Studying medicine in Canada: All about the requirements and procedure

Studying medicine in Canada usually requires a completed Bachelor's degree, which students can of course also complete in Canada. Students from abroad pay higher tuition fees at many universities than their Canadian counterparts. The German Abitur is generally recognised as equivalent to the corresponding high school diploma and opens the doors to many Canadian universities.

Requirements for studying medicine in Canada

As a German student, you must fulfil certain requirements in order to obtain a place to study medicine in Canada. Studying medicine in Canada requires not only a college degree or a high school diploma, but also a Bachelor's degree. Of course, you can also obtain this in Canada via the so-called undergraduate studies, which correspond to the German Bachelor's degree programmes. Ultimately, the Bachelor's degree for medical studies is somewhat comparable to the German pre-clinical degree, even if the structure of the degree programme in Canada differs significantly.

Good language skills are mandatory

Language skills are essential for studying in Canada. Without it, lectures and seminars would be difficult to understand. Depending on the province, English or French is taught in Canada.

English language skills are usually proven to universities via standardised tests such as TOEFL or IELTS. In contrast, there is no standardised regulation for French. Individual universities may organise their own tests here.

The Canadian higher education system

The higher education system in Canada comprises universities and colleges and is divided into undergraduate studies (Bachelor) and graduate studies (Master, Ph.D.). The length of study varies depending on the programme. As the provinces and universities have a great deal of freedom in the structure of the degree programme, both the division of the semester subjects and the tuition fees can vary greatly from university to university.

Undergraduate Programmes (Bachelor)

The division into Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes has a much longer tradition in Canada than in Germany. An undergraduate degree programme usually takes three to four years. The tuition fees for these degree programmes are generally higher than for graduate studies. However, as the corresponding degrees are required to study human medicine at Canadian universities, you will only be able to avoid the undergraduate level if you already have a corresponding Bachelor's degree from Germany and this is recognised for Canadian medical studies.

Graduate area (Master and Ph.D.)

A Master's programme, which can be added to the successfully completed undergraduate studies, usually takes one to two years. The doctoral degree (Ph.D.), on the other hand, usually takes several years. In the vast majority of cases in Canada, the Master's degree comes before the Ph.D., but it is also possible to skip this. However, this is usually reserved for students who are characterised by special achievements.

Tuition fees for graduate programmes are usually somewhat lower than for undergraduate programmes. Here too, however, students from Germany pay higher tuition fees than their Canadian counterparts.

There are different types of universities in Canada

Not all universities in Canada offer Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. programmes. Community colleges, for example, concentrate on practical training and shorter programmes. Here, a high school diploma and a completed apprenticeship are often sufficient to enrol in a college degree programme. However, medical studies are not offered at community colleges.

Universities with restriction to undergraduate programmes

At some universities, only the Bachelor's degree programme is possible. Here, a general higher education entrance qualification is sufficient to apply for one of the study places. However, it is not possible to study medicine at these universities. For this, you must transfer to another university after completing the undergraduate programme. Tuition fees are also an important issue at these universities and can be higher for German students than for students from Canada.

Universities at which higher degrees are possible

If you would like to study human medicine, law or another subject with a higher degree, you must choose a university that offers this programme. You may also be able to complete the semesters required for the graduate programme there. It may also be possible to skip the first year of undergraduate study with a German Abitur.

The medical degree programme in Canada is structured differently than in Germany

In Canada, the medical degree programme is structured differently to ours. It is divided into two main phases: the "undergraduate" and the "graduate" programme. The first part, also known as "pre-med", lasts around three to five years and is comparable to the pre-clinical programme established at German universities. This part of the programme ends with a Bachelor's degree.

In the first phase, you will study subjects such as biology, chemistry and genetics, providing you with an important scientific foundation for the subsequent semesters. This is followed by the graduate programme, which ends with the title "M.D." (Medical Doctor) and usually lasts four years.

Different requirements and the MCAT

The aforementioned admission requirements vary depending on the university, as there is no centralised allocation of study places in Canada. The University of Ottawa, for example, requires the completion of organic chemistry. However, this is not required at Queen's University in Kingston.

Everything you need to know about the specific requirements can usually be found on the websites of the respective universities. The "Medical College Admission Test" (MCAT) is often important for admission to the graduate programme. This test is comparable to the German TMS. It consists of physics, chemistry, biology and language comprehension and lasts over four hours.

The path to becoming a Medical Doctor (M.D.)

After successfully completing their Bachelor's degree, students can apply for the graduate programme. This programme lasts four years and is divided into a pre-clinical and a clinical section. Subjects such as anatomy, histology and physiology are taught in the pre-clinical section. The clinical section includes subjects such as internal medicine, Surgery and emergency medicine. The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) begins in the autumn of the final year of study. This is where students apply for residency positions. The entire process is demanding, but successful admission ensures that graduates have access to high-quality training.

Tuition fees in Canada

Tuition fees in Canada can vary greatly depending on the university and degree programme. Whether you study in Nova Scotia or British Columbia, for example, can make a significant financial difference. Undergraduate programmes are often cheaper than Master's programmes. International students have to pay higher fees than students from Canada.

