Resources

***Note the information provided here is for planning purposes only.  Changes happen yearly and the site information is reviewed each August.  However it is important to follow up with the links specific to the medical program and the contact information provided on those pages.***

The UBC MD Undergraduate program is the only medical program in BC, although it is distributed among four geographically distinct sites including the Island Medical Program (IMP), Northern Medical Program (NMP), Vancouver Fraser Medical Program (VFMP), and the Southern Medical Program (SMP). The MD program website provides a lot of details about the program, admission requirements, selection process, evaluation criteria, etc. 

Most VIU students who apply to the MD program complete the BSc with Major/minor combinations of Biology/Chemistry/Psychology. There are no specific prerequisite requirements for the UBC MD program, although courses included in those three programs dovetail well with the requirements for the MCAT and many are recommended. Also, some other medical schools in Canada require prerequisites which are covered in the VIU BSc Majors in Biology and Chemistry.

Each year, there are 288 spots for incoming students, they receive >2,000 applications, and they invite 650-700 applicants for interviews. Therefore, it’s a very competitive program which requires that applicant exceed the minimum admission requirements with average grades of at least A- (80%), a strong MCAT, and strong non-academic background. UBC provides detailed admission statistics of all application cycles.

The MD program website also includes answers to Frequently Asked Questions which are quite helpful.

The Medical Colleges Admission Test (MCAT) was updated in 2015 and covers four areas:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skill

Strongly recommended Courses

Note, BC students can also apply to other medical schools in other provinces as out-of-province students, for which there are less seats available.  One example where our graduates have been successful is the University of Calgary medical program.

***Note the information provided here is for planning purposes only.  Changes happen yearly and the site information is reviewed each August.  However it is important to follow up with the links specific to the program and the information provided on those pages.***

British Columbia's Dental School (Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree) is offered through the University of British Columbia. 

To be eligible for admission, candidates must complete at least three full years of post-secondary study), including the necessary prerequisite courses, and have:

• a minimum overall average of 70% on all university-transferrable coursework except courses taken in the year of application to the program, and
• complete the CASPer Test (Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics)
• write the Canadian Dental Association Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) prior to the published deadline (DAT scores will be used when evaluating admissibility and are valid for a period of five years).

Required prerequisite courses for Dentistry

Typically, BSc Majors in Biology and Chemistry will naturally have you taking the required courses for most health related professional programs, such as Dentistry.

***Note the information provided here is for planning purposes only.  Changes happen yearly and the site information is reviewed each August.  However it is important to follow up with the links specific to the program and the information provided on those pages.***

All pharmacists in Canada are required to have a PharmD Degree.  In British Columbia, the 'Entry-to-Practice PharmD' program is hosted at the University of British Columbia.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, candidates must complete at least two full years of post-secondary study including the necessary prerequisite courses, and have:

• a minimum overall average of 65% (2.5/4.0 on the UBC scale) on all first-year prerequisite courses (all attempts), and
• a minimum overall average of 65% (2.5/4.0 on the UBC scale) on the last 30 credits of coursework completed. 

Required prerequisite courses

Typically, BSc Majors in Biology and Chemistry will naturally have you taking the required courses for most health related professional programs, such as Pharmacy.