Top Medical Schools in Canada

Canada with its well-developed economy and up-to-date technology as far as medicine is concerned is an ideal destination for students who wish to pursue an education in the medical field. The emergence of new diseases and a shortage of skilled medical personnel in Canada make getting a job after graduation in the country very easy. Additionally, most jobs in the medical sector are high-paying jobs which also come with a lot of prestige.

Moreover, Canada is getting increasingly popular as a country ideal for getting permanent residence. It might not seem like much from the outside but, for students, this is a great opportunity. As mentioned above, Canada has one of the fastest-growing medical fields, including research. Several universities in Canada pride themselves on world-leading research contributors.

All of these factors are important to a student because they create opportunities. A medical student in Canada can not only pursue a career in being a doctor, but also the alternatives, such as being a pharmacist, researcher, physical medicine, and much more. Mostly, all these career paths are possible just by completing a degree in medicine.

Hence, having the opportunity to gain a permanent residency in Canada, as well as gaining a very beneficial medical degree from the same country can help students boost their careers.

An Overview of the Medical Courses in Canada

• Canada houses 17 medical schools with the minimum requirement being a Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• The other requirements include a statement of purpose, good GPA, excellent score in the Medical College Admission test i.e. the MCAT, and personal interviews as per the requirement of the university applied to.
• Medical courses in Canada have a time span of 3-4 years followed by the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying examination at the end of the final year. The residency program is mandatory followed by an examination relevant to the student's subject of practice.
• Cost of living is affordable, making it easy to live a good quality life while studying in the country.
• Excellent job opportunities in Canada after graduation and a comfortable lifestyle with high safety are add-ons to pursuing medical courses there.

Top 5 Medical Schools in Canada

Below students will find a list of the best medical universities in Canada. Some of these universities have clubbed their medical courses under a departmental name - Faculty of Medicine or Faculty of Health Sciences. In such cases, the department as a whole has various courses related to medicine available, however, the list mentions only the courses that are directly connected to medical degrees.

1

University of Toronto (Temerty Faculty of Medicine)

• The Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto is renowned for its excellence in medical education, research, and clinical care. With a long history of innovation and leadership in the field of medicine, the faculty is committed to training the next generation of healthcare professionals and advancing the frontiers of medical knowledge.
• The faculty offers an MD program that can be completed in 4 years and an MD/PhD program that can be completed in either 5 or 6 years.
• In order to qualify for admission to the MD program, students are required to achieve a minimum GPA of 3.6 out of 4.0 on the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) scale. Additionally, they must have finished a minimum of three years of study, equivalent to 15 full course credits, towards a bachelor's degree from a Canadian university in any field. Prospective students must also sit for the MCAT exam prior to the application deadline and achieve a score of at least 125 in each section. Graduate students are eligible to apply if they have successfully completed or are currently in the final year of their graduate program.
• In order to qualify for the MD/PhD program, students must either be in their last year of undergraduate study or have successfully obtained a 4-year undergraduate degree. Additionally, graduate students who are in their final year of a master's program are also eligible to apply for the MD/PhD Program, as well as students who have already completed their master's program.
• The tuition fees for medical programs are as follows:

  Program	Domestic Students	International Students
  MD Program	CAD 23,000 to CAD 25,000 per year	CAD 92,000 per year
  MD/Ph.D. Program	CAD 23,000 to CAD 25,000 per year	CAD 92,000 per year

2

McGill University (School of Medicine)

• McGill University's School of Medicine was the first established medical faculty in Canada and continues to be among the top Universities in the world for its medical courses. The School of Medicine is known for its innovative teaching methods. The faculty members employ a variety of instructional techniques, including problem-based learning, case studies, and simulation exercises, to engage students and foster critical thinking skills.
• The School of Medicine offers an MDCM program that can be completed in 4 years and a Joint MDCM and PhD program that can be completed in 7 to 8 years along with 75 other residency postgraduate programs.
• In order to qualify for the MDCM and MDCM/Ph.D. Program, students need to possess a bachelor's degree that is 4 years or its equivalent from a recognized and accredited institution, regardless of the discipline, or a 90-credit program from a Quebec university where the applicant obtained a diploma of college studies.
• The tuition fees for medical programs are as follows:

  Program	Domestic Students	International Students
  MDCM	CAD 6,200 to CAD 26,000 per year	CAD 64,000 per year
  MDCM/Ph.D.	CAD 5,200 per year	CAD 37,000 per year

