Top 20 Medical Schools in Canada: 2026 Rankings & Admissions Guide

Choosing among the top medical schools in Canada is one of the hardest decisions in higher education — not because Canada lacks excellent programs, but because seats are scarce and most faculties strongly favour in-province residents. Whether you are a Canadian undergraduate planning an MD, an international student exploring limited pathways, or a parent researching options, this guide ranks Canada’s medical schools using transparent criteria and verified data from the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC).

Important: AFMC lists faculties geographically with no official rank order. Our rankings below are editorial — based on research intensity, program reputation, innovation, and admissions data — not an official government or university league table.

How we ranked Canada’s top medical schools

We scored each MD faculty on five factors parents and applicants care about most:

Factor	Weight	What we measured
Research & university strength	30%	Parent university research output (Maclean’s Medical-Doctoral 2026 context)
Clinical & hospital network	25%	Affiliated teaching hospitals and specialty breadth
Program innovation	20%	PBL curriculum, 3-year MD options, bilingual training
Class size & access	15%	First-year MD seats (more seats = slightly more opportunity)
Applicant fit	10%	Language options, rural medicine focus, unique pathways

Top 20 medical schools in Canada — ranked list (2026)

The table below covers all 17 long-established Canadian MD faculties plus three newer or upcoming programs to complete a top-20 overview.

Rank	Medical school	University	Province	MD length	~Year 1 seats	Typical ON/BC tuition (CAD/yr)
1	Temerty Faculty of Medicine	University of Toronto	ON	4 years	~305	$23,090 (ON res.)
2	Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences	McGill University	QC	4–5 years	~250	$6,356 (QC res.)
3	Faculty of Medicine	UBC	BC	4 years	~328	$24,838 (BC res.)
4	Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine	McMaster University	ON	3 years	~217	$25,130 (ON res.)
5	Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry	University of Alberta	AB	4 years	~192	$16,141 (AB res.)
6	Faculty of Medicine	University of Ottawa	ON	4 years	~183	$25,487 (ON res.)
7	Cumming School of Medicine	University of Calgary	AB	3 years	~185	$25,244 (AB res.)
8	Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry	Western University	ON	4 years	~187	$25,703 (ON res.)
9	School of Medicine	Queen’s University	ON	4 years	~140	See registrar
10	Faculty of Medicine	Dalhousie University	NS	4 years	~169	$26,783
11	Max Rady College of Medicine	University of Manitoba	MB	4 years	~125	$13,800
12	Faculté de médecine (MD program)	Université de Montréal	QC	4–5 years	~200+	QC rates
13	Faculté de médecine	Université Laval	QC	4–5 years	~160	QC rates
14	Faculté de médecine et sciences de la santé	Université de Sherbrooke	QC	4 years	~140	QC rates
15	College of Medicine	University of Saskatchewan	SK	4 years	~108	$21,897
16	Faculty of Medicine	Memorial University	NL	4 years	~110	$14,250
17	NOSM University	NOSM University	ON	4 years	~88	$23,247
18	School of Medicine (new)	Toronto Metropolitan University	ON	4 years	~94	$26,586 (ON res.)
19	School of Medicine (opening)	Simon Fraser University	BC	TBC	TBC	TBC
20	School of Medicine (planned)	York University	ON	3-yr planned	~80 planned	TBC

Top medical schools in Canada — detailed profiles

1. University of Toronto — Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Why it ranks #1: Canada’s largest MD intake (~305 domestic seats), unmatched hospital network (Toronto academic health sciences), and the country’s highest medical research funding. Ideal for applicants targeting competitive specialties and academic medicine.

• Location: Toronto, Ontario (St. George + Mississauga campuses)
• Tuition (2026/27 guide): $23,090/year (Ontario resident); $27,510 out-of-province; international ~$97,350
• MCAT: Required; used competitively
• Best for: Research-heavy medicine, diverse clinical exposure, largest Canadian faculty

2. McGill University — Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Why it ranks #2: McGill’s parent university topped Maclean’s Medical-Doctoral rankings for 2026. The MD-CM program is globally recognized with strong Oxbridge/Ivy placement.

• Location: Montreal, Quebec
• Tuition: Quebec residents ~$6,356/year; Canadian non-Quebec ~$33,282; international higher
• MCAT: Not required for Quebec CEGEP pathways; required for most university-entry applicants
• Best for: Bilingual Montreal environment, international prestige, Med-P preparatory pathway

See our McGill University admissions guide for broader university context.

