Top Medical Schools in Canada 2027: Rankings, GPA & MCAT

The top medical schools in Canada for 2027 include the University of Toronto, McGill University, the University of British Columbia, McMaster University and the University of Alberta.

Those are the strongest names overall. Your best option, however, may be different.

Canadian medical-school admissions depend heavily on GPA, MCAT requirements, province of residence, citizenship, language and applicant category. A university can rank exceptionally well and still be an unrealistic application for your profile.

This ranking therefore starts with academic and clinical strength, then considers the factors that affect whether an applicant can realistically attend.

Top 10 Medical Schools in Canada for 2027

Rank	Medical School	Province	MD Length	MCAT	2027 Admission Signal	Best For
1	University of Toronto	Ontario	4 years	Yes	289 target seats	Research, specialist medicine, teaching hospitals
2	McGill University	Quebec	4 years	No	Limited international route	Research, Montreal, eligible bilingual applicants
3	University of British Columbia	British Columbia	4 years	Yes	Minimum 496 MCAT	Distributed clinical training, BC applicants
4	McMaster University	Ontario	3 years	Yes	217 target seats	Problem-based learning, accelerated MD
5	University of Alberta	Alberta	4 years	Yes	192 positions, strong Alberta preference	Research, Alberta applicants
6	University of Ottawa	Ontario	4 years	No	122 English-stream target seats	Bilingual medicine, no-MCAT route
7	University of Calgary	Alberta	3 years	Yes	Strong Alberta preference	Accelerated medical training
8	Université de Montréal	Quebec	4 years*	Usually no	French-language pathway	Quebec and French-speaking applicants
9	Queen's University	Ontario	4 years	Yes	145 target seats	Smaller medical-school environment
10	Western University	Ontario	4 years	Yes	187 target seats	Clinical training, strong academic applicants

*Programme structure can vary according to the applicant's previous academic preparation.

Ontario's current 2027 medical-school requirements confirm 289 target seats at Toronto, 217 at McMaster, 122 for Ottawa's English stream, 145 at Queen's, 94 at TMU and 187 at Western. Ottawa, NOSM and TMU do not require the MCAT for the current cycle.

This is an applicant-focused editorial ranking, not an official ranking from AFMC or CACMS.

It also differs from a pure research ranking. Times Higher Education, for example, ranks universities for medicine using measures such as teaching, research environment, research quality, industry and international outlook. Its current Canadian top five are Toronto, McGill, UBC, McMaster and Alberta.

If you are still deciding whether Canada itself suits your plans, first understand what studying in Canada involves before narrowing your choices to individual schools.

What Is New for Canadian Medical Schools in 2027?

The Canadian medical-school landscape has changed enough that an older Top 10 list can now miss important options.

The AFMC 2027 admissions guide includes MCAT requirements, available seats, application dates, fees and other admission information gathered from Canada's 19 faculties of medicine.

TMU Has 94 Target Seats

Toronto Metropolitan University has 94 target seats for 2027, requires a minimum 3.5 OMSAS GPA, and does not require the MCAT.

International applicants are not eligible under its current MD admissions rules.

The current TMU admission requirements provide the full criteria.

SFU Welcomes Its First Medical Cohort

Simon Fraser University plans to welcome its first class of 64 medical students in Fall 2027.

The SFU medical admissions information confirms the first cohort size and current admission pathway.

The CACMS programme list should also be checked when comparing newer programmes because accreditation stages differ.

New medical schools matter, but a new programme does not yet have the graduate outcomes or track record of Toronto, McGill, UBC or McMaster.

How We Ranked the Best Medical Schools in Canada

There is no single official Canadian Top 10, so this ranking uses six applicant-relevant factors:

• 25% academic and medical research strength
• 20% clinical network and training opportunities
• 20% applicant fit and eligibility
• 15% curriculum and programme design
• 10% seats and regional accessibility
• 10% tuition and overall value

The mildly surprising part is that a lower-ranked university may be the smarter application.

