Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1
519.824.4120 x54401
©1998-2013 Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
We have a new website.
Please learn about Becoming a Veterinarian at our new recruitment site:
www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/recruitment/
Important Regulations Regarding Acceptable Courses
Calculation of Admission Average
All prerequisite courses must be completed in acceptable full-time semesters in any year of their university studies. Courses should be completed within a university undergraduate program - courses taken during graduate programs, professional programs, and certificate programs are not acceptable.
Biological Sciences - 1.0 credits (with recommended emphasis on animal biology)
Cell Biology - 0.5 credits
Genetics - 0.5 credits
Biochemistry - 0.5 credits
Statistics - 0.5 credits (requires a Calculus prerequisite to take the Statistics course)
Humanities/Social Sciences - 1.0 credits (In selecting these courses from among those acceptable, the prospective veterinary student should consider topics such as ethics, logic, critical thinking, determinants of human behaviour and human social interaction.)
A list of acceptable University of Guelph courses for DVM admission for students attending the University of Guelph is available here.
Prerequisite courses proposed to be completed at an institution other than the University of Guelph must be submitted for approval prior to application. To avoid disappointment it is recommended that you verify whether a course is acceptable BEFORE you register for it. Please know that, depending on the time of year you submit your request, responses can take up to eight weeks.
Send your request in writing by mail or fax to:
Deanna Lundmark
DVM Course Evaluation
Admission Services UC L3
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Fax: 519-766-9481
Requests must include:
Please do not email course evaluation requests. Submit by fax or mail only.
Applicants must have completed a MINIMUM of four acceptable full-time university semesters (10.00 credits) to be eligible to apply.
A full-time semester (full course load) is 2.50 credits at the University of Guelph. This is typically five courses at 0.50 credits each per semester. While 2.00 credits may still be considered full-time status, 2.50 credits are required for DVM purposes. For universities that use the 3.00/6.00 credit system, students must have five courses weighted at least 3.00 credits each for a minimum total of 15.00 credits per semester. (International students from the US should take a minimum of 15.00 credit hours per semester).
Candidates from institutions other than the University of Guelph may submit one semester of four one-semester courses for consideration provided that the other semester in the same academic year has a course load of six one-semester courses, or the equivalent. At least three of the four courses must be at the third or fourth year level (or four of the six). Candidates must provide a letter of support from their academic advisor stating that this is the normal structure of the program. “Normal structure” means that all students in this program take this schedule of studies.
A course that runs the full year will have the credit weight divided equally and half applied to each of the two semesters the course is taken.
Applicants with a degree who have a documented commitment, such as work or family responsibility, can present their case to the DVM Admissions Committee at the address below requesting the option of completing their academic requirements on a part-time basis.
The specific course requirements listed below must have been completed at the university level before admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program will be considered. Courses do not need to be completed in a designated Pre-Veterinary program.
Courses will not be acceptable if they are repeats of previously passed courses, or if they are taken at the same level or a lower level in a subject area than previously passed courses in the same subject area.
Applicants with a degree who have a documented commitment, such as work or family responsibility, can present their case to the Admission Committee requesting the option of completing their academic requirements on a part-time basis.
Failure to comply with the course level rules will result in the exclusion of all coursework from the ineligible semester(s) toward a DVM application.
Courses should be approved ahead of time by contacting Deanna Lundmark by mail or by fax:
Admission Services UC L3
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Fax: 519-766-9481
The DVM Admissions Committee reserves the right to deny the use of certain courses in the calculation of the admission average. The course approval process may take several weeks so please submit your documents well ahead of any deadlines.
Appeals Process:
Individuals wishing to appeal decisions related to admissions eligibility may submit a letter detailing their individual circumstance to:
Chair, Admissions Committee,
Ontario Veterinary College
c/o Deanna Lundmark, Admissions
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
Fax: (519) 766-9481
Please note that appeals may take up to two months to process.
If you are applying as a Current or Past University of Guelph Student transcripts will be transferred internally.
If you are applying as a Canadian applicant from another institution or if you are applying as an International Student, please arrange for an official transcript from your university to be sent to:
Ms. Deanna Lundmark
Admission Services UC L3
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Canada
The MCAT will be used in selection for all Canadian applicants. Non-Canadian applicants submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores in lieu of MCAT scores. The code for GRE scores is 0892.
The MCAT is an online test that may be taken on many test dates each year at a specific testing centre. Students must satisfy the deadline date for receipt of MCAT scores by the University of Guelph or their DVM applications will not receive further consideration. Test dates fill up quickly so candidates are advised to register early - usually 4 months prior to the test date. For January 1st deadlines the latest test date acceptable would be in September. This deadline is firm and no extensions or exceptions will be made.
