Top Medical Schools in Canada 2026

Canada trains roughly 3,000 new doctors each year across 17 medical schools, yet receives over 20,000 applications for those seats. The competition is fierce, the stakes are high, and choosing where to apply can feel overwhelming when every school claims excellence.

This guide breaks down Canada's top medical schools, compares their teaching approaches and admission requirements, and helps you figure out which programs actually match your goals—whether that's research, rural medicine, or getting into residency a year early.

Ranked list of the top medical schools in Canada

The University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia consistently rank as Canada's top three medical schools. What sets them apart? Research excellence, clinical training quality, and partnerships with major teaching hospitals that put students in front of real patients early in their training.

McMaster University and the University of Alberta round out the top five. McMaster pioneered problem-based learning—where you work through real patient cases in small groups instead of sitting through lectures. Alberta has built a reputation for training doctors to serve rural and Indigenous communities across the province.

Rankings matter, but they don't tell the whole story. The "best" school depends on what you're looking for—whether that's research opportunities, a specific teaching style, or training in a particular part of the country.

University of Toronto

U of T's Temerty Faculty of Medicine is Canada's largest medical school, training about 260 students each year across two campuses. The downtown St. George campus sits in the heart of Toronto's hospital district, while the Mississauga campus offers a newer, more modern setting about 30 minutes west of the city.

The program partners with more than 20 teaching hospitals. You'll rotate through places like SickKids for pediatrics, Sunnybrook for trauma surgery, and Toronto General for complex medical cases. First-year students start seeing patients within weeks of arriving, not years.

McGill University

McGill's Faculty of Medicine opened in 1829, making it Canada's first medical school. The program trains about 180 students annually in Montreal, with a smaller satellite campus in Gatineau. Here's what's different: McGill doesn't require the MCAT. Instead, you'll write the CASPer test, which asks you to respond to video scenarios testing your judgment and ethics.

The bilingual environment is a real advantage. You'll work with both English and French-speaking patients during your rotations, which prepares you to practice medicine anywhere in Canada.

University of British Columbia

UBC admits 288 students each year, but here's the catch—you won't all study in Vancouver. The program spreads across four sites: Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, and the Okanagan region. This "distributed" model means you can train closer to home if you're from outside the Lower Mainland.

Clinical training starts in your first semester, not your third year. UBC also weaves Indigenous health into the entire curriculum, not just a single course. If you're interested in rural medicine or working with Indigenous communities, this program is built for that.

McMaster University

McMaster runs one of only two three-year MD programs in Canada. You'll study year-round without summer breaks, which means you can start your residency—and start earning a resident's salary—a full year earlier than your peers in four-year programs.

The curriculum uses problem-based learning exclusively. Instead of memorizing facts in lecture halls, you'll work through patient cases in small groups of eight to ten students. McMaster only requires the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section of the MCAT, where competitive applicants typically score 129 or higher.

University of Alberta

Alberta's Faculty of Medicine in Edmonton admits 162 students each year. The program has a strong focus on rural and Indigenous health, with a satellite campus in Grande Prairie that trains doctors specifically for northern Alberta.

Average MCAT scores for admitted students sit around 512, with GPAs typically above 3.85. Alberta also offers combined MD/MBA and MD/PhD options if you're interested in healthcare leadership or research careers.

How we compared Canadian MD programs

We looked at five main factors: research output, clinical training quality, hospital partnerships, graduate outcomes, and curriculum approach. Research output matters because schools doing groundbreaking work give you chances to participate in studies that could change medical practice. Clinical training quality depends on what kinds of patients and cases you'll see during rotations.

Hospital partnerships determine where you'll train. A school affiliated with major teaching hospitals exposes you to rare conditions and complex cases. Smaller community hospitals give you more hands-on responsibility earlier in your training.

Graduate outcomes come down to one key metric: CaRMS match rates. The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) is how medical students secure residency positions. Top schools consistently see match rates above 90%, meaning nearly all graduates land their next training spot.

Snapshot profiles of every Canadian medical school

Canada has 17 accredited medical schools across nine provinces. Together, they train roughly 3,000 new doctors each year. Most schools receive 5,000+ applications for fewer than 200 seats, which gives you a sense of how competitive admission really is.

University of Toronto – Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario

260 seats annually. The academy system divides students into smaller communities despite the large class size. Access to 20+ teaching hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area.

McGill University – Montreal and Gatineau, Quebec

180 seats. No MCAT required. Strong programs in neuroscience and global health. Clinical rotations happen across Montreal's hospital network.

University of British Columbia – Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, Okanagan

288 seats across four distributed sites. Indigenous health integrated throughout the curriculum. Extensive rural placement opportunities.

McMaster University – Hamilton, Waterloo, Niagara

203 seats in a three-year program. Problem-based learning only. Only the MCAT CARS section is required.

University of Alberta – Edmonton and Grande Prairie

162 seats. Focus on rural medicine and Indigenous health. Strong research in diabetes and transplantation.

University of Calgary – Calgary

143 seats in a three-year accelerated program. Competency-based education model. Strong Indigenous health focus.

