Fellowship Application - Frequently Asked Questions
General
The application form allows up to 2 separate fellowships. Are we to upload separate candidate letters for each fellowship? I would like to personalize the candidate letter for the specialty I'm applying for.
You can only upload one candidate letter.
If I want to do 2 fellowships (2026-2027 and 2027-2028) - is it possible to apply for both years now?
No, currently we are only accepting applications for 2026-2027 fellowship year. The 2027-2028 application link will open in Spring 2025.
However, if vacancies arise for other academic years eg, 2024-2025, we will post on our website and accept applications. Please note you can not apply once for two academic years.
I submitted my application, but I realized afterward that I uploaded an outdated version of my CV. Is it possible to re-submit?
Yes, you can re-upload your documents until July 20, 2024.
Can I apply twice? once for funded and once for self-funded?
No, we only accept one application/per applicant.
What is the salary for a clinical fellow?
The annual salary is $78,190.61CAD.
If I choose self-funded, will I get salary from your institution?
No. If you are/choose Self-funded, you are required to provide proof you have $65,000 CAD per annum to support yourself, 6-7 months prior to your fellowship start date.
I completed the application form but when I press "submit" the site goes blank with an error message "your file was not found". I tried multiple times over the course of 2 days with the same result. Any suggestions?
File size must be under 2MB. Try a different browser, device, or location.
When should I expect to hear if I have been shortlisted for an interview, which month do interviews take place, and what is the hiring process?
Applications review and interviews will take place from August-November 2024. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
I’m applying to the U.S match through the NRMP, do you have a University of Toronto National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) code?
We do not participate in NRMP.
If you have also applied to a residency or fellowship position through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) in the United States, you should be aware of important policies that impact on you as an applicant and the University of Toronto as a hosting institution.
- For applicants applying to the NMRP, please be advised that: “Applicants who have matched to a program or have accepted a position during SOAP (Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program), shall not apply for, discuss, interview for, or accept a concurrent year position in another program prior to the NRMP granting the requested waiver. If the NRMP receives information that an applicant has discussed, interviewed for, or accepted a concurrent year position in another program before receiving a waiver from the NRMP, the NRMP will initiate an investigation to determine whether the applicant has violated the terms of the applicable Match Participation Agreement.” More information can be found at: NRMP | National Resident Matching Program
- The University requires candidates to inform the University as soon as possible of any program match or accepted position during SOAP, and to otherwise comply with applicable NMRP policies. The University will not discuss, interview or offer a position to any candidates that it is aware have matched to a program or accepted a position during SOAP, pursuant to, and/or except as outlined by NRMP policy.
I applied for the 2025-2026 cycle but was not accepted. I would like to keep my application valid for 2026-2027 cycle and just send an updated CV closer to the application deadline.
2025-2026 applications are invalid for the 2026-2027 cycle. Please submit a new application form.
I am a new medical imaging (radiology) student. What I should do & till which level I should continue my studying to be able to attend a fellowship program at the University of Toronto?
Applicants should have a specialty certification in radiology 6-8 months before the start of fellowship because the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario requires the specialty certificate and will not proceed with the paperwork without the specialty.
Our fellowship interviews are held two years in advance of the start date. Assuming a 5-year radiology program, most applicants apply in the third year, get their subspecialty certificate at the end of the fifth year, and are ready to start 6-8 months afterward.
Can applicants resubmit the documents they attached to their application form?
Yes, we’ve implemented a web-based Application Management page where applicants can resubmit or submit new documents. Applicants will identify themselves using the Applicant ID and Last Name provided in their Application Confirmation email. They can attach documents, select the document type from a dropdown menu, and submit multiple times if needed before the application deadline. If they submit a specific document (e.g. a CV) more than once, the system will overwrite the original with the new document.
Will applicants be notified once their application is received?
Yes, a confirmation notification is sent to the applicant once their application form and its contents are all properly ingested. This email informs them of their Applicant ID and instructs them on how to update any submitted documents should they wish to.
Can I change my second fellowship program choice after the deadline?
No, choice changes are not allowed after the deadline. Applicants are connected to their choices in various data tables, controlling their appearance in supervisors' selection lists.
