There are 17 medical schools in Canada, spanning the country from the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine in Vancouver to the Memorial University Faculty of Medicine in St. John’s, although three new medical schools will open in the near future at the following schools: the University of Prince Edward Island; Toronto Metropolitan University; and Simon Fraser University. Medical schools in Canada offer a wide range of excellent MD programs and receive thousands of applications every year. In this blog, you will learn how to get into medical schools in Canada, compare the latest admissions data for these schools, and find the most up-to-date Canadian medical school application information.


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Article Contents
26 min read

List of Medical Schools in Canada How Hard is it to Get Into Medical School in Canada According to a Canadian MD Medical Schools in Canada: Acceptance Rates Medical Schools in Canada: Navigating Medical School Applications Medical School Admission Requirements in Canada Strategies for How to Get into Medical Schools in Canada Application Timeline for Medical Schools in Canada Canadian Medical School Tuition Costs Conclusion FAQs

List of Medical Schools in Canada

Medical Schools in Alberta

1. University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry

  • Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.30 (In-Province Students) /3.50 (Out-of-Province Students)
  • Minimum MCAT: 124 for In-Province Students for each MCAT section/128 for Out-of-Province Students in CARS; 124 for every other section
  • Acceptance Rate: 10%
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2. Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary

  • Average GPA: 3.87
  • Minimum GPA for In-Province Students: 3.20
  • Minimum GPA for Out-of-Province Students: 3.80
  • Minimum MCAT CARS Score: 128
  • Acceptance Rate: N/A
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Medical Schools in British Columbia

1. University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine

  •  Average GPA: 89%
  • Average MCAT Score: 514
  • Acceptance Rate: 10%
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Medical Schools in Manitoba

1. University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine

  • Median GPA: 4.20
  • Median MCAT: 514
  • Acceptance Rate: 9.8%
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Medical Schools in Newfoundland

1. Memorial University Medical School

  • Average GPA: 85% or higher
  • Average MCAT Range: 505-507
  • Acceptance Rate: 10%
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Medical Schools in Nova Scotia

1. Dalhousie Medical School

  •  Average GPA: 3.90
  • Average MCAT: 506
  • Minimum MCAT (per section): 123
  • Acceptance Rate: 8.3%
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Medical Schools in Ontario

1. Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (McMaster University)

  • Minimum GPA: 3.0
  • Average GPA: 3.9
  • Minimum MCAT: 123
  • Average MCAT CARS: 129.2
  • Acceptance Rate: 4.14%
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2. Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM)

  • Average GPA: 3.7
  • Average MCAT: MCAT not required
  • Acceptance Rate: 4.6%
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3. University of Ottawa Medical School

  • Minimum GPA: 3.50
  • Minimum MCAT: MCAT not required
  • Acceptance Rate: 3.6%
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4. Queen’s University Medical School

  • Average GPA: 3.76
  • Average GPA Range: 3.03-4.0
  • Average MCAT: 514
  • Acceptance Rate: 2.7%
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5. University of Toronto Medical School

  • Average GPA: 3.93
  • Minimum MCAT Score (per section): 125
  • Acceptance Rate: 2.3%
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6. Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (Western University)

  • Average GPA: 3.93
  • Minimum GPA: 3.70
  • Mean MCAT (per section): 127
  • Acceptance Rate: 7.6%
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Medical Schools in Québec

1. Université de Sherbrooke Medical School

  • Average CAG: 70%
  • Minimum MCAT: MCAT not required
  • Acceptance Rate: 11.9%
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2. Université de Montreal Faculty of Medicine

  • Minimum CRC: 60%
  • Minimum MCAT: No MCAT Required
  • Acceptance Rate: 10%
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3. Université Laval Medical School

  • Minimum R Score: 33
  • Acceptance Rate: N/A
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4. McGill Medical School

  • Minimum GPA: 3.5 
  • Average GPA: 3.8
  • Minimum R Score: 34.0
  • Average R Score: 35.2
  • Acceptance Rate: 6%
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Medical Schools in Saskatchewan

1. University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine

  • Minimum GPA: 80%
  • Minimum MCAT for In-Province: 492
  • Minimum MCAT for Out-of-Province: 512
  • Average MCAT: 507
  • Acceptance Rate: 9.9%
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How Hard is it to Get Into Medical School in Canada According to a Canadian MD

Medical school acceptance rates in Canada are generally less then 20%, meaning Canadian med schools are highly selective and competitive. However, you can use the admission statistics above to carefully evaluate where you might be an ideal candidate and therefore have a greater chance of success getting into medical school. Except, medical school acceptance rates are not how most Canadian MDs chose their program. For example, Dr. Jaime Cazes, a graduate of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at U of T and one of our admissions experts, says, “The first thing I looked for in a medical school was location...to be quite honest, school acceptance rates did not impact my choice of where to apply”.

