Medicine is one of the noble professions in the world. It is a profession that aims at rendering quality healthcare services to the populace. Medical practitioners are highly respected individuals in the society and their salary is quite attractive too. If you have a passion for saving lives and helping the sick to be hale and healthy, Medicine is one of the valuable degrees you should be looking at.
However, to be a good medical doctor, it is very important to attend a school that has an excellent academics and research facilities. Canada is one of the countries that you can find some of the best medical schools in the world.
Therefore, in this article, we will be discussing the best medical schools in Canada using the Times Higher Education Rankings and Maclean’s rankings for Canada’s best Medical Doctoral universities 2021. If you want to study medicine in Canada, this article is perfect for you. Below is the top 20 medical schools in Canada.
1. McGill University
McGill’s medical school in Canada is considered one of the best in North America. Besides that, the McGill Life Sciences Complex is renowned as an interdisciplinary biomedical research hub that boasts of the latest imaging technologies.
Interesting, the schoolis blessed with varieties of hospitals and institutes within the Montreal area with the likes of Montreal Chest Institute, Jewish General Hospital,St Mary’s Hospital Center, Montreal Institute of Neurology,Royal Victoria Hospital,Douglas Hospital,and Montreal Children’s Hospital, making the list.
Without batting an eyelid, these features make McGill university the best in Canada for medical education.
2. University of Toronto
University of Toronto is a research-focused institution and is regarded as one of the best universities in the world. It is located in the beautiful city of Toronto. Interestingly, the school has one of the best medical schools in North America and the academics at the faculty are globally renowned.
The institution is also one of the oldest in the country that was founded in 1843, which is 177 years ago! Since then, this institution has been at the forefront when it comes to health research and innovation. Just to illustrate, it was there that the use of insulin was discovered and that studies on stem cells were developed for the first time.
The faculty is divided into more than 25 departments and institutes, which are specialized in areas such as Anesthesia, Surgery and Pediatrics, for example. In addition, there are currently 18 research centers that are linked to the faculty.
3. University of British Columbia
Always among the top 40 universities in the world, the University of British Columbia is located in Vancouver, on the Canadian West Coast. It also has a campus in Kelowna.
Even though it is public, all of its courses are paid. It has more than 60 thousand students in undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Unique in the province of British Columbia, the UBC School of Medicine has the second largest medical degree program in Canada and the fifth largest on the US-Canada axis.
Despite all the prestige (and size), it is a new faculty in relation to the first two placed: it was founded in 1950, “only” 70 years ago. In all, the university’s Faculty of Medicine receives more than 2800 students and has about 6700 employees.
4. McMaster University
McMaster takes a problem-solving approach in medicine education where medical students meet patients early in their education, just like in a doctor’s office. In addition, the academic year lasts 11 months with 1 month off. Like UBC, McMaster University has three campuses across the region: Hamilton, Niagara and Waterloo.
To encourage its medical students to participate in research, McMaster offers several avenues:
- MAC-RES Award (Research Achievement Fellowship)
- Research courses, clinics and funding
- Research Fair.
This is a school for the future, where every good doctor will be kept up to date with the latest advances in his field.
5. Queen’s University
Founded in 1854, the Queen’s School of Medicine has grown to become one the best medical schools in Canada. In fact, it is one of the schools or departments that make Queen’s University a highly reputable institution, globally.
Queen’s School of Medicine aims at preparing physicians and global leaders in the healthcare sector by embracing a spirit of innovation and inquiry in education and research. The schools runs both undergraduate and postgraduate programs and it boasts of promoting research partnerships between students and their lecturers. With this, the students tend to have hands-on practical experiences and work on real-life projects, even while in school.
It is worth noting that the medical school has produced thousands of doctors who are doing amazingly well in different hospitals, NGOs, academic institutions, among others globally.
6. University of Alberta
This institution is clearly ahead of its two closest competitors – the University of Calgary and the University of Ottawa – due to much higher rankings in both the QS Top Schools survey and the Times Higher Education World survey. Medical research is carried out here with the help of awards, grants, scholarships. The University prioritizes its presence at the international level in the generation, application and dissemination of medical knowledge. It is ranked 75th among medical schools worldwide.
7. Dalhousie University
The School of Medicine at Dalhousie University has been in existence since 1868 and is renowned as one of Canada’s finest and oldest medical schools.
Presently, the medical faculty conducts lectures up to Masters Degree on two grounds: the Carlton Campus (Halifax, NC) Regional Hospital Saint John and the Sir Charles Tupper Medical Corps. Presently, the faculty offers as much as 53 different residency proposals at pedagogy hospitals located in strategic places within the country.
