York University is preparing to open a new medical school in 2028, and prospective applicants are already asking some obvious questions: What GPA will York require? Will the MCAT be mandatory? Will applicants need CASPer? How competitive will admission be?

At this point, many of those questions do not have official answers yet.

York University says detailed admissions information for its new School of Medicine will be released in early 2027. Until then, there are some important facts we do know and several admissions claims applicants should be careful not to assume are true.

Here’s what prospective York medical school applicants need to know right now.

What We Know About York University Medical School

York University plans to welcome its first MD class in 2028, provided the program successfully progresses through the remaining accreditation process.

Some of the major details announced so far include:

• Program: Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Length: 3 years
• Incoming class size: 80 MD students per year
• Expected first class: 2028
• Accreditation: CACMS Candidate status, with further accreditation required before launch
• Primary focus: Family medicine, primary care and generalist medicine
• Main location: Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct beside Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital
• Clinical training: Northern Toronto, York Region, Simcoe County, Muskoka and surrounding rural communities

The three-year curriculum is particularly notable. York is planning an accelerated MD similar in length to McMaster University's three-year medical program.

However, York's educational model is also being designed heavily around community-based training. Students are expected to learn across primary care practices, hospitals and other community health settings rather than completing all of their medical education around a single academic hospital.

York has described this approach by saying that the community will be the campus.

What We DON'T Know About York Medical School Admissions

As of August 2026, York has not officially announced:

• A minimum GPA
• A competitive GPA
• Whether the MCAT will be required
• Whether CASPer will be required
• Required prerequisite courses
• Essay or supplemental application requirements
• Reference requirements
• The interview format
• Detailed eligibility requirements
• The final application timeline

York says this admissions information is expected in early 2027.

That means applicants should be skeptical of claims online that present any of these requirements as settled.

What Might York Look for in Applicants?

This is one area where York has provided some useful clues although these should not be confused with formal admissions requirements.

York's School of Medicine Strategic Plan says the school wants an inclusive and holistic admissions process and intends to recruit students who reflect the communities it serves.

York has also said it wants to prioritize strong applicants who demonstrate commitment to primary and generalist care and readiness to learn in and serve communities within its service region.

The school has discussed pathways supporting applicants who have historically been underrepresented in medicine, including mature, Indigenous, Black, economically disadvantaged and disabled applicants.

So, while we cannot yet say how York will score applicants, its stated mission suggests that factors such as:

• Community involvement
• Service
• Collaboration
• Understanding of health inequities
• Commitment to primary care
• Interest in underserved communities

may eventually become relevant to how applicants are evaluated.

But this is an inference from York's stated mission, not a published admissions formula.

 

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What Will the York MD Program Be Like?

York's proposed curriculum is being designed specifically around training family physicians and other generalist doctors.

Beginning in the second year, students are expected to participate in longer-term clinical experiences that allow them to follow patients over time and work with health care teams across different settings.

That is somewhat different from a model primarily based on moving through a series of short clinical rotations.

The curriculum is also expected to address areas including:

• Population health
• Social determinants of health
• Chronic care
• Mental health
• Rehabilitation
• Geriatrics
• Palliative care
• Illness prevention
• Digital health
• Artificial intelligence in medicine

Interprofessional education is another major part of York's plans, with medical students expected to learn alongside professionals in fields such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and social work.

Where Will York Medical Students Train?

The main facility is planned for the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct, beside Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. But students will not train exclusively in Vaughan. York plans to build a distributed clinical learning network throughout:

• Northern Toronto
• York Region
• Simcoe County
• Muskoka
• Surrounding rural communities

Training environments may include hospitals, primary care practices, community organizations, rehabilitation facilities and long-term care settings.

That community-based model is central to York's vision for the school.

What Should Future York Medical School Applicants Do Now?

There isn't enough information yet to build a York-specific admissions strategy, but there are still productive things prospective applicants can do.

First, continue building a competitive medical school application broadly rather than trying to predict York's eventual requirements.

That means maintaining strong academics and seeking meaningful long-term experiences in areas such as community service, health care, employment, research, advocacy or other activities where you can demonstrate communication, responsibility, collaboration and service.

If York genuinely interests you, it also makes sense to learn more about primary care, population health and the needs of diverse and underserved communities because these are central themes in the school's stated mission.

The key is not to manufacture experiences simply because you think they will "look good for York." Pursue experiences that actually fit your interests and allow you to develop qualities relevant to medicine.

And most importantly, don't make major application decisions based on requirements York hasn't announced yet.

When Will We Know More?

York says its official medical school admissions information will be released in early 2027.

That should answer the biggest remaining questions, including:

• GPA requirements
• MCAT policy
• CASPer
• Prerequisites
• Application components
• Eligibility
• Interview format
• Application dates

The current target is for York University School of Medicine to welcome its first class in 2028, subject to accreditation.

We've put together a more detailed York University medical school guide covering the program, curriculum, accreditation process and admissions information, and we'll update it as York releases new details.

Bottom line: York's new medical school is moving toward a 2028 launch, but the actual admissions requirements are not available yet. The safest approach for prospective applicants is to prepare broadly for Canadian medical school admissions and wait for York's official 2027 announcement before assuming anything about GPA, the MCAT, CASPer or the application process.

We'll update this post as soon as those requirements are officially released.