Medicine is one of the most respected professions in the world and it is no surprise that there is a high number of competitions when it comes to students applying for medical schools.
Doctors are one of the most respectable professionals in the world and a career as a doctor is quite rewarding and satisfying. If you have the passion and dream of helping people stay and live healthy, then becoming a doctor is the right path for you.
Studying medicine does take a long time and the journey of starts with understanding how to become a doctor and if you are interested in studying medicine in Canada, then you saw this article right in time as we are going to tell you everything you need to know about studying medicine in the Canada.
Canada is one of the best places to study generally and when it comes to medicine, it is a great place to pursue your medical career as it is home for some of the best medical schools in the world. These schools offer one of the best medical education and training. They also have a high level of graduate employability which means that graduating from a medical school in the Canada would increase your chances of getting a job anywhere in the world.
Studying Medicine in Canada
Studying medicine in the Canada starts with completing a four years of undergraduate study which includes meeting the pre-medical school course requirements and getting a Bachelor’s degree in any science related subject mostly biological sciences.
For you to get into med school, you must have an undergraduate degree in the science field like biology and chemistry courses. Since you will be working in healthcare sector, you will have to look into human biology, organic chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology and even sociology.
The medical schools in Canada are faculties in the Universities in Canada and they see studying medicine as an undergraduate program even after getting a bachelor’s degree in another science related course before enrolling.
The university medical study in the Canada is a 4-5 years course that is divided into two components which are pre-clinical and clinical. This program leads to Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (MD, CM) degree or Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) depending on the medical school.
How Do I Apply For Medical School in Canada
· Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
MCAT is a standardized test that is required for you to get into medical school and the test is a multiple choice exam that is divided into four sections.
You have the Biological and Biochemical Foundations; the Chemical and Physical Foundations. Try to schedule the exam within three years of applying to med school to ensure that they accept your scores.
Make sure you study very hard to prepare yourself for the test. Look for study guides and set out time to study them every day.
· Fill out the application for the school you want to go to
Ensure you take your time to research about potential medical schools you will like to attend and check if you meet the eligibility requirements to apply to the schools. If you meet the requirements for the school, you can proceed to applying online as most of these medical schools have websites through which you can apply.
You will have to apply with your information, transcript and any essays that you might be asked to write. Make sure you submit your application before the deadline that is given so that you can qualify for the coming academic year.
Try to get letters of recommendation from professors or advisors.
· Do an interview with someone from the school you want to go to
After your application has been accepted, you will have to do an interview with someone from the school either in person or on video call. The person interviewing you will ask your things like why you want to become a doctor and why you chose the school.
Make sure you answer the questions honestly and the best way can as this will increase your chances of getting accepted.
You can also go further to sending a follow-up email to thanks the person for their time and consideration.
List Of Medical Schools In Canada
There are about 17 medical schools in Canada and we will be listing them below:
- Canadian Mennonite University
- McGill University
- McMaster University
- Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Queen’s University
- Trinity Western University
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Manitoba
- University of Sherbrooke
- University of the Fraser Valley
- University of Toronto
- University of Victoria
- University of Waterloo
- University of Western Ontario
Best Medical Schools In The Canada
If you want to study medicine in Canada, you will have to consider going to the best medical schools in the Canada and like we said you will have to complete an undergraduate course in any science related subject before you can enroll in a medical school in Canada to study medicine.
Here is our list of some of the best medical schools in the Canada according to rankings by QS World University Rankings, US news and some other world rankings.
- University of Manitoba
- University of Western Ontario
- Queen’s University
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Victoria
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
- McGill University
University of Manitoba
This is a Canadian public research university in Manitoba and it was established in 1877. It is the first university in western Canada and it is the largest university in the province of Manitoba and the 17th largest in all of Canada.
The Max Rady College of Medicine is a medical college of the University of Manitoba. It is one of the departments of the University’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
It was established in 1883 as the Manitoba Medical College and it is the first medical school in the Prairie Provinces. The college has 27 academic departments, institutes and administrative units. It offers BSc. Medicine.
University of Western Ontario
This is a public research university in London, Ontario and it was established on March 7, 1878.
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is the combined medical school and dental school of the University of Western Ontario and it is one of the best medical schools in Canada.
The students report Median GPAs of 3.70 and its polls 380 as an MCAT score.
It offers Bachelor of Medical Science (BMSc.)
Queen’s University
This is a public research university that is located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and it was established on October 16, 1841. It was the first Canadian university west of Maritime Provinces to admit women.
The Queen’s School of Medicine is a unit of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University that offers undergraduate and graduate education in Medicine. The medical school meets all the requirements for accreditation and prepares graduates for postgraduate training leading to licensure and certification by the Ontario College of Family Physicians or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.
It offers Undergraduate Medical Education (UME).
University of Alberta
This is a public research university that was established in 1908 by Alexander Cameron and it is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The university is a “Comprehensive Academic and Research University” (CARU) which means that its offers some academic and professional programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. The university has eighteen faculties and they are further divided into school with various programs.
The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at University of Alberta is located in Edmonton, Alberta and it was established in 1913. It is one of the oldest medical schools in Western Canada.
The school runs the Scottish-Canadian Medical Programme jointly with the University of St Andrews School of Medicine and the University of Edinburgh Medical School which are one of the best medical schools in the world.
Students study their undergraduate degree at St. Andrews and train clinically at both Edinburgh and Alberta.
They offer four fully accredited undergraduate programs: doctor or medicine, doctor of dentistry, Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science and Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best medical schools in Canada?
- University of Manitoba
- University of Western Ontario
- Queen’s University
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Victoria
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
- McGill University
How long does it take to graduate from medical school in Canada?
Some people are always considering the number of years they will have to spend in medical school. Well, to graduate from a medical school in Canada, you must first complete a four-year undergraduate degree and then four years of medical school.
You will then have to complete a three to seven years as a resident depending on the specialty.
You will have to pass a licensing exam in the state where you will be practicing and so to become a licensed and certified doctor in Canada, you would likely spend about 10 to 14 years.
Can I study medicine in Canada as an international student?
Yes, you can study medicine as an international student in Canada although it is usually difficult because of the competition. You just have to complete an undergraduate program in any science related subject whether in or outside Canada and then enroll in a medical school in Canada.
Most of the best medical schools in Canada are very competitive and so you will have to work hard for you to be selected to study medicine in any of the medical school in Canada.
Admission offers are made by individual medical schools, generally on the basis of a personal statement, autobiographical sketch, undergraduate record (GPA), scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and interviews.
What are the requirements to studying medicine?
This actually varies from one country to another. In Canada, medical degrees are considered second entry degrees so before you can apply for medical school, you must first complete a undergraduate degree in a related Science field and then you can enroll in a four-year medicine program.
Some of the general requirements to enroll in a medical school in the US are:
- High school diploma
- Undergraduate degree in a related science field (3-4 years)
- Good TOEFL language score
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Minimum MCAT exam result (set by each university)
- Letters of recommendation.
How much does it cost to earn a degree in Medicine in Canada?
The cost of studying medicine in Canada depends on whether you are a graduate or undergraduate student.
For undergraduate students, the cost of studying medicine ranges from $8,500 to $19,400 while that graduate students ranges from $12,740 to $23,846 per semester. The cost also varies depending on the field of medicine and also the medical school.
Final Note
Medicine is a very lucrative profession and that is why it is very competitive. We have done our best to tell you everything you need to know about studying medicine in Canada.
You just have to complete a 4-years undergraduate program in any science related subject and then you can enroll in a medical school in the Canada for another 3-5 years course after which you proceed to completing a residence program which will certify you to become a doctor in the Canada.
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