Montreal bound
Destination: UdeM
Join the Faculty of Medicine as an international student
At UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine, you will find a stimulating learning environment where you can study, do research or complete a clerkship at a university with a strong international reputation. Every year, hundreds of international students choose our Faculty of Medicine to begin, continue or enrich their training.
A student city par excellence
Montreal, the largest city in the province of Quebec, Canada, is a global hub of scientific and technological innovation with a vibrant cultural scene and an excellent quality of life. The city pulsates with entertainment, sports and culinary energy that changes with the seasons. It is also a global centre of AI expertise. Montreal’s dynamic, creative and inclusive spirit has earned it a reputation as one of North America’s most exciting student cities. It placed first in the Americas Canada and among the top 20 worldwide in the 2023 2027 QS Best Student Cities ranking.
CHOOSE UdeM AND ITS MEDICAL SCHOOL
Make your plans to study in Canada a reality
Université de Montréal is one of Canada’s top destinations for international students. It has received awards for its teaching standards and innovative pedagogical approaches, and is distinguished by its cultural diversity and values of openness and collaboration. With its roots planted deep in history and its sights set firmly on the future, UdeM offers a student experience that is as unique as it is enriching, from its state-of-the-art research facilities to the social, cultural and sporting activities it offers its university community.
Since it was founded 180 years ago, the Faculty of Medicine has played a leading role in building UdeM’s international reputation. With its vast network of researchers, partners and affiliated institutions, our Faculty spreads the fruits of local innovation throughout the French-speaking world and beyond. It is a proud member of the World Health Summit’s prestigious M8 Alliance, which includes health research and teaching institutions of recognized excellence that are leaders in global health. The Faculty also has a strong record of community engagement and has received the Aspire Award for social accountability from the Association for Medical Education in Europe.
To meet current and future healthcare needs, UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine now offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate programs in three main areas: clinical sciences, basic sciences and health sciences.
No matter where you’re coming from or what type of stay you’re interested in, we will do everything we can to help make it happen. We offer many resources to support students from abroad, including a wealth of useful online information here and on the UdeM International website.
OPTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Short stays
The Faculty of Medicine offers international students a wide range of options: clinical clerkships, research internships, exchange semesters, refresher courses. Find out more about study opportunities at Université de Montréal.
If you are studying abroad and are interested in a short stay at a top Canadian medical school, UdeM is a logical choice.
These options are available to you whether or not you are enrolled in an exchange program (with a partnership agreement). Some programs allow such stays without an agreement, under certain conditions.
You will not receive a degree from UdeM at the end of your stay, since you will remain attached to your home university.
Note that for a research visit, you will need to find a professor to supervise you.
Clinical clerkships are for medical students who are about to start, or have already started, the final stage of their MD training (last or second-to-last year). At the time of applying, you must already have completed at least 12 weeks of clinical training.
Once you have your list of preferred placements, the clerkship coordinator for students from outside Quebec will be responsible for finding you a placement.
If you are a student enrolled in a program at a university that doesn’t have a partnership agreement with UdeM, the maximum duration of your research stay is 12 months. To meet the requirements of this program, the student is hosted by UdeM under the supervision of a UdeM professor for a research training period that cannot exceed this duration.
Postdoctoral fellowships are intended for holders of a research doctorate (Ph.D.) or equivalent qualification earned within the last 5 years.
To finance their stay at UdeM, postdoctoral fellows receive a fellowship grant or are paid as employees from a faculty member’s research budget.
Information to help you organize your stay
In addition to the information provided by your home institution, the following websites contain information about organizing your stay, eligibility criteria and the process for coming to UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine as an international student:
As a Canadian leader in research and teaching, UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine trains health professionals and future researchers to the highest standards. If you are an international applicant seeking admission to the Faculty of Medicine as a regular student, the following programs are available to you:
Enrolment as a regular student
Basic sciences and health sciences programs
Medical Programs
UNDERGRADUATE
Our undergraduate programs in basic sciences and health sciences will fully equip you to realize your ambitions.
The following programs in the Faculty of Medicine accept international students into the regular stream:
Graduate programs
Whether you’re preparing for a career in research or just want to broaden your knowledge and expertise, our graduate programs will add significant value to your academic training. If your program of study involves research, bear in mind that your admission is conditional on a professor agreeing to supervise your research project. See our directory of researchers as soon as possible; it lists brilliant researchers and professionals who are committed to preparing the next generation of researchers by welcoming students to their team.
Note that financial support in the form of grants is available for some research projects in the Faculty of Medicine.
When you enrol in a graduate research program as an international student, you may be eligible for a tuition waiver scholarship from UdeM.
REFRESHER TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION
Update your training in health sciences
If you have already completed university training in health sciences outside Canada and would like to update it or obtain a licence to practice in Quebec, you may be interested in several options offered by UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine.
There are a several steps to take before you can apply for admission to one of these programs, including an evaluation of your file by the Quebec professional order that governs your field of practice. To find out how to apply, see this section of the admissions guide.
Montreal-bound: Testimonials
What our students say
I first came to Montreal as an undergraduate exchange student and really enjoyed my experience. So much so that I decided to come back and do a Master's here. UdeM’s School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology has a strong emphasis on evidence and research, which played a big part in my decision.
I’m coming to the end of my clerkship and I feel very well trained and well equipped to go back home. I particularly appreciated a workshop where I learned how to perform a lumbar puncture. I was generally given a lot of responsibility and I felt useful and part of a treatment team. I would have liked to stay longer.
Medical clerkship
I chose Université de Montréal because it's a French-speaking university and I wanted to improve my French—and my English too, while I was at it. Montreal is not so far from Mexico and I’ve found that interpersonal relationships and teaching methods are quite similar.
I'm interested in virology and at UdeM you can do labs in virology, whereas in my country it’s only taught through lectures, which I don’t like so much. I like the fact that there are several teachers in some of my courses. It helps me absorb the material and it's more interesting.
I would tell anyone thinking of coming to Montreal not to worry too much about the winters, you get used to it pretty quickly! Je dirais à tous ceux qui veulent venir à Montréal de ne pas trop s’inquiéter avec l’hiver, on s’y habitue assez vite!
Exchange student in microbiology and immunology
Montreal is a safe city and people are very polite and respectful. It's relatively easy to find housing and settle in. Especially since Université de Montréal offers a lot of advice and assistance to international students. It really made my life easier.
I find living in a city like Montreal and experiencing an interesting culture with different expressions, Halloween, winter, etc. very stimulating and I would recommend it to anyone.
I was also fortunate to find a good clerkship in a field I'm passionate about at Sainte-Justine. The team has very advanced expertise and there's a lot of mutual support between its members. I'm learning a lot. They even suggested that I stay on and do a master's degree.
Exchange student in microbiology, infectiology and immunology
I first came to Montreal as an undergraduate exchange student and really enjoyed my experience. So much so that I decided to come back and do a Master's here. UdeM’s School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology has a strong emphasis on evidence and research, which played a big part in my decision.
The teachers are very approachable and it's easy to ask questions and talk to them. The learning process revolves around practice and personal reflection, which suits me well.
Montreal is a very lively city and there's always something to do. I enjoyed the welcome activities for foreign students at UdeM and the activities organized by Student Services. It’s a chance to meet people from all over the world and make friends.
Professional master's degree in speech-language pathology, UdeM