Hardest med school to get into in Canada?

AFMC lists 19 faculties of medicine in Canada, and Canadian universities awarded 3,003 MD degrees in 2025. TutorLyft works with pre-med students across Canada navigating this process. The schools commonly cited near the top are the University of Toronto, McGill University, the University of British Columbia, McMaster University, and the University of Alberta.

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 2026 Times Higher Education medical and health ranking placed Toronto first in Canada, followed by McGill, UBC, McMaster and Alberta. 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 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 is one of Canada’s largest MD programs. Its regular class size was 303 for 2025-26. The program is expanding beyond St. George and Mississauga with the Scarborough Academy of Medicine, which is scheduled to enrol its first full cohort in fall 2027.

The MD program is delivered with more than 30 affiliated clinical teaching sites. 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. McGill’s fall 2026 MDCM class admitted 249 students: 210 in Montreal and 39 at Campus Outaouais. One thing that stands out about McGill: the program 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 practise medicine anywhere in Canada.

University of British Columbia

For 2025-26, UBC had 328 regular-quota places, and the program is spread 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

Canada has three three-year MD programs: McMaster, Calgary and Simon Fraser University. SFU’s first 48 students began the three-year program in August 2026. 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. The Class of 2026 had a mean CARS score of 129.2.

University of Alberta

Alberta's Faculty of Medicine in Edmonton had 192 regular-quota places for 2025-26. 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.

Among students admitted in fall 2025, Alberta residents had a mean cumulative GPA of 3.84 and a mean MCAT section score of 127.50; non-Alberta residents had a mean GPA of 3.93 and a mean MCAT section score of 127.90. 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

When comparing programs, five factors make the biggest difference: 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. Across the 2026 CaRMS match, approximately 95.6% of current-year Canadian medical graduates matched after both iterations.

Every Canadian medical school at a glance

Canada has 19 faculties of medicine across the country. Canadian universities awarded 3,003 MD degrees in 2025. For 2025-26, reporting faculties received 27,511 applications, though several faculties did not report, so that is not a complete national total.

Admission requirements and acceptance rates

Across faculties reporting to AFMC for 2025-26, 18.3% of applicants received at least one offer of admission. Individual school rates differ, and several faculties did not report. Degree, credit and GPA requirements also vary by faculty, so it's worth checking the AFMC admissions guide and each school's current requirements. Ottawa calculates its CGPA from the most recent three years of eligible full-time undergraduate study, while McMaster uses an overall simple average of all eligible undergraduate courses.

Strong marks and test scores matter, but schools are also looking for applicants who show empathy, leadership, and a genuine commitment to medicine through real-world experience.

Minimum GPA and MCAT averages

Minimum GPA policies vary by faculty, so it's important to check each school's current admissions page. U of T requires 125 in each MCAT section, with an allowance of 124 in one section. It does not use a total-score threshold, and scores are not assessed competitively after the threshold is met.

McMaster only looks at the CARS section; the Class of 2026 had a mean CARS score of 129.2. For 2025-26, AFMC listed seven faculties with no MCAT requirement: Laval, Sherbrooke, Université de Montréal, McGill, Ottawa, NOSM and TMU. Their other assessment requirements differ.

Class sizes and interview invitations

Current entering cohorts range from 48 students at SFU in 2026 to a regular class size of 396 at Université de Montréal for 2025-26. Nine of Canada's 19 faculties had regular class sizes between 100 and 200 in the latest available AFMC schedule, while the full range was substantially wider.

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, while others use Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). Check each faculty's current interview instructions before you apply.

How many medical schools are in Canada

AFMC lists 19 faculties of medicine in Canada. For comparison, the AAMC reported 163 accredited U.S. medical schools in 2026. This limited capacity helps explain why Canadian medical school admission is so competitive.

TMU welcomed 94 MD students in September 2025, Memorial's UPEI regional campus welcomed 20 in August 2025, and SFU welcomed 48 in August 2026, a combined 162 first-year places. UPEI is a regional campus of Memorial, not a separate medical faculty.

Tuition, fees and cost of living by province

For the session beginning in fall 2025, first-year Canadian tuition ranged from $4,439 for a Quebec resident at Université de Montréal to $33,283 for an out-of-province Canadian at McGill, before compulsory fees. Provincial and federal student loans in Canada can help offset these costs. Living expenses vary significantly by city, and you can estimate your costs using TutorLyft's student budget calculator.

Among faculties reporting foreign-student tuition for fall 2025, first-year tuition ranged from $30,000 at Memorial to $69,339 at McGill, before compulsory fees.

Ontario tuition range

For the session beginning in fall 2025, first-year Canadian tuition at Ontario medical schools ranged from $23,090 to $25,487, before compulsory fees. For current living-cost estimates, check each university's student budget.

Quebec tuition range

For fall 2025, first-year Quebec-resident tuition ranged from $4,439 to $6,356 across Quebec's four faculties. First-year tuition for other Canadian residents ranged from $13,856 to $33,283, depending on the faculty.

Western Canada tuition range

For first-year Canadian tuition in fall 2025, UBC charged $20,804, Alberta charged $16,141, Calgary charged $25,244, Saskatchewan charged $21,056 and Manitoba charged $12,066, before compulsory fees. For current living-cost estimates, check each university's cost-of-attendance information.

Atlantic Canada tuition range

For fall 2025, Canadian tuition was $25,067 at Dalhousie and $14,250 at Memorial, before compulsory fees. For current living-cost estimates, check each university's student budget.

Three-year vs four-year MD pathways explained

Most Canadian medical schools follow a four-year curriculum. Canada has three three-year MD programs: McMaster, Calgary and Simon Fraser University. SFU's first 48 students began the three-year program in August 2026.

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

Schools offering three-year programs

McMaster University, the University of Calgary and Simon Fraser University 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 can begin earning resident pay sooner. Under the provincial agreements listed in AFMC's 2025 schedule, first-year resident pay ranged from $57,296 in Quebec to $77,038 in the Maritimes. 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 in areas where only 7% of Canadian physicians work.

Curriculum style and learning environment

Medical schools take fundamentally different approaches to teaching. McMaster and Sherbrooke use an active-learning, case-based approach exclusively, so 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 marks

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. Preparation time varies depending on your baseline and schedule, but consistent practice matters.

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.

Need help preparing for the MCAT or strengthening your science courses? Connect with experienced tutors on TutorLyft who specialize in pre-med preparation.

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.

Strong extracurricular activities 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 volunteer opportunities with vulnerable populations (homeless shelters, crisis lines, disability services) demonstrate compassion and social awareness.

Where Canadian schools rank globally in medicine

In 2026, four Canadian universities placed in the global top 50 for medicine in both the QS subject rankings and the Times Higher Education medical and health ranking.

QS World Rankings highlights

The 2026 QS medicine ranking placed Toronto first in Canada and 12th globally, McGill second and 23rd globally, McMaster third and 31st globally, and UBC fourth and 39th globally.

Times Higher Education highlights

The 2026 Times Higher Education ranking placed Toronto ninth globally for clinical medicine, with McGill tied for 27th, UBC tied for 31st and McMaster 42nd.

Next steps for future Canadian physicians

Choosing a medical school is a long process, and it is entirely normal not to have every piece in place from the start. Most applicants spend several years refining their application, and setbacks (a lower mark in one course, an MCAT retake, a waitlist) are part of almost every successful applicant's story rather than the exception.

If you'd like support preparing for the MCAT or strengthening your science coursework before you apply, TutorLyft's pre-med tutors across Canada can help you build a plan that fits where you are right now.