Dr. Cazes did not rely on medical school acceptance rates because they’re all quite low; so, choosing based on acceptance rates would eliminate many, if not all, medical schools in Canada. “In Canada, there are so few medical schools that it really is just a numbers game to some extent.” According to Dr. Cazes, when it comes to applying to medical schools in Canada, you should, “apply broadly,” as applying selectively “only hinders you”.

Medical school acceptance rates in Canada

But aside from location, which Dr. Cazes says is important not only for quality of life, but to have supports – academic, professional, and personal – nearby during your time in medical school, he also looked at the academics and specific teaching style or methodology of a particular program. “Ultimately, you are going to be investing significant amounts of money, time, and energy into this program”, said Dr. Cazes, “you want to make sure that it is best suited to how you learn”.

Lastly, Dr. Cazes recounts that he “wanted to see if the school would support and foster my extracurricular activities and hobbies,” so he also explored the various student clubs, research opportunities and post-graduate match rates the school offered. After he did his research, Dr. Cazes found that knowing more about student life at the school gave him the opportunity to “talk about these passions during my medical school interviews.”

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Check out our Canada Medical School Chance Predictor to see where you have the best chances of acceptance!

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Medical Schools in Canada: Acceptance Rates 

While Canadian medical schools have generally higher acceptance rates than their US counterparts, it is still difficult to get accepted. On average, Canadian medical schools have higher academic requirements and are more competitive for international or out-of-province applicants. This is because Canadian medical schools usually give preference to in-province students and not all the Canadian medical schools accept international students, even students from the US. And while the academic requirements are tougher at Canadian schools, this does not mean that your written application components or non-academic qualifications do not matter. Even with a 4.0 GPA and perfect MCAT score, you may still be rejected by some medical schools. To get into medical schools in Canada, your application needs to be strong from a holistic standpoint, and it needs to demonstrate your alignment with the CanMEDS roles, which we will explore in the next section.

If you plan to apply to medical school in Canada, you’ll need to be selective in choosing your schools. When deciding which medical schools in Canada you’d like to apply to, consider the following criteria:

Once you’ve done your research and compiled a shortlist of potential medical schools, you’ll need to make sure you craft the strongest possible application. The key to this is knowing the medical school requirements for each school you plan to apply to and checking that you meet each one. Next, we’ll look at medical school admission requirements in Canada and what you need to know.

Medical Schools in Canada: Navigating Medical School Applications

Medical schools in Canada are competitive, but all 17 institutions are looking for candidates who display the qualities and values of the ideal physician. One of the shared components medical schools in Canada use to evaluate candidates is the CanMEDS framework, a series of roles formulated by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons to help clarify what qualities and abilities are to be cultivated by medical students to “effectively meet the health care needs of the people they serve.” The structure of CanMEDS depicts six distinct roles with “medical expert” as the central, uniting or integrating role.

As we discuss the various components to medical school applications in Canada, we’ll note how these 7 roles fit into the selection guidelines for each criterion and how this framework can be useful in drafting your medical school secondary essays. Dr Neel Mistry used them to help him draft his essays, and he recommends that you “create a list of clinical examples for each CanMEDS competency.”

Canadian Medical School Application System

Canadian medical schools do not utilize a standard application service like AMCAS for medical schools in the US, AACOMAS for DO school applications, or TMDSAS for medical schools in Texas. Instead, medical schools in every province, except Ontario, utilize school-specific application services, making it crucial to double- and triple-check the medical school application timelines and requirements for the schools to which you’re applying.

Medical schools in Ontario utilize the centralized Ontario Medical School Application System (OMSAS) system, which makes applying to the six medical programs in the province somewhat easier. OMSAS is the medical school-specific arm of the Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC), so if you’ve already applied to undergraduate schools in Ontario prior to medical school, you’ll have some familiarity with the overall structure and interface OMSAS uses. Understandably though, OMSAS features a slew of unique application dimensions, featured in the infographic below.