The University of Alberta, for example, lists 192 MD positions and reserves 85% for Alberta residents. For an Alberta resident, that can matter more than a small difference in national ranking. Its current MD requirements explain the residency allocation.

If you are comparing countries rather than Canadian schools, looking at different destinations for studying medicine gives you a better starting point.

1. University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Toronto is our best medical school in Canada overall because of its research strength, clinical network and access to major specialist hospitals.

The 2027 programme has 289 target seats and requires the MCAT. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Toronto's size creates unusual depth in academic medicine, surgery, internal medicine and physician-scientist training. The trade-off is that students need to be proactive when seeking mentors and research opportunities.

For 2026/27, first-year St George tuition is C$23,550 for Ontario domestic students and C$28,880 for non-Ontario domestic students, before the full set of listed fees.

Check the current Toronto MD fees before budgeting.

Best for: strong Canadian applicants seeking research, specialist hospitals and academic medicine.

2. McGill University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

McGill combines a strong international reputation with Montreal's clinical and research environment.

One important correction to older guides: McGill no longer requires or considers the MCAT for undergraduate medicine applicants. The university confirms this in its current MCAT policy.

McGill also remains one of the few major Canadian schools with an international applicant category, although the number of places is extremely small.

French-language ability matters because medical training takes place in Quebec.

Best for: academically strong applicants whose residency category and language profile suit McGill.

3. University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine

UBC stands out for distributed medical education across British Columbia.

Students can train in different communities rather than experiencing medicine only through central Vancouver hospitals. That gives the programme particular strength in community medicine, rural health and province-wide clinical exposure.

For the current cycle leading to 2027 entry, UBC requires the MCAT and a minimum total score of 496 on a single sitting.

Applicants should check the official UBC admission requirements before applying.

Current 2026/27 domestic MD tuition is C$21,219.27.

Best for: BC applicants and students interested in distributed clinical training.

4. McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine

McMaster is one of Canada's most distinctive medical schools because of its problem-based curriculum and three-year MD.

For 2027, it has 217 places. The MCAT is required, CARS is particularly important, and Casper forms part of the admissions process.

The programme runs for roughly 11 months each year.

That shorter route sounds easier. It often feels more intense because students have less downtime than in a conventional four-year programme.

Check the current McMaster MD requirements for the 2027 cycle.

Best for: self-directed students who enjoy problem-solving and can handle an accelerated curriculum.

5. University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

The University of Alberta combines a strong research environment with extensive clinical training.

Its admission structure is equally important.

The programme has 192 positions, with 85% reserved for Alberta residents. That makes province of residence a major admissions factor.

An otherwise similar Alberta and non-Alberta applicant can therefore face very different practical odds.

Best for: Alberta residents and applicants seeking a strong combination of research and clinical medicine.

6. University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine

Ottawa is one of the strongest medical schools in Canada without an MCAT requirement.

For Fall 2027, the English stream has 122 target seats, and the MCAT is not required.

The programme also offers English and French pathways, giving Ottawa a distinctive position in bilingual medical education.

No MCAT does not mean easy admission. Applicants still need strong academic results and must satisfy the rest of the selection process.

See the current Ottawa MD requirements for details.

Best for: academically strong applicants interested in bilingual medicine or a no-MCAT route.

7. University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine

Calgary is the second major Canadian university offering an accelerated three-year MD.

The programme particularly rewards applicants whose profile fits Alberta's regional admissions structure.

A shorter MD can reduce the total time spent before residency, but it also compresses training. That balance makes Calgary attractive to organised students who already feel confident about pursuing medicine.

Best for: self-directed applicants, particularly Alberta residents, who want an accelerated route.

8. Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine

Université de Montréal deserves a place in a national Top 10 because of its research strength, scale and position within Quebec's medical-education system.

Times Higher Education places it joint seventh in Canada for Medicine in its 2026 subject ranking.

The important limitation for many international readers is language. Medical education is delivered in French, so this is not simply an alternative to an English-language Ontario programme.

