Medical schools in Newfoundland are few but highly ranked. There is only one medical school in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is the Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine. The school tops the list of medical schools in Canada for quality of education and is considered one of the best med schools in the world, as well. If you’re thinking of applying to medical school in Canada, choosing the medical school in Newfoundland is an excellent option. In this blog we’ll look at the medical schools in Newfoundland, medical school admissions and types of applicants for Newfoundland med schools and any special programs available.
>>Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<
Medical Schools in Newfoundland and Labrador
Pre-meds interested in studying medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador can apply to the one and only medical school in the province: the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) Faculty of Medicine. It is the only medical school in the maritime province, located in the capital of St. John’s, but the school is internationally recognized for its academic excellence and opportunities. The faculty offers a broad medical education, including undergraduate MD programs, graduate programs and joint MD programs. MUN is also one of the medical schools with the best match rates, making it an attractive option for pre-meds.
The Memorial med school is a popular choice for in-province students, applicants from other maritime provinces and even international applicants for the quality of education, affordable medical school tuition rates and quality of life for students. Students from every province and background are encouraged to apply, as the med school prides itself on diversity. If you’re asking yourself “am I too old for medical school”, think again, because the school also encourages mature students to apply, too.
To get into Memorial medical school can be a challenge, particular for out-of-province or international applicants. The acceptance rate is just 10%, which is among the lower end of med school acceptance rates in Canada. We’ll take a look at the typical profile of applicants to the Memorial University of Newfoundland and what you need to know before applying.
Applicants to Medical School in Newfoundland
The Memorial University of Newfoundland accepts just 80 students per intake, and a majority of those seats are reserved for applicants from Newfoundland or Labrador. There are also seats set aside for applicants from Prince Edward Island, Nunavut and the Canadian Armed Forces. Formerly, New Brunswick residents also had reserved seats, although this has now changed. Applicants from all other Canadian provinces, including New Brunswick, and abroad need to compete for just 6 seats. The medical school heavily favors applicants from Newfoundland and other maritime provinces, so out-of-province applicants and international students really need to bring their best in order to impress the admissions committee. This pool of applicants has only a 1.5% acceptance rate at MUN med school.
MUN is one of the medical school that accepts international students, but it is fiercely competitive to get a spot. If you want to know how to study in Canada as an international student, it may be worth hiring an international student advisor to help you put together the best application possible. For students who are accepted to the Memorial University med school, tuition is quite affordable compared to other top med schools, and quality of student life is consistently ranked high. There are also many resources available for all med students for scholarships, student aid and other resources.
The Memorial med school also encourages students of Indigenous ancestry to apply. All students from Canadian First Nation, Inuit and Métis ancestry can apply through the Indigenous Admissions Program. Applicants from Newfoundland and Labrador are given preference, but students from across Canada may apply.
Applicants apply directly to the school through an online admissions portal. The admissions cycle opens at the end of June and applications close in September.
Want to get into med school in Canada? Watch the video below!
Newfoundland Medical School Admissions
Medical schools in Newfoundland have no preferences when it comes to applicants. Applicants of all ages, backgrounds and academic disciplines are welcomed. There is more of an emphasis on passion and commitment than displaying an aptitude for the sciences. That being said, the Memorial University of Newfoundland is one of the top research universities in Canada, so applicants with a strong research background definitely have a leg up. Students with excellent academic backgrounds are also preferred, although there is no preference for the subject of undergraduate degrees.
In short, the Newfoundland medical school is looking for applicants with a diverse profile and passion for study, not just someone who excels in pre-med disciplines. The application to med school in Newfoundland has few required components but offers applicants an opportunity to add some supplemental sections if they choose.
Indigenous applicants also need to submit a short essay discussing your experience as an Indigenous person and how it will influence your studies as well as a letter of support from an Elder or leader in your community.
Applicants who have completed two or more semesters at an international post-secondary institution will also need to submit a credential evaluation.
For admission to medical school in Newfoundland, you should focus your efforts on both the academic requirements and how best to showcase your personal qualities.
