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Are you thinking of pursuing a medical career? Medicine is known to be the noblest profession of them all. Job opportunities in healthcare are abundant, especially in a post-pandemic world - not to mention it’s one of the highest-paying professions.
With many great medical universities worldwide, why should you study in Canada? Apart from ranking as the third-best country to study medicine globally, Canada also caters to international students’ long-term goals with exciting postgraduate programs and visa options to help them stay in the country and practice as healthcare professionals - guaranteeing a brighter future for them and their families.
Be a part of one of these top medical universities’ alumni when you graduate with a world-class medical degree.
Best Medical Universities in Canada
International students who want to study in Canada may only enroll at Designated Learning Institutions (DLI). The good news is that all of Canada’s top schools featured below are DLIs that readily welcome international students to learn, grow, and flourish in their careers.
McGill University
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Times Higher Education World University Ranking: #46
Number of International Students: 12, 000+
McGill University is favorably located in Quebec, Canada. The university has two campuses: the downtown campus in Montreal and the Macdonald campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. Quebec is Canada’s biggest and predominantly French-speaking province. However, the primary language of instruction at McGill is English.
The university is affiliated with multiple teaching hospitals, and its medical school is the oldest in Canada. The creation of the first artificial blood cell is among the research achievements associated with the university.
Toronto University
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Times Higher Education World University Ranking: #18
Number of International Students: 27,130
The University of Toronto is probably the most well-known education institution in Canada and a popular choice for international students who study in Canada. You will be surrounded by a sizeable multicultural environment, both in classrooms and the city.
The medical science campus is located in St. George in bustling Toronto, and the famous CN Tower overlooks it. The university is ranked 4th best in the world for clinical medicine. One major innovation from the University of Toronto is insulin, which researchers discovered in the early 1920s.
An advantage of studying at a designated university in Ontario is applying for permanent residency through the International Student Stream once you graduate as a medical professional with arranged employment.
University of British Columbia (UBC)
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Times Higher Education World University Ranking: #40
Number of International Students: 20,326
UBC has two main campuses - the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses in Kelowna. UBC students’ favorite hangout spots include the Pit Pub, Stanley Park, and Wreck Beach. Not to mention taking a trip to Whistler during winter break for action-packed fun in the snow, such as skiing and snowboarding.
UBC also boasts impressive alumni, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. First-year international students can opt to enroll in the Vantage One program, which aims to help students improve their English by stretching their first year of study from eight to 11 months.
McMaster University
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Times Higher Education World University Ranking: #80
Number of International Students: 6,427.64
McMaster University is located near the edge of Lake Ontario and close to the US border for a quick trip to The Big Apple if you’re feeling adventurous. The university's international students hail from over 75 countries and its full-time faculty members come from over 55.
Themed accommodation is available at the university, such as an all-female community, a healthy active living community and a global perspectives community. In addition, if you’re interested in neuroscience, you can study the brain of the late great Albert Einstein in a jar in one of the school labs at McMaster.
Queen’s University
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Times Higher Education World University Ranking: #251-300
Number of International Students: 4, 060
Queen’s University is situated in Kingston, a 10-minute walk to downtown and the market square. The university is highly ranked as one of the best medical universities in Canada for its exceptional student experience. It has the most clubs of any Canadian university and more than 220 international exchange programs. Not to mention a Harry Potter reading room.
According to the Dean of the medical faculty, Queen's four-year Undergraduate Medical Program is designed to provide various innovative learning opportunities that will prepare international students to be highly desired postgraduate trainees and outstanding practicing physicians.
Medical Education in Canada
Medical Education in Canada is highly competitive and sought after locally and internationally. Canada has one of the most revered healthcare systems in the world, a distinguished fact that rests on strong medical education.
The medical education system in tertiary education is tied to Canada’s top hospitals, thus ensuring that medical students receive the best theoretical and practical education. It also ensures that a consistent supply of medical students is funneled to Canada’s best hospitals, where they have access to the best medical equipment.
This is how Canada has been able to maximize its potential for making medical breakthroughs, which includes revered discoveries such as the first Ebola vaccine, groundbreaking transplants, life-saving treatment for diabetes, the first pacemaker, and using stem cells to stop the advance of cancer.
Why Study at a Medical University in Canada?
Affordable Tuition Fees
Affordability is a big deciding factor for many international students when choosing a study destination. Luckily, you don’t have to choose between quality and affordability when you study in Canada.
Of all the popular study destinations, such as the USA and Australia, Canada offers a wide range of study programs with reasonable tuition fees. An undergraduate program costs, on average, between CAD $13, 000 - $20, 000 and a master's degree range from CAD $17, 000 - $25, 000 annually.
Get a Part-Time Job
While tuition fees are your primary expenditure when you study abroad, other costs include accommodation and living expenses. The good news is that you don’t have to rely on your savings when you study solely in Canada. International students can work 20 hours per week during academic sessions and full-time during vacations.
That means you can get a great part-time job to fund some (not all) expenses. Or earn pocket money on concert tickets, camping trips with friends and a daily cappuccino from Tim Hortons.
Apply for a Post-Graduate Permit
What happens after you graduate with a medical degree in Canada? Head back home? You don’t have to when you have the incredible opportunity to stay and kick-start your career here in the Great North. A Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) allows international students to work anywhere in Canada for up to 3 years!
Healthcare professionals are in demand in Canada, especially registered nurses, physicians, and occupational therapists. Working in Canada’s healthcare industry will allow you to gain significant work experience and earn a high-paying salary. At the same time, it paves the way to an easy route to permanent residency.
The Ultimate Canadian Experience
Just how big is a moose? What does poutine taste like? How fun is it to make snow angels? You can only find out in Canada.
From European architecture, the great outdoors, snow sports, and vibrant cities to epic nightlife, there's much to do and see. Making new friends won’t be a problem either. Canadians are known to be among the friendliest and most welcoming people in the world! Canada is so much more than higher education. It's an adventure waiting to happen.
How Can We Help You Move to Study in Canada?
Letter of Admission/Acceptance
When you decide on a medical university in Canada that speaks the loudest to you, you need to enroll in a study program. If accepted into the program, you will get a letter of acceptance, a required document when you apply for your study permit.
Student Permit and Visa
To qualify for a Canadian study permit, you need to:
- Be enrolled at a designated learning institution
- Show proof of funds to cover your tuition fees, living costs, return travel
- Have no criminal record
- Be in good health (you might need to complete a medical exam)
- Complete an English test like IELTS
- Get a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)
To study in Canada, you need a student permit that costs $150 (CAD). If you are required to provide biometrics, there is an additional charge of $85. The price of your permit includes your visitor visa or electronic travel authorization(eTA), which allows you to enter Canada and leave for holidays.
Student Direct Stream
If you live in an eligible country, you may be able to get your study permit within 20 calendar days through the Student Direct Stream. The list of eligible countries is as follows:
- China;
- India;
- Morocco;
- Pakistan;
- the Philippines;
- Senegal;
- Vietnam;
- Antigua and Barbuda;
- Brazil;
- Colombia;
- Costa Rica;
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
- Peru; and
- Trinidad and Tobago
These countries have an agreement with Canada allowing faster visa processing times.
At CanadianVisa, we can assist you with your application by getting you in touch with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) who will assist you with every stage of the application process, from arranging your acceptance into a Canadian DLI to obtaining your study permit and entry visa.
RCICs help you discover the best pathway to Canada based on your budget, needs, and goals. They also handle all required paperwork to ensure your application is faultless and optimized for success.
Prepare for your journey in Canada with professionals who once were international students in Canada themselves and are now working in Canada as permanent residents. Take the first step, fill in the contact form below.
FAQs
What is The Best Medical University In Canada?
Mcgill University is the best medical university in Canada. It has been consistently ranked as the number one medical university in Canada by Times Higher Education, one of the most trusted publications for university rankings.
What is The Worst Medical University in Canada?
The University of Saskatchewan is generally considered to have the worst medical school among the major universities in Canada.
What Is The Best Medical Hospital in Canada?
The best hospital in Canada is generally considered to be Toronto General Hospital. As one of the largest and busiest Canadian hospitals, it has consistently proven itself to be one of the most influential and innovative hospitals in Canada.