3. University of British Columbia — Faculty of Medicine

Why it ranks #3: Largest west-coast MD program (~328 seats), distributed campuses (Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, Kelowna), and top-tier Maclean’s research standing.

• Tuition: ~$24,838/year (BC resident); out-of-province similar; international seats very limited
• MCAT: Required
• Best for: BC residents, distributed/rural training, Pacific Northwest lifestyle

4. McMaster University — Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine

Why it ranks #4: Pioneer of problem-based learning (PBL) and Canada’s best-known 3-year MD program — graduates enter residency a year earlier.

• Location: Hamilton, Ontario
• Tuition: ~$25,130/year (Ontario resident)
• MCAT: Required — CARS section weighted heavily
• Seats: ~217
• Best for: Self-directed learners wanting accelerated training

Read more in our McMaster University guide.

5. University of Alberta — Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

Why it ranks #5: Strong research hospital system (Edmonton) with among the lowest tuition of major research medical schools (~$16,141/year for Alberta residents).

• Seats: ~192
• MCAT: Required
• Best for: Alberta residents, value-focused applicants, rural & Indigenous health pathways

6. University of Ottawa — Faculty of Medicine

Why it ranks #6: Canada’s largest bilingual (English/French) MD program — unique for francophone applicants outside Quebec.

• Tuition: $25,487 (Ontario); $29,504 out-of-province
• MCAT: Not required
• Seats: ~183

7. University of Calgary — Cumming School of Medicine

Why it ranks #7: 3-year MD like McMaster, Calgary’s growing health sector, and tied #5 on Maclean’s Medical-Doctoral 2026.

• Tuition: ~$25,244/year (Alberta resident)
• MCAT: Required — CARS focused
• Seats: ~185

8. Western University — Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Why it ranks #8: Strong clinical training in London, Ontario with competitive Southwestern Ontario hospital access.

• Tuition: ~$25,703 (Ontario resident)
• Seats: ~187
• Best for: Ontario applicants wanting mid-size city clinical training

9. Queen’s University — School of Medicine

Why it ranks #9: Smaller cohort (~140) with tight-knit community; Kingston’s university-town environment; strong student satisfaction scores on Maclean’s.

• MCAT: Used as cut-off threshold
• Best for: Applicants preferring smaller class sizes

10. Dalhousie University — Faculty of Medicine

Why it ranks #10: Atlantic Canada’s largest medical faculty; serves Maritime provinces with distributed campuses (Halifax, Saint John, Cape Breton).

• Tuition: ~$26,783/year
• Seats: ~169
• Best for: Atlantic Canada residents, maritime clinical training

11–17. Other established Canadian medical schools

Rank	School	Standout feature
11	University of Manitoba	Requires completed degree before MD; affordable tuition (~$13,800)
12	Université de Montréal	French-language MD; major Quebec intake
13	Université Laval	French MD in Quebec City; CEGEP entry pathway
14	Université de Sherbrooke	Regional distributed campuses; French program
15	University of Saskatchewan	Prairie medicine focus; ~108 seats
16	Memorial University (NL)	Lowest tuition among established schools (~$14,250); Atlantic access
17	NOSM University	Northern & rural Ontario focus; MCAT not required; ~88 seats

18–20. New and emerging medical schools in Canada

Canada’s medical school map is expanding to address physician shortages:

• #18 Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU): Opened 2025 in Brampton — ~94 seats, primary-care focused, OMSAS application
• #19 Simon Fraser University: Surrey, BC campus opening 2026 — new faculty expanding BC training capacity
• #20 York University: Planned Toronto opening ~2028 — proposed 3-year MD with community-based training

These programs are too new for long-term outcome data but matter for applicants planning 2026–2030 entry cycles.

Canadian medical school admissions — what you need to know

Who can apply?

Most Canadian MD programs require 2–4 years of undergraduate study or a completed bachelor’s degree. Quebec CEGEP graduates can enter some faculties after 2 years. Manitoba requires a prior degree.

MCAT requirements by medical school

MCAT policy	Medical schools
MCAT required	UofT, UBC, McMaster, Alberta, Calgary, Western, Queen’s, Dalhousie, Saskatchewan, Memorial, most others
MCAT not required	Ottawa, NOSM, Quebec French-language faculties (no French MCAT equivalent)
CARS-heavy weighting	McMaster, Calgary (Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills)

Provincial preference — critical for success

Most seats are reserved for residents of the province where the university is located. Ontario has 7+ MD faculties; BC, Alberta, and Quebec similarly protect in-province applicants. Out-of-province and international acceptance rates are far lower — often under 2% for international applicants where any seats exist.

