Are you interested in becoming a medical student? Is Canada your study destination? If yes, attending any of the top medical schools in Canada is what you need to launch into one of the best medical careers.
Students like you are why we have taken ample time to research and develop a detailed list of the best medical schools in Canada, so you should read this article carefully to avoid missing out on important details.
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Overview of Medical Study in Canada:
Canada, with its well-developed economy and advanced medical technology, is an ideal destination for students seeking to study at some of the top medical schools in the world.
The emergence of new diseases and the shortage of qualified medical personnel in Canada make it much easier to find employment after graduation.
In addition, most of the jobs in the medical industry are high-paying jobs that also have a lot of prestige.
What does this mean?
Therefore, Canada has many prestigious and world-renowned medical schools that make a great option for any medical student, regardless of the degree chosen.
These universities differ widely in their academic programs, size, scholarship options, student expectations, and tuition fees. So you are sure to find a school that fits your studies perfectly.
Take a look at some of the best medical schools in Canada and what makes them great choices for your future medical and health education. Before we go into that, what are the requirements for Canadian medical schools?
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Medical Schools in Canada| Requirements
Typically, medical students begin their studies after earning a bachelor’s degree in another field, often the life sciences. However, not all medical schools in Canada require a bachelor’s degree to attend. For example, Quebec medical schools accept applicants with a two-year CEGEP diploma, 12th grade in other provinces, plus the first year of study.
Most western Canadian medical schools require a minimum of 2 years, and most schools in Ontario require a minimum of 3 years of university education before applications can be submitted to the medical school.
The University of Manitoba requires applicants to obtain a prior diploma before admission. The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) publishes a comprehensive guide to admission requirements for Canadian medical schools each year.
Individual medical schools typically offer admission based on a personal statement, an autobiographical plan, student enrollment (GPA), medical school admissions examination results (MCAT), and interviews.
Quebec Medical Schools (French and English), the University of Ottawa (a bilingual school), and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (a school that promotes Francophone culture) do not require the MCAT as the MCAT does not have a French equivalent.
Some schools, such as the University of Toronto and Queen’s University, use the MCAT score as a cutoff, with scores below the standard compromise level. Other schools, such as the University of Western Ontario, increasingly favor higher achievements. McMaster University uses only the MCAT’s Critical Analysis and Reasoning section to determine interview eligibility and admission area.
The annual success rate for Canadian citizens applying for admission to Canadian medical schools is normally less than 10%. Only more than 2,500 seats were available in freshman classes in 2006–2007 in the seventeen Canadian medical schools.
In 2006-2007, the average tuition for medical schools outside of Quebec was $ 12,728; in Quebec (only for Quebecers), the average tuition was $ 2,943. The level of debt among Canadian medical students upon graduation has received medical attention.
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Applying to Canadian Medical Schools
You may want to attend medical school in Canada for several reasons.
Maybe you are a Canadian who wants to be educated at home and serve your local community. Perhaps you are a non-Canadian attracted to the strong education system in Canada, with six of the schools ranked in the top 100 in the world by Times Higher Education, which gives graduates tremendous freedom to practice internationally.
You may be attracted to the low cost of attending Canadian schools, where the annual tuition is around USD 13,000 for Canadian students and USD 23,000 for international students, compared with an average of USD 30,053 for students within the state and USD 53,469 for out-of-state students. -state students in public medical schools in the United States.
Perhaps you’ve heard about the country’s high standard of living, natural beauty, poutine, and desire to call it home.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to apply, you may already know that admissions to medical school in Canada are somewhat different from those in other places.
The purpose of this article is to guide you through the process of applying to a Canadian medical school (whether you are a citizen of the Great White North or not), highlight the differences between the application process to American and Canadian medical schools, and describe Strategies should be used to maximize your chances of entering.
Admission Rates to the Canadian Medical School and Residence
How difficult is it to enter a Canadian medical school?
There is a myth that Canadian medical schools have lower admission standards than other schools because the country has a shortage of doctors.
The rates of admission to medical school in Canada are pretty low compared to those in the United States, with an average of around 10-20 percent versus 46 percent. In 2017, 81 percent of Canadian applicants were not admitted to any Canadian medical school.
