Canadian Medical Schools That Accept US Students

Can US Students Study Medicine in Canada?

Yes, but only at a small number of schools.

As of 2026:

• Only 4 Canadian medical schools accept US students for the regular MD entry route
• There are ~5 total seats available annually
• Ontario medical schools no longer accept international students
• 3 out of 4 eligible schools require French proficiency

These details make Canada one of the most competitive and restrictive destinations for US medical school applicants.

List of Canadian Medical Schools that Accept US Students

Among Canada’s medical schools, only 4 currently accept US students for the regular MD entry route, with approximately 5 total seats available per year. Please refer to the list below to learn more about these programs.

*Important note concerning language proficiency: 3 of the 4 schools listed below (Université Laval, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke) require advanced French proficiency, including the ability to study and communicate in a professional medical context.

McGill University (Montreal, Quebec)

McGill University typically offers 1 seat for international students, including US students. For the current cycle, they will only be interviewing 8 students from outside Canada.

McGill's Admissions Website

Laval University (Quebec City, Quebec) – French language*

The Laval University Medical School typically only has 1 seat is available to international applicants per year, making admission extremely competitive. For the current cycle, they will only interview 5 international applicants.

Laval’s Admissions Website

University of Montreal (Montreal, Quebec) – French language*

At the University of Montreal, typically only 2 seats are available to international students, including US applicants. They have not yet determined how many students will be invited for interviews for the current cycle.

Montreal’s Admissions Website

Sherbrooke University (Sherbrooke, Quebec) - French language*

At Sherbrooke University, only 1 international student is admitted per year, making admission extremely competitive for US applicants. They have not yet determined how many students will be invited for interviews for the current cycle.

Sherbrooke’s Admissions Website

Do All Canadian Medical Schools Accept US Students?

Not all Canadian medical schools accept international and US students. Some Canadian medical schools have special arrangements with certain foreign countries to accept a limited number of international applicants who will be expected to stay and practice medicine in Canada. The Canadian government subsidizes these schools as they hope these graduates will attend to the health care needs of their own taxpayers.

Important update concerning the 2026 admissions cycle: Ontario medical schools no longer accept international students, including applicants from the United States. New provincial regulations require that all seats be reserved for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, effectively eliminating Ontario as an option for US applicants.

In most Canadian medical schools, applicants are divided into the following categories:

1) In-province applicant pool

2) Out-of-province applicant pool

3) International applicant pool

In-province applicants are considered the more likely candidates for acceptance. Schools intentionally attract in-province students and make admission requirements more difficult for out-of-province and international applicants. Admissions departments feel more certain that in-province applicants, and eventually graduates, will remain in the region to practice. Most faculties also reserve several spots for out-of-province applicants. This leaves international applicants, including applicants from the United States, facing strong competition.

How Difficult Is It for US Students to Get into Canadian Medical Schools?

Medical school admissions rates in Canada are quite low compared to those in the United States - averaging around 10%-20% versus 46% in the United States. In fact, in recent years, 81% of Canadian applicants faced medical school rejection from high admission standards, which may be due to simple math: there are significantly fewer medical schools in Canada compared with the United States. Canada has fewer than 20 medical schools, while the United States has over 150. Many Canadian medical schools give preference to in-province residents. Keep in mind that most schools only consider seats for international students after they have accepted in-province and out-of-province students, so there is quite a stiff competition for an American applicant to get in, which may require additional efforts and help from a professional medical school advisor.

Did you know that 81% of Canadian applicants face medical school rejection?

Tuition Costs at Medical Schools in Canada vs the US

Generally, Canadian medical schools are much more affordable than American medical schools, especially considering that the majority of US medical school applicants seek to attend out-of-state programs, which increases their tuition costs. According to the AAMC, roughly 78% of US medical school applications are sent to out-of-state medical school programs. Some states do not have medical schools, which forces their students to apply to out-of-state and international schools. The cost of tuition in public schools for out-of-state applicants is much higher than their in-state counterparts. The cost to attend US public medical schools for out-of-state applicants ranges from US$50,000 to US$99,000. Average private tuition costs for in-state and out-of-state applicants range from US$60,000 to US$68,000.

Overall, tuition for US students applying to Canadian medical schools is lower than out-of-state tuition for applicants in the United States. For example, international tuition costs at Quebec medical schools range between US$20,000 to US$30,000.

Keep in mind that the cost of living in Canada is quite high. If you’re applying as an international student you can apply for a Work-Study option, which would allow you to work a limited number of hours per week. Working while you study helps to reduce the overall cost of living but might be a challenge considering the busy schedule of medical students.

