Which country is best for studying medicine?

The United States is currently considered the country with the most developed medicine in the world, based on two main factors: the ranking of medical schools and the level of investment in the health system. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject: Medicine 2026 (published March 25, 2026), Harvard University holds the No. 1 position in the world for three consecutive years (2024-2026), achieving a perfect score in 4/5 ranking criteria.

Besides Harvard, the US also has Stanford University (3rd) and Johns Hopkins University (4th) in the top 5 in the world, more than any other country. Although the US health system is mainly privately managed, it is heavily invested in equipment and doctors, along with the highest doctor income in the group of popular countries to study medicine.

It should be noted: other rankings using different criteria may give different results. For example, Times Higher Education (THE) Medical and Health 2026 ranks Oxford (UK) in 1st place, while Harvard falls to 3rd place because THE includes nursing, dentistry and other health professions in the same table, the evaluation method is different from QS. Therefore, "which is the most developed medicine in the world" does not have an absolute answer, but depends on the ranking and the criteria you refer to.

When choosing a country to study medicine, or any other profession, you need to look up and consider carefully before deciding. Here are the 6 most important criteria.

1. The development of national medicine.

   A country with advanced medicine, from the quality of health care to modern equipment, often invests heavily in medical education and training.

2. The quality of training of universities.

   You can look up world rankings, the percentage of international students, the percentage of graduates with good jobs, and the number of scientific research to evaluate the quality of training.

3. Scholarship programs. Countries that

   focus on medical investment often have many scholarships specifically for international students. It is recommended to follow the scholarship information on the embassy website or the school's official website.

4. Policies to support international students.

   An open country with good policies on accommodation, welfare and job opportunities after graduation will create a more favorable development environment.

5. Intensive training program.

   If you have a specific specialty orientation (orthopedics, dermatology, anesthesia, resuscitation, psychology, etc.), you should choose a school/country that is famous for that major.

6. Job opportunities after graduation.

   It is necessary to consider immigration policies, employment visa rates, and the demand for medical personnel in the country where they intend to study, as these are factors that determine the ability to stay and work for a long time.

3.1. Study Medicine in the US

The US is the first choice when it comes to the best country to study medicine in the world, thanks to its world-class medical research and medical research system.

Advantages of studying medicine in the US

• The world's most developed medicin: the U.S. health system is mostly privately run but still tightly controlled, with modern equipment and a team of highly skilled doctors.

• Many specialized scholarships for the medical profession: in addition to government scholarships and individual scholarships, medical students can find scholarships from the American Medical Association (AMA), the National Health Service Corps, or AAMC foundations. It is recommended to check directly on each institution's website as the value and eligibility of scholarships vary from year to year.

• Comprehensive support for international students: universities have their own departments to support accommodation, professional development and culture of conduct.

• Doctors' incomes are among the highest in the world: according to the Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2026, the average salary of doctors in the US is

  386,000 USD/year, general practitioners are about 298,000 USD/year, specialists are about 417,000 USD/year. Some surgical specialties (neurosurgery, orthopedics) can exceed 700,000-800,000 USD/year. The starting salary for the first year after residency is usually significantly lower, about 250,000-350,000 USD/year depending on the specialty and region.

Top Best Medical Schools in the US (QS World University Rankings by Subject: Medicine 2026)

Harvard held the No. 1 spot for three consecutive years (2024-2026), scoring a perfect score in 4 out of 5 QS ranking criteria. In addition, schools such as Yale, UCSF, UCLA, University of Pennsylvania, Duke, Columbia are also regularly ranked in the top 20 in the world — you should look up the full table on topuniversities.com for the most accurate ranking at the time of application.

Conditions for studying medicine in the US

To successfully get an offer to study Medicine from 1 university in the US, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Master the knowledge of Math, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics from level 3.

• Have a letter of recommendation from the teacher.

• The essay clearly shows the determination to pursue Medicine.

• High Pre-med and MCAT scores (it is recommended to look up the specific score threshold of each school as it varies from year to year).

• Pass the interview round.

3.2. Study Medicine in the UK

If you are wondering which country is the best country to study medicine in, the UK is the ideal destination when you are planning to study medicine abroad. The universities here always bring the best facilities for students.

Benefits of studying medicine in the UK

• Opportunity to stay and work after graduation via Graduate visa:

if you apply for a graduate visa before December 31, 2026, you can still stay for 2 years (3 years if you have a doctoral degree). From January 1, 2027, the period is reduced to 18 months for bachelor's/master's degrees (doctorates are still held for 3 years), according to the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules published on October 14, 2025.

• Wide range of pre-university program options:

Studying the Foundation Programme is a must for international students who intend to study medicine in the UK. It will take you about 1-2 years to complete this programme. Here are 4 typical types of Foundation Studies programmes for medical students in the UK.

• Specialized agencies closely monitor the quality of training:

The Medical Council (GMC) and the Dental Council (GDC) directly supervise the program at British universities.

• Doctors' incomes increase significantly with seniority:

According to the NHS 2026 salary scale, newly graduated doctors (Foundation Year 1) start at about 36,616 - 38,831 pounds/year, and senior specialists (consultants) reach 109,725 - 145,478 pounds/year. Basic salary, the average total income of a full-time senior specialist is estimated at 161,600 pounds/year. GP partners (family doctors who own clinics) can reach 140,000 pounds/year or more.

