Which Canadian Medical Schools Accept International Students? 

Which Canadian Medical Schools Accept International Students?

The direct answer is: 

Only a limited number of Canadian medical schools currently consider independent international applicants for their MD programs. 

Canada awards the Doctor of Medicine (MD) rather than the MBBS, and medical schools establish their own applicant categories and admission requirements. 

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada currently gathers admissions information from 19 Canadian faculties of medicine, covering seats, MCAT requirements, application dates, fees, and restricted applicant categories. 

For international students from India, the Middle East, Africa, and other regions, the key question is not simply whether a university has a medical school. 

It is: 

Does that medical school accept my applicant category for the year I plan to apply? 

Canadian Medical Schools and International Applicant Access

Medical School	Independent International Applicants?	Current Position for 2027 Entry	Key Point
McGill University	Yes	1 anticipated seat	International undergraduate-degree applicant category
Université de Montréal	Yes	2 international places currently stated	French-language program; specific international requirements apply
Université de Sherbrooke	Yes	Very limited	Separate international applicant category; French requirements apply
Université Laval	Potential international route	Verify annually	French proficiency and applicant-category requirements apply
University of Toronto	No general international MD admission currently	No general international route	Current MD FAQ states international applications are not accepted
University of British Columbia	No	International students ineligible	Canadian citizen/PR status generally required
University of Ottawa	Generally no	Narrow stated exception only	Citizen, PR, or approved Convention refugee normally required
Memorial University	No	International students ineligible	Canadian citizen or PR required
Dalhousie University	No	International students ineligible	Canadian citizen or PR required

Important: This table reflects publicly available information reviewed in November 2026 for the 2027 admission cycle. Medical-school policies and seat allocations can change annually. 

McGill University: One of the Clearest International Routes

McGill currently provides one of Canada’s clearest independent international MD applicant categories. 

For Fall 2027, McGill lists: 

• 1 anticipated international seat 

• an average of 73 applicants 

• an average of 8 interviewed candidates 

• an average applicant GPA of 3.69 

McGill states that a degree GPA of 3.5 or above is generally considered competitive, although admission is based on more than GPA alone. 

This distinction is important. 

Saying that a medical school “accepts international students” can sound encouraging. But the number of available places may still be extremely small. 

What About Quebec’s French-Language Medical Schools?

Quebec accounts for several of the remaining international possibilities. 

Université de Montréal 

Université de Montréal currently states that its MD program has two places available to international applicants. It also notes that it receives dozens of eligible applications for those places. 

Because the medical program operates in French, applicants must also meet the applicable language and academic requirements. 

Université de Sherbrooke 

Sherbrooke maintains a separate international applicant category for its medical program. Its current admissions pages confirm that international applicants can submit applications if they satisfy the category requirements. 

Availability remains very limited, and French proficiency is central to the program. 

Université Laval 

Université Laval may also have pathways for applicants requiring Canadian study permits, subject to its current applicant categories and admission rules. 

Because international allocations can change, students should confirm the current year’s number directly with the faculty rather than relying on an older ranking or blog. 

Which Major Medical Schools Currently Do Not Accept International Students?

Several universities commonly searched by international applicants currently restrict general MD admission. 

University of British Columbia 

UBC states directly: 

“We regret that we are unable to admit international students.” 

Applicants generally need to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. 

Memorial University 

Memorial requires applicants to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the time of application and states that international applicants are not accepted. 

Dalhousie University 

Dalhousie’s current admissions information likewise says applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and that international students are not eligible to apply. 

University of Ottawa 

For the current admission cycle, Ottawa requires applicants to be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or approved Convention refugees, with a narrow exception for eligible children of certain Faculty of Medicine alumni. 

University of Toronto 

According to the University of Toronto’s current MD/PhD admissions FAQ, its MD program does not accept applications from international students at this time.

However, some university admissions pages still contain information about international applicants. Prospective students should verify the latest eligibility requirements directly with the university before applying.

It is also important to distinguish between internationally educated applicants and international students. Applicants who completed their education outside Canada may have different academic documentation requirements, depending on their citizenship or permanent residency status.