Looking for more info on OMSAS? Check out our infographic below:

Medical School Admission Requirements in Canada

1. Prerequisite Courses

Not every medical school has specific prerequisite courses, but many do. For example, the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine requires 6 units in both humanities and biology courses, as well as organic chemistry, chemistry, biochemistry and statistics. The Queen's University School of Medicine has very strict prerequisite requirements of 30 full-course credits in science and non-science courses. On the other hand, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine does not have strict requirements regarding coursework; they simply recommend an array of science and humanities courses that they feel will best prepare students for their MD program.

But figuring out your medical school prerequisites is one of the first things you should do, according to Dr. Jaime Cazes, a graduate of the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Cazes notes, “Check EACH school’s requirements and see if you have courses or pre-reqs that fill those.” Dr. Cazes advises going further, saying “You should regularly touch base with admissions at each school to verify that a course you are completing actually fills a pre-req before you do it.” However, you also have to balance fulfilling your prerequisites with taking classes that you enjoy.

Another Canadian MD, Dr. Neel Mistry, graduate of the University of Ottawa medical school, says “taking courses you genuinely enjoy” is better than taking courses you have no interest in, which can lead to poor performance and a slumping GPA. Dr. Mistry concedes that “there are certain pre-requisites that you will have to take and you may not enjoy everything you do,” which is unavoidable. But finding room for classes that are enjoyable will make it easier for you in the long-run. You’ll not only more likely to do well, you’ll also apply yourself more, as “opposed to doing them because they are ‘easy’ or to have a ‘relaxed’ schedule.”

 The most commonly required prerequisites are: 

While these are the most common prerequisites, some schools will require additional courses in the following:

In addition to mandatory medical school prerequisites, some schools also list “suggested” prerequisites, but our advice is to treat these as mandatory unless you absolutely cannot take the course. Not only will this show medical schools that you’re detail-oriented and have taken the initiative to prepare yourself for the rigorous study of medicine by taking on these additional courses. Taking these courses can benefit your GPA, too, if you need to give it a boost to get into medical school with a low GPA. Canadian medical schools have high medical school GPA requirements for applicants, so earning as high a GPA as possible and doing well in your courses is best.

2. GPA

As with all medical schools and graduate studies in general, Canadian medical schools pay careful attention to students’ undergraduate performance, quantified in the GPA to the point where GPA usually matters more than your MCAT scores, depending on the school. Dr. Jaime Cazes stresses this point when he says, “I do believe there is more emphasis on GPA in Canada.”

There’s a fairly wide range of approaches to weighing and considering the GPA from school to school, but there are some general trends. The first is that, even if a school doesn't have an explicit GPA cut-off, its admissions committees will still have some degree of GPA expectation, even if it's slightly flexible or unofficial. This means that even if you apply to schools without specific medical school GPA requirements, you should understand that there will still be some level of expected performance. Dr. Cazes goes further by saying the emphasis on GPA in Canadian medical school admissions means that “competitive GPAs are only getting higher and higher each year.” In general, applicants to Canadian medical schools should have a GPA above 3.0 on the 4.0 scale.

Students with higher grades and GPAs do tend to fare better in the selection process at Canadian schools, though having a high GPA is in no way a guarantee of standing out amongst the crowd. This all ties to the “Scholar” role in the CanMEDS framework to a great extent; the aspect of physician ship that relies on a lifetime commitment to learning and contributing to medical and scientific scholarship. Standing out as a strong scholar even before you apply to medical school is a great way to ensure you’ll be viewed at least somewhat more favorably by admissions committees. 

3. MCAT

Scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) are the other central quantitative component in your medical school application and are often weighed in concert with your GPA. If your GPA is on the lower end of acceptability, your MCAT will play a larger role in admissions committees’ decisions, and vice versa. While there are indeed some medical schools that don’t require the MCAT, such as the University of Ottawa, in almost all cases you’ll need to take this extremely daunting exam before applying to an MD program in Canada. Finding the best MCAT prep course in Canada is a great start to get ready for the test if you do decide to take it.

If a school does require the MCAT, you should check to see if they weigh specific sections more heavily, such as Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster, which considers only MCAT CARS scores. Similarly, the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary has established a minimum MCAT CARS score for non-Albertan applicants of 128. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should only focus on the more heavily weighted sections, but it’s good to know ahead of time if you really need to excel in a specific part of the exam.

