Canada has one of the best medical education systems globally, as some of its higher institutions are included among the world’s top medical schools by the Times Higher Education and QS World Ranking for Medicine. That said, the country experiences a shortage of medical professionals since it only has a few schools with limited capacity to cater to students.
Although the country does not offer international scholarships, the tuition fee is less expensive for international students compared to U.S. and UK medical schools. Due to its affordable tuition and world-class medical education system, it is not surprising that many medical students aspire to pursue their studies in Canada.
But a word of caution: getting into the universities in this country for this field is slim and highly competitive. In this article, we will examine the best medical schools in Canada.
Top Medical Schools in Canada
1. University of Toronto
With its extensive medical education and cutting-edge research, the University of Toronto has been recognized as the top institution in Canada by almost every ranking platform. This Canadian medical school also belongs to the top 20 in the world. Its medical education is evidence-based and student-centered, which allows students to be highly knowledgeable.
And with the training conducted on world-renowned hospitals, it is no wonder that their student success rate is high. The best thing about it is despite being the best medical school in Canada, the U of T is one of the few institutions in the country that is open to international students.
2. McGill University
McGill University is the oldest medical faculty in Canada, established in 1829. As one of the leading medical research universities today, the school values innovation and practice, putting the patient at heart and science in hand. This attitude translates into medical education, transforming students into highly skilled, empathic physicians. This institution also accepts international students, but only a tiny proportion.
The institution’s MDCM program goals with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences are in line together: to provide world-class medical education and advance necessary research for serving those in need of medical attention.
3. McMaster University
Unlike the previous two medical universities, the medical education at McMaster University only lasts for three years, 11 months per school year. However, like the first two, it requires completing a four-year undergraduate program for international applicants and Canadian students and at least three years of post-secondary studies.
Aside from the excellent medical education, this top medical school in Canada also claims to provide one of the best clinical clerkship experiences in partnership with Hamilton Health Sciences faculties and Hamilton Hospitals.
4. University of Montréal
The University of Montréal, one of the best medical schools in Canada, is a French-speaking institution in Quebec with 175 years of service. It also has one of the most extensive admissions of students in medicine and produces a third of the medical personnel in Quebec. Moreover, it is recognized globally for its outstanding education, research, and contribution to healthcare improvement.
The school’s medical program lasts four to five years, consisting of a preparatory year for those who still need to meet the minimum units required from previous undergraduate programs, a two-year pre-clerkship, and the last two years for clinical internships. If you want to study at the University of Montréal, you must learn French and pass the proficiency language exam, as the only language of instruction is French.
5. University of Calgary
Like most medical schools in Canada, the University of Calgary gives priority to Canadian citizens or permanent residents, especially to students in the same province, in this case, Alberta. The institution generally does not accept individual applications from international students.
The only international students they admit are those from schools or countries with formal and contractual agreements with the Cumming School of Medicine. The completion of their medical program only takes three years. It is patient-centered and presentation-based learning that the students can already work with patients in their first year.
6. Queen’s University
Unlike the previous schools, Queen’s University has a relatively high percentage of international students, with 11.9% in the undergraduate and 27.4% in the graduate population. Its School of Medicine accepts up to five international students per year. It offers a four-year medical program with an emphasis on hands-on clinical engagement.
This top medical school in Canada also provides a postgraduate medical education or residency program, a prerequisite to practice in this country. Moreover, it has combined degree courses for those interested in more advanced programs, such as Combined MD/Ph.D. and MD/Master’s.
7. Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University also offers a four-year medical program accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS). The program has three phases: Med 1, Med 2, and a Clerkship (Med 3 and 4).
Med 1 and 2 focus on basic sciences like anatomy and physiology, biology, and more. It also includes a discussion of the different philosophical, ethical, and practical views of health care. Between the succeeding sections, from Med 2 to 3, 3 to 4, and 4 into the residence, there will be four discussions incorporating the Introduction to Clerkship and Critical Review and Mastery (CRAM).
The Research in Medicine program will also be introduced during the first year in Med 1 and resumed during the last year in Med 4 as part of the graduation requirement. After graduation, the students can also take their post-graduate training in family medicine at Dalhousie University.
8. Laval University
The three medical universities in Quebec, namely the University of Montréal, the University of Sherbrooke, and Laval University, are all French-speaking institutions. The medical program this school offers usually lasts for four years. It does not have a preparatory year at the Université dé Montréal, but if the student did not pass the French proficiency test, they must take one or more French courses before admission.
Furthermore, the program has two consecutive and complementary stages. After at least two years of fundamental medical education, the students can take pre-externship courses and proceed to the clinical internship for the remaining two years.
