Admissions

Admissions

How to apply training video:

How to Apply

 

What are the requirements for the MPAS Program:

  • In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section, students must:
  • Permanent resident or Canadian citizen
  • 4-year bachelors degree from a college or university recognized by the University of Manitoba. 
  • A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last two full years (60 credit hours) of study. Applicants should be aware that a competitive GPA for the program is 3.5.
  • Undergraduate courses in human anatomy, physiology and biochemistry are required (a minimum three credit hours of each), Microbiology and psychology are asset courses.
  • Applicants must complete or register to take the TakeAltus (CASPer) required Situational Judgement Test prior to the January 15 application deadline. For more information, please visit the TakeAltus website
  • Unlike many other graduate studies programs, applicants do not require advisors or supervisors to apply to the program.
  • The College of Physician and Surgeons of Manitoba (the Manitoba Physician Assistant regulatory agency) and the Max Rady College of Medicine requires an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 across all bands for Registration on the Educational Registry. As MPAS students must be eligible for registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba on the Education Registry, the 7.0 scores are required for program acceptance and the Physician Assistant Registry.
  • Additional faculty of graduate studies requirements:

 https://umanitoba.ca/graduate-studies/graduate-student-admissions/requirements

 

Can you apply in your 4th year of study?

  • 4th year students in their last year of study may apply, however, their degree must be completed by the start of the program in August.

 

What is required in the application:

  • $125 application fee (non-refundable)
  • CV/resumé
  • Statement of intent
  • Self-declaration statement (found in the application portal)
  • TakeAltus (CASPer) test completed by application deadline
  • Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates
  • Two letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)

 

What is the Application deadline

  • The application deadline every year is January 15, all required documents and information must be submitted in the portal before that day.

 

When does the application portal open each year?

  • The application portal opens in spring each year.

 

When are the offers of admission released?

  • Offers of admission will be released to successful applicants on May 22, 2026 from the University of Manitoba Master of Physician Assistant Studies, the same day as the other Physician Assistant programs across Canada. The institutions are pleased to provide applicants their offers on the same day to help with the decision-making process.

 

Can the program assess my courses for eligibility?

  • We do not provide recommendations of courses however, generally, if the course is from an accredited university, meets the minimum 3-credit hour requirements, and has "Biochemistry/Human Anatomy/Human Physiology" in the course title, it is generally accepted.

 

Can the program assess my GPA prior to the application closing?

  • No, we do not assess GPAs, or calculate GPAs prior to the application portal closing, to evaluate your GPA, you can use the following link:

https://umanitoba.ca/sites/default/files/2021-04/gpa_calculator.pdf

 

How is your GPA calculated?

 

If you have previous medical education, can you fast-track the degree?

  • No, you must complete the full 2 years of the program.

 

Can you complete the program remotely?

  • No, the program is an in-person, full-time program.

 

How do I apply?

 

For the self-declaration, can the program tell you what to declare?

  • No, this is a self-declaration, the program can not provide input as to what you declare.

 

International Students

Can international students apply to the program?

  • You must be a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen to apply to the program.

 

Can the program evaluate my international degree?

  • No, the program does not evaluate your degree until after the application portal has closed. For international degree equivalencies, please use the following link:

https://umanitoba.ca/graduate-studies/graduate-student-admissions/requirements/international-graduate-student-requirements/international

 

Can the program evaluate my international GPA?

  • No, the program does not evaluate your GPA until after the application portal has closed. For international GPA information, please find the following link:

https://umanitoba.ca/graduate-studies/graduate-student-admissions/requirements/international-graduate-student-requirements#international-gpa-calculations

 

Does my degree need to be evaluated by WES?


Do I need an English Language Testing System (IELTS) score?

  • English is the language of instruction and communication at the University of Manitoba. To meet the English language proficiency requirements, applicants must have either: 

Received a high school diploma or university degree from Canada or one of the countries listed on the English Language Proficiency Test Exemption List OR Submitted a passing, English language test score. 

For applicants requiring an English language test, an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 across all bands is required for both program acceptance and registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. No other English language tests will be accepted.

