# Pathways to Medicine Scholarship Program

**Source**: https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/future-students/scholarships/pathways-medicine-scholarship
**Parent**: https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/

Our mission is to empower students across Alberta\
to overcome obstacles and achieve success towards\
a fulfilling career in Medicine.

**Applications are Closed as of December 1, 2025**

[2025-2026 Application Manual](https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/16/New%20Calendar%20-%20%202025-2026%20Application%20Manual.pdf)

## What is the Pathways to Medicine Scholarship Program?

The Pathways to Medicine (P2M) Scholarship is an initiative of the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) at the University of Calgary. Since 2016, this scholarship has facilitated the career development of promising high school graduates from **low socioeconomic backgrounds** with a career goal of becoming a physician. There is a particular interest in rural and Indigenous students. Five P2M Scholarships will be awarded each year.

The Pathways to Medicine scholarship was created in recognition of the extensive body of literature showing that patients have better outcomes when they have more in common, sociodemographically, with the physicians who are providing their care. In order to meet its obligations to the public it serves, it is important for the CSM to create training opportunities for physicians who come from a wide range of sociocultural and economic backgrounds. Other research, however, shows that students from low-income backgrounds, despite great enthusiasm for a medical career at the time of high school graduation, are much less likely to apply to medical school upon university graduation. The P2M scholarship aims to address that gap by supporting a small group of exceptional students through their pre-medical journey.

[Questions? Contact us!](mailto:pathways@ucalgary.ca)

## Scholarship winners will receive:

### Tuition Coverage

$5,000 per year for a maximum of four years

### MCAT Support

Access to a sponsored MCAT Preparatory Course and the cost of the exam

### Mentorship

A CSM Faculty Mentor and Student Mentor for the duration of a student's undergraduate program

### Enrichment Program

Access to relevant workshops and seminars focused on your professional and personal development

### Community of Peers

Establish connections with a cohort of peers and all previous scholarship recipients.

### Acceptance into CSM

Upon completion of the program, assuming pre-defined criteria are met, students will be granted admission into the Cumming School of Medicine

## How to apply for the Pathways to Medicine scholarship

Applicants will be informed of award decisions by the end of June

### Become a student

Apply to the University of Calgary by **December 1, 2025**

[Go to application page](http://www.ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/apply)

### Apply for awards

When applying for **High School Entrance Awards**, applicants must indicate the desire to be considered for a Pathways to Medicine Scholarship. Deadline for awards application is **December 1**.

[How to apply for awards](https://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/finances/awards/apply)

### Submitting Preliminary Application

Successful applicants will be contacted and asked to submit a preliminary application.

[Download the applicant manual](https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/16/New%20Calendar%20-%20%202025-2026%20Application%20Manual.pdf)

### [Eligibility](#collapse536816925)

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. University of Calgary Application

   Applicants must independently apply to an undergraduate program at the University of Calgary by December 1.
2. Alberta Residency

   Applicants must be Alberta residents as defined by the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) admissions policy and will be graduating from a high school within the province.
3. Lower-Socio Economic Status

   Eligibility is based on lower socioeconomic status, defined as having an average gross familial income of 1.5x or less than the “Low-Income Cut-Offs” (LICO) chart presented by Statistics Canada (before tax) for the past few years. Additional information on this point can be found in the [P2M Applicant Manual.](https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/16/2025-2026%20Application%20Manual%20(2).pdf)
4. Consideration for Indigenous and Rural Backgrounds:

   Special consideration will be given to applicants of Indigenous ancestry or from rural communities in Alberta.
5. Nomination Letter Requirement

   Applicants must submit a Nomination Letter from a representative of a recognized community, including but not limited to a high school principal/teacher, coach, organization, Indigenous leader, or rural community.

### [Application Timeline 2025 - 2026](#collapse1353288903)

1. December 1st

   Application deadline
2. Early December

   Eligible Applicants will recieve the Preliminary Application
3. Early January

   Preliminary Applications Due
4. February

   Applicants are notified. Secondary Applications sent out to shortlisted applicants.
5. March

   Secondary Applications Due & Multiple Mini Interviews.
6. Mid April

   P2M Finalists Notified

### [UCalgary Awards](#collapse503572502)

[Learn more about UCalgary awards and scholarships](https://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/finances/awards)

### [Looking to Support the Pathways to Medicine Program?](#collapse454329062)

Pathways to Medicine offers different opportunities for Cumming School of Medicine faculty to be involved. If you want to become involved with the Pathways to Medicine Scholarship program, please contact the program coordinator at [pathways@ucalgary.ca](mailto:pathways@ucalgary.ca) and share what areas you would like to contribute. Please include your name, current position, area of interest and brief background description.

Listed below are a few ways in which CSM faculty frequently support Pathways scholars.

1. Faculty Mentorship

   Each of the scholars will be assigned a faculty member to act in the role of formal mentor. The relationship can be extended on an annual basis by mutual agreement if it continues to meet the needs of both the student and the mentor. The expectation is that mentors will meet with the student a minimum of four times during the year, provide advice on personal, professional and academic development, and assist the student in identifying appropriate extra-curricular activities to suit their interests. Mentors need not be MD’s but must hold a faculty appointment (either GFT or clinical) within the Cumming School of Medicine.
2. Clinical Shadowing

   The P2M scholars will have completed the necessary documentation and privacy training in order to shadow clinically within AHS. They are generally keen to gain some experience within the health care system, and unlike many traditional MD applicants, come from families without health care professionals who can assist them in setting up these kinds of experiences. Shadowing arrangements will be left up the scholars and the willing physicians, but may be individual “one-off’s” or on-going longitudinal experiences.  We plan to collate a list of interested MD’s (attending and residents) and have the scholars contact those individuals directly.
3. Seminar Series

   The scholars will meet bi-monthly for an ongoing enrichment seminar series. These sessions are intended to help the scholars build a sense of community as a group as well as supplement their traditional in-class learning. Topics will vary, but will include sessions related to their education generally (e.g. study skills, MCAT prep), medically relevant topics (e.g. population health, medical communication) and sessions designed simply to help maintain their focus on the long term goal (e.g. introduction to X-ray interpretation, casting, suturing). The topics will be set two to three months in advance, and are subject to revision, so the program is very open to suggestions from people who may be interested in presenting /facilitating one or more sessions.
4. Employment or Research Experience

   Pathways students often face systemic barriers that limit access to networks and gainful experiences. Including them in research helps close opportunity gaps and supports their pathway to becoming a physician. Their diverse lived experiences bring fresh insights, foster innovation, and make research more relevant to real-world challenges. This not only advances social justice but also enhances the quality and creativity of academic work. Investing in their potential builds a stronger, more diverse pipeline of future scholars, benefiting both the individual student and the broader academic community. If you have a role that you would like a Pathways Scholar in, please reach out.

Turn Potential into Physicians
[Donate Today](https://engage.ucalgary.ca/give?id=892a01a5-2eae-4a4a-9a78-9d1f80eca771)

## Listen for more information

Program director Dr. Ian Walker, MD, spoke to the CBC Calgary Eyeopener about the Pathways to Medicine Scholarship.

[Listen to the interview](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/programs/eyeopener/a-medical-scholarship-at-calgary-s-university-1.3730862)