Ontario announces 95% of med school spots will be dedicated to in-province students, new funding for grants

The Ontario government announced on Friday medical schools in the province will be required to prioritize almost all their spots for in-province students, as well as new funding for students who commit to practicing family medicine.Starting in the 2026-27 school year, 95% of spots at medical schools will be allocated to Ontario students while the remaining 5% will be reserved for students from other provinces. “We’re training more family doctors than ever before, helping them live, learn and stay in Ontario, and we’re helping Ontario students support and remain in our province by prioritizing them for medical school seats in Ontario schools,” Premier Doug Ford said at the announcement.Out of the 3,833 students enrolled at medical schools in the province in 2023-24, 3,350 (88%) are Ontario residents while 473 (12%) are from other provinces, according to a health ministry official. In addition, the province announced there will be no more spots for international medical students, although this will have limited effects on enrollment. The province had a total of 10 international medical students for the 2023-24 school year, and just two medical schools in the province—the University of Toronto and McMaster University—accept students from abroad for these programs. “Now it'll be 100% Canadian, 95% Ontario. I'm glad we are getting this done,” Ford said.This comes as two new medical schools at Toronto Metropolitan University and York University are set to open. The province says the new schools will eventually add more than 500 undergraduate spots and 742 residency positions.In addition, the Ford government has announced $88 million in funding over three years to expand the Learn and Stay grants for medical students who commit to practicing family medicine in the province “with a full roster of patients.” These grants—which help cover tuition, books and other educational costs—have already been available for students enrolled in nursing, medical laboratory and paramedic programs in underserved communities across Ontario. As of 2026, 1,360 medical undergraduate students will also be eligible.The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) called the announcement a “meaningful step toward ensuring that more Ontarians can access family doctors close to home.”“By reducing financial barriers for medical students, this initiative will help cultivate a new generation of dedicated family doctors committed to serving their communities and improving health outcomes across the province,” Dr. Dominik Nowak, president of the OMA, said in a news release.

Ontario announces 95% of med school spots will be dedicated to in-province students, new funding for grants

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