The shortage of doctors, which is accurate, does not translate into a significant increase in admission rates because class sizes remain limited. There are not many medical schools and hospitals in the country, nor are there enough staff and resources to accommodate a larger number of students and interns.
Canadian medical schools greatly favor candidates residing in the same provinces. They feel more confident that these students will remain in the region to practice.
In addition, Canadian medical schools expect their graduates to enter a Canadian residency program relatively quickly. In contrast, many Canadians who graduated from a foreign medical school find it difficult to match a home residence. (We will explain why later).
You can find the exact admission rates for each school at the end of this article.
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Do Canadian Medical Schools Accept Applications from International Students?
Of the 17 Canadian medical schools, seven do not accept international students.
Two of the remaining 10—Dalhousie University and the University of Calgary—only accept students from foreign countries (usually in the Persian Gulf) with whom they have signed a contract.
They do so to ensure that their graduates continue practicing in Canada. The Canadian government greatly subsidizes these schools and prefers to see graduates who attend to the health care needs of their taxpayers.
So, if you come from the USA, you will have to concentrate on one of the other eight in the United Kingdom or another country that generally does not have contracts with Canadian schools.
Also, while these schools may allow international students to apply for their programs, there is no guarantee that they will accept any, and when they do, it is often only in a single digit. Only 11 foreign students without a contract enrolled in Canadian institutions for their first year of medical school in 2016-2017.
In addition, three of these schools – Laval University, Sherbrooke University, and the University of Montreal, all located in Quebec – only offer instruction in French.
But admissions to medical school are competitive everywhere, and by running for a Canadian institution, it increases the chances of entering somewhere. Canadian medical schools also tend to have fewer application requirements than American schools, so if you can add Canadian medical programs to your list and avoid burnout, you may feel better if you have more options.
Do Canadian Medical Residency Programs favor Applicants with a Canadian Medical Degree?
Suppose you are a non-Canadian citizen interested in establishing your career as a doctor in Canada. In that case, you will have a much better chance of obtaining a Canadian medical residency if you obtain a Canadian medical degree.
In 2018, 91.6% of graduates of the Canadian Medical School (CMG) successfully coincided with a medical residency in Canada, compared to only 58.5% of graduates of the US medical school. Medical residency programs
Some Canadian residency programs do not consider IMG or USG applicants, while others, such as the University of Toronto and the University of McMaster, have fees for such applicants.
The Association of Medical Schools of Canada even recommended last year that IMG and USMG cannot apply for residency until after the second round of admissions.
Of course, a Canadian medical degree does not guarantee that it matches a Canadian residence. To qualify for a Canadian medical residency program, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Foreign students who have studied for two years at an accredited Canadian postsecondary school may apply for permanent residence.
IMGs, on the other hand, have to pass the Canada Medical Council Qualification Exam, which graduates of Canadian and American schools will not have to do until they are ready to become full doctors before they can apply for programs of medical residence.
Bottom line: If your goal is to match a Canadian medical residency program, your life would be much easier if you attended a Canadian medical school.
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Medical School Admission Requirements.
There are no established requirements for each medical school. Many medical schools will make exceptions or emphasize different courses and topics in their admission process. However, there is a basic set of courses and exams that are commonly accepted as basic medical school requirements that almost all schools will consider.
With the development of the new MCAT format, first used in 2015, additional courses are recommended. These include psychology and social sciences, which will be evaluated in sections in the longer MCAT.
The computer makes an initial screening of applicants most of the time to ensure that basic things such as courses taken, GPA, and MCAT scores meet the desired minimum. After that, it’s about the person, not the numbers. Consider what makes a medical school application sound and adjust yours accordingly. The process of admission to medical school is a mixture of science and art. To get an idea of ​​how competitive your MCAT and GPA scores are, try our Medical School Search tool.
Course Work
Commonly accepted course requirements for medical school include a minimum of 1 year of:
- General Biology
- Physics with laboratory
- General chemistry (inorganic chemistry) with laboratory
- Organic chemistry with laboratory
- Calculus
- English
- Sociology
- Psychology
If you plan to do your premedical coursework after obtaining your university degree, you can take these courses at almost any four-year university.
