Canada remains one of the most popular countries for international students. IRCC reported 997,820 international students in Canada at the end of 2024, while Statistics Canada reported 284,160 international enrolments at public universities and 288,801 at public colleges in 2023/2024.
While Canada’s education system is open to international students, admission to Doctor of Medicine programs is much more restrictive. Most MD seats are publicly funded and prioritized for residents of the province first, followed by other Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Schools that admit non-Canadian applicants usually offer only very limited visa, foreign, supernumerary, or contract positions.
Despite this challenge, it can be possible to study medicine in Canada as an international student, depending on your residency status, the school, and in some cases a government or institutional agreement. Here are the things you need to know to do so successfully:
1. What language are the medical programs taught in Canada?
Canadian medical programs are offered in English, French, or both, depending on the university and campus. Francophone universities such as Université Laval, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke teach medicine in French. Most medical schools outside Quebec teach primarily in English.
A particular exception is McGill University, which offers an English curriculum at its Montreal campus and a French curriculum at its Outaouais campus. McGill also requires proof of French-language proficiency for admission, and clinical placements may take place in bilingual or Francophone settings.
2. Can you study medicine in Canada as an international student?
Yes, but options are very limited, and eligibility changes by school and admissions cycle. The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada notes that not all faculties accept applications from international students and that some international places are supernumerary or contract positions arranged with foreign governments or institutions.
Examples of options to check include:
- McGill University — McGill’s IMG 4-year pathway can include international medical graduates, while the IMG 2-year advanced-standing pathway is only for recognized Quebec residents who meet specific professional equivalency requirements.
- Dalhousie University — AFMC lists a foreign above-quota/contract category, which is not the same as regular domestic admission.
- Université Laval, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke — Quebec medical faculties may have limited foreign-applicant categories, but admission is highly restricted and French-language requirements apply.
- University of Ottawa — general international students are not eligible; international contract seats are tied to a partnership agreement, such as the Kuwait partnership listed by AFMC.
The limited intake is mainly because most schools are funded by provincial governments. As such, they prioritize residents of their own province first and other Canadians second.
3. What are the requirements to study medicine in Canada?
There is no single national admissions standard for Canadian medical schools. Many schools require substantial university study before entry. For example, the University of Toronto states that students cannot enter medicine directly from high school, may apply as early as the beginning of their third undergraduate year, and must complete at least three years of undergraduate study. Internationally educated applicants must have completed a non-medical bachelor’s degree equivalent to a four-year Canadian bachelor’s degree.
GPA requirements vary by school. At the University of Toronto, undergraduate applicants must meet a minimum OMSAS GPA of 3.6, although the school notes that recent competitive applicants have usually had a GPA of 3.8 or higher.
Prerequisite courses also vary. The University of Toronto, for example, requires two full-course equivalents in life sciences and one full-course equivalent in social sciences, humanities, or a language.
Many Canadian medical schools use the Medical College Admission Test, but not all of them do. The preferred scores vary by school. For example, the University of Toronto requires a minimum MCAT score of 125 in each section, with an allowance of 124 in one section. McMaster University uses the MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills score as part of its admissions formula, while some schools, such as Toronto Metropolitan University, do not require the MCAT.
Applicants to Ontario medical schools, including McMaster University and the University of Toronto, apply through the Ontario Medical School Application Service.
Language requirements depend on the school and the language of instruction. English-taught schools may require proof of English ability in some cases, while French-taught schools require proof of French ability. Applicants should check the official admissions page of each medical faculty before applying.
International students who are admitted are responsible for obtaining the necessary Canadian study authorization or study permit. Medical students are not categorically excluded from study authorization simply because they are entering a medical program.
4. How many medical schools are in Canada?
AFMC’s 2027 admissions guide lists 19 Canadian faculties of medicine offering MD programs
5. What are the components of the medical curriculum in Canada?
Compared to some other countries, Canada generally does not offer a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree. Canadian medical faculties award the MD as a first professional degree, and most applicants complete university studies before entering medical school.
Most Canadian MD programs last 4 years. McMaster University and the University of Calgary offer 3-year MD programs, while McGill University’s MDCM program is 4 years.
McGill offers IMG pathways for international medical graduates. The IMG 2-year pathway is an advanced-standing option for eligible Quebec residents who meet specific requirements, while the IMG 4-year pathway requires admitted students to complete all 4 years of the MDCM program without advanced standing.
The Canadian MD curriculum usually combines foundational medical sciences, clinical skills, and clerkship rotations. The exact structure varies by school. During clinical clerkship, students rotate through hospital and community settings under the supervision of physicians and residents.
Some universities also offer combined degree options, such as MD/PhD or MD/MSc pathways. Applicants should check each medical faculty’s current program page because availability and structure vary.
6. How difficult is the Canadian medical schools?
Getting into a Canadian medical school is highly competitive. AFMC’s 2024/2025 data reported 14,693 applicants and 34,198 applications, with an overall admitted-to-study-medicine rate of 18.8% among reporting schools. For foreign applicants, the reported rate was 2.7%.
Even with a high GPA and strong MCAT score, there is no guarantee of admission. International applicants face an additional challenge because many schools do not accept them in the regular MD stream or accept them only through highly limited categories.
Another major step is matching to postgraduate residency after medical school. The Canadian Resident Matching Service R-1 Main Residency Match is the national process for entry into Canadian postgraduate medical training. The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination is part of the licensure pathway, but it is not the mechanism that assigns students to residency programs.
7. What is the drop rate in Canadian Medical Schools?
National attrition in Canadian medical schools has generally been low. A CMAJ report stated that in 2017, 53 students left Canadian medical schools, representing about 0.5% of students; 21 of those students left during the first year. Students should check each school’s current student support and progression policies for the most up-to-date information.
8. What do you need to become a doctor in Canada?
After studying medicine in Canada, graduates usually apply for postgraduate residency through the Canadian Resident Matching Service and complete the residency training required for family medicine or their chosen specialty.
The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination is part of the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada pathway. Full independent medical practice is regulated by the medical regulatory authority in the province or territory where the doctor wants to practice. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, so graduates should check the rules of the relevant provincial or territorial regulator.
I hope that this article on studying medicine in Canada was helpful! If you are interested, visit the Available Courses for International Students and the Canada Scholarships Page!
