Canada has been one of the most preferred destinations for student around the world. The average cost of medical school in Canada vary per university, province, medical course and depends on whether or not the student is an international student.
Studying medicine in Canada is one of the most competitive in the world. Canada is prominent for having one of the best medical school as most of the schools focus on research and practice.
Medical School in Canada
Students who plan to pursue a degree in medicine can choose any of the local universities. Medicine is of one of the most preferred choices for those considering a career in the healthcare sector.
With a medical degree in any of the renowned university in Canada, you can explore several career prospects on an international level while working with multinational me sick organizations like World Health Organization (WHO).
Canada has several medical colleges and universities that are open to international students yearly. These institutions provide several ranges of specialized degrees in Medical sciences. Generally, Medical school in Canada span for 4-6 years except for the University of Calgary and McMaster University, where it takes 3 years.
The pursuit to get into the faculty of medicine in Canada is very competitive, so applicants must ensure they meet the entry requirement of the faculty of medicine they are applying to.
Cost of Medical School in Canada
“Canadian candidates should expect to pay an average of 16,798 CAD yearly for medical school”
As stated before, the cost of medical school in Canada is not specific, each school and province has its set fees. Generally, Canadian candidates should expect to pay an average of 16,798 CAD yearly while in a province like Ontario, candidates should estimate 27,304 CAD yearly.
Bear in mind that there are other mandatory fees all students are required to pay. Candidates should estimate an average of 75 CAD – 2208 CAD for these fees. There are also scholarship programs available to candidates to ease the cost of medical school in Canada for intending students.
Requirements
Each university in Canada that offers medical science courses has its established requirement. Applicant should ensure they meet all academic requirement and meet all deadline date to better their chances. Note that, late application or incomplete application files are evaluated and rejected.
Depending on your background and the medical course you choose, it can take 3 to 6 year to complete a degree program. If you are enrolled in a 5-year medical program, your first year will be your preparatory year. It is aimed at introducing students without a bachelor degree in science.
To be eligible for a 4-year medical program, intending students must have a bachelor degree in Biology or other appropriate fields.
Note that most medical schools in Canada require a Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Canada currently has 17 medical institutions that offer a medical program in English and French.
Application Process
Aside the cost of medical school in Canada, there are other variables to consider while thinking of studying medicine. Like the application process, requirement, etc. Generally, most schools request candidates to be a student for at least two years before applying. And they must have undergone courses in basic sciences that’ll qualify them to study medicine in Canada.
The application process starts with the student submitting a Grade Point Average (GPA) with an average score of 3.5/4.0. Students are required to provide an article or statement that outline their achievements, goals and steps they’ve taken towards developing themselves.
Also, students must submit letters of notification duly signed by the institution/organization where he studied/worked. This letter is to show the extent of his ability to handle situations positively and show his past involvement in the medical path.
Note that some medical schools in Canada also use the result of the Medical Universities Admission Test (MCAT) or Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer) to assess students.
Required Tests
Students applying into any medical school in Canada are required to take the following acceptance tests
- MCAT
This is an exam that includes multiple-choice questions, set to assess how candidates can solve problems, their logical reasoning and writing skills. Also, students are tested on their prior knowledge of medicine. MCAT is divided into four sections of multiple-choice questions graded from 1 – 15.
There is the section for oral reasoning and inferring, Physical sciences and department of biological sciences. The structural editing section test student on their writing skill. Students are required to write two essays and are assessed with grades from lower J to a Higher T.
- CASPer
This is an online exam timed for 90 minutes. It is set to identify the major character and professional skills that qualify any student applying to succeed and graduate. CASPer is sectioned into 12 stages, some are linked to how to answer 3 questions in 5 minutes after watching a video and reading texts on a particular subject matter. While others are general questions to determine the ability to self-analyze.
Oral Interview
Students applying to any medical school in Canada are required to take an interview. The interview is in two types, they are:
- The general interview
This interview requires candidates to sit in front of a testing committee made of renowned professors, students, and some college staff.