8. University of Calgary
Located on the Foothills Campus of the University of Calgary in the Health Sciences Centre is the Cumming School of Medicine. Since its inception in 1967, the faculty has continued to produce world class medical doctors who are making great impacts in the medical field, globally.
Interestingly, the Cumming School of Medicine has strong partnership with hospitals in Alberta Health Services such as Rockyview General Hospital, Foothills Medical Centre, Chinook Regional Hospital and Alberta Children’s Hospital.
One of the things that make this school different from most other Canadian medical schools is that its medical training is just three years. The other school that runs a 3-year medical school program is McMaster University Medical School.
Perhaps, you might be thinking that this policy will have negative effect on the quality of training at Cumming School of medicine. Well, I am happy to tell you that it does not affect the school’s standard. This is because the school makes sure that the students start going to hospitals and clinics from their first year in the university. Instead of wasting their time on theories, they teach them the practical from the first year.
In addition, the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Health Sciences degree and a Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies degree.
9. University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine is the only medical school in Canada and North America at large that offers Doctor of Medicine (MD) program in two official languages – English and French. Amazingly, students select their preferred language of instruction during the application stage.
Admission to the UOttawa Medical School is highly competitive. More than a thousand students apply to this school every year. However, only 166 students, on average, do gain admission to this prestigious school. Around 118 of the selected applicants always opt for the English-taught stream while others prefer the francophone stream.
In 2020 application cycle, 4,294 students applied for admission to this school and only 2,458 met the admission requirements. Only 582 were interviewed and approximately 170 students gained admission into the school. University of Ottawa is tied at no.8 on the list with University of Calgary and University of Western Ontario.
10. University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario Medical School, widely known as the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, has a long tradition of excellence, beginning with the foundation of the medical school in 1881 and continuing with the formation of the dental school in 1964.
The school has tens of dedicated teachers whose groundbreaking discoveries, coupled with the school’s commitment to social responsibility and strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders have helped to gain a global reputation.
The school’s visions are:
- Creating knowledge in healthy development and aging across the life span from pre-conception to end-of-life, examining the underlying mechanisms of development and aging and how it is influenced by genetics and environment.
- Translating knowledge across the research domains of basic, clinical, health services, policy, and population health and in partnership with the communities of Southwestern Ontario, to benefit global health.
- Embedding the science of healthy and successful development and aging into the education curriculum.
11. Laval University
The Laval University Medical School is a French-language institution located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. As a French-speaking institution, Laval Medical School primarily focuses on the educational and medical needs of the province.
Founded in 1848, The Laval Medical School is one of Canada’s oldest medical institutions. The Université Laval Medical School prides itself on training the residents of Quebec to become fantastic practitioners.
The four to five year MD program admits 223 students yearly. Students may pick the duration of their first two years of pre-clinical study depending on their choice of specialization. The majority of students admitted are Quebec residents, and only a small pool of applicants are accepted from other provinces or countries.
Laval Medical School enjoys affiliation with clinical training networks across eastern and northern Quebec. Students have the opportunity to hone their practice in a variety of settings including, residential, urban, and rural areas.
If you are a French-speaking applicant or have studied in Quebec before, the University of Laval Medical School could be an ideal choice for you. Laval Medical School’s strong emphasis on serving the population of Quebec guarantees that you’ll have a spot in the province’s medical community upon graduating.
12. Montréal University
Montreal University is the second largest university in Canada and is considered to be the best French-speaking institution of this type in the world.
It is one of the best health research centers in the country – perfect for anyone looking to study medicine in Canada. Tuition fee at the University of Montreal is just over 20 thousand Canadian dollars.
Since the University of Montreal has always been primarily a French-speaking institution, the medical school has been the source of many health professionals in Quebec. It has provided about a third of Quebec doctors and a significant number of the province’s health workers. The university has close ties with the provincial government in the area of public health.
In other words, Quebec’s health care system relies heavily on the University of Montreal School of Medicine. Due to its high rating in the Times Higher poll, it is ranked 62 in the world and 5thin Canada among medical universities. It is also tied with Laval University at no. 11 in the Maclean’s ranking for best Doctoral Universities in Canada 2021.
13. Sherbrooke University
Sherbrooke University offers competitive advantages so that research students find with them an environment of incomparable accomplishment: the most generous scholarship program in Quebec, a personalized health coaching style, and a mentoring committee for each medical student.
The submission of a dissertation, a thesis or the publication of a scientific article represent the culmination of research efforts carried out within universities. There are hundreds of these projects in medical department of the University and, although they are the realization of potentials, ideas and talents that the economy and society badly need, too few are known and seen outside of the walls of the school’s establishments.