Featured UK Universities in QS Medicine 2026

Oxford and Cambridge are in the top 5 in the world for medicine according to QS 2026, and THE Medical and Health 2026 ranks Oxford at No. 1 globally. Other universities such as Imperial College London, UCL, King's College London, and University of Edinburgh also regularly appear in the top 20-30 in the world.

Conditions for studying medicine in the UK

Undergraduate:

• A-Level grades of AAA-AAB or higher (achieving A in Chemistry or Biology).

• IB program: minimum 36 points.

• IELTS 6.5-7.0 or higher.

• Some schools require the addition of the BMAT or UCAT Biomedical exam.

Postgraduate Level:

• Graduated from the University of Medicine with good grade or higher.

• At least 2 years of practical work experience at the hospital.

• IELTS 7.0 or higher.

3.3. Study Medicine in Australia

Australia is always in the group of countries with advanced education, which is the right choice for those who want to balance the quality of training and cost.

Benefits of studying medicine in Australia

• The cost of studying abroad is lower than that of the US and UK, but it has increased significantly in 2026: medical tuition fees in Australia currently range from AUD 60,000 to AUD 105,000 per year, depending on the institution, higher than AUD 25,000 to AUD 75,000 a few years ago. Many Australian universities (especially the Go8 group such as Sydney, Melbourne, Monash) have increased international tuition fees by more than 10% in 2026, partly due to the government's imposition of an international enrolment target of about 295,000 places nationwide.

• Doctors' incomes have a wide range, increasing sharply according to experience: newly graduated doctors (interns/RMOs) start at about 75,000-105,000 AUD/year; the median of the whole industry is estimated at 300,000 AUD/year; specialists/surgeons can reach 400,000-470,000+ AUD/year.

• There is a policy of direct admission of excellent students right from high school at some schools, there is no need to take the GAMSAT exam, the standards vary depending on the school, so it needs to be checked carefully.

• Many medical schools are among the top in the world.

Top Outstanding Medical Schools in Australia (QS Medicine 2026)

According to QS 2026, the prominent Australian universities in the medical rankings such as the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Monash University and the University of New South Wales are regularly ranked in the top 50-70 in the world. It is recommended to look up directly on the topuniversities.com/university-subject-rankings/medicine for the most accurate ranking numbers before including them in official documents.

Conditions for studying medicine in Australia

Medicine is a field of study with a high competition rate, along with which the entry requirements are relatively difficult. Therefore, to secure a place in this field of study at universities in Australia, you need to meet the following conditions:

• Graduated from high school with good academic ability or higher.

• IELTS minimum of 6.5 (no band below 5.5).

• Want to study preparatory studies: IELTS minimum 6.0 (no band less than 5.5).

• To study for Graduate School: must pass the MCAT or GAMSAT entrance test.

3.4. Study Medicine in Canada

Canada is one of the most popular destinations for students who want to pursue medicine thanks to its medical training system associated with research and clinical practice. Some Canadian universities rank high in international rankings in medicine, such as the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia (UBC) and McGill University. According to QS, the University of Toronto ranks 13th in the world, UBC 22nd and McGill 26th in the Life Sciences & Medicine group.

Benefits of Studying Medicine in Canada

• Outstanding quality of training and research:Canada has many universities that have strengths in medicine, health sciences, and biomedical research.

• Practice-oriented curriculum:Students have the opportunity to access medical knowledge, research, and clinical practice during their studies, depending on the program and the school.

• Multicultural learning environment:Canada has a large international student community, which allows students to get acquainted with a multicultural learning and work environment.

• Many schools have prestigious medical programs: the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia and McGill University are some of the schools that rank highly in the QS Life Sciences & Medicine group.

Top Outstanding Medical Schools in Canada

QS 2026 recognizes the University of Toronto, UBC and McGill among the Canadian schools with high rankings in Life Sciences & Medicine. With the QS Medicine 2026 table, it is recommended to check the rankings of each university directly on the QS page before including specific numbers in the article.

Notes for International Students

Not all medical schools in Canada accept applications from international students. Some schools only reserve a very limited number of positions for this group or have their own conditions for international applicants. The AFMC also notes that admissions policies and the number of positions available for international students vary from Faculty of Medicine to Faculty of Medicine.

Therefore, if you are studying high school in Vietnam and want to pursue medicine in Canada, you should determine a specific pathway to medical school from the beginning, rather than relying only on IELTS requirements or high school scores. Some programs require completion of an undergraduate degree before submitting an MD application.

If you are still wondering which is the best country to study medicine in, contact IDP for free advice on the study abroad route, from choosing a country, school to conditions and documents.

You can also participate in IDP study abroad exhibitions to meet school representatives in person, learn about the program and discuss your study abroad plans.

In addition, IDP's Cost of Living Calculator helps you proactively estimate your expenses during your time studying abroad. With IDP Live and the FastLane feature, you can track the progress of your application and receive offers 2–3 times faster than the usual application method.

Contact IDP for a free study abroad consultation today!