Ontario medical school applications (OMSAS)

All seven Ontario medical schools (UofT, McMaster, Ottawa, Queen’s, Western, NOSM, TMU) use the centralized Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) through OUAC. Each school makes independent admission decisions after shared application components (autobiographical sketch, CASPer test where required, references).

Typical application components

• Undergraduate GPA (often 3.8+ competitive)
• MCAT scores (where required)
• CASPer situational judgement test (many schools)
• Autobiographical sketch / personal statements
• Confidential references or assessments
• Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) — pioneered at McMaster, now widely used

International students — realistic expectations

Most Canadian medical schools accept few or zero international MD applicants. UofT lists international tuition at ~$97,350/year. Many faculties accept only Canadian citizens or permanent residents. International students should verify each faculty’s current policy in the annual AFMC guide before applying.

MD program length and curriculum types

Program type	Schools	Duration
Standard 4-year MD	UofT, UBC, Ottawa, Western, Queen’s, Dalhousie, most others	4 years
Accelerated 3-year MD	McMaster, Calgary	3 years (year-round)
Extended 5-year (incl. preparatory year)	McGill, Université de Montréal (some pathways)	5 years

After the MD, graduates enter residency training through CaRMS (Canadian Resident Matching Service) and must pass the MCCQE Part 1 (Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination) for licensure.

How much does medical school cost in Canada?

Tier	Annual tuition (resident)	Examples
Budget-friendly	$13,800–$16,200	Manitoba, Alberta, Memorial
Mid-range	$21,000–$26,000	UBC, Dalhousie, Saskatchewan, NOSM, Ontario schools
Quebec resident advantage	~$6,000–$8,000	McGill (QC residents)
International (where available)	$70,000–$97,000+	UofT, Dalhousie (limited seats)

Average Canadian medical student debt at graduation has drawn media attention — budget for living costs, exam fees (MCAT, MCCQE), and relocation for clerkships.

Which Canadian medical school is right for you?

Your goal	Consider
Fastest MD completion	McMaster, Calgary (3-year)
Largest research network	University of Toronto
Lowest tuition (established school)	Memorial, Manitoba, Alberta
French-language training	Montréal, Laval, Sherbrooke, Ottawa (bilingual)
Rural & northern medicine	NOSM University
BC residency advantage	UBC
Primary care / community focus	TMU (new), NOSM

Frequently asked questions about medical schools in Canada

How many medical schools are there in Canada?

There are 17 long-established MD faculties, plus TMU (from 2025) and Simon Fraser (from 2026), with York University planned — 19–20 total depending on the intake year. AFMC represents all accredited faculties.

What are the top 3 medical schools in Canada?

By research output, class size, and university reputation, University of Toronto, McGill University, and UBC consistently lead. McMaster ranks top-tier for innovative 3-year PBL training.

Is it hard to get into medical school in Canada?

Yes — very. National acceptance rates are typically below 7.5%. Only ~2,900 first-year MD seats exist annually against thousands of strong applicants.

Do Canadian medical schools require the MCAT?

Most do. Exceptions include University of Ottawa, NOSM University, and Quebec French-language programs. Always check the current AFMC guide for your target school.

Can international students study medicine in Canada?

Options are very limited. Most faculties prioritize Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Where international seats exist (e.g. UofT), tuition exceeds $90,000/year.

How do I apply to Ontario medical schools?

Through OMSAS (Ontario Medical School Application Service) via OUAC — one application portal for all seven Ontario MD faculties, with separate institutional fees per school.

Which Canadian medical school is the cheapest?

Memorial University (~$14,250/year) and University of Manitoba (~$13,800/year) are among the lowest. Quebec residents at McGill pay significantly less (~$6,356/year) than out-of-province students.

What is the shortest MD program in Canada?

McMaster and University of Calgary offer 3-year MD programs without a summer break — graduates enter residency one year earlier than standard 4-year paths.

Last updated: June 2026. Tuition, seat counts, and admission policies sourced from the AFMC Admission Requirements guide (2026/27 cycle) and official faculty websites. Requirements change annually — verify with each school before applying.