Students Studying in Ontario
Our partnering Ontario universities are organized into two streams, as outlined below: the Northern Studies Stream (NSS) and the Rehabilitation Studies Stream (RSS). Students enrolled in one of these programs can apply for a placement in Northern Ontario through NOSM U by working directly with the fieldwork/placement coordinator for their program.
- Funding for the NOSM U Rehabilitation Sciences Program is provided through the Ontario Ministry of Health. This funding supports the travel and housing costs for learners to come to Northern Ontario to complete their placements, as well as the development and support of our preceptors and clinical community providing placements for learners. Based on the funding we receive, we allocate a certain number of ‘funded’ placements to each of the 16 partnering Ontario programs within the NSS and RSS.
- A limited number of ‘unfunded’ placements may be available in each placement timeframe where our program received a surplus of placement offers beyond what was needed to match students for funded placements. For these unfunded placements, students would not receive support for travel and housing costs. These placements help us to maximize the number of students who are able to complete placements in Northern Ontario each year.
Northern Studies Stream – NSS
The Northern Studies Stream (NSS) program was created in 1990 as an integral part of McMaster University’s Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology programs. The NSS program mandate is to:
- increase students’ awareness and knowledge of the social determinants of health unique to northern and rural communities
- increase students’ awareness of Indigenous and Francophone health concerns and practices
- provide students with the skills required for the unique practice of rural and remote healthcare
- provide professional development and clinical teaching support to preceptors, program educators and other clinical teachers in Northern Ontario as a means for alleviating professional isolation; and
- build partnerships between rehabilitation professionals, McMaster, NOSM and the communities in Northern Ontario.
Through the NSS Program, McMaster Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech Language Pathology students have the opportunity to complete a clinical placement in Northern Ontario. When learners are selected by their program to complete a NSS placement, they submit an application to NOSM University’s PaNDa system. Learner applications are then matched to placement offers we have received from our Clinical Partners in Northern Ontario. Once matched, a formal conformation letter is sent to the learner, preceptor, site coordinator and home university placement coordinator to ensure the necessary agreements and placement requirements are finalized before the start date.
New to the NSS in 2022 is the introduction of the Indigenous & Francophone Learner Pathway for students enrolled in the McMaster OT, PT and SLP programs. Learners within this Pathway will be able to complete several of their clinical placements in Northern Ontario through NOSM U, with the intention of at least one placement occurring with an organization that primarily serves an Indigenous or Francophone population. The Pathway is targeted primarily to learners who self-identify as Indigenous or Francophone, as a means of encouraging these learners to complete their training – and consider future employment – in Northern Ontario.
Further Information
- Learn more McMaster’s Occupational Therapy Northern Studies Stream.
- Learn more McMaster’s Physiotherapy Northern Studies Stream.
- Learn more McMaster’s Speech-Language Pathology Northern Studies Stream.
Contact Information
For general inquiries, please email: hsplacements@nosm.ca
Rehabilitation Studies Stream – RSS
The Rehabilitation Studies Stream (RSS) program allows learners from Rehabilitation Science programs at the University of Toronto, University of Ottawa, Queen’s University and Western University to come to Northern Ontario to complete clinical placements that are part of their respective programs. Each program at each university is provided with a specific number of allocated placements. When learners are selected by their home program to complete a placement, they submit an application to NOSM University’s PaNDa system. Learner applications are then matched to placement offers we have received from our Clinical Partners in Northern Ontario. Once matched, a formal conformation letter is sent to the learner, preceptor, site coordinator and home university placement coordinator to ensure the necessary agreements and placement requirements are finalized before the start date.
RSS Occupational Therapy Programs
RSS Physiotherapy Programs
RSS Speech-Language Pathology Programs
RSS Audiology Programs
Contact Information
For general inquiries, please email: hsplacements@nosm.ca.