Academic requirements
All applicants need to submit their unofficial transcripts, their MCAT and CASPer scores, and two medical school recommendation letters. One of these recommendation letters needs to have an academic referee, and the other can be academic or non-academic. Its best to ask referees who know you well and can vouch for your admirable personal qualities and achievements. For non-academic referees, some excellent choices would be any supervisors or mentors you may have had while participating in community projects, doing volunteer work, working in a healthcare position or participating in rural community initiatives.
To meet the MCAT requirements, it’s a good idea to check the MCAT test and release dates, since you’ll need to take the test after the application cycle at MUN medical school opens and submit your results before the application deadline. The same goes for your CASPer test. Newfoundland medical schools are on the list of medical schools that require CASPer, so looking into a CASPer test prep course is advisable if you’re feeling overwhelmed. You can also find the best MCAT prep course in Canada to help you prepare for this tough exam. The average accepted students at the Memorial medical school score 85% and higher on their MCAT, so competition is fierce.
For the academic side of Newfoundland medical school admissions, you might consider medical school admissions consulting, which can not only advise you on taking the MCAT and CASPer, or how to find pre-med opportunities, they can also provide helpful feedback before you hit submit on your online application.
Read more about MUN Medical School admission statistics and requirements!
Personal qualities
Admission officers at medical schools in Newfoundland are looking for specific personal qualities, too, not just a killer academic record. The most important personal aspect admission committees are looking for is community-mindedness. By this we mean a commitment to serving others, making important contributions to your community and a humanistic approach to interpersonal interactions. These are important qualities for future physicians to have, especially if you want to become a doctor in Newfoundland. Many of the province’s communities are rural and isolated, and communities are tight-knit. Admission committees want to know that you can contribute positively and meaningfully to their local communities.
While there is no section to submit any personal statements, essays or letter of intent, the Memorial medical school application also includes the “other” section where students can submit:
- Extracurriculars
- Work history
- Awards and scholarships
- Publications
- Additional information (non-autobiographical)
The extracurriculars section is an opportunity for applicants to highlight any significant interests they have outside of school. The key here is to show passion and commitment, so include only the activities and hobbies that are most important or demonstrate who you are. Most important, if you have any volunteer work experience or volunteer research experiences that weren’t a required part of your post-secondary studies, include them in the extracurriculars or work history sections.
Your work history is your chance to wow the admissions committee with your healthcare experience, if you have any, and your work ethic and dedication. Your resume doesn’t need to contain healthcare-related jobs, but it does help strengthen your candidacy significantly. In-person or virtual shadowing experiences are a good fit, especially. There are no set shadowing hours for medical school in Newfoundland, but any healthcare job, clinical experience or shadowing experience is a good idea to highlight. If you’re an IMG electives and clinical experience are an excellent way to make your application stand out a bit in this section.
Awards and scholarships are not a must, but they can help distinguish your achievements in a competitive pool of applicants. You’re given only one or two sentence per award or scholarship, so list only the top awards and scholarships you have if a long list. International students can seek advice from an international student scholarship consultant on the awards available to them which can help pay for tuition and add a bit more to your application.
The publications section is a great place to highlight your research experience. This section asks only for the biographical entry of any of your scholarly publications or at the very least the author information and a link. But rest assured that any information you include here will be thoroughly revised by the admissions committee.
The additional information section is often misunderstood. This is where applicants can share any other important information the admissions committee should be aware of, such as disabilities and needed supports, or a brief explanation of how personal circumstances may have affected your application. This is NOT a section in which to include autobiographical writings such as a personal statement or motivation letter. These are not common components for the application to medical school in Newfoundland, so they are best left out.
However, your opportunity to showcase the qualities and accomplishments you would normally share in a med school personal statement can be found in the med school interview.
Medical schools in Newfoundland use two types of interviews to evaluate potential candidates. The first is a short traditional interview that assesses your personal qualities and whether you are a good fit for medical school. This interview evaluates your candidacy based on the CanMEDS roles and is vitally important for getting accepted to a med school in Newfoundland. This is where you can demonstrate your more personal attributes and experiences. The second interview is the multiple mini interview (MMI), which is comprised of eight stations. You’ll need to know how to prepare for the MMI and it’s a good idea to practice some multiple mini interview questions and answers before you head into the room. Some students use MMI interview coaching services or mock MMI interviews, which is an excellent strategy. The interview is essentially your only opportunity to share your personal experiences and qualities with the admission committee, since you won’t be able to submit a written essay or statement, so make your interview count!