9. University of Sherbrooke
Next on our list of the best medical schools in Canada is the University of Sherbrooke, whose medical program also lasts four years. The first and a half years involve pre-clinical training; the remaining one and a half years are clinical training done on-campus or in international partnership facilities.
The program is competency-based, with an emphasis on clinical practice and collaboration. This higher education provider is also the first Canadian francophone medical university recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for its excellent health education.
10. Memorial University of Newfoundland
The Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine is at the heart of many health facilities and hospitals, such as H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre, Janeway Children Hospital, Medical Education Centre, and a Health Sciences Centre. Students can prepare for medical residency study with the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, its undergraduate degree that lasts four years.
Once they finish their postgraduate medical education, students can use the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) to apply to residency programs in Canada. That said, its program is highly conducive to medical research and training. Despite being one of the largest medical schools in Canada, MUN only accepts five international students per year.
FAQs: Studying Medicine in Canada
Can International Students Enroll in Medical Schools in Canada?
The answer is yes and no. Since Canada lacks a sufficient supply of physicians, the government highly subsidized medical schools and lowered the admission qualifications for Canadian students to encourage citizens to pursue medicine. Since the country only has 17 medical schools, most student slots are allocated to in-province and out-province Canadian students who are more likely to contribute to their medical personnel pool.
Only a minuscule percentage remains for international students and less for uncontracted ones. Only 10 out of 17 medical schools in Canada accept international students. They can still be narrowed down, as two (Dalhousie University and University of Calgary) only admit students from countries with a signed contract with them.
Three of the remaining ones, Laval University, the University of Montreal, and the University of Sherbrooke, only offer medical courses in French. So, if you’re uncontracted and don’t speak French, you are only likely to get accepted into some Canadian medical schools, including the University of Toronto, McGill University, and more.
However, getting into these five medical schools still needs assurance, as only two to three overseas students qualify for these universities. To get accepted or even be considered for these limited slots to study in Canada, you must prepare an impressive application file that contains the following basic requirements:
| NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS |
| A very high GPA and sufficient university credits in biology, chemistry, and English |
| MCAT scores |
| An autobiographical sketch of all your accomplishments, extracurricular activities, employment, and other academic activities you have had from age 16 to the present |
| Supplementary application questions which vary from each school |
| CASPer test |
| Letters of recommendation |
| For students from a non-English country, TOEFL or IELTS certificate |
| Students who want to study in schools that offer French courses/programs need French proficiency language exam scores. |
| A personal statement |
| WES transcript assessment of a bachelor’s degree |
Having complete and outstanding application requirements will make or break your chances of getting into a Canadian Medical School, so be sure to take it seriously. For increased possibility, start planning and working on growing your profile as early as possible.
Read More: Steps to Become a Doctor in Canada
What is the Medical Curriculum Like in Medical Schools in Canada?
Canada doesn’t offer undergraduate programs in medicine. Instead, it requires the completion of any four-year bachelor’s degree as long as it has full-course equivalents (FCEs): two in life science and one FCE in social science, humanities, and language. The medical program in Canada only lasts four academic years, divided into the pre-clinical (Foundations) and clinical (Clerkship) phases. You can view the curriculum guide from the University of Toronto MD program here.
The first two years occur in a laboratory, classroom, and clinical/community setting, and this is called the Foundation curriculum (formerly pre-clerkship). It has three major dimensions: components, courses, and themes. During the first year, the subjects will mainly be an introduction to medicine and study concepts, patients, and communities, and they will contain extensive instruction on the differential diagnosis of all body systems.
The second year will continue with the curriculum, plus a discussion of health and disease and chronic disease management. Four primary components are embedded among these courses: the Toronto Patient-Centred Integrated Curriculum (TOPIC), Integrated Clinical Experience (ICE), Portfolio, and Health Science Research (HSR).
On the other hand, the Clerkship curriculum in the last two years will help students further develop the skills and knowledge they acquired during the Foundation years. The third year consists of 50 weeks of rotation-based internship, and the fourth year would be an additional 25 weeks of clinical experience. After graduation, the students must complete a residency to practice in Canada.
However, the candidate needs to be a citizen or a permanent resident of Canada to qualify. International students can apply for Canadian citizenship after two years of post-secondary education. Only after residency completion can you be certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in the country and be eligible to practice or open your clinic.
Learn More: Study for Free in Canada
Do not let the slim chances of getting into Canadian medical schools discourage you from applying, as it is not anything but worth it. After the rigorous process from application to admission, what awaits you is a world-class medical education and a competitive lifestyle and employment. Consider these institutions above if you want to pursue medicine in Canada!
We hope this article on the best medical schools in Canada was helpful. Make sure also to check out our Study in Canada page and the Canada Programs for International Students to learn more!