I received an email stating that I was not successfully selected for the Diagnostic Radiology (Vascular and Interventional Radiology) Fellowship. Does this email include all three sites: St. Michael's, UHN, and Sunnybrook?
The email you received pertains to the specific fellowship program you applied for and includes the site. If the specific fellowship program has more than one site, you will receive separate emails addressing the outcome per site.
Will I be informed when the Referees whose contact information I submitted are contacted? Likewise, will I be informed if they submit a letter on my behalf.
Yes, to both questions. You are copied on the email request sent to each referee whose email addresses you provided and, on the confirmation letter a referee receives upon submission of their letter.
What is the total cost of training in Toronto university for radiology fellowship?
Please see link to the University of Toronto's Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) office website – cost of living estimate: https://pgme.utoronto.ca/finances
For the candidate letter, I noticed that instructions say address to the program director. The fellowship I'm applying for has 3 sites with 3 different supervisors, so do I upload 3 different candidate letters addressed separately?
Please address your candidate letter to Dr. Mini Pakkal, Diagnostic Radiology Fellowship Program Director.
Referees and Reference Letters
When are reference letters due?
All 3 reference letters are due by August 11, 2024 at 5:00pm EST.
Can I provide personal addresses for my referees or do you require institutional email addresses?
Institutional address is not mandatory. You may provide referee's personal email – g-mail is preferred.
My referee sent me the reference letter, can I just forward to you?
No, referees must upload their letters directly to the application as per the instructions they received.
My referee sent the letter without a signature, is this acceptable?
We require reference letters to be signed and include all contact information.
My original Radiology Residency Program Director is no longer at this post. Whom should I ask for the reference letter - the Program Director who was appointed during my residency or the current one?
If you think the previous PD knows you best, you can list as a referee and include their previous Program Director title.
Can I provide more than 3 referees?
No, only 3 reference letters can be uploaded per applicant.
Should the reference letters be addressed to Dr. Mini Pakkal, Fellowship program director, or the individual supervisor?
All reference letters should be addressed to Dr. Mini Pakkal.
How can I find out if my application is complete and all 3 reference letters are received? Will I get a confirmation email?
You will be notified via email when each of your referees uploads their letter. If you have not received a notification, please follow up directly with your referees. Please note all reference letters are due by August 7, 2023.
I filled out the application form last week but my referees haven’t received the automated email from you yet – is there a technical problem?
Check that you typed the correct email address in your application
- Ask your referees to check their spam/junk inbox
- Yahoo/Hotmail and some institution emails do not work well, please ask your referee for alternate email and send it to mi.fellowships@utoronto.ca
- Ask your referee to upload their letter with the following instructions:
Reference Letter Requirements:
- The reference letter should be addressed to Dr. Mini Pakkal Department of Medical Imaging University of Toronto
- References must be signed, including credentials, and on institutional letterhead. Also please include a phone number if we require more information about the candidate (optional).
- References must be submitted as a PDF
Deadline and Submission Details:
Please submit your reference letter by August 11, 2024 at 5:00pm EST.
My referee is currently away and can’t send the reference letter by August 11, 2024, can I request an extension?
Incomplete applications including incomplete references will not be accepted. Please find an alternate referee.
I applied to vacant fellowship positions in December 2023 and my referees sent in their letters. Can you please use the same letters now?
Reference letters older than 6 months will not be accepted.
What should referees do to ensure successful reference submission?
Referees should manually type in the Applicant ID and the Referee ID provided instead of copying and pasting it. This ensures compatibility with our system and prevents any formatting errors.
What if a referee uses an incompatible last name for themselves when submitting the reference?
If a referee uses an incompatible last name on the web form, our system may not recognize the submission. For the purpose of submitting the reference letter, the referee must enter the spelling of their name as given by the applicant. You may, however, use your preferred spelling or format for your name in the letter itself.
Can referees submit multiple reference letters for the same applicant?
Yes, referees can submit multiple reference letters for the same applicant. However, any subsequent submissions will override the previous one. The Total References Received count will remain the same to avoid confusion.
What should referees do if they encounter a message indicating a discrepancy in the Applicant and/or Referee’s First Name and Last Name?
