Medical Schools in Quebec

Université Laval Faculté de Médecine

Quick Facts

Length of Program: 4 or 5 years

Language of Instruction: French

Overall Success Rate: 10.5%

214 seats (92%) of seats are reserved for Quebec residents

Average GPA: N/A

Average MCAT: not required

Location: Quebec City, QB

Université Laval Faculté de Médecine overall success rate:

Tuition

Quebec applicants: CAD$4,070

Canadian applicants: CAD$12,550

International Students: CAD$33,840

Eligibility

Laval University Faculty of Medicine gives unprecedented preference to Quebec applicants. This is not surprising, as most medical schools in Canada aim to take care of the medical and educational needs of their provincial population. To qualify as a Quebec resident, you must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada and be in one of the situations identified by the regulation respecting the definition of resident in Quebec by the Government of Quebec. If you think you qualify for both criteria, you can indicate this in your application. You will receive an email from Laval University asking you to provide required supporting documents:

1. You will complete the Certificate of Quebec Resident Status form, parts 1 and 2 in either French or English

2. Attach the supporting documents outlined in the form on page 2.

3. Return the form and documents to the registrar’s office.

Having Quebec resident status makes you eligible for the Quebec medical school tuition fees, which are significantly lower than the fees for other applicant pools, and you will be considered for the quota reserved for Quebec candidates only.

Additionally, Laval identifies two more applicant categories: Canadians outside Quebec and international students. However, Laval typically admits only 1 candidate from other Canadian provinces and territories and 1 candidate from the international applicant pool. Each category, including Quebec applicants, is also divided into sub-categories, i.e. Quebec college candidates, Quebec university candidates, Quebec candidates in the labor market, etc. Each sub-category of applicants has its own criteria for admission. If you want to learn which applicant category you apply to, check out Laval’s admissions website.

Application Process

Laval University has its own online application system that you can check out here . Additionally, you can check out important deadlines for applicants on their website.

Admissions Requirements

Coursework and Prerequisites

To be a candidate for the MD program at Laval, you must have what is known as Diplôme D'études Collégiales (DEC) or its equivalent. It is a college-level diploma unique to Quebec. It is granted to students who complete all requirements of the CEGEP program. Laval requires its applicants to have one of the following degrees:

1. DEC in science and arts

2. DEC in natural sciences and successful completion of the following courses:

• Biology 401
• Chemistry 202

3. Other DEC and successful completion of the following courses:

• Mathematics NYA (or 103 or 103-RE) and NYB (or 203 or 203-RE)
• Physics NYA (or 101), NYB (or 201) and NYC (or 301)
• Chemistry NYA (or 101), NYB (or 201) and 202
• NYA (or 301) and 401 biology

4. International Baccalaureate - Health Sciences (obtained in Quebec)

5. New Brunswick Diploma in Health Sciences

6. A pre-university diploma equivalent to 13 years of the Quebec school system (or pre-university studies diploma totaling 12 years of schooling and one year of graduate studies) and training deemed satisfactory in science (mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology)

You must also prove fluency in the French language, as all medical school education is conducted in French.

CRC

Quebec medical schools do not have GPA requirements or cut-offs. Instead, they use the R score, also known as CRC for “Cote de Rendement au Collégial”, to evaluate applicants’ academic performance. Not unlike the GPA, the CRC is used to weed out applicants in the initial stages of the application review. If you would like to learn more about CRC, please visit this website.

CASPer

Laval University requires its applicants to take the CASPer test. In fact, this application cycle, the multiple mini interviews (MMI) that are typically held by Laval for candidate selection had to be replaced by CASPer. Only candidates selected based on the quality of their academic record will be invited to the CASPer exam, like they would have been for MMI. Invitations to the CASPer exam will be sent to the selected candidates by email.

Do you need some help with CASPer prep? Check out this video to learn the most common CASPer question types:

Final Selection Process

The final selection of candidates for the MD program will be made based on an equal weighting of the academic record (50%) and the result obtained on the CASPer exam (50%). This examination will therefore have the same weighting as MMIs typically do.

University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Quick Facts

Length of Program: 4 years

Language of Instruction: French

Overall Success Rate: 8.1%

83% of seats are reserved for Quebec residents

Average GPA: N/A

Average MCAT: not required

University of Sherbrooke Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences overall success rate:

Eligibility

The University of Sherbrooke welcomes French-speaking Canadians and international applicants, but preference is given to residents of Quebec and the Maritime provinces. As I mentioned above, 83% of seats are reserved for Quebec residents. Approximately 15.6% of the MD positions are reserved for applicants from Atlantic Canada. Usually, 1 spot is reserved for applicants from Western Canada and 1 spot for international students holding a visa.