14. University of Manitoba
At the University of Manitoba, the school believes that valuing the work of her students is essential. To implement this belief, the school has a forum that connects students with established researchers to invent and find new angles of approach to solving medical problems. These people generate knowledge, they deserve to see their creations bear fruit, and for that, as a university, the University of Manitoba understands that they have a role to play.
At the University of Manitoba, you will be immersed in a dynamic and intensive social and educational environment, which will allow you to acquire a higher education while improving your command of the French language. You will not only come out with your diploma in hand, but also with a variety of skills and competencies in demand in the job market, including bilingualism.
Today, to receive a quality medical education, one must have access to the best possible equipment and benefit from unparalleled health support. University of Manitoba has it all: state-of-the-art science labs, hospitals, a well-stocked equipment store, a top-notch fitness and sports center, and even more.
15. University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is recognized for its six core research areas –Aboriginal engagement and scholarship, sustainable agriculture and food production, energy and mineral resources, synchrotron science, unified health and water security.
However, the University of Saskatchewan Medical School is one of the faculties that raise the flag of the university so high among their counterparts globally. The school has tens of globally renowned researchers and professors in the medical field. In 2003, the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) facility developed DNA-enhanced immunization vaccines for both humans and animals.
Amazingly, the school also works hand-in-hand with the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the university and this has led to groundbreaking achievements in the field of medicine. Their partnerships has led to the improvements of some biomaterials and developments of some medical devices. The University of Saskatchewan is tied at no. 14 with the University of Manitoba in the Maclean’s Rankings.
16. University of Waterloo
In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada’s technology hub, has become a leading comprehensive university with more than 36,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs.
Consistently ranked Canada’s most innovative university, Waterloo is home to advanced research and teaching in science and engineering, mathematics and computer science, health, environment, arts and social sciences. From quantum computing and nanotechnology to clinical psychology and health sciences research, Waterloo brings ideas and brilliant minds together, inspiring innovations with real impact today and in the future.
As home to the world’s largest post-secondary co-operative education program, Waterloo embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research, and commercialization. With campuses and education centres on four continents, and academic partnerships spanning the globe, Waterloo is shaping the future of the planet.
17. York University
Founded in 1959, York University is a young university. The school focuses on providing excellent academic teaching and researches in the field of health sciences.
York University also promotes itself as “Canada’s leading health institution in interdisciplinary research and teaching.” Third largest university in Canada, after the University of Toronto and the network of Universities of Quebec, it has 50,000 students and 7,000 professors, researchers and employees. The university has 11 faculties and 22 research centers. Its faculty of environmental sciences is renowned for its interdisciplinary teaching, as its faculty of science is recognized on the scene to breed top, classy scientists.
18. University of Guelph
The .University of Guelph puts everything in place so that fundamental medical research, as much as applied research, is carried out thanks to an exceptional, dynamic, flexible, transversal and translational ecosystem.
The next generation of medical practitioners are thus not only equipped to work in a university environment, but it also manages to make its mark in business, industrial or government contexts.
Some examples of accessible activities include interdisciplinary research seminars, shared research path, creation of multidisciplinary teams, and annual retreat on unifying institutional themes.
19. University of Victoria
The Division of Medical Sciences at the University of Victoria initiates highest level personnel, executes an effective multidisciplinary neuroscience graduate program, and acquires critical outer exploration financing. As a team with other UVic offices and examination focuses, the school’s research workforce adds to advancements in medical sciences, tending to a portion of society’s most squeezing medical care needs, like the avoidance and therapy of malignant growth, neurological issues and sicknesses, and hereditary problems.
The neuroscience graduate program, facilitated by the Division of Medical Sciences, was set up to give research students a complex, bleeding-edge climate that motivates imaginative disclosure with elite neuroscience scientists in very much financed and exceptional exploration labs. The school’s program provides prospective students with the opportunity to earn degrees in research, medicine, criminology, or social administrations.
20. Simon Fraser University
SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences offers some of Canada’s most comprehensive and integrated programs and has a strong reputation for producing world-class innovative research.
The institution endeavor to improve the health of people and populaces, collaborating with nearby, public and worldwide networks to additional its already bubbling objectives: social equity and health value for all.
Conclusion
In addition to aptitude, medical students also need to have a quality educational background, and this is not lacking in the medical schools in Canada. The top 20 in the country are listed among the best ranked medical schools in the world, according to the Maclean’s and Times Higher Rankings. Canadian educational institutions address several research areas in medicine and have a special concern for the health of the country’s indigenous population. This is one of the several factors that contributes to the free health care provided for Canadians by the government of Canada.
The experience of studying medicine at a Canadian university will have an outstanding impact in you professionally. Live this experience! Your future is in your hands.