Requirements for Studying Medicine in Canada
The Canadian healthcare system is one of the most advanced in the world. In Canada, most healthcare services are provided free of charge to Canadian citizens and legal residents, except for some comprehensive dental treatments and cosmetic surgeries. Canadian medical education is provided by physicians who have achieved significant success in their fields at the world’s most successful universities. Studying medicine in Canada includes basic science preparatory education and intern training in clinics within universities.
There are 17 medical schools in Canada, 7 of which offer international students the opportunity to study medicine. Studying medicine in Canada attracts many students because Canadian universities have medical schools that are considered to be among the most successful in the world. The most important requirement for international students to study medicine in Canada is to have completed an undergraduate degree in any basic science field. International students who study medicine in Canada can work as doctors in Canada if they complete the necessary procedures after graduation.
What are the Medical Schools in Canada?
Canadian medical schools are listed below.
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta
- University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
- University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine
- Memorial University of Newfoundland School of Medicine
- Dalhousie University School of Medicine
- McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine
- Queen’s University School of Medicine
- Western University Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
- University of Ottawa School of Medicine
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Laval
- McGill University Faculty of Medicine
- University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine
- University of Sherbrooke Medical School
- University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine
There are a total of 17 medical schools in Canada, and 7 of them accept international students. The universities in Canada that accept international students in their medical schools are Memorial University of Newfoundland, Laval University, University of Sherbrooke, University of Montreal, McGill University, University of Toronto and McMaster University.
What is the University of Toronto Medical School Like?
The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine was founded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1919. The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine has been selected as the most successful medical faculty among Canadian universities in the rankings and is among the top 4 medical faculties in the world university rankings.
The language of instruction at the University of Toronto is English and students applying to the medical school are required to have an IELTS score above 6.5. Tuition fees for the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine are an average of 25,000 CAD for Canadian students and an average of 95,000 CAD for international students.
What is Mcgill University Medical School like?
McGill University Faculty of Medicine was founded in 1829 in Montreal, Quebec, as Canada’s first medical school. McGill University Faculty of Medicine ranks as the 29th most successful medical school in the world.
The language of instruction at McGill University is English, but students must know French or have taken preparatory French language training in order to communicate comfortably with patients when their clinical training begins. The McGill University Faculty of Medicine tuition fee for international students is 52,730 CAD in the first year of registration, with the amount paid decreasing in subsequent years of registration, dropping to 27,550 CAD in the 4th year of education.
What is the University of Montreal Medical School Like?
The University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine was founded in 1843 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as Montreal’s first francophone medical school. The University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine ranks as the 42nd most successful medical school in the world.
The language of instruction at the University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine is French. Tuition fees at the University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine are CAD 25,000 for international students in their first year.
How Much Are Medical School Tuition Fees in Canada?
Canadian medical school fees vary depending on which country students are citizens of. Canadian medical school fees for international students are higher than what Canadian students must pay.
The annual average tuition fees of medical schools in Canada that accept international students for students who are Canadian citizens are given in the table below.
| Faculty of Medicine | Annual price |
|---|---|
| Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto | 94,609 CAD |
| McGill University Faculty of Medicine | 52,731 CAD |
| University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine | 10,961 CAD |
| McMaster University School of Medicine | 26,130 CAD |
| University of Sherbrooke Medical School | 18,837 CAD |
| Faculty of Medicine, University of Laval | 11,152 CAD |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland School of Medicine | 30,000 CAD |
What are the Requirements to Study Medicine in Canada?
Requirements for studying medicine in Canada may vary depending on university and state rules.
The requirements for studying medicine in Canada are listed below.
- Students applying for undergraduate education must have a bachelor’s degree in biology or another basic science field and meet the minimum GPA requirement.
- A result that meets the minimum score requirement must be obtained in an internationally recognized English proficiency exam such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- A score above the required threshold is required to prove qualification from the Canadian Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
What are the undergraduate requirements for admission to Canadian Medical School?
The undergraduate requirements for admission to Canadian medical schools vary by province. Most provinces require a minimum of 2 years of postsecondary education to be accepted to Canadian medical schools, and for residents of Quebec, completion of a CEGEP college education is required.
Most Canadian medical schools require applicants to have taken certain basic science courses before applying. Students applying to Canadian medical schools must have studied a science such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology and computer science.
What are the Language Proficiency Requirements to Study Medicine in Canada?
The language proficiency requirement for studying medicine in Canada varies depending on whether the application is for undergraduate or graduate level education. The language proficiency requirement for studying medicine at the undergraduate level in Canada is a minimum score of 6.5 for IELTS and a minimum score of 80 for TOEFL. The language proficiency requirement for studying medicine at the graduate level in Canada is a minimum score of 7 for IELTS and a minimum score of 90 for TOEFL.
What are the MCAT requirements for Canadian medical schools?
The MCAT requirement for Canadian medical schools varies from school to school. The MCAT is the Medical School Admission Test in Canada, and it is necessary to pass this exam to study medicine at the top universities in Canada.
In Canada, the MCAT score requirement for medical schools or universities varies from school to school, and students should research and learn the MCAT score requirement of the medical school they will apply to. Some medical schools in Canada, such as the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and McGill University Faculty of Medicine, do not require the MCAT exam.
How to Apply to Medical School in Canada?
When applying to a Canadian medical school, prospective students should first check the application requirements of the school they will apply to. Application requirements for Canadian medical schools may vary from school to school. Before applying to a Canadian medical school, students must take the Canadian Medical School Entrance Exam. It should be noted that universities have different MCAT base score requirements, and the MCAT requirements of the school to which they will apply should be researched.