For a full breakdown of costs and financial planning, see our complete guide to medical school tuition.

Admission Requirements at Canadian Medical Schools

Admission requirements for Canadian medical schools vary by institution, but there are several consistent expectations for US applicants.

Most programs require:

• At least 90 credits or a completed bachelor’s degree
• Core coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and related fields
• A competitive GPA (typically ~3.8 for admitted students)
• An MCAT score (requirements vary by school; some Quebec schools waive this, so be sure to check with schools that you are interested in)

In addition, applicants must demonstrate strong extracurricular involvement, including clinical exposure, research, and community service. Canadian schools evaluate these experiences closely, often using frameworks like CanMEDS to assess communication, leadership, and professionalism.

Many programs also require the CASPer test, particularly in Quebec.

Because each school has its own criteria—and international seats are extremely limited—it is essential to review the specific requirements for each program before applying.

For detailed admissions criteria across programs, visit our full guide to medical school requirements.

Canadian Medical School Admissions Deadlines

 Canadian medical schools that accept US students use their own online application services. Each year the timelines are slightly different, but application deadlines usually fall within the following periods:

November: McGill University

January: University of Sherbrooke

March: Laval University and University of Montréal

Remember, these are only estimated timelines. The final deadlines to apply to Canadian medical schools that accept US students vary from year-to-year, so be sure to check individual medical school application timelines.

How Do Canadian Medical Schools Calculate My GPA?

Each Canadian medical school has its own way of calculating GPA. Usually, this is just a matter of matching a letter grade or percentage system to a 4.0, 4.33, or another similar scale. 

University admissions offices are familiar with grading systems at other institutions and will not penalize applicants for taking less than Canadian standard course loads.

How Do Provincial Borders Affect My Chances of Getting into Canadian Medical Schools?

Three out of four schools in Quebec instruct only in French, including Laval University, the University of Sherbrooke, and the University of Montreal. All out-of-province and international students must pass a French language proficiency exam. This will be a significant challenge for US citizens who do not know French at an advanced level. Studying a subject in English and then shifting to another language can be a great challenge, especially in medicine given its professional terminology and vocabulary. Even if you are fluent in French, please keep in mind that colloquial French and professional language are different!

Most Quebec medical schools are focused on the development of medicine and health sciences in Quebec in particular. They put most of their efforts and finances towards supporting local medical institutions and professionals, increasing the difficulty of getting accepted for international students.

How to Obtain a Study Permit

Once you’ve received a letter of acceptance from medical school, you'll need to apply for a study permit. You can apply for a study permit online, or you may obtain a paper application from a visa application center. There is an application fee to apply for a study permit. Be sure to verify the requirements which may change over time, but in general, to apply you'll need:

1. A valid passport, in most cases

2. A letter of acceptance from the college stating the program of study, including start date and expected end date

3. Proof that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependents during your entire stay in Canada

4. A letter from your sponsoring organization, if you are being sponsored

5. If you have applied to an institution in the province of Quebec, then you will also receive, along with the acceptance letter, a “Certificat d’acceptation du Québec” (CAQ)

How to Plan Your Residency in Canada

In Canada, the system of securing a residency position is similar to that of the United States. You will need to learn about the Canadian Resident Matching Services (CaRMS), an online portal that applicants use to apply for a residency training position. If you are also applying in the US you can learn about ERAS, the Electronic Residency Application Service, from our blog.

Generally, the United States has a lot more residency spots and more for specialties compared to Canada. If you are a United States citizen interested in establishing your career as a doctor in Canada, you will have a much better chance of obtaining a Canadian medical residency if you get a Canadian medical degree. To qualify for most Canadian medical residency programs, 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 residency.

Although there are many more residency spots in America, there are also many more candidates for each spot. Around 91.6% of graduates of Canadian medical schools are successful in obtaining a medical residency in Canada, compared to only 58.5% of graduates of American medical schools. 

It is even more difficult for an American graduate to acquire residency in Canada. Some Canadian residency programs do not even consider IMG (International Medical Graduates) or USMG (United States Medical Graduates), while others have fees for such applicants. The Association of Medical Schools of Canada has recommended in the past that IMG and USMG cannot apply for residency until after the second round of admissions. Of course, a Canadian medical degree does not guarantee a match with Canadian residency, but it certainly will increase your chances. If you would like to increase your chances of matching with your top choice residency program, make sure you read the best residency personal statement examples and get ready for your interview by reviewing common residency interview questions.

All in all, if your goal is to match to a Canadian medical residency program and practice medicine in Canada, it would be much easier if you attend a Canadian medical school.

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