The QuARMS program, known as the “Queen’s University Accelerated Route to Medical School (QuARMS)” is now geared towards students identifying as Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples that are graduating high school.

According to a recent statement: “In alignment with the Queen’s University Academic Plan, the goal of QuARMS is to offer a carefully selected group of up to 10 outstanding Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples that are graduating high school, an exciting and innovative 2-year pathway that culminates with application for admission to the first year of Medical School at Queen’s University.

QuARMS now selects up to 10 Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples that are graduating high school per year. These students undertake two years in an undergraduate degree program in Arts, Sciences, Computing (Faculty of Arts and Science) or Health Science, and then apply for admission to the 4-year MD degree program at Queen’s University in the School of Medicine (Faculty of Health Sciences). This has been a specific change, where previously students did not represent the minority groups identified, rather, were successors of the Queen’s Chancellor pathway.

QuARMS Eligibility

For those wishing to be considered for QuARMS you must: 

  1. Be a Canadian Citizen OR a Permanent Resident of Canada.
  2. Identify as Black or Indigenous. The Indigenous and Treaty rights of the Indigenous peoples of Canada are recognized and affirmed in the Constitution Acts of 1867 to 1982 (section 35). Section 35(2) indicates that Indigenous peoples of Canada include First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
  3. Apply through the Ontario Universities’ Applications Centre (OUAC) for admission to the Faculty of Arts and Science   (Arts, Science, or Computing) or Health Science.

QuARMS and the MCAT

After Two Years of Undergraduate Study students will be eligible to apply to the Queen’s University School of Medicine directly. However, unlike in prior years, succeeding to medical school is no longer guaranteed. Rather, specific requirements are needed.

Students will need to apply directly to the School of Medicine Admissions Committee. Students will NOT need to apply through OMSAS and will NOT need to write the MCAT. All students will be notified of the academic requirements and invited to an interview with the Admissions Committee if those requirements have been met.

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The Must Haves in a QuARMS’ Applicant

According to the QuARMS official website, candidates for QuARMS demonstrate the following skills and characteristics:

  • exceptional leadership qualities
  • curious by nature
  • diverse academic interests
  • commitment to service
  • proven academic ability
  • critical and creative thinking
  • ability to relate to people
  • maturity and integrity
  • humility, altruism, and humanitarianism

QuARMS Application Timeline

February: 
Applicants will be invited to complete a supplemental application.

Mid-March:
Deadline to complete and submit supplemental requirements. 

April:
All candidates who participated in the supplemental process will be notified of their QuARMS pathway status.

The QuARMS Program

The curriculum consists of two components that run in parallel; one is devoted to meeting the requirements of the first 2 years of an Honours degree in the Faculty of Arts and Science; the other is a unique and integrated set of enrichment/experiential learning modules and electives that are developed and delivered by members of the School of Medicine (SoM) to prepare students to apply for admission to the School of Medicine at the end of year 2 of their undergraduate Bachelor program.

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