To prove your Quebec residency, you will need to undergo the same process as you would for Laval University’s MD program (which I outline above). Additionally, if you apply as a Maritime applicant, you will need to prove to the admissions that you reside in one of the three Atlantic provinces. Please reach out to the admissions office to find out how you can prove your residence status.

All matriculants are dispersed among 3 campuses: 142 applicants go to the Sherbrooke site, 33 to the Saguenay site, and 24 to the Moncton site. At the beginning of May, applicants who apply as Quebec residents must complete a form to choose a site by stating their preference between Saguenay and Sherbrook campuses. Whether or not the applicant will be granted a spot at his or her chosen campus will depend on the number of available positions at each site at the time the offer is made and on the applicant’s rank on the excellence list. The Saguenay site is reserved solely for Quebec applicants. The Moncton site is reserved solely for New Brunswick applicants.

Tuition

Quebec students: CAD$4,767

Maritime and Canadian students: CAD$12,285

International students: CAD$28,615

Admissions Requirements

Coursework and Prerequisites

You must get a diploma or degree deemed equivalent to the College studies diploma (CÉGEP) given by the Quebec Ministry of Education, Leisure and Sport before you matriculate into the MD program. Alternatively, you must complete at least 90 university credits before the date you apply. The following are the prerequisite courses (post-secondary level) you must successfully complete: Mathematics 103 and 203; Physics 101, 201 and 301; Chemistry 101, 201 and 202; Biology 301 and 401 or Biology 911 and 921. Courses deemed equivalent by the MD admissions will be accepted.

The University of Sherbrooke has established a new requirement concerning the proficiency level in French for applicants with a college and university training obtained outside of Quebec or in a language other than French. Please visit the admissions page to see a list of options you have to prove your French language proficiency.

Overall Academic Score

The first step in the selection process at Sherbrooke is determining the applicants’ Global Academic Rating (CAG). This overall academic score makes it possible to represent the academic performance of all candidates in a similar manner for comparison. However, calculation varies according to the applicant’s situation. For more information about CAG calculation and considerations, please visit this page.

Your academic record plays an important role in determining if you’re invited for an interview. CAG will be weighted differently depending on your applicant pool. For example, CAG will account for 70% for applicants from New Brunswick, while international applicants' academic record will be weighted at 50%.

CASPer

The CASPer test is mandatory for all applicants to the MD program at the University of Sherbrooke. Your CASPer must be completed in French. CASPer results are important in determining which applicants are invited to the interview. Just like with your CAG, your CASPer will be weighted based on the applicant pool to which you belong.

Interview Selection Formula

Quebec residents: CAG 70% + CASPer 30%

Maritimes and Canadian applicants: CAG 70% + CASPer 30%

International applicants: CAG 50% + CASPer 50%

Quebec residents and Canadian applicants interview selection formula:

MMI

Based on your academic record and CASPer results, you may be invited to the next stage of the selection process – the MMI. International applicants are not required to travel to Sherbrooke to attend the interview. Instead, they will have to undergo traditional video interviews. 

Final Selection Process

The final stage of the selection process produces the “list of excellence.” This list remains the same until the end of the admissions process. Applicants will be sent offers of admission based on this list. These results are based on the applicants' academic records and the MMI interview results. Here's the breakdown for each applicant pool:

Quebec residents: CAG (40%) + MMI (60%)

Maritime and Canadian applicants: CAG (40%) + MMI (60%)

International applicants: selection will be based on the candidates’ video interview results

University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine

Quick Facts

Length of Program: 4 or 5 years (including a preparatory year)

Language of Instruction: French

Overall Success Rate: 10.3%

Approximately 95% of seats are reserved for Quebec residents

Average GPA: N/A

Average MCAT: not required

Location: Montreal, QB

University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine overall success rate:

Eligibility

The MD program at the University of Montreal is almost exclusively reserved for Quebec residents. 95% of the seats are allocated for Quebec residents. Approximately three seats are annually filled by New Brunswick and other Maritime applicants, while two seats are filled by international students with a visa. A small number of seats are made available for applicants who are First Nations and Inuit.

