Every year, international students are trooping down to Canada in their hundreds and thousands to study. This is not surprising as Canada is widely known for its high standard of education and interesting lifestyle. There are also several scholarship opportunities available to international students in Canada.
Choosing to study medicine in Canada is one great choice to make as Canada is home to several world-class medical schools. Unlike other countries, Canada does not offer an MBBS degree rather, medical students graduate with an MD (Doctor of Medicine) which takes about 3-4 years.
Students applying for an MD degree are required to already have a degree in any of the biological sciences – anatomy, physiology, medical biochemistry, medical microbiology, etc., or a CEGEP diploma.
Medical Schools in Canada for International Students
Canada has about 17 medical schools spread across the country with an admission rate of 7.5%. However, only seven of these medical schools are open to international students.
The seven universities are;
- University of Toronto
- McGill University
- Université de Montreal
- Université de Sherbrooke
- Laval University, Quebec City.
- McMaster University
- Memorial University of Newfoundland
Benefits Of Studying Medicine in Canada
Other than world-class education, there are so many reasons Canada is one of the best places for international students to obtain their medical degrees. They include,
- Upon completion of their medical degree, students can practice as registered doctors in Canada.
- Scholarship opportunities are available to international students so long as they meet up with the requirements.
- There are several job opportunities for students upon graduation.
- The culture and lifestyle are easy to adapt to and there are lots of interesting places in the city to have fun.
- There’s flexibility for students to work for 20hours per week while studying. Money made from a work-study program can be used for rent and feeding.
Eligibility Requirements for International Medical Students
- Undergraduate Degree: Candidates must have an undergraduate degree in any of the biological sciences with at least a second-class honors degree. or a CEGEP diploma. Applicants with CEGEP are to study for 5 years and this requirement is most viable in the medical schools in Quebec City.
- Language Proficiency Test: Candidates are to have a minimum score of 6.5 at IELTS or 80 at TOEFL. For French universities, students are to take a one-year compulsory class in French.
- MCAT (Medical College Admission Test):The medical college admission test (MCAT) is an entrance examination compulsory in most medical schools in Canada. The score requirement is different for each university. However, universities such as McGill do not need this requirement.
- Canadian student visa requirements: To study in Canada, one needs to have the necessary documents required by the country and they include;
- A valid passport
- Proof of Acceptance by a learning institution
- Proof of Funds
- Passport Size Photographs
- Immigration Medical Examination (IME)
- English Language Proficiency Exam Score.
- Statement of Purpose
- Credit Card.
Costs of studying Medicine in Canada
Generally, studying medicine anywhere in the world is not exactly cheap and Canada is no different. However, the medical schools in Canada which share a common boundary with the US are relatively less expensive when compared to the US.
The cost of studying medicine at different Canadian Universities varies. Every university has its own cost and tuition fee. Statistics have shown that the cost of tuition per year in a Canadian medical school is within the range of 17,000 – 29,000 CAD and it takes about 100,000 CAD of tuition to obtain a medical degree. However, the medical schools with the cheapest tuition are located in Quebec City.
Free Tuition Opportunities and Scholarships in Canada
There are so many scholarships in Canada available to internal students. It is one of the reasons why studying in Canada is attractive to a lot of international students. Some of the scholarships available to international students include,
MasterCard Scholarship – McGill University
The MasterCard scholarship is in coalition with McGill university hence students applying for this scholarship have to be willing to study at McGill University. It is mostly for international students from sub-Saharan Africa. It covers tuition, feeding, and accommodation.
MasterCard Scholarship – University of Toronto
Just like Mastercard scholarship McGill, students applying for this scholarship have to be willing to study at the University of Toronto and must be from sub-Saharan Africa. It covers tuition, feeding, accommodation, and travel expense expenses.
Chevening scholarships in Canada
Aside from the British Chevening scholarships, there is also the Chevening scholarships are also available in Canada for international students. It covers tuition, a monthly stipend, accommodation, and travel costs for a wide range degree programmes including Medicine.
Canadian Government Scholarships
On a yearly basis, the Government of Canada awards numerous scholarships to international students and permanent residents as well. It is worth about 50,000 CAD. These scholarships also cover medical study programmes. Click here to Read More.
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