In the context of medical school application timelines, it’s crucial to determine exactly when you should take the MCAT so that you can both ensure a good MCAT score and that it will be available to your desired schools on time. Timing played huge part for Kannan, a US medical student who scored only a 495 on his first MCAT. But since he had given himself enough time to retake the test, as well as dedicate up to three months for MCAT prep, Kannan was able to meet his target score of 515. This final MCAT score also helped Kannan choose his list of medical schools, since he had received his MCAT scores almost two weeks before he started sending out applications. You’ll want to begin by checking current MCAT test dates and release dates, and then constructing your MCAT study schedule around 6 months ahead of your chosen test day.

You should plan to take the MCAT at least the year before you plan to apply to medical school, to give yourself not only the time to study but enough of a buffer to retake the MCAT if you need to boost your score.

4. Activities and Experiences

One truly universal element in medical school applications is some version of an important activities and experiences section. For US students, this is the AMCAS Work and Activities section, and for students in Ontario it’s the OMSAS sketch, but each individual medical school in Canada will have some version of this as well. For example, the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine requires applicants to fill out a section on "Personal Activities", where they can demonstrate their non-academic achievements, while McGill medical school provides students with a medical school resume template they have to fill out.

But Dr. Cazes says beware “CV stuffers”, which he defines as “these things are activities that you don’t have a long commitment with, aren’t passionate about, or that seem like things you just do to pad your CV with”. These CV stuffers can lower your profile because they are easy to spot. Instead, Dr. Cazes says:

“I would highly recommend participating in activities OUTSIDE of academics or medicine as these truly do make you seem well rounded and are amazing opportunities". ... Having a refuge from medicine and academics is important for your own well-being, but it also looks good to admissions committees. “We love to see people who are passionate about medicine as well as things outside of medicine!”

Your choice of extracurriculars, hobbies and outside interests is also where you can gain experience and wisdom, especially from diverse populations. These activities are an ideal place “for you to look to for stories, or lessons learned that you can talk about on your application or interviews.”

Along with admission essays, this is the portion of your application materials that will allow you to really dig into the CanMEDS roles and show how your work and time so far has shaped you into a fit candidate for medical education. The contents of this section should be relevant to your medical aspirations and related scientific and communicational proficiencies, and so will connect to CanMEDS roles like “communicator,” “collaborator,” and even “leader”. It’s important to not treat sections like this like a checklist, but have a firm grasp on what aptitudes and admissions committees are ultimately looking for.

5. Admission Essays 

In the US, applicants to medical schools are required to craft a medical school personal statement, which provides committees with a brief narrative that answers the question “Why do you want to be a doctor?” Canadian medical schools, in most cases, use a variety of short essay prompts for a similar purpose, although these will often be much more specific. These are much more akin to US medical school secondary essays than a full-length personal statement, and will demand you to not only be economical in your wording but address specific questions that will require some creativity on your part when it comes to addressing CanMEDS roles.

Dr. Cazes also stresses creativity. “What I did was start with a story. Like any good novel, the stories’ first lines are meant to hook the reader.” You don’t have to wait for inspiration or try to copy Hemingway either; Dr. Cazes stresses that your opening line “can be about anything if you can bring it back and relate it to your application”. As with most other application requirements, the exact type of essay required will vary from school to school, but the most important thing to remember, according Dr. Cazes is “that the story be REAL”. Similar to your CV or Activities and Extracurriculars, admissions directors have a special talent for spotting hyperbole in your essays, so Dr. Cazes says that “interviewers could potentially ask you about your personal statement, and so you want to be truthful.”

6. CASPer

Of the 17 medical schools in Canada, 12 of them require the CASPer test. This is part of the Altus Suite assessment and is a computerized situational judgement test that assesses students’ empathy, communication skills, motivation, and ethics. The CASPer examination runs around 100-120 minutes broken into 2 sections with 2 optional breaks, and focuses on 15 situations in which students are asked to read and understand a prompt, followed by a series of questions based on this prompt.

But since many premeds have never heard of the test, it can seem like a daunting prospect at first. Alina, who recently got into medical school, had this problem. She says, “I wasn't 100% sure how to approach the exam,” which is common among many premed students. According to Alina, what she needed was “(CASPer) prep that would help me not only learn a little bit more about what CASPer is but specifically what it tests on and how to best bring my strength into the exam.” Since CASPer covers many different attributes, qualities, and scenarios, it’s worth exploring by examining the various types of question types and prompts to find out, as Alina said, what skills and attributes you already have that can help you do well.