3

University of British Columbia (Faculty of Medicine)

• The Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia is exceptional in many ways. It is renowned for its cutting-edge research, innovative teaching methods, and commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for all. The faculty is home to world-class researchers and clinicians who are at the forefront of medical advancements in areas such as cancer research, genomics, and personalized medicine.
• The University's Faculty of Medicine offers an MD Program, Combined MD/Ph.D. program along with Family Medicine and 77 specialty and sub-specialty post graduate residency training programs.
• In order to qualify for the MD program and MD/Ph.D. program, candidates from British Columbia need to attain a minimum overall academic average of 75%, while out-of-province candidates must achieve a minimum overall academic average of 85%. Additionally, candidates must take the MCAT and obtain a minimum overall score of 124 for each section. Please note that this program is not available for international students. To gain admission into the program, graduate students are required to successfully fulfill the requirements of the program they are enrolled in.
• The tuition fees for medical programs are as follows:

  Program	Domestic Students	International Students
  MD	CAD 20,000 per year	NA
  MD/PHD	CAD 1,900 per installment	NA

4

Queen's University (School of Medicine)

• Queen's University is a prestigious institution that offers students a top-notch education, a vibrant campus community, and a beautiful setting in which to learn and grow. With a history dating back to 1841, Queen's University has a long-standing reputation for excellence in research and teaching.
• University's School of Medicine offers MD Program, Combined MD/PhD and MD/Master’s Programs, and other M.Sc. Programs.
• In order to qualify for the MD program and Combined MD/PhD and MD/Master’s Programs, applicants must have completed at least 30 half courses or 15 full courses (or a combination of both) at the undergraduate university level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and must also take the MCAT exam. Furthermore, international students are required to meet the English Proficiency criteria, which entails obtaining a TOEFL score of at least 100.
• The tuition fees for medical programs are as follows:

  Program	Domestic Students	International Students
  MD	CAD 12,000 per term	CAD 46,000 per term
  MD/Master's	CAD 6,000 per year	CAD 13,000 per year
  MD/Ph.D.	CAD 6,000 per year	CAD 6,000 per term

5

McMaster University (Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine)

• McMaster University's unwavering dedication to providing a top-tier education, combined with its focus on research, innovation, and community engagement, makes it a standout institution that prepares students to succeed in an ever-changing and competitive global landscape.
• University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine offers an MD program that can be completed in 3 years, residency programs, and fellowship or an area of focused competence (AFC) programs.
• In order to qualify for the MD program, candidates must have fulfilled a prerequisite of at least three years of undergraduate university degree-level coursework (equivalent to 30 half-year credits or 15 full-year credits, or a combination thereof). Individuals who are in their third year of undergraduate studies (prior to completing 30 half-year credits) will be considered for conditional offers, contingent upon the completion of the required number of credits and a final year GPA of 3.00. It is mandatory for all applicants to take the MCAT before submitting their application. International students are required to fulfill the English Proficiency criteria, which encompass achieving a minimum overall IELTS band score of 6.5, an overall TOEFL score of 86, or an overall PTE score of 60.
• The tuition fees for medical programs are as follows:

  Program	Domestic Students	International Students
  MD program	CAD 6,000 per year	CAD 54,000 per year

Some Facts about Schools in Canada

• The rules and regulations (including fee structure) are usually the same for international students and US students. However, there may be instances where the rules and regulations for US students are completely different and are treated separately. Hence, it is important to remember to double-check the facts from the university website if they are mentioned otherwise.
• As a USA student, students might not have to provide English language requirement certifications. Although they might need to submit evidence of English as a subject it is quite rare.
• The fee structure of Canadian universities works very differently than that of US universities. Furthermore, they are very susceptible to change as the year passes, which only hikes up the fee requirements for any course.
• Undoubtedly, medicine courses (undergraduate or postgraduate degrees) are the most expensive course degrees that universities offer. The second most expensive may be engineering. This is within good reason, as the university provides education from the best sources, along with very recent technology.
• Most importantly, the universities mentioned above have a higher tuition fee structure than other Canadian universities. This is mainly due to the fact that the universities mentioned above are Canada's finest. Needless to say, the universities other than the ones on the list, are equally good and might have lower tuition fees.
• Every university provides great scholarship opportunities.