MBBS in Canada for Indian Students: What Is Possible

Can You Study MBBS in Canada?

• Canada does not offer an MBBS. Medicine is an MD (Doctor of Medicine) that you start after university study, so you cannot join straight after Class 12.

• Almost all seats at Canada's 19 faculties of medicine are reserved for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. For entry in 2027, the only places we can find for individual international applicants are a handful in Québec: McGill (1 seat), Université de Montréal (2 places), Université Laval (1 place) and Université de Sherbrooke (1 seat). Toronto, UBC, Alberta and Dalhousie do not take individual international applicants.

• To train as a doctor after the degree you need a residency, and entry to the CaRMS match requires Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, with limited exceptions. Read the section on practising in Canada and India before you plan around this route.

MBBS in Canada for Indian Students – Course Structure & Eligibility

Course Structure

• The Canadian medical degree is the MD (Doctor of Medicine), not an MBBS.

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• Duration: Usually 4 years, after university study. McMaster and Calgary run 3-year programmes.

• University study comes first. The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) says most provinces ask for at least two years of post-secondary study, and McGill asks international applicants for a bachelor's degree.

• Clinical training is part of the MD. Residency follows the degree and lasts 2 to 7 years, depending on the specialty.

Eligibility

• Prerequisites vary. McMaster accepts any field of study, while McGill requires general biology, general chemistry and general physics with labs, plus organic chemistry.

• Strong academic performance (minimum GPA requirements vary by university).

• The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is not required everywhere. McGill does not accept it, and Laval, Montréal, Sherbrooke, Ottawa, NOSM University and Toronto Metropolitan University do not require it.

• Language rules differ by university. McGill requires French at B2 level before admission, and Montréal, Laval and Sherbrooke teach in French.

• Letters of Recommendation (LORs) and Statement of Purpose (SOP) may be required.

MBBS in Canada for Indian Students Fees & Cost Breakdown

Few faculties take individual international applicants, so there are few fees to compare. These are the figures we could confirm for the places listed above:

University	Places for 2027 entry	Tuition
McGill University	1 seat	About CAD 74,678 in year 1, then about CAD 47,128 a year (estimate for Fall 2026 entry)
Université de Montréal	2 places	Listed at about CAD 51,605 a year
Université Laval	1 place	Listed at an average of about CAD 38,699 a year
Université de Sherbrooke	1 seat	Ask the university

With compulsory fees, health insurance and living costs, four years at McGill comes to roughly CAD 325,000 (about INR 2.2 crore at the 30 October 2026 exchange rate), before books, exams and travel. For living costs this uses the CAD 23,448 a year that Canada's immigration department asks study permit applicants outside Québec to show. Québec sets its own amount. The university study you complete before the MD is extra.

MBBS Admission in Canada for Indian Students – Step-by-Step Process

1. Choose the Right University – Check which faculties accept individual international applicants at all. Very few do.

2. Meet the Eligibility Criteria – Complete university study, each university's prerequisites and any required tests. If you may ever want to practise in India, qualify NEET-UG before you start.

3. Appear for MCAT if Required – Check each university's rule, because not all use the MCAT and McGill does not accept it.

4. Prepare Documents – SOP, LORs, academic transcripts, and English proficiency scores.

5. Apply Online – Submit applications via university portals.

6. Attend Interviews – Some universities conduct interviews for selection.

7. Receive Offer Letter – If selected, you will receive an acceptance letter.

8. Apply for a Student Visa – Secure a study permit. McGill says international students also need a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) and must be able to prove they have adequate funds for the entire programme.

9. Financial Planning – Arrange tuition fees and other expenses. Outside Québec, study permit applicants must show CAD 23,448 a year, on top of tuition and transport, for applications from 1 September 2026. A GIC is accepted but not required.

10. Travel to Canada & Begin Studies – Attend orientation and start classes.

Practising in Canada or in India

In Canada: Residency is the step that decides most plans. CaRMS requires Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, with limited exceptions, so a study permit alone does not make you eligible. In the first iteration of the 2026 R-1 match, 800 of 1,494 participating international medical graduates matched (about 54%), against 92.8% of current-year Canadian graduates.

In India: A Canadian MD does not by itself let you practise in India. Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India must qualify NEET-UG before they start a medical degree abroad, even though Canadian universities do not ask for it. The result is valid for 3 years. If you are admitted on or after 18 November 2021, the National Medical Commission's (NMC) FMGL Regulations 2021 also require a course of at least 54 months, a 12-month internship at the same foreign institution, English as the medium of instruction, the mandatory subjects, and a licence to practise in that country at par with its citizens. No part of the training may be done in India. You must then pass FMGE, the live screening test, and do a further 12-month supervised internship in India. NExT has not started.

We cannot confirm that a Canadian degree meets these conditions. A 4-year MD is 48 months and a 3-year MD is 36 months, both under the 54-month minimum, and residency comes after the degree. Montréal, Laval and Sherbrooke teach in French, and a degree taught in French does not meet the English condition. The NMC says it does not endorse any list of foreign medical institutions, so no Canadian university is "NMC approved". If practising in India is part of your plan, get the university's written answer and the NMC's position before you pay.

FAQs

Q1. Can Indian students directly pursue MBBS in Canada after 12th?

A: No. Canada has no MBBS, and you must complete university study before you can apply for an MD.

Q2. What is the duration of MBBS (MD) in Canada?

A: Usually 4 years, and McMaster and Calgary run 3-year programmes. University study comes before it, and a residency of 2 to 7 years comes after it.

Q3. Is NEET required to study MBBS in Canada?

A: Canadian universities do not ask for it, but Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India who may want to practise in India must qualify NEET-UG before they start a medical degree abroad. The result is valid for 3 years. Some Canadian schools require the MCAT, but not all, and McGill does not accept it.

Q4. Can Indian students practice medicine in Canada after MBBS?

A: Only with a residency place, and CaRMS requires Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, with limited exceptions. International medical graduates also need the MCCQE (Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination) and the NAC Examination.

Q5. What are the scholarship options for Indian students in Canada?

A: Do not plan around a scholarship. We could not find one that covers an international MD in Canada, so ask each university directly.