Language skills

English and French Communication Skills

Students are introduced to clinical observation in the first year of the MDCM program, and will take on more active responsibilities upon entering clerkship in third year.  While the language of instruction for classes is English (Montreal Campus) or French (Campus Outaouais), our clinical environment is bilingual or francophone, so it is important to feel comfortable and prepared to work in both French and English, as per the MDCM Language Policy. To offer helpful suggestions for language learning resources, the Office of Admission is mandated to assess students' language proficiency before the program begins.

Since fall 2021, proof of English-language proficiency is only required for candidates educated exclusively outside of Canada in non-English speaking countries, as per the McGill-wide policy for English proficiency.

Students are considered already fully proficient in French or English if the MMI was conducted in that language, or if they submitted an academic transcript showing successful completion of 1 year of study at a secondary or post-secondary institution that officially operates in that language.  Otherwise, students will be informed by email that they must complete an online language assessment at McGill’s School of Continuing Studies before program orientation day.  After the assessment, students will be informed of their language level, and the corresponding Continuing Studies courses they are eligible to take. The Faculty will also receive this information, allowing us to better understand the language skills of the entering class and support students. Note that the Language policy does not require students to take these, or any other language courses that are additional to the MDCM program. Once the proficiency level is known, the student decides what steps they want to take.

Med-P students are strongly encouraged to work on language skills during Med-P and the summer before MDCM, because clinical placements start in the first year and the program itself is demanding.

How to register for McGill language courses

Med-P students can register for courses on Minerva.  Note that some courses require special permission, consult the website of the offering department for more information (for example, FRSL, CEAP, CESL courses).  You may need to obtain permission from the Med-P academic adviser by email, in particular for Continuing Studies courses (CEEN, CFRN).

Once in the MDCM program, students are normally restricted from taking courses outside of the Faculty, but an exception is made for language courses. Note that MDCM program activities take priority in terms of schedule; students are not permitted to register for a language course whose schedule conflicts with that of an MDCM program course or activity.  Evening, weekend, and some summer session courses are accessible for 1st and 2nd year students.  Students in 3rd and 4th year can enroll in the French Medical Workshop (Saturdays), but should otherwise consider online or private courses that are more flexible, due to the variable nature of clerkship rotation schedules.

Links for language courses at McGill:

• Not open to Med-P students: French Medical Workshop, see the second half of this page. 
• School of Continuing Studies (see details in email you received after placement test)
• Faculty of Arts French Language Centre courses (including Health and Social Work Sector courses) 
• McGill Writing Centre courses  

Is there a minimum level of proficiency students should aim to attain?

Even advanced speakers can continue to improve; however an intermediate level is generally considered the minimum point at which students can be active and functional in the clinical environment. For most learners, this is equivalent to completing the 200 (intermediate 2) or even 300 (intermediate 3) level courses at McGill’s School of Continuing Studies. The equivalent Canadian Language Benchmark level is approximately 6 to 8 ( view NCLC-AEL for an interactive self-assessment of English and French up to level 8); The Common European Framework of Reference level is approximately B2 to C1.

Some of the clinical communication competencies students will exercise during their studies include: listening to a patient describe their reason for consulting, asking questions to take a medical history, speaking with healthcare professionals (such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists) about cases, often in a fast-paced or high-stakes environment in person or on the phone, and writing notes in a file that are clear for other healthcare professionals.

Practicing medicine in Quebec after graduation

Students educated outside of Quebec in a language other than French, who choose to practice medicine in Quebec, will need to complete the separate Office Québécois de la langue Française (OQLF) Examination toward the end of their MDCM studies. See CMQ for more information. We encourage students to take advantage of language classes now to prepare.