If you are required to complete the test, you should do all you can to learn how to prepare for CASPer, including working through sample CASPer questions and fine-tuning your answer strategies. While it is tricky, you can prepare for the CASPer test ahead of time by learning the different types of CASPer questions and practicing the best strategies for answering them. And although your CASPer score is not the most important part of your application, medical schools in Canada use it as a screening tool for applicants and will sometimes base interview invite decisions on your results.

Preparing for CASPer? Check out our video below:

7. Reference Letters

Medical school recommendation letters, or Letters of Reference, are an important application component that allow faculty members or other people you’ve worked or studied under to speak directly to admissions committees on your behalf. As with every other element, requirements for reference letters will vary from school to school. Some are very unique!

For example, the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine contacts your references by phone and asks specific questions about your candidacy for medical school. However, most schools stick to written letters that have a general structure: a 1-2 page letter that speaks to your strengths, weaknesses, and goals as a student, as well as your character and personality.

Some schools will only require reference letters following an interview, and some schools, like Memorial University Faculty of Medicine and medical schools in Ontario have very specific guidelines that require references to answer specific questions using the system itself, not through separate letters. Given the scope of these reference evaluations, it’s easy to see why selecting the best referees possible is crucial. Medical schools may have specific requirements for referees, such as requiring a letter of reference from a physician, a university faculty member or research supervisor. It’s best to start gathering potential references early on, as well as a few backups just in case. Typically, you’ll need to provide 3 letters of reference for your application, with at least one being from a physician.

8. Medical School Interviews

Last but not least comes the medical school interview, which is often the phase of selection students fear most. Whether it’s the multiple mini-interview (MMI) or a traditional format or a hybrid of both, the last stage of your application process will include at least some common medical school interview questions that will test your ability to think and communicate clearly on the spot. Keep in mind that some medical schools in Canada, such as the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, have created their own interview formats, such as the MPI (modified personal interview).

Keep in mind that many medical schools try to assess how you act in stressful situations and under a lot of pressure. They also want to know your weaknesses and any setbacks you have experienced. Not because they will use these against you, but to see if you can grow from these experiences. Dr. Jaime Cazes suggests:

"Do not talk about anything that is criminal or anything seriously critical. I would talk about [a setback] but [something] light. The important thing here is to talk about what you learned from it and how you plan to avoid it in the future. This can be a bit of a trap if you answer something that sounds red flag like. I would instead think of an example that is more benign but still answers the question."

But many medical schools in Canada have instituted MMIs as their primary interview method, which can be a bit unnerving. Mason, a recent entrant to University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, described his feelings when thinking about MMI: “I was really uncomfortable with the acting stations, like breaking bad news, for example.” This type of real-world scenario is something you can’t approach without any preparation. Mason recommends that you go over an MMI prep book in the beginning of your interview prep, and then determine if you need added guidance from a medical school admissions consultant

Preparing for an MMI? Watch this video to learn more:

Strategies for How to Get into Medical Schools in Canada

With so much information to consider, you must be wondering how to make your medical school application stand out and what you can do in your interview to leave the admissions committee with no question as to your candidacy. So here are our expert tips on how to increase your chances of acceptance to medical schools in Canada.

#1 Do not forego the academic requirements

While a high GPA and a high MCAT score do not guarantee acceptance, they are incredibly important in making sure your application is considered. This is also tied very closely to the provincial borders and residency status of applicants. Whether you want to cast a wider net by applying to multiple schools in multiple provinces or you choose to stick to your own province, you must strive to meet the GPA and MCAT thresholds set by your schools for your candidate category. This means that if you are applying to the University of British Columbia as an out-of-province applicant, you must meet the 85% grade requirement just to be considered. However, if you want to stand out on your medical school application, whether you are out-of-province or not, we suggest aiming for the percentile set by previous year’s matriculates or higher. But the point is, you must keep these numbers in mind when you apply.

You may be the perfect candidate for your school based on your experiences and skills, but some schools will not even continue with your application if you do not meet the minimum set GPA and MCAT requirements. But the opposite is also true, as Dr. Neel Mistry notes “I have seen many students over the years with perfect GPAs and MCAT not get in, while those with less impressive statistics get in,” so you have to be aware of what your particular school looks at, and weighs more. In Canada, the process of weighing GPA and MCAT scores is very nuanced. Dr. Jaime Cazes says that “MCAT matters only to an extent at most schools. It serves as a flag and a baseline cutoff for most people.”