Most Canadian universities require students to have at least a two-year undergraduate degree in a basic science field before applying to medical school. Since the language of instruction at Canadian universities is English or French, international students are required to take a valid language proficiency exam and obtain a satisfactory score.
Applications to Canadian medical schools can be made online through the relevant school’s website. When applying to Canadian medical schools; MCAT and language proficiency exam results, diploma and transcript documents showing at least 2 years of basic science education, a reference letter written by a faculty member from the school where the student received education, and an application essay in which the student talks about himself, his hobbies, professional experiences and volunteer projects he participated in must be submitted to the school to which the application will be made.
Most prospective students who pass the first step in Canadian medical school applications enter an interview called a panel interview. A panel interview is an interview type in which a person who wants to study medicine in Canada answers questions in front of a large group consisting of university professors, active doctors and students studying at the relevant faculty. Students who meet the requirements for applying to Canadian medical schools and are accepted by a Canadian university after being interviewed are offered an application offer.
What are the Admission Statistics for Canadian Medical Schools?
Application requirements and admission statistics for base GPA and MCAT scores of Canadian medical schools accepting international students are provided in the table below.
| Faculty | Location | Acceptance rate | GPa | MCAT | Language of instruction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto | Toronto/Ontario | 6% | 3.96 | 125 (in each part of the exam) | English |
| McGill University Faculty of Medicine | Montreal/Quebec | 6.9% | 3.9 | – | English and French |
| University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine | Montreal/Quebec | 10.4% | CRC calculation | – | French |
| McMaster University School of Medicine | Hamilton/Ontario | 4.1% | 3.89 | 129 | English |
| University of Sherbrooke Medical School | Sherbrooke/Quebec | 7.2% | CRC calculation | – | French |
| Faculty of Medicine, University of Laval | Quebec City/Quebec | 9% | CRC calculation | – | French |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland School of Medicine | St. John’s/ Newfoundland and Labrador | 10% | 3.2 (3.4 outside Quebec) | 510 | English |
How Many Years Does Medical Education Take in Canada?
The duration of medical education in Canada varies between 3 and 5 years, depending on the student’s academic background. If the student who will study medicine in Canada does not have a bachelor’s degree in biology or a health-related field, medical education in Canada lasts 5 years.
The first year of medical education in Canada is preparatory education, and students who will receive medical education in Canada for a total of 4 years must have previously completed an undergraduate degree in biology or a health-related field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about Canadian medical schools and studying medicine in Canada are provided below.
Is It Difficult to Get into Medical School in Canada?
Getting into medical school in Canada is difficult as there are many prospective students who want to study in this field, but this difficulty is eliminated for prospective students who meet the application requirements of the medical schools to which they will apply.
Can Medical Students Work in Canada?
Yes, students studying medicine in Canada can work part-time jobs for up to 20 hours per week.
How Much Does It Cost Per Year to Study Medicine in Canada?
The annual cost of studying medicine in Canada includes travel, accommodation, living expenses, and school registration fees for international students. The total cost of school registration and living expenses for an international student studying medicine in Canada ranges from CAD 30,000 to CAD 125,000 per year, depending on the university they study. International students studying medicine in Canada may be able to cover their education costs through loans, scholarships, or work-while-studying opportunities.
The expenses that students who will go to Canada to study medicine must make before going include MCAT and English Proficiency Exam application fees, Canadian student visa application fee, travel health insurance and plane ticket fees. Living costs for university students in Canada can be calculated as accommodation, transportation, internet and food expenses. The average monthly accommodation expense of a student studying medicine in Canada is 400 to 600 CAD, the average monthly transportation expense is 100 to 250 CAD, the average monthly internet cost is 30 to 50 CAD and the average monthly food expense is 200 to 300 CAD.
What are the requirements for those who study medicine in Canada to become a doctor?
The requirements for those who study medicine in Canada to become a doctor are listed below.
- Must have a medical license issued by the Medical Council of Canada.
- In Canada, a postgraduate education in a field of practice is required to qualify as a medical specialty.
- Approval from a professional evaluation by a state authority is required.
In order for international healthcare professionals to become doctors in Canada, they must be assessed by the Medical Council of Canada and licensed by the relevant provincial authority. The requirements for becoming a doctor in Canada require international healthcare professionals to have advanced knowledge of English and, depending on the province, French.
What are the job opportunities for medical graduates in Canada?
Job opportunities for medical school graduates in Canada offer flexible and balanced working hours, a comfortable retirement plan, and disability insurance. When Canadian medical school graduates start working as doctors, they work an average of 35 to 40 hours per week. Canada is among the countries with the best salaries in the world for doctors; average annual salaries for doctors working in fields such as neurosurgery, plastic surgery, psychiatry, and cardiology range from $140,000 to $226,000.
There are more than 700 hospitals and healthcare personnel in Canada. Canadian healthcare worker recruitment policies have been one of the top priorities on the country’s government’s agenda, especially in the post-pandemic period. In order to become a doctor in Canada, foreign nationals must first obtain diploma equivalence and pass the Canadian Medical Council’s assessment exam.
How to Get a Visa to Study Medicine in Canada?
Before applying for a visa to study medicine in Canada, it is necessary to apply to a university in Canada and be accepted. Before applying for a visa to study medicine in Canada, an acceptance letter from a university in Canada must be received and documents regarding the financial resources required for the visa must be prepared.
To study medicine in Canada, it is necessary to apply for a Canadian student visa. The requirements for a Canadian student visa require the student to prove that they have been accepted by an educational institution in Canada.
After the necessary documents and acceptance letter for a Canadian student visa are prepared, the visa application can be made online through the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or by making an appointment at authorized visa application centers in Istanbul and Ankara. Regardless of whether the Canadian student visa application for studying medicine in Canada is made at the visa application center or online, a visa application center must be visited for biometric procedures.