For the right Quebec or francophone applicant, however, it is one of the best medical universities in Canada.

Best for: French-speaking applicants, particularly those connected to Quebec.

9. Queen's University School of Medicine

Queen's offers a smaller medical-school environment in Kingston.

For 2027, it has 145 target seats and requires both the MCAT and Casper.

Its current selection process includes published screening thresholds before applicants move through later stages.

That makes Queen's a useful option for students who prefer a close academic community but are comfortable with a highly competitive selection process.

Check the current Queen's admission requirements before applying.

Best for: applicants who meet the screening requirements and prefer a smaller medical-school community.

10. Western University Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Western completes the Top 10 with strong clinical training across London and Windsor.

For 2027, the programme has 187 target seats and requires the MCAT.

Western can suit students who want substantial hospital exposure without studying in a city as large as Toronto.

Academic and MCAT thresholds matter, so applicants should check the current Western admission requirements rather than relying on old cut-off figures.

Best for: applicants with strong academics and MCAT performance who value clinical training.

Complete List of Medical Schools in Canada

The phrase medical schools in Canada can produce confusing results because university medicine rankings and MD programme lists are not identical.

The current national medical-school landscape includes:

Province	Medical School
Alberta	University of Alberta
Alberta	University of Calgary
British Columbia	University of British Columbia
British Columbia	Simon Fraser University
Manitoba	University of Manitoba
Newfoundland and Labrador	Memorial University
Nova Scotia	Dalhousie University
Ontario	McMaster University
Ontario	NOSM University
Ontario	University of Ottawa
Ontario	Queen's University
Ontario	University of Toronto
Ontario	Toronto Metropolitan University
Ontario	Western University
Quebec	McGill University
Quebec	Université de Montréal
Quebec	Université Laval
Quebec	Université de Sherbrooke
Saskatchewan	University of Saskatchewan

AFMC gathers annual admission information from 19 faculties of medicine.

CACMS separately tracks accreditation status, which is particularly important for newer programmes.

For wider context, you can compare these schools with Canada's public university landscape. If you want an international rather than Canadian comparison, look at leading medical institutions around the world.

GPA, MCAT and Casper Requirements

There is no single GPA or MCAT score for Canadian medical schools.

School	Academic / Test Signal	MCAT	Casper
Toronto	Strong academic profile	Yes	No
McGill	Category-dependent	No	Yes
UBC	Competitive academic average	Minimum 496	No
McMaster	Competitive GPA	CARS-focused	Yes
Alberta	Residency-sensitive	Yes	No
Calgary	Residency-sensitive	Yes	Check current cycle
Ottawa	Strong GPA and prerequisites	No	Check current cycle
Université de Montréal	Quebec academic pathway	Usually no	Check current cycle
Queen's	Screening thresholds apply	Yes	Yes
Western	Competitive thresholds	Yes	No

The AFMC admissions guide is the best national starting point, while Ontario applicants should also use the current OMSAS information.

The better question is not, "Is a 3.8 GPA enough?"

Ask:

Which Canadian medical schools fit my GPA, MCAT profile, province and applicant category?

Medical Schools in Canada for International Students

International students can study medicine in Canada, but direct MD options are extremely limited.

Most Canadian programmes primarily admit Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

McGill is one notable exception. Its MDCM programme includes an international applicant category, although the number of available places is very small.

That distinction matters.

Being technically eligible to apply is not the same as having a large or realistic international seat pool.

Applicants from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nigeria and other countries should check citizenship requirements before comparing rankings or tuition.

If you are applying from overseas, understanding the wider Canadian route for international students can help separate ordinary university admission from MD admission.

It is also useful to understand how an MD differs from an MBBS when comparing Canada with countries that use a different medical-degree structure.

How Much Does Medical School Cost in Canada?

Medical-school tuition varies considerably by university and applicant category.