Queen's University – Kingston

100 seats. Known for its tight-knit community and strong clinical skills training. Many graduates choose family medicine.

Western University – London and Windsor

175 seats across two campuses. Particular strength in neuroscience and cancer research.

University of Ottawa – Ottawa

164 seats. Full instruction available in both English and French. Location in Canada's capital provides access to national health policy organizations.

Northern Ontario School of Medicine – Sudbury and Thunder Bay

64 seats. Trains doctors specifically for northern and rural Ontario. Mandatory Indigenous community placements.

Dalhousie University – Halifax and Cape Breton

110 seats serving Atlantic Canada. New satellite campus opened in Cape Breton in 2025.

Memorial University – St. John's

80 seats. Focus on rural and remote medicine for Newfoundland and Labrador. Lower average MCAT requirements (506).

University of Manitoba – Winnipeg

110 seats. Strong focus on Indigenous health and rural medicine. Extensive partnerships with First Nations communities.

University of Saskatchewan – Saskatoon and Regina

100 seats using distributed education across the province. Lower average MCAT requirements (507). Prioritizes Saskatchewan residents.

Université de Montréal – Montreal and Trois-Rivières

276 seats. Canada's second-largest francophone medical school. No MCAT required.

Université Laval – Quebec City

227 seats. French-language program with strong research in neuroscience and aging. Offers a preparatory year for students without science backgrounds.

Université de Sherbrooke – Sherbrooke, Montreal, Saguenay

199 seats across three Quebec campuses. Pioneered problem-based learning in French.

Admission requirements and acceptance rates

Most Canadian medical schools accept fewer than 5% of applicants. You'll typically complete a four-year undergraduate degree with a GPA above 3.7, though some schools calculate GPA differently. McMaster and Ottawa focus on your most recent years, which can help if your earlier grades weren't as strong.

The competition goes beyond numbers in a country where 6.5 million Canadians don't have a family doctor. Schools want well-rounded applicants who show empathy, leadership, and genuine commitment to medicine through volunteering and healthcare exposure.

Minimum GPA and MCAT averages

Most schools expect GPAs between 3.7 and 3.9 for competitive applicants. MCAT scores vary widely. U of T requires a minimum of 125 in each section (total 500+), while competitive applicants typically score 510-515 overall.

McMaster only looks at the CARS section, where successful applicants average 129. Several Quebec schools—McGill, UdeM, Laval, Sherbrooke—and Ottawa don't require the MCAT at all. They rely on the CASPer test instead, which evaluates your decision-making through video-based scenarios.

Class sizes and interview invitations

Canadian medical schools are relatively small. Class sizes range from 64 students at NOSM to 288 at UBC. Most schools admit 100-200 students annually.

Interview invitation rates vary from 10-25% of applicants. Strong academics get you past the first screening, but they don't guarantee an interview. The interview format varies by school—some use traditional panel interviews, others use Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) where you rotate through 8-12 short stations.

How many medical schools are in Canada

Canada has 17 accredited MD-granting medical schools. For comparison, the United States has 155. This limited capacity explains why Canadian medical school admission is so competitive.

Three new schools are launching in 2025-2026: Toronto Metropolitan University, Simon Fraser University, and University of Prince Edward Island (taught by Memorial University faculty). Together, they'll add roughly 100 new seats nationally, though Canada needs 30,000 more physicians by 2028 to match OECD averages.

Tuition, fees and cost of living by province

Medical school in Canada costs significantly less than in the United States. Tuition ranges from roughly $5,000 to $30,000 per year for Canadian residents. Living expenses add another $15,000-25,000 depending on your city.

International students face much higher fees—often $60,000-90,000 annually at the few schools that accept non-Canadians.

Ontario tuition range

Ontario medical schools charge $23,000-25,000 per year for Canadian students, regardless of whether you're from Ontario or another province. Living costs in Toronto run $18,000-25,000 annually. Smaller cities like Kingston or London are slightly more affordable at $15,000-20,000.

Quebec tuition range

Quebec has Canada's lowest medical school tuition—around $5,500 per year for Quebec residents. Out-of-province Canadian students pay roughly $12,000 annually. Montreal's cost of living sits around $15,000-20,000 per year.

Western Canada tuition range

British Columbia charges $19,000-20,000 per year, while Alberta's schools cost $16,000-17,000 annually. Saskatchewan and Manitoba have the lowest western tuition at $14,000-15,000. Vancouver's living costs are Canada's highest at $20,000-30,000 per year. Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg are more affordable at $15,000-20,000.

Atlantic Canada tuition range

Dalhousie and Memorial charge $19,000-22,000 per year for Canadian students. Living costs in Halifax and St. John's run $13,000-18,000 annually.

Three-year vs four-year MD pathways explained

Most Canadian medical schools follow a four-year curriculum. McMaster and Calgary offer accelerated three-year programs that compress the same content into continuous year-round study without summer breaks.

Both pathways lead to the same MD degree and eligibility for residency matching.

