Pursuing pre-medical studies in Canada is an increasingly popular choice among international students, with 23.8% of university enrollments in the 2017/2018 academic year being international. Canadian universities offer a variety of programs that effectively prepare students for medical school admission.
For example, McMaster University’s Bachelor of Health Sciences program reports that approximately 60% of its graduates gain entry into medical schools. However, admission to Canadian medical schools is highly competitive; in 2017, only 2,617 out of 13,690 applicants were accepted, resulting in an 81% rejection rate.
This article explores some of the best pre-med programs in Canada for international students, highlighting their features and admission requirements to assist prospective applicants in making informed decisions.
What Is Pre-med School?
Pre-med is an abbreviation for Pre-Medical school.
A pre-med school is an institution or program that basically prepares prospective undergraduate or graduate students for the medical field.
That is, it is an educational level that involves preparatory medical coursework for those who want to go into medical courses for their university education. It helps prepare students who want to enroll in a medical course in Canada or the US.
Pre-med courses usually start from the minors 101 courses and includes pre-med coursework like clinical, volunteer, research activities and the application process. Prospective students should lookout for the best med schools in Canada to earn that pro-life.
Why Canada?
Why Attend The Best Pre Med Universities In Canada?
Wondering why Canada?
For one thing, Canada also known as the ‘Great White North’ is next to Russia in land mass/area, making it, the world’s second largest country.
Canada is renowned for its vast landscape, rocky mountains, the Priairies, multiple lakes than any other country, and rich multicultural heritage.
It is also home to the best acting and aviation colleges, truly, Canada has a long history of academic excellence.
And currently, it is one most popular study abroad destination in the world due to the country’s high focus on the quality of its universities and its emphasis on attracting international students who can later immigrate.
- Friendly Environment
- Emphasis On STEM
- Shapes Into Best Medical Programs
- Scholarship Opportunities
- Bouyant Economy
- Accelerated Programs
#1. Friendly Environment
Canadians are very foreigners-friendly, they are welcoming to international students and they invest a lot into making sure students are safe, treated fairly, and enjoy their stay in the country.
#2. Emphasis On STEM
Pre-Medical programs in Canada place a strong emphasis on STEM subjects and clinical learning environments.
Likewise, these programs help equip students with required and invaluable knowledge and skills like critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, scientific knowledge and many more which are essential for a successful professional medical career and also needed to gain admission and succeed in a medical school.
#3. Shapes Into Best Medical Programs
Also, one unique factor about going to pre-med schools in Canada, is that it helps shapes you into the best medical programs and career opportunities with its flexible study environment that borders on carrying all students along through classes being split into smaller student groups, encouraging group assignments and debates all in ensuring everyone gets the attention they need.
#4. Scholarship Opportunities
Although, there are no tuition-free universities in Canada, but there are ample supply of Canadian scholarships for international students as Canadian scholarships ranks top in the 91+ scholarships for international students to study abroad.
#5. Bouyant Economy
So, while academics is at its peak in the country, you can also enjoy a high living standard as Canada is one of the strongest economies of the world.
#6. Accelerated Programs
And lastly, some of these programs are accelerated, depending on the school calendar.
Note: you may be admitted to start your program in Winter, Summer or Spring semesters.
Best Pre Med Schools In Canada For International Students
Earning a pre-med’s degree increases your chances of being accepted into medical school.
Below are the best pre-med schools and programs in Canada for international students:
- Bishop University
- College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan
- Dalhousie University
- King’s University
- Luther college University
- McGill University
- Memorial University
- Queen’s University at Kingston
- The School of medicine, Northern Ontario
- The University of Alberta
- The University of Laval
- The University of Toronto
- The University of Western Ontario
- The University of Winnipeg
- University of British Columbia
- University of Calgary
- University of Ottawa
- University of Montreal
- University of Regina
- University of Sherbrooke
#1. Bishop University
Bishop University offers the best pre- medical programs, preparing students to acquire and complete all necessary pre-requisites through the various disciplines like Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Liberal Arts, Psychology, etc, to enable them gain admittance into medical schools. It is recognized as one of the best pre-med schools in Canada.
Taken courses can be double-counted towards both the primary major and the PreMedicine major.
Tuition: $28,771
#2. College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan
Armed with the vision of leading in the improvement of the health and well-being of the people of Saskatchewan and the world at large, the College of Medicine of the University of Saskatchewan is an institution whose focus is on research and education and other social skills to produce skilled scientists and clinicians
It is ranked as one of the best pre-med schools in Canada.