The DVM Admissions Committee takes the numeric scores from the biological sciences, physical sciences and verbal reasoning sections of the MCAT and converts the letter grade from the written section to a numeric score (J=1/11 while T=11/11).
Should you take the MCAT more than once, the DVM Admissions Committee will only consider your best score when calculating your admission average.
A complete description of the MCAT is available on the MCAT website.
Students must request their scores to be released on-line to the University of Guelph through the MCAT Testing History (THx) System using their AAMC login and password.
A 40:40:20 ratio determines your admission average, which is used to select the top 200 candidates to move on in the selection process. This breakdown is as follows:
40% is the average of the courses completed in your last two acceptable full-time semesters - applicants must have a minimum average of 75% or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in order to be considered further.
40% is the average of your eight required prerequisite courses (taken during acceptable full-time semesters) - applicants must have a minimum average of 75% or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in order to be considered further.
20% is your Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score (from the individual MCAT with the highest scores).
The application process for Canadian applicants to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program depends on the school attended for undergraduate studies:
Current or Past University of Guelph Students: Apply to the DVM program by applying for transfer or readmission with the University of Guelph Internal Transfer/Reapplication Form by January 1st. Although the deadline is January 1st please keep in mind that the university is closed on this date. It is strongly recommended that you submit your application form and payment in advance of this date.
All other Canadian applicants: If you are a Canadian citizen and satisfy the Ontario residency requirement, but attend a post-secondary institution other than the University of Guelph OR are living abroad, you may apply to the DVM program using the OUAC 105D form by January 1st. The OUAC 105D form is online at the Compass website and can be found under the University of Guelph undergraduate degree programs page.
Non-Canadian applicants who have fulfilled the academic requirements for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the Ontario Veterinary College should apply using the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). Please visit the VMCAS website for more information:
Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS)
Toll Free: 1-877-862-2740
Web site: http://aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm
Your VMCAS application must be postmarked no later than October 1st. If you are applying through VMCAS, your transcripts, GRE scores and the supplemental application form must be submitted separately.
If you are an international student already attending the University of Guelph please apply using the Application for Internal Transfer/Readmission Form.
Alternatively, if VMCAS is not accessible for you please apply directly to the University of Guelph using the application form which may be requested from Deanna Lundmark at lundmark@registrar.uoguelph.ca. Information is gathered through the Background Information Form (BIF), References, Transcript and GRE scores.
Documents must be submitted to:
Ms. Deanna Lundmark
Admission Services UC L3
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Canada
If you have questions about the application procedure or a current application in progress, please contact: Deanna Lundmark, Admission Services -lundmark@registrar.uoguelph.ca or 519-824-4120 Ext. 56060.
When applying to the DVM program information about each applicant is gathered through the Background Information Form (BIF), References, Transcripts and MCAT/GRE scores. The link to the Background Information Form which includes the referee assessment forms, and the graduate applicant information form will be sent to Canadian applicants.
Year of Entry to DVM Program Application Deadline
(using the University of Guelph Internal Transfer/Reapplication Form or OUAC 105D form)
Document Deadlines Interviews September 2013
January 1, 2013 *
January 1: MCAT scores
March 1 by 4PM: Background Information Form, References, and Transcripts *
May 6 - 10, 2013
(Undergraduate cohort) and June 2013 (Graduate cohort)
Important information regarding deadlines:
* Although the deadline is January 1st please keep in mind that the university is closed on this date. It is strongly recommended that you submit your application form and payment in advance of this date.
**A minimum of four acceptable full-time semesters (two full-time years) including all DVM admission course requirements must be completed before December 30, 2012. This means that the first time students will be eligible to apply is during their third year of their undergraduate degree. Final grades for all Fall 12 semester courses are required by the March 1, 2013 transcript deadline date. No courses completed in the Winter 2013 semester may be applied to a 2013 DVM application.
| Applications |
Application Deadline |
Document Deadline |
Interviews |
October 1st |
November 1st: Updated transcripts (if submitting fall marks) and GRE score if not included in VMCAS application |
November 2012 - May 2013 | |
Application direct to the University of Guelph |
November 1st through the online application form - International students at the University of Guelph apply using the Application for Internal Transfer/Readmission Form |
November 1st: Background Information Form, References, Transcript and GRE scores. |
November 2012 - May 2013 |
Please note that as of 2013 entry all courses that are to be submitted as prerequisites must be completed by the end of the summer semester of the previous year, and document deadlines will be December 1st.
If you have any other questions regarding international applications please contact: Deanna Lundmark, Admission Services - lundmark@registrar.uoguelph.ca or 519-824-4120 Ext. 56060.