To some, getting into medical school is an absolute dream — and with good reason. Beyond being a fulfilling, well-respected, and potentially lucrative field, becoming a physician demands an immense amount of hard work, persistence, and dedication. Unfortunately, the journey to a medical school acceptance is often just as (if not more) challenging than medical school itself. With applicant pools becoming increasingly competitive and medical school requirements constantly evolving, it now takes stronger grades, relevant research experience, and unique extracurricular involvement to stand out. In addition, each school's application procedures differ significantly, leaving students confused and overwhelmed about what medical schools are truly looking for.

​

This 2025-2026 guide offers a detailed roadmap for preparing a competitive medical school application. Whether you're in high school, CEGEP, university, or somewhere in between, early access to accurate information will help you strategically navigate the application process. While this guide primarily focuses on Quebec medical schools and the Canadian medical school application system, some insights also apply to U.S. and Caribbean programs.

​

Paths to Medical School in Quebec

There are two primary paths to medical school in Quebec: one through CEGEP and another through university.

 

Path 1: From CEGEP

Students applying from CEGEP after obtaining their Diplôme d'Études Collégiales (DEC) apply to a "pre-med" program. Pre-med is a one-year preparatory program designed for CEGEP graduates to transition into a rigorous four-year medical curriculum. Pre-med students take advanced courses in molecular biology, physiology, and cell biology to prepare for medical school. To be eligible, students typically need a GPA of 3.5 or higher and grades above a "B" in required courses.

Currently, only four Quebec medical schools offer pre-med: McGill University, Université de Sherbrooke, Université Laval, and Université de Montréal.

​

Key Considerations:

1. Higher CEGEP intake: Sherbrooke and Laval continue to admit a higher proportion of CEGEP students. In recent years, about 70-80% of incoming students at these schools were from CEGEP.

2. Smaller applicant pool: While more CEGEP students are admitted proportionally, the overall number of applicants from CEGEP is smaller than that of university students.

3. Competitive R-Scores: Although schools list 34+ as the minimum, successful applicants often present R-scores above 36.8. Achieving this requires consistent grades above 90%.

4. Two-year limit: Schools like Université de Montréal and McGill may view applications negatively if a student takes more than two years to complete their DEC, meaning students have only two years to build a competitive profile.

 

Path 2: From University

Students who do not apply from CEGEP can apply after completing a university degree. While many students fear missing their chance if not accepted post-CEGEP, this is far from true. The university path is increasingly common and often advantageous

.

Key Considerations:

1. Better preparation: University graduates tend to be more emotionally and academically prepared for medical school.

2. Degree advantage: A completed degree offers job flexibility and allows rejected applicants to pursue meaningful roles in healthcare or research until the next cycle.

3. Research opportunities: University and graduate students are more likely to secure research roles, often leading to publications.

4. Points for advanced degrees: Schools like Sherbrooke continue to award bonus points: 0.5 for bachelor’s, 1.0 for master's, and 2.0 for PhDs.

 

Students with undergraduate degrees can apply to many more Canadian schools, including: McGill, UdeM, Sherbrooke, Laval, Ottawa, McMaster, NOSM, Queen’s, UofT, Western, Dalhousie, Memorial, Alberta, UBC, Calgary, Manitoba, Saskatchewan.

​

Updated Quebec Medical School Requirements (2025-2026)

 

McGill University

• Degree: 90-120 credits (minimum GPA: 3.5 competitive)

• CEGEP: DEC in sciences (R-score > 34 competitive)

• Science Prerequisites: Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics (with labs)

• MCAT: Required only for international/non-Canadian degree holders (competitive score: 508+)

• French Proficiency: Required unless exempt; see McGill’s updated guidelines

• Academic Workbook: Still required for university applicants

• Resume & Verifier List: Required

• CASPer: Mandatory (check Altus for current format)

• Admissions: Pre-interview: 70% GPA, 20% CASPer, 10% Resume; Post-interview: 100% MMI

 

Université Laval

• Degree: 90-120 credits or equivalent

• CEGEP: DEC with science background

• French Test: TCF-TP & TCF-TP/ÉE or approved equivalent (>600 & >14/20 respectively)

• CASPer: Required (in French)

• Admissions: CRU + CASPer (1st round); MMI (2nd round)

 

Université de Sherbrooke

• Degree: 90-120 credit bachelor’s

• CEGEP: DEC in sciences

• French Test: TFI > 860/990, DALF/TEF/TCF C2, or equivalent

• CASPer: Required (in French)

• Admissions: Multi-stage — CASPer, CAG + bonus points, then MMI

 

Université de Montréal

• Degree: 90-120 credits or DEC in sciences

• French Test: TFI > 850/990 or equivalent (unless exempt)

• CASPer: Required (English or French)

• Admissions: 100% CRA (1st), then 60% CRA + 40% CASPer (2nd), then 100% MMI (3rd)

 

Next Steps The medical school application process in Quebec and Canada is evolving rapidly. By staying informed and preparing early, you can tailor your academic, research, and extracurricular profile to meet the increasing standards. This guide gives you the foundation — now it’s up to you to build a strong, authentic application that reflects your unique journey into medicine.

​

Good luck on your path to becoming a physician!