- The Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI)
This interview takes place in stages. It is competition from six to ten short interviews with each of them aimed at different topics. Most medical schools in Canada use this interview to select suitable candidates for their medical program.
International medical students in Canada
Intending international medical student must bear in mind that not all faculties of medicine in Canada accept international students. While those that do, have contracts with international government or their institutions to accept applications for what they term “supernumerary” positions.
This condition of admission requires that the accepting faculty of medicine will be rewarded for the whole close of medical education. Note that the accepted student will not be able to apply for residency training in Canada and after their degree, they would be required to return to their respective countries to practice medicine.
Medical School in Canada
There are 17 medical institutions in Canada, and only 8 accept international students. They are:
Located on the island of Newfoundland, Memorial University offers a 4 years medical degree program. The basic requirements include:
- 3.85/4.0 GPA
- MCAT
- Interview type – MMI
Candidates applying to this university must obtain a bachelor’s degree in any English language accredited institution in one of the introductory science departments to medicine.
The annual tuition fee for Canadian is 14,250 CAD while for international students is 30,000 CAD.
This institution provides quality medical education to intending doctors and medical researchers in the maritime region. Dalhousie University has campuses in Halifax, N.S, and Saint John, N.B and several teaching sites across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Medical degree in this institution is 4 years with basic requirements of the following:
- 3.86/4.0 GPA
- MCAT
- CASPer
- Interview type – MMI
This institution does not require a bachelor’s degree from candidates before the application. The annual tuition fee for a medical degree in this institution for MD/MSC 23,434 CAD
Located in Quebec City, Sherbrooke University has a faculty of medicine and health sciences that adopts the French language in its four-year degree program. To be eligible to apply for any medical program in this institution, candidates must have a diploma in the preparatory departments accredited by the Ministry of Education in Quebec. Sherbrooke University only uses secondary, university degree and the MMI test requirement to screen candidates.
The faculty of medicine at McGill University offers a 4-year degree program in both English and French language. The school of medicine is situated in the Canadian city of Montreal. As part of the school’s requirement, candidates must submit a preparatory year certificate prepared for the medical specialization.
Unlike other medical institution in Canada, candidates applying to McGill University must submit:
- CEGEP certificate
- Pass MCAT and CASPer
- Have a 3.5/4.0 GPA
- Interview type – MMI
Candidate must also meet other educational requirement and provide supporting documents.
Located in Ontario, McMaster University offers a 3-year medical degree program in English language. Selection is strictly to pick candidates who show the potential to become Canada’s future health care leaders.
Candidate applying to this institution must provide an undergraduate certificate in one of the majors leading to medicine. Other requirements include:
- 3.0/4.0 GPA
- MCAT and CASPer
- Interview type – MMI
The cost of Medical school McMaster University is 26,126.64 CAD yearly for Canadian student and 95,996.68 for international students.
Located in Toronto, Ontario, the University of Toronto offers a 4-year medical degree program taught in English language. Candidates must have a university degree in one of the courses introducing them to medicine. The basic requirements are:
- 3.6/4.0 GPA
- MCAT
- Interview type – MMI
The average cost of medical school for Canadian in this institution is 25,286.42 CAD and 87,792.42 CAD for international students.
Located in the Canadian city of Montreal, the university if Montreal offers a 4/5 years medical program in French language. No preliminary requirement is expected of candidates. Selection is based on each candidate’s file, high student result, the university result for the preparatory years and MMI.
This is one of the oldest medical school in Canada. It prides itself on training the residents of Quebec to become outstanding medical practitioners. Located in Quebec, Laval University offers a 4/5-year M.D program in French language.
There are to set GPA and MCAT required to enter this institution. CASPer and MMI are required though. The annual tuition fee required of Quebec resident is 3,929 CAD, 12,211 CAD for Canadian outside Quebec and 32,664 CAD for foreign students.
The following are medical institutions in Canada that do not accept international students.
- University of Calgary
- Western University
- University of Ottawa
- Queen’s University
- University of Saskatchewan
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine
- University of British Columbia
- The University of Manitoba
- University of Alberta