Dr. Cazes also thinks that “the students who score in the top 90+ percentile across all categories have this (MCAT) as an advantage.” Dr. Cazes also backs up what we’ve stated about your GPA, in that “there is more emphasis on GPA ... in Canada.” With this added emphasis on your academic performance, it’s no wonder that, as Dr. Cazes notes, the threshold for what constitutes a “competitive [GPA is] getting higher and higher each year.”

For example, in order to continue in the selection process at Queen’s, you must first meet the GPA and MCAT requirement for the admissions committee to move on with your candidacy. The GPA minimum for Queen’s is set each year, so it can change unexpectedly. This means that even if you have a 528 MCAT score, if your GPA is below the established standard set for that application year, your application will not move forward.

While the numbers are not everything, you cannot ignore the GPA and MCAT requirements. Err on the side of caution and apply to schools where your GPA and MCAT meet the set standard.

Want help getting into med school in Canada? Listen to what one of our success stories has to say about us:

#2 Consider location and school preferences

There is no denying that the competition for a spot in medical schools in Canada is fierce. Medical school acceptance rates in Canada are quite intimidating. This is additionally exacerbated by the fact that most schools give preference to certain groups of people based on provincial borders, locations, residency status, language, and so on. This is why planning how to choose a medical school and where to apply is even more important for those seeking to attend a Canadian medical school. Why?

You must carefully plan where you have the most chance based not only on your academic and non-academic achievements, but also on your location, residency status, language, and so on. To stand out in your application and to have a greater chance of getting that interview invite, you must show the schools you are applying to that you are from a candidate group they prefer. For example, if you are applying to NOSM and you cannot show any connection to rural or remote areas, if you have never even visited the Canadian north, and you are not francophone, then you will have very little chance of acceptance, even if you have amazing grades and impressive experiences.

If we look at the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine, you will see how important it is for the admissions committee to see that you have genuine commitment and connection to the Canadian Maritimes. Your application essays must demonstrate that you understand the location and the culture you will be studying and working in, so keep this in mind if you choose to apply to Dalhousie. Can you demonstrate a real connection to Nova Scotia? Or maybe another Canadian Maritime province, such as New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island? If no, you might not have the best chance of getting acceptance.

If you are applying to any of the schools in Quebec or the French language admissions stream at select medical schools in Ontario, you will need to demonstrate proficiency in the French language. As part of the admissions requirements, you may be asked to submit a French language test or proof of bilingualism.

#3 Explore alternative admission streams at Canadian med schools

Indigenous applicants to Canadian medical schools have the option of applying through separate applicant pools in the Indigenous applicant admission stream. Of course, this stream has separate admission requirements including, but not limited to, submitting a medical school personal statement, letters of reference, proof of Indigenous status in Canada and more. Many medical schools reserve seats specifically for Indigenous students and other underrepresented populations, so this can significantly sway the chances of acceptance in your favor if you meet the requirements.

Black and Indigenous applicants to Canadian medical schools can also apply through special programs, such as the Queen’s Accelerated Route to Medical School (QuARMS) program. This is specifically designed to allow Black and Indigenous applicants a pathway to medical school. Other MD programs in Canada have diversity initiatives to encourage underrepresented applicants to apply. The Max Rady College of Medicine, for instance, has one of the best diversity initiatives in medical schools in Canada.

If you are a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and are interested in becoming a military doctor, medical schools in Canada have MD programs specifically designed for military doctor education and even reserve seats for CAF members.

This is all to say that when it comes to choosing medical schools in Canada to apply to, you must be careful to research all the nuances that the provincial borders dictate. Choose schools you can demonstrate genuine connection to, whether from your personal life, work and experiences, or academic endeavors. Sherry, an MS-1 student based in Alberta decided to pursue extracurricular work in Alberta to bolster her application, which was ultimately successful. Through her work at the Human Performance Lab at the University of Calgary, and by participating in a community engagement project with immigrant and refugee youth, also in Calgary, she was able to demonstrate her passion for helping and serving Albertans. 

#4 Start your application early and research the schools

This is a common advice, but it’s worth repeating. Because you need to carefully research each school and its requirements, preferences, and so on, you need to start your school list and application early. You should give yourself at least a year to research medical schools, study for and take the MCAT, start planning and completing your application, gathering your references and addressing any weaknesses in your application. But even if you put all your time and effort into perfecting your first application, don’t be discouraged if it does not turn out the way you want. Not getting into medical school the first time can be a learning experience, according to Sherry, a recent entrant to the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine. She says that “if you don't feel prepared and you feel like you’re kind of just throwing something together you're still learning a lot through that process.” 