In all cases, test scores older than two years are invalid.

For more information, please find the following link:

https://umanitoba.ca/graduate-studies/graduate-student-admissions/requirements/international-graduate-student-requirements/international

 

PA Shadowing

Can I shadow a Physician Assistant?

  • Unfortunately, shadowing is no longer available through the WRHA. 

 

Admissions Interviews

When are interview invitations sent out?

  • Generally, interview invitations are emailed to select candidates in April.
  • Be sure your email address is up to date in the application portal so you don't miss out on any correspondence. 
  • Preference is given to Manitoban applicants, and to applicants who self-identify as Indigenous.

 

Where do interviews take place?

  • Interviews are conducted in-person at the University of Manitoba Bannatyne Campus in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 
  • There is no option to attend the interview virtually.
  • Please note that the Bannatyne Campus is located at 727 McDermot Avenue in downtown Winnipeg.

 

How are interviews conducted?

  • There are three activities that you will participate in: Multiple Mini-Interviews, Panel Interviews, and a Written Essay.
  • Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMI)
    • During the MMIs, applicants move between interview stations, with typically 5-10 minutes at each station. 
    • Each station is observed by an evaluator. 
    • Stations deal with a variety of issues which may include, but are not limited to, communication, collaboration, ethics, health policy, critical thinking, awareness of society health issues in Canada and personal qualities.
    • Applicants are not assessed on their clinical or scientific knowledge.
  • Panel Interview
    • This part of the interview is typically 15-20 minutes in length and is conducted by a panel including members of the MPAS Admissions Committee, medically trained volunteers, and one non-medically trained volunteer representing the patient's perspective.
  • Written Essay
    • ​​​​​​​You will be given 45-60 minutes to write an essay based on a provided question or scenario.
    • Essays will be written by hand.
  • ​​​​​​​If you require accommodations during your interview, please reach out to the MPAS team at MPAS@umanitoba.ca 

 

Tuition and Fees

What is the tuition for the MPAS Program?

  • The program consists of 2 years that each include 3 terms.
  • As of September 2026, the cost of term 1 and 2 is $11,641.40 per term, term 3 is a continuing fee of $800, for a total of $24,082.80 per year ($48,165.60 for the full two years).
    • Tuition fees are subject to change each year.

More information about tuition rates can be found here:

https://umanitoba.ca/registrar/tuition-fees/graduate#masters-program-tuition-rates


What are the student fees for the MPAS Program?

  • As of September 2026, additional student fees for MPAS students totaled approximately $1,660 per year
    • Student fees are subject to change each year.
  • Student fees for the MPAS program can be found here:

https://umanitoba.ca/registrar/tuition-fees/graduate#masters-program-tuition-rates

 

Financial Aid and Award

Are there awards and bursaries available?

 

Program Questions

What are the technology requirements?

*Platforms may change at the discretion of the Department of Family Medicine.

 

Do I need a car?

  • The student is required to have their own transportation to and from school and to and from clinical sites. Clinical sites can be within city limits or in rural settings, where public transportation is not an option.

 

Do I need to move to Manitoba?

  • Yes, you are required to attend the 2 year program in-person, and will be required to move to Manitoba by the start of the program.

 

Will I be required to be on-call and work nights?

  • Students have scheduled night and call shifts within reason, within the MPAS policies and procedures.

 

Does the program reimburse for rural rotation costs?

  • The program does reimburse for mileage and cover accommodation costs in accordance with university policy. For rural areas core rotations MPAS covers housing costs for the student at a location arranged by the Program. Some housing arrangements may be shared rooms in a house. If accommodations are unsuitable for any reason, students can make separate arrangements, but they cover any expense beyond the cost of the MPAS-sponsored accommodation. The program also arranges air travel within Manitoba. 

 

Am I required to complete rural rotations?

  • Students are expected to complete any assigned rural rotations. Rural rotations are the standard for all students. Placements can be outside of city limits for up to 8 weeks at a time.

 

Can I choose my clinical rotation placements?

  • No, the program schedules your clinical placements and do not consult with students.

 

What other requirements are there for MPAS students?