How to Get into Canadian Medical Schools

Canadian Medical School Application Requirements

Applying to study medicine in Canada can be quite a feat. The competition for prestigious medical schools is fierce to say the least. The average admission rate of Canadian medical schools is 18% in the 2018/2019 cycle. You must put considerable time and effort into preparing to stand out from other applicants.

Although application requirements for each medical school might vary, they are actually quite similar. To help you prepare, we list the common application requirements here.

• Undergraduate degree

• GPA

• MCAT

• CASPer

• Letters of recommendation

• Supplementary application questions

• Language proficiency proof

Undergraduate degree

First, you need to have an undergraduate degree to be eligible to apply to medical schools in Canada. While some Canadian medical schools, such as the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine and Queen’s University School of Medicine, have specific prerequisite courses, others don’t.

Most common prerequisites

• Biology

• General Chemistry

• Organic Chemistry

• Physics

• Mathematics

• Statistics

• English

Other than the ones mentioned above, some universities also require or suggest that applicants take the following additional courses:

• Biochemistry

• Psychology

• Social Science

• Anatomy

• Physiology

MCAT

MCAT, standing for Medical College Admission Test, is another key element in your application. MCAT assesses your knowledge on physics, chemistry, biology and biochemistry. Your analytical thinking and reasoning skills are also evaluated in the MCAT. The higher your MCAT score, the better chance of your admission.

MCAT is divided into the following four sections:

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CPBS)

• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBFL)

• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (PSBB)

CASPer Test

Although also a test, the CASPer Test is nothing like MCAT. CASPer Test does not focus on your knowledge in specific areas. It. is a 90-minute situational judgement exam designed to assess your behavioral tendencies and if you are suitable for a people-centered career.

Letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation, or reference letters, speak to your academic and/or professional performance. They are typically written by your past professors or employers of your choice. Medical schools usually require 2 or 3 letters of reference from each applicant.

When you select your references, think carefully and choose those who know you personally and can voucher for your excellency.

Supplementary application questions

Medical schools also want to learn about you as a person. Therefore, they often ask you to answer application questions, submit autobiographical sketches, or write personal statements as a part of your application.

Read through the application requirements and find out what kind of supplementary statements you need to provide before you start applying to any medical school in Canada.

Six medical schools in Canadian will ask you to apply through OMSAS----Ontario Medical School Application Service. They are Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (McMaster University), Northern Ontario School of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, University of Toronto, and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (Western University).

When you apply to these six schools, you will be asked to answer similar supplementary questions and enter biographical information.

Language proficiency proof

This is a requirement for international students who wish to study medicine in Canada and whose first language is not English or French.

You can provide your TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, CAEL, etc. certificates for English proficiency evidence. Check the school’s website to see if your language proficiency proof is acceptable.

Canadian Medical Schools for International Students

Medical schools in Canada also have different policies on accepting international students. While some medical schools in Canada are open to all foreign students, some only accept applications from international students whose countries have signed contracts with them.

So, check whether your preferred school accepts contract or non-contract international students before you apply to study medicine in Canada.

Best Medical Schools in Canada

In this part, we are going over the top medical schools in Canada that accept international students and helping you figure out the one that is most suitable for you.

• University of Toronto

• McGill University

• McMaster University

University of Toronto

The MD program in University of Toronto looks for students who are from diverse backgrounds and have the potential in bettering Canadian healthcare system.

• 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject (for Medicine): #12

• Language of instruction: English

• Apply through OMSAS

• Accept non-contract international students

• First year tuition fees (2022-2023):

• Ontario domestic CAD$23,090

• Non-Ontario domestic CAD$23,780

• International CAD$91,760

• Application requirements:GPA:

• International undergraduate: 3.6

• International graduate: 3.3

• MCAT: 125 in each section (with an allowance of 124 in one section)

Prerequisite courses:

• 2 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in life sciences

• 1 FCE in social science, humanities or language

Optional academic explanations essay

• 2 original brief personal essays

• Autobiographical sketch & statements

• Verifiers

• 3 references

McGill University

McGill's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences offers programs for undergraduates, graduates, and international medical graduates, preparing them to pioneer in medical practice and research.

• MDCM: 4-year program for undergraduates

• MDCM & PhD: 7 to 8-year combined MD and PhD program

• MDCM program for International Medical Graduates (IMG):

• IMG-2: 2-year pathway opens to international medical graduates who reside in Quebec

• IMG-4: 4-year pathway for all international medical graduates

• 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject (for Medicine): #49

• Language of instruction: English

• Accept non-contract international students

For the details of application requirements, please contact our Counsellors.

McMaster University

McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine is committed to readying students for a career in the healthcare field.

• 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject (for Medicine): #49

• Language of instruction: English

• Apply through OMSAS

• Accept non-contract international students

First-year tuition fees:

• Ontario domestic CAD$2​6,215.32

• Non-Ontario domestic CAD$28,​263.40

• International CAD$9​6,000.44

Application requirements:

• 3 years of undergraduate degree-level work (30 half-year credits or 15 full-year credits)

• GPA: minimum 3.0/4.0

• MCAT: a minimum of 123 on the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Section (scores on other sections will not be considered during the selection process)

• CASPer Test

• 3 references

Let IDP Help You Study Medicine in Canada

Learning each Canadian school’s application requirements and finding out the right one for you itself can be quite overwhelming. Don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about each medical school in Canada. Let us help you plan your way to study medicine in Canada.