What Are Supernumerary or Sponsored Seats?

This is another area where international applicants can become confused. 

Some Canadian universities may have special supernumerary, contractual, or government-sponsored positions. 

These are not the same as an open international applicant pool. 

A position may exist through an agreement involving a government, institution, or sponsoring organization and can carry different funding, immigration, or return-home conditions. 

So if a website says a Canadian university “takes international students,” ask: 

Can an independent international applicant actually apply, or is the position limited to a sponsored agreement? 

That distinction matters more than the headline. 

What Do International Applicants Need?

There is no single national admissions checklist. 

Depending on the medical school, applicants may need: 

• previous university education; 

• prerequisite subjects; 

• competitive GPA; 

• MCAT scores where applicable; 

• Casper or other assessments; 

• interviews; 

• transcript or credential evaluation; 

• English or French proficiency; and 

• evidence that they fit the relevant applicant category. 

For example, McGill says applicants should generally have a degree GPA of 3.5 or greater to be considered competitive. It does not state that all successful international applicants require a 3.9 GPA. 

Students should therefore avoid applying one university’s academic requirements to every medical school in Canada. 

How Competitive Are International Seats?

The numbers explain the situation more clearly than rankings do. 

McGill currently anticipates one international seat for Fall 2027 against an average of 73 applicants. 

Université de Montréal currently lists two international positions and says it receives dozens of eligible applications each year. 

That does not mean international students should never apply. 

It means they should understand the level of uncertainty before making the Canadian route their only medical-school plan. 

For a broader school-by-school discussion, read our guide to the best medical colleges in Canada. 

What About Medical School Fees for International Students?

International medical school costs can differ substantially from domestic rates, and there is no single Canadian fee. 

McGill, for example, estimates approximately CAD 230,000 in tuition, mandatory fees, and insurance across its four-year international MDCM program for a student beginning in Fall 2026, before living expenses. 

Students should compare: 

Tuition + compulsory fees + living costs + insurance + travel + examinations + postgraduate expenses 

rather than looking only at annual tuition. 

For current examples and CAD-to-INR comparisons, see our detailed guide to MBBS in Canada fees. 

What if You Cannot Get a Canadian MD Seat? 

Being unable to enter a Canadian medical school directly does not necessarily mean Canada has to disappear from your long-term plan. 

Some students complete an eligible medical degree outside Canada and later pursue the requirements applicable to international medical graduates. 

A simplified pathway may look like: 

Eligible medical degree abroad → credential and MCC requirements → NAC Examination → CaRMS eligibility → residency → provincial licensure 

This pathway is not guaranteed. 

IMG applicants must meet the citizenship or permanent-resident, examination, medical-school, CaRMS, provincial, residency-program, and licensing requirements applicable when they apply. 

For the broader pathway, read our MBBS in Canada: Complete Guide for International Students. 

Could an International MD Program Be an Alternative?

For students who do not want their medical education to depend entirely on Canada’s limited international seats, an eligible international MD program may be worth comparing. 

Before enrolling in any international medical school, verify: 

• accreditation; 

• World Directory listing; 

• applicable Sponsor Notes; 

• clinical-training locations; 

• examination eligibility; 

• tuition and complete program cost; and 

• postgraduate requirements in the countries where you want to practice. 

Texila American University College of Medicine in Guyana offers medical pathways for international students and publishes information about its accreditation, WDOMS listing, clinical training, and postgraduate pathways. 

Students considering Canada should independently verify the current MCC, CaRMS, provincial, citizenship or permanent-resident, and licensing requirements. 

An international MD program can help keep a pathway available. 

It cannot guarantee a Canadian residency Match or medical license. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility Matters More Than Rankings

International students often begin by asking: 

“Which is the best medical school in Canada?” 

A better first question is: 

“Which medical schools can I actually apply to?” 

For 2027 entry, independent international opportunities remain limited, and some schools that appear on older international-student lists no longer accept general international MD applications. 

Check current admissions policies, look closely at actual seat availability, and build an alternative pathway before committing years of study or family investment to a single plan.