Tuition: $18,945
#3. Dalhousie University
The faculty of medicine of Dalhousie University is more than a hundred and fifty years old.
It is regarded by many academics as one of the best and easiest pre-med school to get into in Canada.
It offers programs in medical health and researches and in addition, residency training.
They aim at providing excellent medical care, training opportunities and services to the society.
Tuition: $23,000
#4. King’s University
At King’s University, there is an opportunity to earn a pre med bachelor’s degree for future preparation of professional studies in a faith-based environment.
Tuition: $25,000
#5. Luther college University
This is one of the private pre-med colleges that offers the best undergraduate programs for medicine in Canada.
They provide programs to suit the professional medical field.
Note that Luther College is a federated college within the University of Regina.
Tuition/fees: $47,510
#6. McGill University
Talk about top rated schools in Canada, McGill University leads the list. History has it that it’s the first medical faculty to be established in Canada and it operates three schools: the School of Nursing, the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and the School of Physical and Occupational.
The Faculty of Medicine at the McGill University is one of the best pre-med schools in Canada.
Tuition: $19,720
#7. Memorial University
The faculty of medicine at Memorial University have been investing heavily on leading-edge researches in medicine, intentionally creating knowledge, training and preparing prospective doctors for medical practice. Additionally, the university provides students a variety of scholarships opportunities to help fund their education.
Tuition: $13,260
#8. Queen’s University at Kingston
Over a hundred and fifty years old, studying medicine at Queen’s University is epic.They not only offer different branches in medical sciences for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, they also aim at advancing the preparation of exceptional physicians and top professionals in the healthcare sector.
In addition, the school offers an opportunity for students who attended any of the best pre-med Schools in Canada to be enrolled in the medical field and also there are opportunities for pre med programs to earn a bachelor’s degree in that stead.
Tuition: $27,483
#9. The School of medicine, Northern Ontario
The school of medicine at Northern Ontario University offers the best pre-med program in Ontario. Though a francophone college, it focuses on tackling and improving health problems and the quality of medical care of society through training medical professionals and preparing students for application into medical schools. It’s one of the best undergrad programs for med school in Canada.
Tuition: $24,173
#10. The University of Alberta
Renowned for its best acting school and being research-oriented, if your course of study in medicine is research-intensive, then the University of Alberta is a good place to go for pre-med bachelor’s degree.
The University of Alberta is a public research Institution with good scholarship opportunities.
They offer standard education and healthcare services in addition to research opportunities and pre-med programs. Their students tend to acquire the skills necessary to develop and build their professional skills in the medical field.
Tuition: $12,887
#11. The University of Laval/ Université Laval
This is one of the best pre-med schools in Canada, it has outstanding programs in pathology, surgery, physiology, and community health.
Note that this is not one of the easiest medical schools to get into in Canada. Therefore, you have to do your part, and study hard if you want to enroll in the best undergraduate programs for medicine in Canada at Laval.
Tuition:$12,550
#12. The University of Toronto
This is one of the Canadian medical schools. The faculty of medicine at the University of Toronto offers the best medical programs in Canada that aim at resolving medical problems, and developing the knowledge of the students in health systems, public health, biosciences, and local healthcare needs.
With students from different nations and socioeconomic backgrounds, the faculty of medicine at the University of Toronto aims at resolving medical problems globally.
Tuition:$24,835
#13. The University of Western Ontario
Renowned for not just medicine alone but also ranked as a top engineering university in Canada, the University of Western Ontario has a solid foundation in the medical field, and its pre-med programs are strong in anatomy, obstetrics, microbiology, physiology, and neurology.
Tuition:$25,456
#14. The University of Winnipeg
One of the top pre-med schools in Canada, the University of Winnipeg offers one of the best pre-med programs in Canada and is considered one of the very best in Canada. It is a school for students with passion and determination to become medical doctors.
However, all credit hours (first three years) for this best undergrad med school in Canada are 90.
Tuition: $19,020
#15. University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is not only one of the top international public research universities globally but is also one of the best medical colleges in Canada made up of three schools, nineteen departments, and twenty-three research centers and institutes, with a variety of medical programs, the students of the pre med programs at the school are trained in clinical and community health practice.
Tuition: $21,006
#16. University of Calgary, the Cumming School of Medicine
- The University of Calgary is a public university with intensive research programs.
It not only tops the chart in the list of best pre-med Schools in Canada but is also known as one of the top medical schools with a focus on research in Canada and one that welcomes students who have completed a pre-med program in any of the colleges in Canada.