- GPA
Admissions to medical school are competitive, so you must have a strong GPA. A GPA above 3.5 is preferable. A GPA below 3.5 can sometimes raise a flag, especially if you attended a school famous for grade inflation, such as Harvard. While things could have changed a bit at Harvard, there is still the impression that everyone gets a minimum of 3.3, so the GPA limit could be applied more strictly.
- MCAT Scores
Your MCAT scores are important. They say little about you as a person, but medical schools give them considerable weight. The MCAT sections are similar to the required courses: physical sciences (inorganic physics and chemistry), biological sciences (biology and organic chemistry), and verbal and psychosocial sciences.
It has been estimated that 70–80% of all medical faculty applicants have taken a course before the MCAT test.
- Baccalareat Diploma
You need a university degree. But it doesn’t have to be in science. In fact, for some schools, a science degree is negative, for example, Johns Hopkins. He must show medical schools that he is passionate about something: that he is willing to spend four years studying a subject he loves, learn it and be able to develop it. Choosing a university specialty should not be based on whether you want to attend medical school.
- Research – optional
If you enjoy science, then research is a way to show that you take it seriously. If you are going to do a research project as a university student, start early. The first year is not too early to start. That gives him a year or two to learn the ropes, then a year and a half of serious work before he can present his work in the medical school interview. Choose a respected faculty member to do an investigation that interests you. Work hard. Read. Understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. You should be able to explain and defend your work to an educated scientist who does not work in your field.
- Physician Shadowing: optional
I am not a big fan of following a doctor. It does not show much commitment and suggests that you are only interested in entering medical school. If you’re not sure, you want to go to medicine, find a doctor and find out what it is like. Do not expect a “shading experience” to have a lot of weight in your application.
- Voluntary service – optional
The impact of the voluntary service on your request will depend on the quality of the service and your commitment to it. Is this a monthly, twice-a-week meeting organized by another person, or is it a project in which you have participated for several years and in which you are assuming a leadership role? How does this project affect you, and how did it go? a significant contribution to the project.
Remember, medical schools are looking for people willing to take the time and effort to make a serious contribution. That contribution can be in a volunteer program, an academic search, research, or a sport. You have to show that you are willing and able to work hard enough to achieve an important goal.
16 Best Medical Schools in Canada Ranking
After thorough research, careful reviews, rankings, and analysis from the best MOOC platforms online, we have curated a list of the best medical schools in Canada, including their tuition and admission requirements.
Do you have any problem finding the perfect school for you? Listed below are the best medical schools in Canada as of 2023, which coincide with the best medical schools in the world. The schools are briefly explained with the official websites of the schools.
- University of British Columbia
- University of Alberta
- Cumming Medical School;Â University of Calgary
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Saskatchewan.
- Manitoba University
- Northern Ontario Medical School
- Western University;Â Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
- McMaster University
- University of Toronto
- Queen’s University in Kingston
- Ottawa University
- McGill University;Â School of Medicine
- Memorial University;Â School of Medicine
- Sherbrook University
- Dalhousie University;Â School of Medicine
#1. University of British Columbia
Registration: 39,000 CAD
Established in 1915, the University of British Columbia is one of the best international universities in the world. It is a public research university.
The medical faculty of the University of British Columbia will be one of the best medical faculties in Canada in 2023. They consist of nineteen departments, three schools, and twenty-three research centers and institutes.
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#2. University of Alberta
Registration: 20,400 CAD
The University of Alberta is one of the accredited Canadian medical schools that offers undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs in the medical field. It is a public research university that offers standard education, medical care services, and research opportunities.
With good scholarship opportunities, and fundamental values ​​of integrity, excellence, partnership, social responsibility, respect, compassion, and care in a relationship with patients and working with colleagues.
#3. Cumming Medical School;Â University of Calgary
Registration: 12,700 CAD
The University of Calgary is a public university that is intensively involved in research. The Cumming School of Medicine is leading medical research in Canada. They focus more on the brain and mental health, chronic diseases, and cardiovascular sciences. They offer MD, BHSc, Ph.D., MBT, and BCR programs.
