Ontario Veterinary College offers a four-year DVM program with an international admissions cohort. Applicants need qualifying undergraduate semesters and prerequisites, supervised veterinary experience, English Casper 2, essays and referee assessments. OVC ranks applicants using academics and Casper, reviews selected files, then conducts virtual interviews.
- Program
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Credential
- DVM
- Location
- Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Casper
- Required · CSP-10211
- Next deadline
- October 1, 2026 (Guelph international-student internal transfer application and fees)
- Interview
- Interview
- Seats
- Approximately 15
- Length
- Four years
Casper Requirement for University of Guelph Veterinary Medicine
University of Guelph Veterinary Medicine requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Test to book
- Canada Casper 2 (English) · CSP-10211
- Languages
- English
- Score distribution deadline
- November 1, 2026
- Distribution fee
- Acuity charges a fee for each score distribution; check its Dates and Fees page for the current amount.
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Complete the current-cycle English Casper 2 even if you previously took another Casper version. Allow up to three weeks for results and request direct release to OVC.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.
University of Guelph Veterinary Medicine Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- VMCAS for international applicants outside the University of Guelph; University of Guelph Application for Internal Transfer/Readmission for international students already attending Guelph.
- Applications open
- 2026-01-22 (VMCAS).
- Application fee
- VMCAS: US$241 for the first program and US$132 for each additional program; OVC also requires a supplemental evaluation fee. Guelph internal-transfer applicants pay internal-transfer and supplemental evaluation fees.
| What | When |
|---|---|
| VMCAS application and fee | September 15, 2026passed 11:59 p.m. Eastern |
| Guelph international-student internal transfer application and fees | October 1, 2026upcoming 11:59 p.m. Eastern |
| International transcripts, prerequisite descriptions, references, supplemental fee and applicable forms | November 1, 2026upcoming 11:59 p.m. Eastern |
| International Casper score received by OVC | November 1, 2026upcoming 11:59 p.m. Eastern |
VMCAS applicants do not complete a separate BIF; Guelph internal-transfer applicants do.
University of Guelph Veterinary Medicine Admissions Statistics
Period: Annual international-cohort intake
- Seats / class size: Approximately 15
Eligibility Requirements for University of Guelph Veterinary Medicine
- Degree / credits
Complete at least four full-time undergraduate semesters at an accredited institution; a bachelor's degree is not required. OVC defines full-time as at least 2.0 credits per semester.
- Citizenship
The international cohort is for applicants without Canadian citizenship, including dual citizenship, or permanent resident status.
- Language proficiency
Provide proof of English proficiency if prior education was not in English.
Admission pathways
- International cohort: For eligible international applicants, including US applicants; approximately 15 seats annually. Guelph students use internal transfer, while applicants from other institutions use VMCAS.
Submit transcripts from every post-secondary institution. International applicants must complete four full-time semesters and all prerequisites by August 31 before fall entry.
Other requirements
- Three referee assessments: One referee must be a veterinarian who directly supervised your veterinary experience; the other two must have directly supervised you professionally.
- Academic records and course documentation: Provide official transcripts from every post-secondary institution and, where required, prerequisite course calendar descriptions and syllabi.
- Rabies immunization: Admitted students must provide documentation of an adequate rabies antibody titre before Phase 1.
Selection Factors University of Guelph Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | 1.0 credit Animal Biology emphasis recommended. |
| Cell Biology | 0.5 credit |
| Genetics | 0.5 credit |
| Biochemistry | 0.5 credit |
| Statistics | 0.5 credit |
| Humanities or Social Sciences | 1.0 credit |
GPA
- How it is calculated
Academic Average: 50% the most recent four acceptable full-time undergraduate semesters and 50% the eight prerequisite courses.
- Minimum
- At least 75% (3.2/4.0) in the prerequisite average and 75% (3.2/4.0) across the last four acceptable full-time semesters.
Academic performance forms part of the Admissions Average alongside Casper.
Admissions tests
- MCAT (not required): OVC's published DVM admissions formula uses academic performance and Casper, not MCAT scores.
- English proficiency (required for some applicants): Applicants whose post-secondary training was in a language other than English must meet a University of Guelph English-proficiency requirement.