Unfortunately, studying medicine is one of the most expensive degree programmes in Canada. You should therefore find out about the prices of the universities you are considering beforehand.

These are the tuition fees you can expect to pay

Depending on which university you study medicine at in Canada, there are significant differences between the university fees incurred. On average, however, international students should expect to pay around 20,000 to 25,000 CAD per academic year, which corresponds to around 13,500 to 17,000 euros.

Since the Canadian education system, including colleges and universities, is not standardised throughout the country, costs can vary greatly in both directions from the average given here, depending on the province and the specific university.

The cost of living in Canada is also high

It's not just studying that is expensive in Canada. Accommodation, food and leisure costs also put a strain on students' budgets. The cost of living is particularly high in cities with renowned universities such as Vancouver or Toronto. A Semester abroad or an entire degree programme in Canada therefore requires careful planning, taking into account not only the tuition fees, but also everything else needed for daily life. The choice of where you live can make a big difference in terms of costs.

Receiving BAföG for studying abroad in Canada

Before applying to study medicine in Canada or for a semester abroad, students should check whether they are eligible for BAföG. Due to the higher costs of studying abroad, you can often receive BAföG even if you would not be entitled to BAföG if you were studying in Germany.

A successful BAföG application can possibly bring you a little closer to your dream of studying in Canada, even if it alone will not usually be enough to finance your studies and living costs.

Study in Canada with a scholarship

A scholarship can be a good solution to finance part or all of your medical studies in Canada. One of the largest funding organisations in this area is the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). This is a joint organisation of German student bodies and universities that aims to promote international relations and support academics at home and abroad.

However, the DAAD is not the only provider of scholarships. It is therefore worth finding out more about the various options and the requirements for the scholarship in question. If you are successful with your application, a scholarship is a great way to finance your study programme.

Land, culture and people in Canada

Canada is a large and diverse country. Students from all over the world feel comfortable and welcome here. Canada's culture is a mixture of different influences, including British and French traditions. The impressive nature offers many opportunities for outdoor activities. Although a stay abroad in Canada is more expensive than in many other countries, it can broaden your horizons and help you later in your career. Career as a doctor be useful.

Canadian universities are known for their well-structured degree programmes with intensive communication between teachers and students. Studying in Canada is a great way to meet interesting people and experience unforgettable moments.

Summer Sessions: Intensive courses and more

Canadian universities offer students the opportunity to complete intensive courses in a short period of time. These can be language courses for students from abroad, for example. However, it is also possible to specialise in a particular subject and earn additional credits during the lecture-free period in the summer. This may allow you to make up for learning deficits that have arisen during the semester and clarify questions on complex contexts.

Alternatives to studying medicine in Canada

Canada is one of the most expensive countries for a semester abroad or an entire study abroad programme. In addition, the admission requirements are not particularly appealing to some students due to the Bachelor's degree required to study medicine. Those who do not want to face these high hurdles but would still like to study abroad should therefore be aware of the alternatives.

Semester abroad instead of a full medical degree programme

You don't necessarily have to spend all semesters of your degree programme in the same country. A semester abroad is a promising opportunity to gain experience without having to finance the high tuition fees and other extra costs over several years.

The prerequisite for this is, of course, that you have a place at another university. It is well known that this is not necessarily easy in human medicine. If you already have a place, you can spend a semester abroad via various exchange programmes. Find out more from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or directly from your university's student union.

Other subjects

In addition to the higher tuition fees, there are other hurdles for applicants from abroad. It is not necessarily easy to be accepted for a medical degree programme, as the requirements are different to those in Germany. For students who are primarily interested in gaining experience abroad, other degree programmes are therefore an alternative. For example, you could choose a subject related to the field of medicine and then apply the experience gained to a subsequent medical degree programme in Germany. Such a degree programme may also give you an advantage when applying to a German university.

European countries

There are several countries in Europe that offer attractive alternatives to Canada for studying medicine. Poland, CroatiaThe Czech Republic and other countries have very good universities and offer medical degree programmes in English. In Hungary, you even have the opportunity to study in German. If required, we can help you with your application to your chosen university and provide you with the necessary information on our website and in a personalised application process. Contact us ready.

Although tuition fees are also available in European countries, they are usually much lower than in Canada, especially for undergraduate studies. Another important issue is the cost of living, which is also significantly lower than the Canadian norm.

Visits to Germany are much easier

Another big advantage of a European university is that visiting family or friends in Germany is not too much of a hurdle. While you have to book a (not exactly cheap) intercontinental flight to travel from Canada to Germany, it is not a particularly big issue to spend the holidays or even a long weekend with your loved ones from many European countries.

Your degree is more easily recognised in Germany

There are considerable differences between the German and Canadian education systems and also between the individual universities. Although it is possible to have a degree obtained in Canada recognised in Germany, this is somewhat more complex compared to European universities.

However, studying at recognised universities in other European countries is comparable to studying in Germany. It is therefore usually just a formality for students to have their degree recognised after their state examination and to practise as a doctor in Germany.