#4. Faculty of Medicine of the University of Saskatchewan.
Registration: 17,500 CAD
With the vision of leading the improvement of the health and well-being of the people of Saskatchewan and the world in general, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Saskatchewan is a university with a focus on research, and education, and other social skills to produce clinicians and expert scientists.
#5. Manitoba University
Registration: CAD 14,700
Rady’s faculty of health at the University of Manitoba stands out for its excellent results in medical research. Its objective is to produce leading professionals in the fields of medicine around the world to improve people’s health. They are one of the best medical universities in Canada.
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#6. Northern Ontario Medical School
Registration: CAD 24,600
Rooted in the north, the French medical school is a medical school that focuses on improving and addressing health requirements and improving the quality of medical care for people in northern Ontario, and contributing to the economic development of people.
#7. Western University;Â Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Registration: CAD 27,300
The school that focuses on both practical medicine and medical technology aims to provide the best medical services for the country and the world.
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#8. McMaster University
Registration: CAD 22,400
The department of medicine at McMaster University has the vision of providing outstanding clinical care to the world. They have the reputation of being one of the best research and innovation centers in the world. Their goal is to provide excellent education and maintain their position as the best in the world.
They offer full-time and non-GFT courses in internal medicine.
#9. University of Toronto
Registration: 45,690 CAD
Medical School: With students from all over the world and different socioeconomic backgrounds, the University of Toronto School of Medicine aims to solve medical problems worldwide.
The school aims to improve international relationships, offering generous financial support to students to study with them.
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#10. Queen’s University in Kingston
Registration: 27,500 CAD
Faculty of Health Sciences: The public research university was founded more than 150 years ago. They offer different branches of medical sciences for undergraduate and graduate programs.
The school of health sciences faculty aims to advance the tradition of preparing exceptional doctors and the best leaders in medical care.
#11. Ottawa University
Registration: 25,500 CAD
The University of Ottawa medical school is the only bilingual medical school in Canada. With a commitment to excellence in education and health research, the school aims to meet the medical needs of communities, from their local to global communities.
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#12. McGill University;Â School of Medicine
Registration: CAD 29,200
The McGill University School of Medicine aims to produce the best health professionals, scientists, students, and staff who commit to compassionate, evidence-based care. They provide educational opportunities as well as research opportunities.
#13. Memorial University; School of Medicine
Tuition: CAD 11,400
The medical school aims to invest millions of dollars in cutting-edge medical research. The school focuses on training its resident doctors and preparing them for internships in rural areas.
They also provide several scholarship opportunities to help their students finance their education through school.
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#14. Sherbrook University
Tuition: CAD 29,200
This is a Francophone university located in Sherbrook. It is a research university. The Sherbrook University School of Medicine aims to produce world-class medical professionals to help solve the world’s medical problems.
#15. Dalhousie University; School of Medicine
Registration: 18,000 CAD
The Dalhousie University medical school was established more than 150 years ago. The university focuses on innovative, collaborative, and vibrant research that aims to improve the state of life and health of the world.
Among the Medical Schools of Canada, they offer medical health education and medical research programs in undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs, in addition to residency and continuing professional development training programs aimed at providing excellent training opportunities for their students’ medicine, residents, fellows, and graduate students. And providing excellent medical service to the community and the world in general.
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#16. University of Montreal; School of Medicine
Registration: 7,500 CAD
Dedicated to education and research, the medical school fosters the development of skills to improve medical care and well-being through the guidance of values ​​and principles through innovation, social commitment, thoroughness, patient association, Respect, and responsibility.
The school offers professional courses to train people for general and specialist medical positions, including professionals, and researchers in basic sciences, clinical sciences, audiologists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, speech therapists, and physiotherapists.
Medical School in Canada vs. USA.
We got this informant from Ahmadmz; we’d like to share it with you.
I am a non-traditional applicant with very strong statistics and have applied to medical schools in the USA. UU. And Canada. I am a Canadian citizen. However, all my family lives in the United States.
My brothers moved here before the age of 21, so they could obtain residence cards and such, and I was not there since I was not that age at that time. My goal is to reside and eventually practice in the USA for reasons that include my family, preferences, and climate.
