United States
International applicants to US MD schools
AAMC
How many schools accept international applicants, coursework rules and what schools ask about funding.
Read the AAMC guidance
All resources
Citizenship & eligibility
Know where you can apply before you pay
Which US MD, US DO and Canadian medical schools accept US citizens, green card holders, DACA recipients, Canadians and international applicants, and how funding follows your status.
Your next three steps
- 01
Pick your status in the checker below and note which countries and degree types are open to you.
- 02
Confirm each school’s policy for this cycle in the MSAR, the AACOM DO Explorer or the AFMC guide.
- 03
If you will not qualify for federal aid or Canada Student Loans, plan proof of funds before you apply.
Where can you apply?
Pick your status to see the general rule for US MD, US DO and Canadian MD schools. Each school still sets its own policy.
What is your status?
As a US citizen:
US MD schools
Eligible everywhere
Eligible to apply to every US MD school.
Your state of residence still matters at public schools, many of which favour in-state applicants. Source
US DO schools
Eligible everywhere
Eligible to apply to every US DO school.
Check each school's state and mission preferences. Source
Canadian MD schools
A handful of seats
Canadian schools treat you as an international applicant.
Four seats a year across three Quebec schools: McGill (1, with French at B2), Université de Montréal (2) and Laval (1). Ontario schools cannot admit international students to regular seats, and most other provinces do not either. Source · Source 2 · Source 3
Funding: Eligible for US federal student aid. Source
US medical schools and international applicants
- US MD programs
- The LCME lists 165 accredited MD programs, including 4 in Puerto Rico (November 2026) Source
- Open to international applicants
- 43 MD schools in 2025 Source
- Foreign applicants, 2025
- 3,404 applied, 845 were accepted, 755 enrolled Source
- Coursework
- AMCAS accepts foreign coursework only where a US, US territorial or Canadian institution accepted it for credit Source
Proof of funds: two examples
Without federal aid, schools that admit international students usually ask you to show you can pay for the whole degree.
Canadian schools and international applicants
Canada has 19 faculties of medicine, and almost all regular seats go to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Since July 1, 2025, Ontario schools must give at least 95% of seats to Ontario residents and the rest to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons. Ontario rule · AFMC guide
| School | International applicants |
|---|---|
| McGill University | 1 seat for applicants who need a study permit; French at B2 Source |
| Université de Montréal | 2 seats a year for international applicants Source |
| Université Laval | 1 seat for an international applicant with a study permit Source |
| University of Toronto | Canadian citizens and permanent residents only Source |
| McMaster University | No non-Canadian students from 2026, under the Ontario mandate Source |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons only Source |
| University of Ottawa | International students not eligible, apart from a partnership with Kuwait Source |
| Queen's University | International applicants not eligible Source |
| Memorial University | No applications from international applicants Source |
| University of Alberta | No international students Source |
| University of Calgary | Individual international applications not accepted; formal agreements only Source |
| University of Saskatchewan | International students not eligible Source |
| University of British Columbia | Canadian citizens and permanent residents only Source |
Schools in our directory that state a rule
These schools in MedStride's school search name a citizenship or residence requirement on their official pages (reviewed November 2, 2026).
- University of Michigan Medical School · MDUS citizenship, permanent residence or DACA required.
- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) · DOUS citizenship or permanent residence at application.
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary · MDCanadian citizenship, permanent residence or Convention refugee status.
- University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine · MDCitizenship, permanent residence or approved Convention refugee rules apply with a narrow alumni-child exception.
- Queen’s University School of Medicine · MDCanadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person/Convention refugee status by application deadline; Ontario residency attestation required.
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University · MDCanadian citizenship/permanent residence at application; Ontario residency quota and statutory definition apply.
- University of British Columbia · MDReview full degree/course, citizenship and residency rules before assessing eligibility.
Before you apply
- 01
Know your status
Citizenship, permanent residence, DACA or a study visa decides where you may apply before grades or scores come into it.
- 02
Check every school, every cycle
Use the AAMC's MSAR reports for US MD schools, AACOM's DO Explorer, and the AFMC guide and OMSAS for Canada. Policies change from one cycle to the next.
- 03
Check your coursework
Many US schools prefer or require coursework from a US or Canadian institution; confirm before you apply.
- 04
Plan funding early
If you will not qualify for US federal aid or Canada Student Loans, line up proof of funds, a sponsor or a private lender before you apply.
Not eligible where you hoped? Compare US MD, US DO and Caribbean MD routes
Eligibility is set by each school and can change every cycle. This guide covers the general rules; confirm your own status with each school's admissions office before you pay any application fees. It is not immigration or legal advice. Figures checked November 10, 2026.
From the knowledge base
United States
MSAR reports: applications accepted and DACA policies
AAMC
School-by-school reports of which MD schools accept international and DACA applicants.
Open the reportsUnited States
Choose DO Explorer
AACOM
Filter osteopathic schools by policies such as international students, as each school reports them.
Explore DO schoolsFunding
Federal aid for non-US citizens
Federal Student Aid
Who counts as an eligible noncitizen, and why DACA and visa holders do not qualify for federal aid.
Check aid eligibilityCanada
Admission requirements of Canadian faculties
AFMC
Every Canadian faculty of medicine, with its citizenship, residency and international-applicant rules.
Open the AFMC guideCanada
OMSAS Ontario resident requirement
OUAC
Ontario’s rule that at least 95% of medical seats go to Ontario residents, and how residency is assessed.
Read the Ontario rule