Comparing Medical Schools in Canada, the US, UK, and Caribbean: Which Option is Best for You?
If you want to become a practicing doctor in Canada, then studying abroad may be a good option for you.
Do you dream of becoming a doctor in Canada? You’ll need patience and commitment to make it happen! The road to becoming a doctor is lengthy and requires many years of education and training. Find out what it takes to become a doctor in Canada, from applying to medical schools in Canada and abroad to working as a resident:
Your medical degree options:
To help you make the best decision about whether you should go to medical school in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, or the Caribbean, check out how each country’s med school is different:
| Canada | United States | United Kingdom | Caribbean |
| Degree path | An undergraduate degree, and then an MD | An undergraduate degree, and then an MD | Direct entry into a medical degree | An undergraduate degree, and then an MD |
| Total years of schooling required | Seven to eight years — three to four years of an undergrad degree, plus another four years in med school | Seven to eight years — three to four years of an undergrad degree, plus another four years in med school | Five to six years | Seven to eight years — three to four years of an undergrad degree, plus another four years in med school |
| Prerequisites* | | - An undergraduate degree
- GPA
- MCAT score
- Reference letters
- Personal statement
- CASPer Test
- Criminal record check
- Interview
- Clinical experience
| | - An undergraduate degree
- GPA
- MCAT score
- Reference letters
- Personal statement
- Criminal record check
- Interview
- Clinical experience
|
| Additional requirements to become a doctor in Canada | | | - Pass the MCCQE Part I & II
- Pass the NAC exam
- Complete a residency program
| - Pass the MCCQE Part I & II
- Pass the NAC exam
- Complete a residency program
|
| How to apply to med school in each country | Submit your application directly to the school, except for Ontario schools where you must submit your applications through the OMSAS application portal | Submit your application to most medical schools through the AMCAS application portal | Submit your application through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service portal | Apply directly to the schools you’re interested in |
*Keep in mind that the prerequisites for each country are common requirements you may need, but each school is unique and will have their own list of requirements. So, make sure you do your research on schools you’re interested in before you apply!
Did you know that medical programs in the UK have different titles than in Canada? In Canada, our medical program is called a Doctor of Medicine (MD), whereas in the UK their medical programs can be an MBChB, MBBS, BMBS, etc. These degrees are equivalent to Canada’s MD, with the difference being you can enter these UK medical programs directly out of high school.
Your medical school options aren’t limited to just Canada, the US, UK, and Caribbean. There are more medical schools in countries all around the world. So, if you’re interested in exploring more of your possibilities, check out more of your medical school options!
How much does medical school cost?
Medical school is known to be expensive, but as a Canadian, where is the most affordable place to study? There are many factors that can affect how much you’ll need, like where you’ll live and how long it takes to complete the degree.
If you want a better idea of how much you can expect to pay over the next eight years, check out this breakdown of your potential costs:
|
Canada |
United States |
United Kingdom |
Caribbean |
| Tuition cost for one year (CAD)* |
$19,000 - $29,000 |
$67,500 - $133,600 |
$34,000 - $61,600 |
$22,008 - $82,099 |
| Cost of living in each country (CAD)** |
$27,600 - $54,000 |
$32,400 - $105,600 |
$25,200 - $82,800 |
$32,280 - $63,000 |
| Starting salary for a first-year resident in Ontario |
$62,227 |
$62,227 |
$62,227 |
$62,227 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Average cost of Canadian undergraduate education (four years) |
$27,336 |
$27,336 |
|
$27,336 |
| Average cost of living in Canada (four years) |
$163,200 |
$163,200 |
|
$163,200 |
| Average cost of medical degree |
$96,000 (for four years) |
$402,200 (for four years) |
$239,000 (for five years) |
$203,200 (for four years) |
| Average cost of living during medical degree |
$163,200 (for four years) |
$276,000 (for four years) |
$270,000 (for five years) |
$190,560 (for four years) |
| Salary earnings for shorter degrees (with the Canadian cost of living factored in) |
|
|
$64,271 earned after three years |
|
| Total cost for eight years |
$449,736 |
$868,736 |
$444,729 |
$584,296 |
*The tuition costs are based on a sample of the schools available. These numbers could change based on a school’s location.
**The cost of living range is calculated using 12 months of the estimated costs of living, plus the lowest cost of rent vs. the highest cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment.
One thing to keep in mind is that some med schools in the Caribbean have partnered with hospitals in the US and Canada for their students to complete their clinical placements. So, your cost of living may increase or decrease depending on where you live during your placements.
Since you can earn a medical degree in the UK right out of high school in only five or six years, you could begin your residency earlier than your peers who studied in Canada and elsewhere and start earning a salary to pay off your medical school much sooner.
Everything you need to know about residency programs
After you’ve graduated from medical school, the next step to becoming a doctor in Canada is to complete a residency program.
What is a residency?
A residency is like an internship, where you’ll receive advanced training in a medical specialty that you’d like to pursue. Residency specialties include:
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiac surgery
- Family medicine
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic surgery
- Pediatrics
For a broader list of residency specialities, check out these program descriptions. Depending on which specialty you choose to pursue, your residency program could last between three to seven years.
Where should you do your residency?
Whether you’ve competed your medical degree in Canada or abroad, the best next step is to complete your residency in Canada, as it ensures you’ll meet the requirements to practice as a doctor anywhere in Canada.
If you pursue a residency program outside of Canada, then you may need to complete additional years of training to meet Canadian requirements. For example, residency programs in the United States are often a year or two shorter than the same program in Canada, meaning that you wouldn’t be able to come back to directly practice your specialty. You’d need to have additional training to meet the number of years you’d have received in Canada. This can be through a fellowship training or chief year in the US, or to pursue a chief year in Canada.
How do you apply for a residency program?
To apply for residency programs in Canada, you’ll apply using the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). CaRMS is a portal that allows you to apply to all Canadian residencies in one place. If you’ve graduated from med school outside Canada, you’ll be considered an International Medical Graduate (IMG), which means before you can apply to CaRMS, you’ll need to have written and passed the NAC Exam and the MCCQE Part I.
CaRMS uses a mathematical algorithm to match an applicant’s preferred program with a residency program’s preferred applicants. However, it’s important to keep in mind that designated IMG spots for residencies are more restricted than if you were a Canadian med school graduate.
If you don’t match with any programs after the first round, you can participate in the second round of matching. If you don’t match with any programs after the second round, you can participate in the post-match process. If after these options you are still unsuccessful at finding a program match, you’ll need to repeat the matching process again. Unfortunately, you’re on your own for residency applications. Your school can’t help.
How much do you get paid as a resident?
As a resident, you’ll earn a yearly salary that you can use to help pay off your student loans. How much you’ll earn will depend on where you choose to do a medical residency.
In Canada, your salary and benefits are determined by the province you’ll complete your residency in, and each year your salary will increase. For example, a first-year resident in Ontario would make $62,227 and that could increase to $92,767 by your seventh year. Check out what you could earn as a resident in each province. In the United States, your salary will vary on individual institutions, but the average salary for a first-year resident ranges from $57,000 to $62,000.
Phew, that’s a lot of information to take in, but hopefully this helps you get a better idea of what route you want to take to become a doctor in Canada. Although this guide covers a lot of different factors, every school is unique. Make sure you reach out to the schools you’re interested in to learn more about their specific tuition fees, cost of living, and any prerequisites they require.
Good luck on your journey to becoming a doctor!
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