To qualify for admission, you must demonstrate one of the following:

1. Prove your Quebec resident status (please follow the instructions I outlined for Laval University)

2. Meet provisions of the Quebec-New Brunswick, Quebec-Prince Edward Island, or Quebec-Nova Scotia agreements

3. Be a French-speaking resident of a Canadian province or territory where medical studies are not offered in French

The University of Montreal accepts 209 students for the preparatory year and 74 for the MD program. The applicants are directed to two campuses. As long as positions are available, you can choose between the Montreal campus or the Mauricie campus. All applicants submit an admission request for the preparatory year for the MD program. Depending on your academic profile, the admissions committee will decide if you need to take the preparatory year or enter directly into the first year of the MD program. Depending on the number of positions, about three-quarters of the selected applicants are admitted in the preparatory year and the other quarter joins the contingent of last year's preparatory year to form the first year.

Tuition

Quebec residents: CAD$3,601

Canadian students: CAD$11,193

International students:CAD$27,548

Admissions Requirements

Coursework and Prerequisites

To qualify for the preparatory year, you must either have completed two full years in CEGEP in sciences, arts, and literature or natural sciences. Your prerequisites must include 00XU (biology) and 00XV (chemistry). Alternately, you may complete a different college diploma or degree with the following prerequisites: Biology 301 and 401 or two courses of human biology, Chemistry 101, 201 and 202; Mathematics 103 and 203; Physics 101, 201 and 301. You may also hold a post-secondary studies diploma equivalent to a DEC or a Bachelor's degree issued in Quebec and have completed the medical school prerequisites I mention above or equivalent courses in each of the four subjects, i.e. biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. The preparatory year is required for college students, international students, and university students who have completed a first university degree, but the study program is not considered to be enough for the 4-year program.

To be qualified for the 4-year program, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree obtained in Quebec considered equivalent to the preparatory year. Alternatively, another equivalent degree is required at the time of admission for applicants of the university category.

CRC

University of Montreal uses the CRC, or R score, to evaluate your academic record. Depending on your applicant pool, your academic record will be evaluated to make sure that the same criteria and the same standards of success regarding the academic performance are upheld for all applicants. If your application demonstrates the excellence of academic record based on the methods used by the University's Admissions and Recruitment Department which are described on this page of the website, you will be invited to the next stage of the selection process.

CASPer

The University of Montreal had to cancel in-person MMI interviews and replace them with CASPer. So, the final stage of your application process will be the successful completion of the CASPer test. The exam will have the same weighting as that of MMIs traditionally.

Final Selection Process

This application cycle, candidates will be selected based on the equal weighting of the academic record assessment (50%) and their CASPer score (50%).

McGill University Faculty of Medicine

Quick Facts

Length of Program: 4 years

Language of Instruction: English and French

Overall Success Rate: 8.9%

92% of matriculants are Quebec residents

Average GPA: 3.88

Average MCAT: not required for most applicants (see below)

Location: Montreal, QB

McGill University Faculty of Medicine overall success rate:

Eligibility

McGill recognizes three major applicant categories: in-province i.e. Quebec, out-of-province, and international students. Each category has special conditions of admission. Please use this menu to determine which applicant category you belong to before you apply for admission. The number of available positions also differs based on each category:

• Quebec residents who are permanent residents of Canada or Canadian citizens have 165 seats available to them in the MD program.
• Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are not residents of Quebec, i.e. out-of-province, have 11 seats.
• International students holding a study permit have 2 seats available.
• Members of First Nation or registered Inuit beneficiaries who are recognized as residents of Quebec have 6 available to them.

You may be asked to present proof of English (for Montreal campus) or French (for Outaouais campus) proficiency if you fall into one of these categories:

• You are not from a country where English or French is the primary language;
• You have not studied or worked in English or French;
• You do not have English or French as your mother tongue

Application materials may be submitted in both English and French and interviews are also offered in both languages.

Tuition and Fees (1st year)

Quebec students: CAD$8,036.70

Canadian students: CAD$19,720.05

International students: CAD$49,213.47

Admissions Requirements

Coursework and Prerequisites

The basis of admission degree is 120 credits (4-year) or equivalent Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution in any discipline. Otherwise, you can complete a 90-credit program from a Quebec university where you obtained a diploma of college studies, i.e. the DEC, in a pre-university program.

