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(SAMMY KOGAN/THE EYEOPENER)
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BREAKING: TMU removes diversity quota for new medical school applicants

By Sammy Kogan

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is retracting its plan to reserve 75 per cent of available spots at its new medical school for “equity-deserving admissions pathways.”

TMU President Mohamed Lachemi confirmed in a press release on Thursday that “aspirational language on the website was causing confusion on this point, and that language has been removed.” 

The medical school’s admissions webpage no longer advertises any equity-based percentage breakdowns of the 94 available 2025 admission spots, as previously reported by The Eyeopener.

The announcement comes days after The National Post reported that Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office had spoken to TMU about their equity-based admissions requirements.

Prior to this change, 75 per cent of the available spots were expected to be allocated to students applying through one of three admission streams: the Indigenous Admissions Pathway, the Black Admissions Pathway and the Equity-Deserving Admissions Pathway, according to a prior version of the TMU School of Medicine page

These application streams continue to exist for current applicants, however the school no longer advertises any percentage quota for students accepted through these pathways.

The change comes following reported criticism of the School of Medicine’s admission requirements, which lists a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 and does not require science-specific undergraduate prerequisites. The school also does not require prospective students to complete the Medical College Admission Test, unlike many other medical schools across North America. 

The university has reiterated that the admissions process remains competitive and is designed to remove systemic barriers for students who have struggled to access medical education, promoting inclusivity and diversity in the industry.

Located in Brampton, Ont. at the former site of the Bramalea Civic Centre, TMU’s School of Medicine opened applications last month and aims to welcome its first cohort of students to the program starting September 2025.

The Eye reached out to the university on Nov. 6 for comment on the School of Medicine’s removal of the quota but did not receive a response in time for publication. 

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