family physicians. Each Fellowship Program is dedicated to training the best and brightest physicians to be future leaders in their area of specialization

Explore McGill’s wide range of Fellowship Programs.

Postgraduate Medical Education is pleased to now offer international electives for medical graduates who trained outside of Canada and the U.S., providing an opportunity to experience and to train in dynamic McGill-affiliated teaching hospitals and community clinics.

Click here for more information or to apply for McGill postgraduate electives

Who is eligible?

The McGill Faculty of Medicine has postgraduate training agreements with a number of organizations. These agreements allow all eligible International Medical Graduates (sponsored by contracts) to complete their Residency and Fellowship training in any of McGill’s 70 Residency programs and 240 Fellowship programs.

Currently, the Faculty of Medicine’s Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office has postgraduate training agreements with the following organizations:

• Bahrain,
• Kuwait,
• Oman,
• Qatar,
• Saudi Arabia,
• UAE

International Medical Graduates (sponsored by contracts) must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be medical doctors who graduated from medical schools listed in the FAIMER World Directory of Medical Schools.
• Have secured funding from their government, embassy or other sponsoring agency.
• All non-Canadian International Medical Graduates must sign a written statement committing to return to their country of origin at the end of their training, and attest that they will not apply for permanent residency status, nor write the licensure/certification examinations in Quebec.

Applicants to Fellowship programs must have satisfactorily completed Residency training as well as Board Certification.

How to apply to Residency and Fellowship Programs

You may view the list of programs that are closed for applications for the 2025-2026 on the Key Dates webpage

Please contact your sponsoring agency to determine your local application process.

Candidates funded by the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS) must ensure to select "KIMS Applicants" when applying online. All other candidates should select "PGME Applicants".

Candidates can apply to up to two programs. KIMS sponsored candidates can apply to one program only. Please ensure you contact your sponsor before you submit your application.

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

The Applicant Guide will help you successfully complete your application.

You will be required to create an account to submit an application (will be used for subsequent logins). An application fee of $136.89 CAD (The application fee is non-refundable and must be paid by credit card) will be charged for 2 applications within the same academic year. A second application cannot be submitted until the application fee for the first has been payed. Payment receipts will be sent by email and available on the Applicant Status Portal. 

The status of your application can be monitored via the Applicant Status Portal accessible upon submission and payment of your application. A link to the Applicant Status Portal will be made available within the “Application Submitted” email notification received upon application submission

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.

Required application documents

Required checklist items to complete your application can be uploaded via the Applicant Status Portal.

Your file must include 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:

1. Curriculum Vitae/Resume

2. Personal statement: The personal statement is an opportunity to present how your background and motivations make you a good candidate. The personal statement also shows your writing style, communications skills, and some aspects of your personality. The letter should be specific to the program you are applying to. Some programs may also request specific content for your personal statement.

3. 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.

4. Copy of your Medical Degree

5. Medical School transcript: Only for physicians applying to entry-level residency programs

6. Proof of success of the Medical Council of Canada (MCCEE and/or MCCQE1 exams and/or the USMLE exams (steps 1 and 2): -This includes the Statement of Results AND the Supplemental Feedback Report. For applicants to entry-level residency programs only.

7. A copy of your Specialty Certificate(s) issued by a Board or College (not required for applicants to entry-level residency programs who have not been granted specialty certificates):

   • 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 (This includes the Statement of Results AND the Supplemental Feedback Report). 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 exempted 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.

1. Three reference letters, signed and on institutional letterhead for each application. These letters must be less than two years old. Indicate persons (referees) who have agreed to send references in support of your application. 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.

2. Confirmation of funding: Letter from the sponsoring agency confirming that you have secured funding, as well as the name of the program to which you are applying, and start and end dates of your residency/fellowship. The indicated sponsor will be able to upload the letter on the Applicant Status Portal. The letter will appear as received to the candidate via their Applicant Status Portal once uploaded on the application by the sponsor.

3. Attestation of residency training: The indicated Program Director’s Officer and/or Program Directors (required to provide documents to complete your application) will be notified upon submission of your application. They will only be notified once if you have indicated them for both applications. Allow up to 4 hours for the notification to be sent. The letter must be signed by the residency program director. 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:

1. Evaluations of all previous postgraduate training (for physicians currently completing a residency program in a Canadian or U.S medical School only).

2. 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 nor forwarded to another institution.

The PGME office cannot consider applications that are incomplete or late.

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, for the status of their application. 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, attest that they will not apply for permanent residency status nor write the licensure/certification examinations in Quebec, and confirm that this status will be maintained for the duration of the training at McGill. 

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

Pre-Entry Assessment Period (PEAP)

McGill University recognizes the value of its International Medical Graduates. They bring a diversity of perspectives, experiences, cultures and languages, which enriches the university experience for all. Hence, the PGME Office is committed to providing a rich, multicultural learning environment where all trainees can acquire the knowledge, skills and professionalism necessary to be confident and competent physicians and surgeons.

With this in mind, in April 2019, the PGME Office introduced a mandatory Pre-Entry Assessment Period (PEAP) for International Medical Graduates (sponsored by contracts). Successful completion of this assessment period is a pre-requisite to starting a residency training program at McGill.

The PEAP includes a two-week orientation session during which trainees will become familiar with the Quebec academic and health care environments and medical system. Following orientation, trainees will complete an eight-week assessment period.

McGill expects trainees to perform clinical duties at a level comparable to Canadian MD/MDC graduates. Residency Program Directors will assess trainees on a variety of clearly defined competencies specific to the PEAP (i.e., clinical skills, technical skills, knowledge and judgement, communication skills and professional attitudes).

Trainees must pass the PEAP to be granted entry into the McGill Residency program to which they applied. If a trainee does not pass the PEAP, McGill will withdraw its offer for Residency training. Please note, the decision regarding the assessment of trainees is final and not subject to a hearing or appeal process.

Trainees who successfully complete the PEAP will start their residency on July 1, the beginning of the PGME academic year.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, PEAP will be on the following dates: April 2, 2024 to June 7, 2024. PEAP Orientation is scheduled to take place from April 2, 2024, to April 12, 2024, and it will be held in person. After the PEAP Orientation, candidates will participate in the in-person 8-week clinical activities.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, PEAP will be on the following dates, March 31st, 2025 to June 6th, 2025. 

Trainees admitted in the PEAP Program, will have to:

• Apply for registration (Immatriculation) with the CMQ, Collège des médecins du Québec, in order to complete a 10-week assessment period, before officially starting a residency training program on July 1.
• Apply for registration with the PGME at McGill in order to complete a 10-week assessment period.

Once they successfully complete the assessment period, PEAP trainees will have to:

• Apply for a CMQ training card to be able to perform professional activities as residents. There is a fee for both Registration and Training card application.
• Register with the PGME at McGill in order to start their residency training on July 1 (instructions will be provided in May).