Medical School Specialties in Newfoundland
Medical schools in Newfoundland only offer four-year MD programs or graduate training programs, so if you’re weighing a choice of DO versus MD, there are no DO options in Newfoundland. The Memorial medical school does offer joint degree options, though, if you’re thinking of a choice between MD-PhD versus MD. Aside from the MD degree, the Memorial medical school offers plenty of enrichment opportunities for its students, including special events, tours of medical facilities and chances for private research placements.
Newfoundland medical schools have a community and rural focus, given that the majority of the province’s population lives in small and rural communities. Memorial medical school offers a wide variety of postgraduate training programs and residency positions. If you’re wondering how to choose a medical specialty or want to know how to prep for your residency app, keep in mind that there are excellent spots for postgraduate study in Newfoundland, too.
Memorial University med school offers postgraduate programs in general surgery, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, emergency medicine, family medicine, pathology, anesthesia, diagnostic radiology and medical oncology and nephrology. If you’re interested in a family medicine residency or an internal medicine residency, Newfoundland is a great option and its programs have ideal match rates through residency match services. If your goal is a surgical discipline, however, Memorial med school has lower match rates for these and may not be the best option for you.
Of course, if you’re looking for medical school training outside of MD or MD-PhD, Newfoundland is also home to a pharmacy school, three nursing schools and one of the top dental schools in Canada.
Interested in Canada's best medical schools? Check out this video.
Conclusion
Medical schools in Newfoundland, though there is currently only one MD program at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, are highly considered and relatively competitive to get into. However, they continue to be excellent choices for students both in the province, elsewhere in Canada and around the world for their excellent programs and high quality of student life. Newfoundland is also a great choice for residents who are looking for postgraduate training in their specialty, with favorable match rates and plenty of training programs to choose from.
FAQs
1. How do I get into medical school in Newfoundland?
To get into medical school in Newfoundland, you have to submit a completed application by the early September deadline. The full application includes your undergraduate transcripts, MCAT and CASPer scores and two letters of reference. To increase your chances of acceptance, particular for out-of-province students, you should also include any additional application sections that can diversify or strengthen your application such as a diversity statement, extracurriculars, work history or any scholarships and awards you’ve won.
2. How many medical schools are there in Newfoundland?
There is only one medical school in Newfoundland and Labrador: the Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine.
3. How hard is it to get into Memorial University Newfoundland med school?
The acceptance rate at Memorial medical school is only 10%, which is quite competitive. For out-of-province and international students, the acceptance rate is around 2% and lower due to the limited number of seats available. In-province students have a fair shot of getting accepted and preference is given to these applicants.
4. How do I become a doctor in Newfoundland?
To become a doctor in Newfoundland, you will need to first complete a four-year medical degree, get into a residency program through the Canadian Residency Matching System (CaRMS) and then complete the necessary medical licensing examination, the MCCQE.
5. Is MUN Faculty of Medicine good for international students?
Yes, the MUN Faculty of Medicine is a popular choice for international students due to its location, quality of education, lower tuition rates and general student satisfaction. However, it is extremely challenging for students outside of the Canadian Maritime provinces to get accepted!
6. Is MUN Faculty of Medicine a good medical school?
Yes, the MUN Faculty of Medicine is recognized as one of the top universities in the world for its academic excellence. It is also well-known for affordable tuition, quality of student life and a variety of medical programs available.
7. What is the easiest medical school to get into in Canada?
The easiest medical school to get into in Canada is the University of Saskatchewan medical school, with an acceptance rate of 18.6% overall.
8. What is the #1 med school in Canada?
The University of Toronto med school is generally considered the best medical school in Canada and one of the top medical schools in the world.
Like our blog? Write for us! >>
Have a question? Ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions!
2 Comments
Rachel
When do admissions open for January intake for undergraduate medicine program
ReplyRachel
Am intending to study medicine as an undergraduate international student
Reply