Experience and volunteer hours
Required.
Demonstrate informed knowledge of veterinary practice through paid or volunteer work directly supervised by a veterinarian. Also describe animal, extracurricular and work experiences. OVC sets no minimum hours for these categories; North American veterinary experience is recommended.
Supplementary application
VMCAS applicants provide experiences, personal essays and referee contacts in VMCAS, then submit Guelph's supplemental form, prerequisite course descriptions and syllabi, and supplemental evaluation fee. Guelph internal-transfer applicants complete a BIF.
How applicants are ranked
Stage 1: rank within the international cohort using an Admissions Average of 75% Academic Average and 25% Casper. Stage 2: review top-ranked applicants' experiences, essays and referee assessments; invite top applicants to interview. Final ranking combines 65% Admissions Average and 35% interview score; offers go to the top-ranked eligible applicants.
Interview Format at University of Guelph
Format: Interview
Virtual interview assessing communication, maturity, motivation and the experiences described in the application.
- Who is invited
- Top-ranked international applicants after Admissions Average ranking and file review.
- When
- International invitations in mid-December; interviews in January.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at University of Guelph Veterinary Medicine
- Program length
- Four years
- Structure
Integrates preclinical and clinical phases, with a focus on hands-on learning. Early years cover foundational sciences, progressing to clinical rotations at affiliated sites.
- Campuses
- University of Guelph
The four-year program provides hands-on training from the first year, including cases at OVC's on-site companion- and large-animal hospitals. Its clinical training includes placements and rotations.
Campus and facilities
Situated on the University of Guelph campus in Guelph, Ontario. Features state-of-the-art veterinary teaching hospitals and research labs. Facilities support diverse species care, from companion animals to large animals. Program culture fosters a supportive environment amid demanding studies.
Tuition and Funding at University of Guelph
- 2027-28 international DVM tuition for new students: CAD $101,634
Tuition excludes additional compulsory fees and living costs.
What Applicants Are Saying
Matriculated students describe the process as favoring top academic marks alongside demonstrated veterinary exposure. Students report the interview process as rigorous, emphasizing mental resilience given veterinary medicine's taxing nature. Students noting the importance of entering with realistic expectations of the profession's mental demands.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your University of Guelph Veterinary Medicine Application
- Check your four full-time semesters, prerequisite courses and both minimum academic averages.
- Arrange directly supervised veterinary experience and choose three qualified referees, including your supervising veterinarian.
- Use Acuity's free practice test to learn the English Casper 2 format.
- Prepare original essays and accurately document experiences in VMCAS or the applicable BIF.
- Request Casper score distribution early enough for OVC to receive the result by its international deadline.
- If invited to interview, reflect on your application experiences and practise explaining your motivation for veterinary medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Guelph Veterinary Medicine
Is Casper required for OVC DVM international applicants?
Yes. Take current-cycle English Casper 2 (CSP-10211) and have OVC receive the score by November 1.
Does OVC require the MCAT?
No MCAT appears in OVC's published DVM requirements or admissions formula.
What is the interview format?
OVC describes a virtual interview; international invitations are sent in mid-December for January interviews.
What GPA do I need?
At least 75% (3.2/4.0) in both the eight prerequisites and the last four acceptable full-time semesters.
How competitive is the international cohort?
OVC lists approximately 15 international seats annually and ranks applicants using academics, Casper, file review and an interview.
What are the Casper test dates?
Check Acuity's Dates and Fees page for available English Casper 2 sittings and allow time for score delivery.
Can international students apply?
Yes. Applicants outside Guelph use VMCAS; international students already at Guelph use its internal-transfer process.
What experience is needed?
Directly supervised veterinary experience is expected, but OVC sets no minimum veterinary or animal-experience hours.
Where can I learn about the curriculum?
Read OVC's DVM Program for International Students page for its four-year training and clinical facilities.
Sources
- OVC DVM Program Application
- OVC DVM Program for International Students
- AAVMC VMCAS 2027 Applicant Guide
- University of Guelph Tuition & Compulsory Fees
- Acuity Insights Casper Test Types
- Acuity Insights Casper Fees
Last updated: September 26, 2026