Advice & Insight From Medicine Application Specialists
The following is an overview of key information for those looking to apply to UK medical schools from Canada. You should be aware that individual requirements will differ from university to university, and that this means you should be particularly careful when looking into required grades, due to the number of different high school diplomas available in Canada
Here are two examples of UK universities’ requirements of Canadian students. At Oxford, those applying to Medicine must have any of the following:
Alberta: General High School Diploma with five Grade 12 (Level 30) courses, with a final average of 85%.
British Columbia: Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma with five Grade 12 courses, each passed at 85%.
Manitoba: High School Graduation Diploma with five Grade 12 (Level 300) courses within four subject areas, each passed at 85%.
New Brunswick: High School Graduation Diploma with five grade 12 courses, each passed at 85%.
Newfoundland and Labrador: High School Graduation Diploma with five University Preparatory Grade 12 Courses, each passed at 85%.
Northwest Territories: General High School Diploma with five Grade 12 courses, each passed at 85%.
Nova Scotia: High School Completion Certificate with five Level 4 and 5 Courses, each passed at 85%.
Nunavut: Grade 12 Diploma, with five Grade 12 courses, with a final average of 85%.
Ontario: Secondary School Diploma with six Grade 12 courses, to include no more than two 4M courses, each passed at 85%.
Prince Edward Island: High School Graduation Diploma with five acceptable Grade 12 courses, each passed at 85%.
Québec: The Collège d’Enseignement Général et Professionnel Diplome d’Etudes Collegiales (CEGEP DEC) with a final average of 85%.
Saskatchewan: Completion Grade 12 Standing / Division IV Standing with five acceptable Grade 12 courses, each passed at 85%.
Yukon: Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma with five Grade 12 courses, each passed at grade A.
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At Manchester University, Medicine applicants must have:
Alberta High School Diploma
85% in the Alberta High School Diploma, with six grade 12 courses at a minimum grade 85% including Chemistry or Biology and a second science (from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology).
British Columbia Secondary School Diploma
85% in the British Columbia Secondary School Diploma, with six grade 12 courses at a minimum grade 85% including Chemistry or Biology and a second science (from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology).
Ontario Secondary School Diploma
85% in the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, with six grade 12 (either 4U or 4M) courses at a minimum grade 85% including Chemistry or Biology and a second science (from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology)
Studying Medicine in the UK is expensive for those from overseas, although you should note that the cost for preclinical and clinical years is different. As an overview, expect to pay an average of around £30,000 a year for six years. As two examples, Manchester charges £27,000 for years 1 and 2, and subsequently charges £46,000. Edinburgh charges £32,100 per year for its six year Medicine course.
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Job prospects are great in the UK, as doctors are in demand and will be guaranteed a job in the NHS. Of course, in order to get a Foundation job in a good area, you will need to work hard at university and perform well in a Situational Judgement Test.
If they wish to return to Canada, graduates will need to apply to CARMS after completing required exams. Certain UK Speciality training branches are recognised in Canada, although some further exams will need to be completed on this route as well.
You should thoroughly research the route ‘back’ to Canada. Whilst you may think practising in the UK will be a good solution, you might also find that you wish to return at the end of your degree. You should therefore ensure that you understand how feasible this is, and whether specialties that you think you will be interested in will allow you to do this.
You should work through mock interview scenarios as far as possible with UK doctors or medical students, to familiarise yourself with the kind of questions that you are likely to be asked. Questions are similar to those faced by Canadian applicants, but will feature some differences (e.g. no questions on rural medicine, an intense focus on the NHS, etc.)
You should ensure that you are familiar with the UCAT and BMAT, and consider which you are more likely to succeed in. The UCAT is strictly an aptitude test, while the BMAT is also a test of scientific knowledge. You should consider which universities in the UK require which test, and then work through as many practice questions as possible.