Not only that, you’ll need to carefully consider how you can use application components like OMSAS ABS, short essays, activities sections, and more, to demonstrate your suitability for your chosen schools.

For example, if you are applying to medical schools in Alberta, your application must somehow showcase skills, experiences, and knowledge they want to see in their candidates. While more than 80% of seats at the Cumming School of Medicine and the University of Alberta are reserved for Albertans, this does not mean that you are in just because you are a resident of this province. Your application must demonstrate that you have taken the right steps to be the perfect candidate for these schools, which can also mean reapplying and making your application better each time.

This will take careful planning. Not only will you need to acquire strong recommendations that would highlight the right skills and experiences, but the activities you choose to include must speak to the qualities these schools look for. Research their mission statements, goals, research projects, matriculant data to see what kind of experiences you can highlight on your own and what kind of experiences and skills your reference writers can emphasize in their letters. Do not be shy to provide your writers with a list of qualities that you want highlighted based on the schools’ preferences.

Sounds like a lot of work, right? That’s why it is so important to start early. Even though Canadian medical schools do not have rolling admissions, it’s best to have all your components ready early and of the highest quality. Take your time to craft an application that will show your suitability, your flawless communication skills, and attention to detail. This will take some time to complete. 

Application Timeline for Medical Schools in Canada

While each school outside of Ontario utilizes their own unique timeline, typically the only differences are the application opening and deadline dates. We’ve included a general timeline below, but as always please check the timelines provided by the specific schools to which you’re applying. Additionally, this is a timeline for MD programs—MD-PhD programs and other dual programs will have slightly different timelines.

Canadian Medical School Tuition Costs

Medical school tuition in the US is legendary for being incredibly expensive, but fortunately medical schools in Canada are much more affordable—for Canadian residents at least. Below is a table with up-to-date tuition estimates for Canadian residents, Quebec residents, and international students.

Conclusion

Canada’s medical schools share many things, from utilizing the CanMEDS framework to general curriculum and application timelines. But there is, as seen throughout this article, a great deal of diversity, allowing you to seek out the type of medical education you want in a great variety of different environments. And for better or worse, most of these schools also focus on recruiting and admitting Canadian students to join their ranks, making it far easier for most Canadian students to get into even highly competitive Canadian schools than less competitive programs elsewhere. While the initial process of getting into your desired MD program in Canada may seem overwhelming, with the right information and early planning you can succeed and enter medical school with confidence and a wealth of strategies that will benefit you once residency appears on the horizon. And as always, we’ll be here to help!

FAQs

1. HOW MANY MED SCHOOLS ARE THERE IN CANADA?

There are 17 medical schools in Canada.

2. WHICH CANADIAN MEDICAL SCHOOL IS THE HARDEST TO GET INTO?

With an overall acceptance rate of only 2.3%, the University of Toronto is Canada’s most competitive medical school.

3. WHICH CANADIAN MEDICAL SCHOOL IS THE EASIEST TO GET INTO?

Memorial University has a 10% acceptance rate, but keep in mind that this acceptance rate most reflects acceptance rates for in-province applicants, not out-of-province candidates.

4. DO SOME CANADIAN MEDICAL PROGRAMS OFFER A FRENCH-LANGUAGE TRACK?

Yes! The University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine offers a bilingual English-French track, as does McGill, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and the University of Ottawa. Laval, Sherbrooke, and the Université de Montréal are all French-only medical schools.

5. I HAVE A SOMEWHAT LOW GPA. CAN I STILL GET INTO A CANADIAN MEDICAL SCHOOL?

McMaster and Northern Ontario each have a fairly friendly 3.0 GPA minimum, although you’ll still be competing with hundreds of other students with high GPAs, so the minimum will not be enough for an acceptance. And with the exception of McGill, medical schools in Quebec don’t post specific GPA cutoffs, instead assuring students that their selection process is holistic and won’t heavily weight any one part of their application materials. Nonetheless, having a lower GPA will certainly not help you, so if this is your case and you haven’t taken the MCAT or completed your other application materials yet, consider reaching out for expert help to make sure you maximize your exam score and qualitative application materials.

6. WHAT CANADIAN MEDICAL SCHOOLS ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL/FOREIGN STUDENTS?

There are 7 schools in Canada that admit international students: Memorial, Laval, Sherbrooke, Université de Montréal, McGill, University of Toronto, and McMaster.