These current published figures provide a useful benchmark:

School	Current Fee Signal
Toronto, Ontario domestic	C$23,550 Year 1 tuition
Toronto, non-Ontario domestic	C$28,880 Year 1 tuition
UBC	C$21,219.27 domestic MD tuition
Queen's	C$23,983 Medicine tuition
McGill	Varies sharply by Quebec, non-Quebec and international status

Always check the university's current fee page before applying because future-cycle tuition can change.

Living expenses matter too. A school with lower tuition can still cost more overall if accommodation and daily expenses are substantially higher.

Students looking for financial support can explore funding options available for study in Canada, then confirm whether individual awards cover professional medical programmes.

What Are the Easiest Medical Schools to Get Into in Canada?

There is no universally easiest medical school in Canada.

Overall acceptance rates can hide provincial preferences.

Alberta, for example, reserves 85% of its 192 MD places for Alberta residents. A resident and a non-resident are therefore not competing in the same practical situation.

The better way to judge difficulty is by applicant fit.

A BC resident should examine UBC and SFU. An Alberta resident has strong reasons to consider Alberta and Calgary. A French-speaking Quebec applicant can consider routes that are not realistic for an English-only applicant.

Ontario applicants can compare several very different systems at Toronto, McMaster, Ottawa, Queen's, Western and TMU.

International applicants face the smallest direct-entry pool.

Eligibility first. Ranking second.

Which Medical School in Canada Is Best for You?

Choose Toronto if research scale, specialist medicine and academic hospitals matter most.

Consider McGill if its Quebec admissions system and language expectations suit your profile.

Look closely at UBC if you are a BC applicant or value distributed medical training.

McMaster and Calgary stand out if a three-year MD appeals to you.

Ottawa deserves attention if you want a no-MCAT route.

Université de Montréal is a major option for eligible French-speaking applicants.

Alberta becomes especially attractive for Alberta residents.

The best medical school is not simply the school with the highest rank. It is the strongest school that also gives your profile a realistic admissions pathway.

FAQs About the Top Medical Schools in Canada

What are the top medical schools in Canada?

The top medical schools in Canada for 2027 include the University of Toronto, McGill University, UBC, McMaster University and the University of Alberta. Ottawa, Calgary, Université de Montréal, Queen's and Western complete this applicant-focused Top 10.

What is the best medical school in Canada?

The University of Toronto ranks first overall in this guide because of its research strength, major teaching-hospital network and specialist opportunities. Toronto is also first in Canada's current Times Higher Education Medicine subject ranking.

What are the top five medical schools in Canada?

Our top five are the University of Toronto, McGill University, UBC, McMaster University and the University of Alberta. The same five institutions occupy the first five Canadian positions in the current THE Medicine ranking.

How many medical schools are there in Canada?

AFMC currently gathers annual admissions information from 19 faculties of medicine in Canada. Newer programmes can have different accreditation stages, so applicants should also check CACMS.

Which medical schools in Canada do not require the MCAT?

Current examples include McGill University, the University of Ottawa, NOSM University and Toronto Metropolitan University.

What MCAT score do you need for medical school in Canada?

There is no national score. UBC currently requires at least 496 total, Toronto uses section thresholds, McMaster focuses heavily on CARS, and several schools do not require the MCAT.

Can international students apply to medical schools in Canada?

Yes, but opportunities are extremely limited. Most MD programmes primarily accept Canadian citizens and permanent residents. McGill remains one of the better-known exceptions with a dedicated international applicant category.

How much does medical school cost in Canada?

Domestic tuition at several leading Canadian medical schools currently sits above C$20,000 per year. The final cost depends on the university, province, applicant category and living expenses.

Final Thoughts

The top medical schools in Canada are not automatically the right medical schools for every applicant.

Start with eligibility. Then compare academic requirements, MCAT and Casper rules, province of residence, programme structure and cost.

Only then should ranking separate the schools that remain.

That approach is especially useful for 2027 because TMU is now part of Ontario's medical-school landscape and SFU is preparing for its first class.

If you are unsure whether Canada fits your academic profile and budget, you can discuss your study options before paying for applications that may not suit your circumstances.