A common question that Plumville's education consultants/agents usually get asked by secondary school leavers in Nigeria is: "What are the requirements for a Nigerian secondary school certificate holder to study medicine and surgery (MBBS) in Canada?". So, we decided to create this post to address this recurring question.
STUDYING MEDICINE & SURGERY (MBBS) in CANADA
Short on time & want to studying medicine? Here are the highlights:
• Studying medicine and surgery (MBBS) in Canada, is NOT similar to how it works in Nigeria.
• An undergraduate (bachelor's) degree is required to study medicine in Canada.
• A Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (MD, CM) degree in Canada, is technically considered an undergraduate degree in Canada.
• It is VERY difficult for an international (or Nigerian) student to secure an admission into a medical school in Canada.
• Personal statement, autobiographical sketch, undergraduate record (GPA), scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and interviews; are the general admission requirements to study MBBS in Canada.
MEDICAL EDUCATION IN CANADA
Studying Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in Canada is significantly different from how it works in Nigeria. Generally, medical students in Canada require a bachelor’s degree for entry. So, most medical students in Canada begin their studies after receiving a Bachelor’s degree in another field, often one of the biological sciences.
In Canada, a medical school is a faculty or school of a university, that trains would-be medical doctors and usually offers a three- to five-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (MD, CM) degree. Although presently most students enter medicine having previously earned another degree, the MD is theoretically considered an undergraduate degree in Canada.
Admission into a medical school is VERY competitive and it is very difficult for an international student (or a Nigerian student) to secure an admission into a medical school in Canada. Even for Canadian citizens, less than 10% of those that apply annually to medical schools are successful. Admission offers are made by individual medical schools, generally on the basis of a personal statement, autobiographical sketch, undergraduate record (GPA), scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)*, and interviews.
So, do you have what it takes to study medicine and surgery (MBBS) in Canada?
* The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), developed and administered by the AAMC, is a computer-based standardized multiple-choice examination for prospective medical students in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Caribbean Islands. It is designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine.
STILL INTERESTED IN STUDYING MEDICINE IN CANADA?
OPTION 1: If you are a Nigerian secondary school leaver, (that is, you only have a WAEC/NECO result and do NOT have a bachelor's degree) and you are interested in Medical Education in Canada; you should Contact Us to assist you secure an admission into a medical related bachelors course in Canada. Biological sciences programs includes, Bachelors in Biology, Bachelors in Chemistry, etc.
OPTION 2: If you are a Nigerian undergraduate, (that is, a Nigerian university graduate) with a medical-related bachelors degree, and you are interested in studying medicine in Canada, then the first step is for you to Prepare & Register for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Exam.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS - STUDY MBBS IN OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES
OPTION 3: If you want to get direct admission into a university abroad to study medicine (MBBS) with your WAEC/NECO result, then you should consider studying at other study abroad destinations such as Hungary, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, the Caribbean, etc. Contact Us to assist you with securing admission directly into a medical program at any of those aforementioned alternative study abroad countries.
OPTION 4: Get 'A levels' Done. With ‘A levels’ you can proceed to study medicine in a United Kingdom (UK) university. Basically, you apply to an ‘A levels’ program in the UK, and after you are done with the 'A' levels program, you can then apply to study MBBS at a UK university. Keep in mind that for you to be considered for admission into an MBBS program in the UK after your ‘A levels’, you must be a student of high academic standing. Contact Us, to help you secure admission into an ‘A’ levels program in the UK.
** Don't forget to Contact Us to discuss your Canada Study Options, and to start your Study in Canada journey!
Good morning,
Thanks a lot for the information given,I have studied nursing and have my general nursing diploma ,a 3 years course and I want to go to Canada to study MBBS,how can you help ,please reply via ma email,thanks.
Dear Sir.
My son studied Medicine in Nigeria and will like to go Medical school in Canada. Please tell me the process of getting admission. Thanks.
Dear Onubi,
Since your son already has a Nigerian undergraduate degree, in order for him to apply to a medical school in Canada, the first step is for him to write the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Exam. Kindly visit MCAT’s official website here https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/taking-mcat-exam/ for more information about preparing & registering for the exam.
Tanks a lot for the information.
Please are there scholarship opportunities for students who meet the conditions but are financially constrained?
Hello Tamunosiki Kiri,
If you are an exceptional student and you get really high scores in the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Exam, you may be lucky to secure a scholarship for your studies in Canada. We do not assist with sourcing for scholarships. However, we have a page on our website that provides details about scholarships/awards that are available to international/Nigerian students for study in Canada, kindly follow this link https://www.plumvilleint.com/study-canada-scholarships-awards-fellowship/ to get more information. Good luck!
Thanks for the details above.
I studied Optometry in Nigeria; intending to study Medicine in Canada. How can I access the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Exam?
Hello Emmanuel,
You are welcome! To register and prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Exam, kindly visit their official website here https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/taking-mcat-exam/ for more information. Good luck!
I just completed my WAEC and I took the IELTS (international English language tests) what’s the next step for me please because I was kinda thinking the bachelor’s degree stuff z not true, does it really mean I can’t get admission without having a bachelor’s degree.
Dear Julia. It is true that you cannot apply to study medicine and surgery (MBBS) in Canada or the USA, without first having an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree in another field (usually one of the biological sciences).
So, if you wish to secure an admission directly into a university abroad to study medicine (MBBS) with your WAEC result, then you should consider studying in countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania, China, Cyprus, etc. We will be happy to assist you with securing an admission to study medicine directly at any of these alternative destinations, so contact us https://www.plumvilleint.com/contact-us/.
Alternatively, you can apply to an ‘A levels’ program in the UK, and after you are done with the program, you can then apply to study MBBS at a UK university. But keep in mind that for you to be considered for MBBS after your ‘A levels’ in the UK, you have to be a student of high academic standing. We can also help you secure admission into an ‘A’ levels program in the UK, so contact us https://www.plumvilleint.com/contact-us/
i am a graduate of audiology speech and language pathology in nigeria, can i study medicine in canada. what of human kinetics and health education? and also precise cost price in naira pls.
Hello Priscillia. In order to study medicine in Canada, since you already have an undergraduate degree, the first step is that you should prepare & register for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Exam. Once you have done your MCAT and you get good scores, you can then apply to medical school in Canada. Regarding your two additional questions, we have just sent you an email with details.
AM not from Nigeria, but am à Ugandan and I want to study from canada medicine and surgery
Hello Muzige Sadat,
The process to study medicine and surgery (MBBS) in Canada that is stated in this post, is similar for any international student who wants to study MBBS in Canada. So, since you are Ugandan, you basically have to follow the same process.
OPTION 1 – If you do not have an undergraduate degree: You should apply to study a biological science bachelor’s degree in Canada. e.g. Bachelors in Biology. You cannot apply to study bachelor’s of medicine and surgery (MBBS) in Canada, without already having a medicine-related bachelors degree.
OPTION 2 – If you already have a medicine-related bachelor’s degree, then you should prepare & register for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Exam. Once you have done your MCAT and you get good scores, you can then apply to medical school in Canada.
We hope that this have answered your question? If not, kindly post a follow-up question by clicking the ‘Reply’ button here.