Can anyone give me a piece of advice to help me decide if I should study medicine in Canada or the USA? If my goal is to make the USA my residence, EM is my best option for residency for the job shadows I’ve done.
It is important to mention that during the 4 years, the Canadian medical school would cost only about $ 75K (including living costs), and the medical school in the United States for 4 years would cost me around $ 350K (including the expenses of a lifetime).Â
My dilemma is whether the extra $ 275K is worth it if I attend medical school in the United States. If I choose to go to Canadian medical school and save all that money, would it be difficult for me to get a residence in the US? If I don’t have a state here and I don’t even study here, Any comments would be useful! Thank you!
Medical Schools Without MCAT
MDAT programs without MCAT requirements admit students through the Early Guarantee Programs. Students passionate about medicine can apply as soon as their second year and have a position in medical school after finishing college. Admission standards vary by program, and the MCAT often does not apply.
For example, Tufts University in Boston offers an “early guarantee” program that does not require MCAT scores. However, students must have a general GPA of 3.5, including a 3.5 in the required science classes and a combined score greater than 1300 in the reading and math sections of the SAT or a composite ACT score greater than 30.
Tufts University also offers an MCAT-free Early Assurance Program for college students interested in the Maine Track for MDs. Students study in Maine and earn a combined diploma from Tufts and the Maine Medical Center. University students can apply for the Tufts Early Guarantee Program during their second year. Graduates are encouraged to practice primary care in the less rich parts of the state.
Medical Honors Programs
The University of Florida at Gainesville offers an accelerated B.S./MD program through its Medical Honors Program.
Admission to the Medical Honors Program is open to all U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Second-year students with higher academic ability can apply for the honors program and enroll in the UF medical school without taking the MCAT.
Factors considered include a grade point average of 3.7 in university and math prerequisite courses at the university level, volunteer work in a medical setting, and research experience. Selected participants complete an accelerated degree of B.S./MD in seven years.
Flexible Admission Programs
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City offers a unique FlexMed program named after Donald and Vera Blinken. The program attracts students of various academic specialties.
Admission decisions are taken comprehensively, considering the standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, work history, and academic achievement. The MCAT is not mandatory. Students request and receive a decision letter in the last semester of their second year.
Consider Retaking the MCAT
There is no easy way to get into an accredited medical school in the United States. Without MCAT requirements, setting very high admission standards. The main advantage of enrolling in a program without MCAT requirements is that you can have more time to study in school, explore a wider range of courses, and work or volunteer in health care centers.
Many students return to take the MCAT to increase their scores. The average MCAT score in 2018–2019 was 500, as the Association of American Medical Colleges reported. The highest percentage of repeat examiners initially scored between 494 and 501. Retaking the exam may result in higher scores when students study and take additional courses in areas such as physics where they feel less safe. In addition, reviewing the MCAT can be useful preparation for the courses you will take in medical school.
Top Medical Schools in Canada in 2023
After thorough research, careful reviews, rankings, and analysis from the best MOOC platforms online, we have curated a list of the Top medical schools in Canada, including their tuition and admission requirements.
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
- McGill University.
- The Memorial University of Newfoundland.
- McMaster University.
- Dalhousie University.
- Queen’s University
Which Canadian Medical School is the Easiest to get into?
The University Of Toronto school of medicine is considered one of the easiest medical schools to get accepted into. So if you want less competition and easier acceptance, you should consider it.
How Many Medical Schools in Canada do not Require MCAT Results?
Six of the seventeen medical schools in Canada do not require the MCAT. These six Canadian medical schools include:
- University of Ottawa
- Université de Montréal
- Université Laval
- Université de Sherbrooke
- McGill.1
- McMaster University
Aside from McMaster University, all other Canadian medical schools that do not require MCAT results are francophone or bilingual universities.
Conclusion
Canada is one of the world’s most reputable countries, offering quality education and accepting international students for study. Getting a degree in Canada has been considered a very high achievement for anyone who does it, let alone getting one in medicine. If you study medicine in Canada, you’ll be considered top-notch. With the information here, you’ll turn this into a reality.