Schools offering three-year programs

Only McMaster University and the University of Calgary offer three-year MD programs in Canada. McMaster's program runs continuously from May through April each year, with short breaks between terms but no extended summer vacations.

Calgary follows a similar structure, using competency-based milestones rather than time-based progression. The three-year timeline means you can begin residency training one year earlier.

Benefits and drawbacks of accelerated paths

The main advantage is straightforward: you graduate a year earlier and start earning a resident's salary (roughly $60,000-70,000) instead of paying tuition. The intensive pace also means you stay immersed in medical thinking without the knowledge decay that can happen during long breaks.

The compressed timeline leaves less room for exploration. Four-year programs typically offer more elective time in fourth year, allowing you to explore specialties or complete research projects before committing to a residency path. The continuous study schedule can be mentally and physically demanding, with less opportunity for rest.

Choosing the right medical school for you

Rankings tell you about research output and reputation. They don't tell you where you'll actually thrive as a student.

The right medical school depends on your learning style, career interests, location preferences, and personal circumstances. A top-ranked research-intensive program might be perfect if you're interested in academic medicine. A community-focused school could better prepare you for rural family practice.

Curriculum style and learning environment

Medical schools take fundamentally different approaches to teaching. McMaster and Sherbrooke use problem-based learning exclusively—you'll spend most of your time in small groups working through cases rather than sitting in lectures.

U of T and McGill blend traditional lectures with case-based learning and early clinical exposure. Neither approach is inherently better. They suit different learning styles.

Clinical placement opportunities

Where you complete clinical rotations matters enormously. Large urban programs like U of T, McGill, and UBC offer exposure to rare conditions and cutting-edge treatments. Smaller programs and rural-focused schools like NOSM, Memorial, and Saskatchewan provide more hands-on responsibility and closer mentorship.

Think about the patient populations you want to serve. If you're interested in Indigenous health, schools like UBC, NOSM, and Manitoba have mandatory Indigenous community placements. If you want urban subspecialty training, the large teaching hospitals affiliated with U of T, McGill, and UBC offer unmatched exposure.

Lifestyle and community fit

You'll spend four intense years in medical school, so location matters. Large programs in major cities offer vibrant social scenes and diverse cultural opportunities, but they can feel impersonal.

Smaller programs in places like Kingston, Saskatoon, or St. John's create tight-knit communities where everyone knows each other. Consider the language environment too. If you're bilingual, McGill and Ottawa offer unique opportunities to serve both English and French-speaking patients.

Application tips to boost your chances

Canadian medical school admission takes years of preparation. Most successful applicants build strong applications through strategic course selection, meaningful volunteer experiences, and careful attention to every component.

Strengthen core science grades

Medical schools scrutinize your science GPA closely, particularly in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics. If you struggled in any foundational science courses early in your degree, consider retaking them or taking advanced courses in the same area.

Some schools like McMaster and Ottawa only consider your most recent years, so strong recent performance can offset earlier struggles. Take courses that genuinely interest you and challenge your thinking. Admissions committees can spot applicants who simply checked boxes versus those who pursued genuine intellectual curiosity.

Prepare early for the MCAT

The MCAT requires months of preparation, not weeks. Most successful test-takers study 300-400 hours over 3-4 months, combining content review with extensive practice questions and full-length practice tests.

Starting early gives you time to identify weak areas and improve them systematically. If you're applying to schools that only require the CARS section (like McMaster), you can focus your preparation there—but a strong full MCAT score keeps doors open at more schools.

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Showcase meaningful extracurriculars

Medical schools want to see sustained commitment to healthcare and community service, not a resume padded with short-term volunteer gigs. Depth matters more than breadth—200 hours volunteering at one organization where you took on increasing responsibility is more impressive than 20 hours each at ten different places.

Look for experiences that demonstrate empathy, leadership, and understanding of healthcare systems. Volunteering in clinical settings (hospitals, clinics, long-term care) shows you understand what physicians actually do. Non-clinical volunteering with vulnerable populations (homeless shelters, crisis lines, disability services) demonstrates compassion and social awareness.

Where Canadian schools rank globally in medicine

Canadian medical schools consistently rank among the world's top 50 programs. Global rankings consider research output, citations, international collaboration, and reputation among academics worldwide.

QS World Rankings highlights

The 2025 QS World University Rankings placed University of Toronto first in Canada and 11th globally for medicine. McGill ranked second nationally and 32nd worldwide, while UBC came third in Canada and 37th globally.

Times Higher Education highlights

The 2025 Times Higher Education rankings placed Toronto ninth globally for clinical medicine, with McGill at 27th and UBC at 31st. McMaster's fourth-place Canadian ranking (42nd globally) reflects its innovative curriculum despite being a smaller program.

Next steps for future Canadian physicians

Getting into medical school requires strategic planning, sustained effort, and resilience through what can be a multi-year application process. Start building your application early—ideally in first or second year of your undergraduate degree—so you have time to strengthen weak areas and gain meaningful experiences.

Most successful applicants apply to multiple schools across Canada. The application process is expensive (roughly $200-300 per school) and time-consuming, but applying to more schools significantly improves your odds.

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