DVM Admission Timeline
Important Updates for the 2024-2025 Application Cycle
1. Provincial Admissions Agreements
Applicants from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador must submit a signed Provincial Admissions Agreement with their application, by the November 15, 2024 application deadline. Applications that do not include a Provincial Admissions Agreement for the relevant province are not eligible for further consideration in the application process. Applicants are required to review and sign the Personal Declaration included in the application form. Please note that applications without a signed Personal Declaration will not be eligible for further consideration.
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador have each developed their own Provincial Admissions Agreement, so students must review, sign and submit the relevant agreement for their province of residency. At application, the Provincial Admission Agreement requires the applicant’s signature only. The Province will sign the Admission Agreement once the applicant is accepted into the DVM Program.
Nova Scotia Provincial Admission Agreement
New Brunswick Provincial Admission Agreement
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Admission Agreement
These Admissions Agreements constitute a contract between the applicant and the province, and should the applicant receive and accept an offer of admission for a provincially subsidized seat, they will be contractually obligated to fulfill the terms of the Provincial Admissions Agreement.
The Provincial Admissions Agreements will include a commitment to participate in external clinical experience in the relevant province during the DVM Program and may include a commitment to return to the province for employment after graduation and licensure in addition to other requirements.
Please review the applicable Agreement carefully. Questions regarding Provincial Admissions Agreements should be directed to the appropriate provincial government authority:
Nova Scotia
Department of Advanced Education
1505 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3K5
postsecondary@novascotia.ca
Attention: Executive Director, Programs and Accountability
New Brunswick
Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries
Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre
P. O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
Neil.Jacobson@gnb.ca
Attention: Assistant Deputy Minister, Agriculture Division
Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Education
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6
tanyanoseworthy@gov.nl.ca
Attention: Assistant Deputy Minister – Department of Education
2. Indigenous Applicants with PEI Residency
The Atlantic Veterinary College now has one seat per year designated for Indigenous applicants who meet PEI residency requirements. Similar processes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are planned for the 2025-2026 cycle. Consultation will occur with Indigenous leadership in these provinces to ensure the process reflects their perspectives and needs. More information will be shared as these consultations progress.
Indigenous applicants who choose to apply and be considered for admission through PEI’s designated Indigenous seat must indicate this on their application and will be asked to provide documentation for verification of Indigenous Identity by the November 15, 2024 application deadline.
Verification of Indigenous identity will be completed by an Indigenous Verification Committee, comprised of representation from the Epekwitk Assembly of Councils, Abegweit First Nation, Lennox Island First Nation, the Native Council of Prince Edward Island, and the UPEI Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research and Applied Studies.
Documentation can include a Status card, Membership in a First Nation Band, or other documentation of kinship as accepted by the Indigenous Verification Committee.
Applicants with verified Indigenous Identity will be considered for admission in the PEI provincial pool as well as for the designated Indigenous seat.