Hence, they major in areas such as; chronic diseases, cardiovascular sciences, and brain and mental health.
Tuition: $16,063
Visit School
#17. University of Ottawa
As an inclusive institution and one of the best pre-med schools in Ontario, Canada, the University of Ottawa offers two streams of pre med bachelor’s degree programs; anglophone and francophone.
It is the only medical school in North America that offers the MD program in both official languages, French and English.
Its broad and comprehensive pre-professional programs prepare students for not just medical school but also dental school and a full range of other demanding programs within the health professions, and for graduate degrees too.
Tuition: $28,500
#18. University of Montreal/ Université de Montréal
This is one of the best schools for pre-med programs in Canada. It offers students the foundation and professional courses they need to train for the posts of general and specialist practitioners, professionals, and researchers in basic sciences, clinical sciences, occupational therapists, audiologists, speech therapy, nutritionists, and physiotherapists.
In addition to medical-related training, students get to learn guiding values and principles through social commitment, innovation, respect, thoroughness, patient partnership, and responsibility.
Tuition:$11,193
#19. University of Regina
The University of Regina offers one of the best pre-med programs in Canada.
Here, students are prepared for admission to a specialized program and get to choose from the list of best undergraduate programs in medicine, if successfully completed, they can then proceed to apply at the University of Saskatchewan for MD Degree.
It is also one of the easiest med schools to get into in Canada.
Tuition: $21,784.90
#20. University of Sherbrooke/ Université de Sherbrooke
Basically, Sherbrooke comes top for pediatrics and psychiatry in the ranking of top pre-med schools in Canada. So, it is highly recommended for psychiatry and pediatrics in the list of best pre-med schools in Canada.
Tuition:$12,285
Pre Med Requirements In Canada
The basic Pre-med requirements in Canada are as follows:
- A Math requirement (An advanced college Calculus/Statistics or both)
- One year of English.
- One year of Biology with Lab.
- One year of Physics with Lab.
- One year of General Chemistry with Lab.
- One year of Organic Chemistry with Lab and
- At least one semester of Biochemistry.
Meeting these requirements will give you a better chance of admission and will also help you choose the pre-med course that suits you best.
List Of Pre Med Courses
Below is a list of recommended pre-med courses:
- Chemistry (General/Organic) with Lab
- Biology (Genetics, Cell Biology, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry) with Lab
- Math (Calculus)
- Physics (Calculus-based, Trigonometry-based Principles of Physics)
- Psychology:
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Humanities or Social Sciences
- Philosophy
- Medical Technology
- Pharmacy
- Nursing
- Radiologic technology
- Physical therapy.
These courses come in sub-categories.
But some popular pre-med programs in Canada are:
- Bachelor of Science in Biology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology
- Bachelor of Science in General Science
The choice of a bachelor’s degree is conditional upon whether its curriculum is helpful for MCAT, as an MD aspirant.
Online Pre Med Programs Canada
Almost non pre med programs are run online in Canada but some colleges /universities run online undergraduate and graduate medical programs.
Below is the list:
- Health Sciences
- Nursing
- Radiation Therapy
- Kinesiology
- Chemistry
- Engineering undergraduate
- Health Science and Medical Science
- Psychology
- Biology
- Life Science
- Maths and Physics
- QuARMS Program
Advanced Care Paramedics - Ophthalmic and Optometric Assisting,
- Dental Technology, etc.
These programs could be seen in Queen’s, British Columbia, Nothern Alberta Institute, Southern Alberta Institute, University of Lethbridge, University of Toronto, etc.
Conclusion
Pre-med is the term primarily used by college students to show that they aspire to go to medical school and are taking the classes they need to get there.
Pre-medical programs in Canada equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in medical school. These programs place a strong emphasis on STEM subjects, as well as clinical learning environments. Students also gain critical thinking, scientific knowledge, and problem-solving abilities that are required of medical professionals.
Although, there are not many schools in Canada that specialize in pre-med programs. However, there are many other institutions of higher learning that offer degrees that qualify one to apply for medical schools.
FAQs On Pre-med Schools In Canada
Human Biology, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Philosophy.
The faculty of medicine at U of T runs a pre med program in which its foundation aims at developing the knowledge of prospective students in health systems, biosciences, public health, and local healthcare needs.
The cost of medical school in Canada has significantly increased. Public universities charge an average of $37,000+ for one year, and private universities charge over $60,000. Non-residents pay at least $60,000 per year, regardless of the university type.
Biological sciences.
Physical sciences
Social sciences
Humanities
Specialized health sciences
Math and statistics and so on
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