May 15, 2025
Since 2014, the AFMC Student Portal has served as an important tool for undergraduate medical students seeking elective placements at medical schools across Canada.
As the medical education landscape and digital technologies continue to evolve at a rapid pace, AFMC remains committed to maintaining a trustworthy and effective Student Portal platform for learners.
After more than two years of consultation and hard work, AFMC is pleased to launch the most recent evolution of the Student Portal, favoring a new Capacity-Based Model.
Students will experience four core improvements under the new model:
- Increased transparency: Students can now see which schools have the capacity to offer electives in a particular area of specialty, taking guesswork out of the application process.
- Simpler process: Students apply for two-week blocks, 12 weeks prior to the elective start date, using one standard application process. Students can submit a maximum of three applications per school and a maximum of 12 applications in each placement round. Certain core requirements for specific specialties have been eliminated, allowing students to apply for a broader range of electives without needing to fulfill certain prerequisites. This will reduce the administrative burden on the schools and decrease turnaround time for decisions.
- More equity, less stress: When multiple students apply for the same elective block, a lottery system randomly selects candidates to receive offers. Activities occur on the same days every two weeks, making it easier for students to plan their applications. This approach replaces the previous first-come first-served method, allowing all students equal access regardless of application timing and eliminating the stressful experience of staying up late waiting for application rounds to open. There is also a higher probability of students getting their desired electives under the new model.
- Saving students money and increasing accessibility: Under the new model, students only pay a registration fee and a fee once they accept an offer. They no longer pay for every application they submit. In addition, schools can no longer just cancel an accepted placement; they must find an alternative placement for the applicant.
The new model launched on May 11, 2025, and applies to students seeking visiting elective placements starting August 4, 2025.
The new platform is live here.
AFMC will continue monitoring the application process and trends over the next several months and will ensure continuous improvements are made based on learner insights and experiences.
Questions may be directed to service@afmcstudentportal.ca
