This article will focus on informing international students about important things they should know before deciding on whether or not they should apply to a medical course in Canada.

OVERVIEW

It takes between five to seven years to complete a medical degree in Canada.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

There are many universities across Canada to choose from when applying to study medicine. So, the entry requirements differ.

• Usually, the overall required GPA ranges between 3.3 and 4.0.
• If your previous educational qualifications were completed in the United Kingdom you need to have passed at least five subjects in your GCSEs and at least three subjects at A-Level.
• Your A-Levels should each be at a C or above.
• There are some universities that will accept you with two A-Levels at a C or above.
• You will also need to prove your English proficiency.
• If you come from a non-English speaking country, you will need to take an English language test and provide the university with a certificate proving your English proficiency.
• You could take either the IELTS, TOEFL, or the Cambridge English Advanced test.
• In most cases, you will need to score at least 5.5 on the IELTS test, and 50 points on the internet-based TOEFL test.

ENTRANCE EXAM

• The usual entrance exam used by most universities in Canada is the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
• MCAT is a multiple-choice test. It tests your knowledge of science, as well as your critical thinking and problem-solving.
• It costs about £240. And can be taken almost every month of the year.
• Students from India need to take the NEET.
• In other cases, students might be required to sit the CASPer.
• CASPer is an online test where you will be assessed on your ability to react accordingly in given situations.
• This will test and assess your ethics and morals.

MMI

• Multiple Mini Interviews consist of a number of different scenarios on which the participant will be tested. You will need to complete tasks and answer questions.
• To prepare for these tests we recommend looking at the website of the university to which you are applying, and having a look at the advice that they provide tailored specifically to the kind of MMI that you will need to part-take in.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The application can be done online directly to the university you would like to apply to.

The required documents might differ depending on the university, but usually, they will ask for:

• At least one letter of recommendation
• Results from your English proficiency test, as mentioned earlier
• A copy of your passport
• A photo of yourself
• Your CV
• A copy of your grades
• Personal statement
• And proof of how you will pay for your studies (i.e., bank statements)

APPLICATION DEADLINE

The application deadline differs depending on the university but usually, you will have until between January and March to submit your application.

In some cases, it can be as early as October, so we recommend checking with your university of choice, just to be sure.

APPLICATION TIMELINE

The application opens around July.

FEES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

• Tuition fees for international students differ greatly depending on the university you are applying to.
• The prices can go as high as £70,000 per year if you are looking to study in one of the more prestigious Canadian universities like the University of Toronto.
• You can also find cheaper ones, like the Memorial University of Newfoundland which costs about £8,741 per year for international students.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

• If you are considering applying to the University of Toronto, you might benefit from the Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship is a scholarship for non-Canadian students.
• To be eligible for this scholarship you need to graduate or have graduated after June 2021.
• This scholarship will cover the costs of your tuition fees, your books, and will also provide financial support towards your living expenses.

This brings us to the end of the article. We sincerely hope you leave feeling more informed on this topic. If you would like to read about more countries before you decide whether or not Canada is the right choice for you, we strongly recommend checking out our other articles on this topic.