Referees must ensure that the Applicant and Referee’s First Name and Last Name match exactly as provided/spelled in the application form. If they encounter this message, they should verify the information noted in the email request they received and try again. This issue may arise with accented characters from different language keyboards not matching non-accented characters provided by the applicant.
What should referees do if they encounter technical difficulties with submission?
If referees encounter technical difficulties with the web form, they can try using a different browser or a different device outside their institution's network or Wi-Fi. Security measures in institutions may vary, and using a different device or network can sometimes resolve compatibility issues. Additionally, they can refer to the email notification they receive for guidance.
If there are two referees with the same last name – will that cause an issue when uploading letters?
No, we've addressed this issue by giving referees ID numbers and adding the Referee ID to the document names for proper identification.
Sponsored Applicants
I’m a Radiologist from Saudi Arabia - should I apply directly through your link or through the PGME portal for Sponsored Trainee Application Registry (STAR) or both?
Sponsored trainees must complete their application on STAR (https://star.pgme.utoronto.ca/) and receive the prospective funding letter from their sponsoring advisor before starting an application on our system. Sponsored trainees are required to upload the funding letter on our system.
Certification/Exams
What is the "Specialty Certificate"?
A specialty certificate refers to your Radiology certificate.
Can I apply for the 2025-2026 fellowship before receiving my Radiology/Specialty certificate?
Applicants currently in specialty programs are welcome to apply as long as the certificate will be received prior to July 1, 2025. Please state in your application, your expected completion date.
I have an undergraduate degree in Maths/Psychology and an MSc in Applied Statistics - should I upload those certificates in addition to my Medical degree and Radiology certificate?
We only require the Medical degree and Radiology certificate.
I am applying for your fellowship programs but I'm not certified yet. In the application form - certificates section there are two options certified or eligible, which one should I choose?
Please choose eligible and put the anticipated radiology certification date.
Which exams are required before applying? IELTS exam etc.?
We do not require you to take any exams to apply for the fellowship. However, if you successfully receive an offer from us, to obtain an unrestricted postgraduate medical education certificate of registration (educational license) from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), international medical graduates (IMGs) must successfully complete the Pre-Entry Assessment Program (PEAP). The PEAP includes an assessment of communication skills but Program Directors have the option of requiring applicants to provide additional evidence of language proficiency, such as the TOEFL iBT test. For more information, please visit: PEAP Information
I’m a current Radiology Resident and would like to apply to your fellowship program. I noticed that we need to upload our 'certificates' and 'licenses.' I will be uploading my medical degree, MCCQE1, and MCCQE2 results. Is this sufficient or is the MCC certificate mandatory? Are there any other certificates that we need to submit?
To apply to our fellowship program, only the Medical degree and Radiology certificate are required.
I have qualified for the first part of the Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) exam. Should I add it to the certificate/license section of the application form?
No. If we need anything further, we will request it.
I’m a Neurosurgery Residency program graduate with no formal radiology training. Do I still qualify to apply to your fellowship program?
You are only eligible to apply for the Interventional Neuroradiology Fellowship in certain hospitals (Toronto Western and St. Michael's).
Your website mentioned that the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accepts General Medical Council (GMC) recognition. Could you clarify what this entails? I checked their website but did not find my specialty listed.
Please reach out to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) directly to find out more information.
Vacancies
Can I start an application separately for each fellowship program that I want to apply to? I am asking this because the system will not allow me to upload more than one Letter of Intent, and I would like to write my letter specifically to the subspecialty I am applying to
- Yes, you can if you want. The Vacancy Application form treats every selection as an individual application with it’s own Applicant ID. The table of available vacancies on the form saves the applicant from having to complete more than one form. But if you prefer to fill out more than one form, the system will not stop you. Please note if you use the same Referees for each vacancy, the referees must submit their letters to each vacancy.
Is the vacancy application process same as the regular application process?
- No, vacancies are outside the regular application cycle. In the regular, application cycle you can only submit one application form with maximum 2 program choices/selections. Also (in most cases) when a selection is to a fellowship at multiple sites it can be evaluated at each site but still only counts as one selection. With vacancies, every site is treated as a separate application with it’s own Applicant ID and you can submit the application form as many times as you want and/or select more than one vacancy on the form.
Where can I find your vacancies?
- Please see below links to our current vacancies and the application form: