MBBS in Canada: Costs, Entry Requirements, Free Tuition and Scholarships 2026

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;

1. University of Toronto
2. McGill University
3. Université de Montreal
4. Université de Sherbrooke
5. Laval University, Quebec City.
6. McMaster University
7. 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,

1. Upon completion of their medical degree, students can practice as registered doctors in Canada.
2. Scholarship opportunities are available to international students so long as they meet up with the requirements.
3. There are several job opportunities for students upon graduation.
4. The culture and lifestyle are easy to adapt to and there are lots of interesting places in the city to have fun.
5. 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 in Canada

Undergraduate Degree

• Candidates must hold an undergraduate degree in a biological science with at least a second-class honors.
• Alternatively, students from Quebec may apply with a CEGEP diploma, in which case the medical program usually lasts 5 years. This pathway is most common in medical schools in Quebec City.

Language Proficiency

• English-taught programs: Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL score of 80.
• French-taught programs: Students are generally required to take a one-year compulsory French language class.

MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)

• The MCAT is required by most Canadian medical schools as part of the admission process.
• Score requirements vary by university.
• Notably, McGill University does not require the MCAT.

Canadian Student Visa Requirements

To study medicine in Canada, international students must obtain a student visa, which requires the following documents:

• Valid passport
• Proof of acceptance from a Canadian learning institution
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses
• Passport-sized photographs
• Immigration Medical Examination (IME)
• English or French language proficiency exam score
• Statement of Purpose
• Credit card (for application and visa fees)

Cost of Studying Medicine in Canada

• Medical education in Canada is generally expensive, but tuition costs are lower than in the United States, especially for schools near the US border.
• Tuition fees vary by university, typically ranging from CAD 17,000 – 29,000 per year, with the total cost of a medical degree averaging around CAD 100,000.
• The lowest tuition fees are generally found at medical schools 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.