Accepted Documentation of Indigenous Identity*
| Category | Supporting Evidence | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | First Nation person registered under the Indian Act (Status Indian) | - Copy of a status card issued by the government of Canada. |
| 2. | First Nation person entitled to be registered under the Indian Act | - Copy of application materials submitted to the government of Canada for status. - Failing the above, a reasonable explanation about why materials are not submitted and corroborating documents of eligibility for status. |
| 3. | First Nation person born after 1985 affected by the Indian Act second-generation cut-off rule | - Date of birth after April 1, 1985 and evidence that a descendent was a section 6(2) Status Indian (e.g., copy of parent’s or grandparent’s, etc, status card, community membership list etc.) |
| 4. | A person recognized under the membership or citizenship rules of a recognized First Nation band | - Copy of membership card issued by a First Nation recognized by the government of Canada. - Written confirmation of membership with a federally recognized band or tribal authority in in the US or Canada. |
| 5. | A person recognized under the membership or citizenship rules of a modern Inuit treaty organization or government | - A copy of an Inuit enrolment or beneficiary card issued by a modern Inuit treaty organization or government (Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Makivik Corporation, Nunatsiavut Government). - Written confirmation of Inuit identity provided by any of the aforementioned Inuit bodies. |
| 6. | A person recognized under the membership or citizenship rules of one of the established Métis organizations | - A copy of a card provided by one of the Métis National Council governing members (Métis Nation - Saskatchewan, Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis Nation British Columbia, and Métis Nation of Ontario). - A copy of a card provided by the Manitoba Métis Federation or one of the Métis Settlements of Alberta. - Written confirmation of Métis identity provided by any of the aforementioned Métis bodies. |
| 7. | A person recognized under the membership or citizenship rules of any other Indigenous people (not noted in categories 4-6) that have a credible claim to being section 35 Aboriginal rightsholders | - Evidence of membership in a group that can demonstrate legitimate forms of recognition as an section 35 rights-holding group, including: a. Court rulings of having Aboriginal / treaty rights; |
| 8. | A person recognized by an Indigenous people (per categories 4-7), or a subset of such peoples, as belonging to them accordance with the customs or traditions of that Indigenous people | - Evidence of adoption or acceptance into the group based on the group’s Indigenous laws, customs and traditions. |
| 9. | A person who has Indigenous ancestry, but who has become disconnected from their Indigenous people (per categories 4-7) due to colonial policies and laws | - Provide a narrative of claims to Indigeneity and how specific colonial policies impacted this (e.g., Residential and Day Schools, Sixties and Millennial Scoops, Incarceration, Enfranchisement and discriminatory membership rules, etc), providing any supporting or corroborating evidence, or explaining why such evidence is not available. |
*Adapted from Metallic, N., & Simon, C. (n.d.). Schulich law scholars.
https://digitalcommons.schulichlaw.dal.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1085&context=reports
All applicants to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program are responsible to ensure that required materials are on file by the appropriate deadline; incomplete applications will not be reviewed. While the provisions of the UPEI Academic Calendar document will ordinarily be applied as stated, UPEI reserves the right to change any provision listed herein, including but not limited to residency and academic requirements for admission, without notice to individual applicants. Every effort will be made to inform applicants of any changes.
Submit all materials postmarked by the dates indicated above to:
Professional Schools Admissions, Office of the Registrar
University of Prince Edward Island
550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE
C1A 4P3
Please be aware that materials submitted after these deadlines will not be accepted. If you anticipate a problem in meeting a deadline, please contact the UPEI Registrar’s Office as soon as possible.
Atlantic Canadian applicant requirements and deadlines
October 1, 2024
- Application portal opens for the DVM program.
November 15, 2024
- Creation of a UPEI application account (if you have not already done so) and submission of the on-line application and fee.
- Submission of the Atlantic Canadian Residency form and supporting documents.
- Submission of the Animal/Veterinary Related Experience form.
- Submission of final official transcripts for courses taken and/or confirmation of courses currently enrolled in.
- Applicants applying for the PEI designated Indigenous seat must also provide documentation for verification of Indigenous Identity.
February 1, 2025
- Receipt of fall semester transcripts for courses in progress, if applicable.
May 2, 2025
- Interview and W-SAB testing for applicants who rank highly based on academic achievement occurs on-site at the Atlantic Veterinary College.
June 1, 2025
- Receipt of winter semester transcripts for courses in progress, if applicable.
Atlantic Canadian applicant contact:
dvmadmissions@upei.ca
902-894-2836
International applicant requirements and deadlines
International applicants, including applicants from the United States, must first apply online through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) operated by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges by the VMCAS deadline (see below). Applicants will be contacted to remit the processing fee.
September 15, 2024
- Completion of the VMCAS application.
- Applicants will be contacted by UPEI regarding payment of the processing fee.
November 20, 2024
- Interview and W-SAB testing for applicants who rank highly based on academic achievement. Information regarding interview date, time, and format will be included in interview invitation.
February 1, 2025
- Receipt of fall semester transcripts for courses in progress, if applicable.
June 1, 2025
- Receipt of winter semester transcripts for courses in progress, if applicable.
International applicant contact:
dvmadmissions@upei.ca
902-894-2836