7. WHAT IS THE #1 MEDICAL SCHOOL IN CANADA?

Based on rankings, McGill University medical school and the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine are the best medical programs in Canada, with McGill ranking #1 and University of Toronto ranking #2.

8. WHAT GPA DO YOU NEED FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL IN CANADA?

In general, most Canadian medical schools require a GPA of 3.0 on the 4.0 scale, but some medical schools have higher minimum requirements. It’s best to have a GPA above 3.6 for the best chance of medical school admission in Canada.

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting 

Disclaimer: Although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa. If you see an error here, please notify us with the updated information, and we’ll send you a FREE copy of a BeMo ebook of your choosing! You can receive our Ultimate Guide to Med School Admissions, our Ultimate Guide to MMI Prep, our Ultimate Guide to Medical School Personal Statements & Secondary Essays or our Ultimate Guide to CASPer Prep! Please email us at [email protected] with any corrections, and we’ll arrange to send you your free ebook upon confirming the information.

Source: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada https://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/canmeds/canmeds-framework-e


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9 Comments

Steven Hull

I sincerely enjoyed reading it. This information procured by you is very practical for proper planning.

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BeMo Academic Consulting

Thank you, Steven! Glad you found this helful!

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Steven Hull

Hi, I have a question - Is it possible for a engineer to get into a medical school in Canada (the person is a permanent resident)?

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BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Steven! Thanks for your question. Yes, it is absolutely possible, as long as they meet the requirements. Most medical schools in Canada do not have any preferences for majors. If you take the required courses, demonstrate academic prowess (GPA and MCAT), show that you were involved in relevant extracurriculars, you can definitely be a competitive applicant as an engineer. Hope this helps!

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Bliss

Thank you for your helpful information. I'm wondering what you fees are like for a consultation re which US med schools are Canadian friendly?

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BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Bliss! Thank you for your comment. To answer your question, you do not need a consultation to learn which US med schools are Canadian-friendly. We have a free blog with a complete, up-to-date list of Canadian-friendly US medical schools. You can find it here https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/canadian-friendly-us-med-schools Hope this helps! If you would like any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free initial consultation!

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Sri

How many seats available in each University per yaer?

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BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Sri! Thanks for your question. Every university is different. Some, like UBC, has multiple campuses, so their number of matriculants can be up to 300, while smaller schools, like Dalhousie, will have just over 120. Please check the admissions info for each school on our blog.

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Eric Welle

Which Canadian Medical Schools are US friendly?

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BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Eric! Thanks for your question. There are a few schools that accept international students, including US citizens. Please see the list here: https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/canadian-medical-schools-that-accept-US-students

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Dina Paulo

is it possible to get to medical school in canada, if you are a registered nurse in AMerica

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BeMo Academic Consulting

Hi Dina! Thanks for your question. You will be eligible to apply to Canadian medical schools that accept US students, but you must meet all the requirements, submit your application, and go through the interview process. Let us know if you have any more questions!

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Mireille Harnois

I was referred to you from a teacher at Ottawa University. I am trying to help friends from Tunisia that are both doctors. Their son wants to attend Medecine University in Quebec. However he only speaks French. I will refer him this link however I was wondering if you have those video and information available in French. I will connect him to BeMo. Thanks I greatly appreciated the video and information. Best regards, Mireille

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BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Mireille! Thank you for your comment. We have French-speaking consultants who would be glad to hear from you and your friend. Hope to hear from you soon!

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Alexia

Hi! I have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting but the program didn't have any bio/chem classes. Is it possible for me to get into med school if I study for the MCAT myself and get a good result? My GPA is 4.0, but I'm worried about prerequisites. I picked a school that doesn't require any, however I'm not sure if I will be competitive. Thank you!

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BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Alexia! Thanks for your question. You can certainly be a competitive candidate at a school where there are no strict course requirements. If you get a high MCAT score and have a strong GPA, and the school does not have a list of prerequisites, you should have no obstacles. However, that being said, it's always good to familiarize yourself with appropriate subject matter before med school. This can happen via MCAT prep or by taking some additional summer courses. Good luck!

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Sarah

Hi,extremely helpful article I’m wondering if there are medical schools in Canada that accept students without citizenship but attended a Canadian high school for one year or two years and has their high school diploma.

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BeMo Academic Consulting

Hi Sarah! There are some medical schools, like University of Toronto and McGill, that do accept international students, i.e., you do not have to be a Canadian citizen to get accepted.

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