You must complete a minimum of 60 consecutive graded credits at the time of application. A full course load (e.g. 12-15 credits) is expected in regular sessions. Summer or other interim sessions are acceptable, provided that a full course load is maintained during regular sessions. Performance in courses not yet completed at the time of application must be comparable to the level of performance seen in the academic records submitted at the time of application. A marked decline in academic performance in the final term(s) may lead to withdrawal of an offer of admission.

A-Levels/ French Baccalaureate (Bacc Français) /International Baccalaureate (IBO) are not eligible substitutes for a Bachelor’s degree.

Applicants may be considered based on a second, subsequent undergraduate degree (minimum 60 credits). 45 consecutive graded credits must be completed by the application deadline. The remaining 15 credits must be completed by July 31 of the year of entry to medical school, and these must be at a level comparable to those that appear in the academic records submitted at the time of application. A marked decline in academic performance in the final term(s) may lead to withdrawal of an offer of admission.

For admissions purposes, you are required to complete a number of prerequisite courses:

2 introductory Biology courses with labs (at least 6 credits);

2 introductory Chemistry courses with labs (at least 6 credits);

1 introductory Organic Chemistry course with lab (at least 3 credits);

2 introductory Physics courses with labs (at least 6 credits).

Academic Evaluation

CGPA

The most important indicator of your academic abilities is the undergraduate degree and your cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Your academic background is weighted at 70% during the first stage of the application review process. Within this 70%, 90% is based on the undergraduate CGPA and 10% is based on academic context. The assessment of your academic context consists of the difficulty of your coursework, post bachelor's academics, and the recognition of professional degree programs. During your studies, you are encouraged to pursue challenging and diverse topics, to have a natural progression in your course selection, and to maximize your undergraduate curriculum to provide a richer candidacy. Your grades in basic science courses will be a part of your GPA calculation. Successful applicants tend to have a basic science prerequisite GPA (PrereqGPA) above 3.4 (the average is approximately 3.8).

MCAT

The MCAT may be required, optional, or not applicable depending on your applicant category. For most applicant categories, the MCAT is not a requirement. However, if you are writing the exam for other med school applications, you might want to submit the MCAT to McGill if you have a competitive score. McGill only accepts the new 2015 version of the MCAT. If you have taken the exam several times, the highest overall score set will be considered; individual sections of the exam will not be considered. You must achieve a total score of 508-509 to be considered competitive for the program. However, if your MCAT scores do not meet this threshold, you may still be considered depending on the pool of applicants that year. To get some help with your MCAT preparation, make sure you know what is a good MCAT score and when to start studying for MCAT. Don’t forget to take the MCAT diagnostic test to see what areas of knowledge you need to improve before you begin to study. Create an MCAT study schedule and stick to it. As you study, rearrange it to fit your needs. Make sure to use our MCAT biology and MCAT psychology blogs, as well as our MCAT CARS practice blog, to help you get you ready. As I already mentioned, the MCAT is not mandatory for most applicants, but it may add a competitive edge to your application. If you submit valid MCAT results, they will be considered in conjunction with your grades in science prerequisite courses (50/50 weighting).

CASPer

All applicants to the MD program must complete the CASPer test. CASPer plays an important role in McGill's selection process. Together with the evaluation of applicants' academic records, the CASPer determines whether the applicant is moved forward for the CV review. Additionally, it is used in applicant selection for the interview stage of the application process.

CV and List of Verifiers

McGill requires its applicants to submit a CV and a list of verifiers who can attest to the accuracy of the entries in the CV. You will be provided with a CV template in which you will fill out your education and training history, work experience, service to the community (i.e. volunteering), research and publications, extracurriculars for medical school, awards and distinctions, as well as your skills and hobbies. Though you may add extra rows or delete empty rows if necessary, make sure you stick to the two-page limit set by the program. There is no space limitation for each individual entry but be mindful of how many entries you want to include vs the space-limit provided. The section headers in the CV are provided to guide you, but the adcoms are aware that not all applicants may have applicable experiences to enter under each of the specific headings set out in the template (such as publications or awards). If you do not have information to enter under a specific heading, you may remove the section from the document. Before you submit the CV, convert the document into a standard PDF format before uploading via your application account. To learn more about this application component and to see the CV template, visit this webpage.

Interview Selection Formula

20% CASPer + 10%CV + 70% academic record

Applicants who pass the initial selection process are invited to attend a multiple mini interview (MMI). Offers of admission are solely based on applicants’ performance in the MMI.

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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