For an Indian student, Canada is often the preferred study destination because of its quality education, affordable education system, relatively easier immigration policies, post-study work options and also the welcoming nature of the country towards immigrants. These features alone are sufficient for students to choose Canada over other destinations, even though there are great MBBS colleges in Australia, Canada and the UK, with some popular courses in medicine and nursing. That said, why should you choose Canada as a prospective medical student? Let’s take a look.
How is a Canadian medical degree different?
What we commonly refer to as MBBS is called an MD in Canada. This is a distinction that you have to be clear about. An MD in Canada is the first step towards being a doctor. Any specialization or super-specialization comes after.
The second biggest difference is that you cannot apply for this course right after high school. Medical schools in Canada expect you to have a bachelor of science in, biology, biochemistry, psychology or health before you can apply for an MD(Doctor of Medicine) program. This is what is colloquially referred to as pre-med.
To practise medicine in Canada, you must be licensed by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC). Medical graduates must take the MCC Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I, Canada’s national standardized exam. It assesses candidates at a level expected of a student about to graduate with a medical degree in Canada. While the specific requirements for licensure vary among provinces, you can apply to the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) after the required postgraduate training. You will also need to apply to the Medical Regulatory Authority (MRA) of your province to practise medicine.
Extensive research and training:
The MD course in itself can last anywhere between 3-5 years, followed by a residency of 2-5 years, depending on your specialization. Some schools offer 3-year accelerated programs (like McMaster and Calgary). The emphasis of these courses is not only on health and treatment but also on research and development to put medicine in Canada in one of the top spots in the world.Canadian medical schools have contributed significantly to global medicine — notably the discovery of insulin — and have been leaders in adopting innovations like telemedicine.
Equal Opportunities:
Canada is the first country to adopt multiculturalism as one of its official policies. Discrimination based on race, colour, gender or sexuality is not as common an occurrence here as in other countries. As an Indian student or any an international student, you get the same opportunities as a citizen or a permanent resident.
Higher standards:
As a medical professional, you will be directly responsible for the health and well-being of other human beings. This is a responsibility that Canadian medical universities take extremely seriously. You are held to extremely high standards, from your pre-med scores, your MCAT, all the way till the final qualifying exam administered by the MCC (Medical Council of Canada). This is not only true in the case of academics but also in terms of patient sensitivity and the treatment of people from different walks of life.
Job Satisfaction:
Canada has a decentralized, universal, publicly funded health system called Canadian Medicare.It is primarily administered by the provinces and territories, with joint funding from both the federal and provincial governments. It is a system designed for the welfare of its people. For those of you looking to enter this field as a vocation, Canada offers high rates of job satisfaction.
Note: If you’d rather study medicine in the UK, that’s also a good option as the country is home to some top medical colleges in the world.
